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Rome Opera Ballet

Eleonora Abbagnato is confirmed as Director of the Rome Opera Ballet until 2021

5 January 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Eleonora Abbagnato © Alessandro Treves crop

Rome Opera has announced that Eleonora Abbagnato, étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet and current Director of the Rome Opera Ballet, will remain in her post until 31 December 2021. Virginia Raggi, the … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato is confirmed as Director of the Rome Opera Ballet until 2021

The Sleeping Beauty with Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov at the Rome Opera Ballet

30 September 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov in The Sleeping Beauty, Rome Opera Ballet © Yasuko Kageyama

Jean-Guillaume Bart, former Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, created his version of The Sleeping Beauty for the Yacobson Ballet Theatre in St Petersburg in 2016. His POB colleague Eleonora Abbagnato … [Read more...] about The Sleeping Beauty with Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov at the Rome Opera Ballet

James Hobley, Britain’s Got Talent’s autistic dancer, now 19 leaves ENB’s school to join Scottish Ballet

27 July 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

James Hobley Publicity Shot

James Hobley, first known to the general public as a Britain’s Got Talent finalist in 2011, has graduated from English National Ballet School and has a contract to start his professional career with … [Read more...] about James Hobley, Britain’s Got Talent’s autistic dancer, now 19 leaves ENB’s school to join Scottish Ballet

Interview with ENB Principal Isaac Hernandez : I’m dreaming of seeing real change

8 April 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Isaac Hernandez

It was a strange feeling that all the work a person can do in their lifetime, seven days a week of dedicating your life, goes out the window and is not even mentioned, is put aside for a headline. It … [Read more...] about Interview with ENB Principal Isaac Hernandez : I’m dreaming of seeing real change

Italian ballerina Elisabetta Terabust has died in Rome at 71

5 February 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Elisabetta Terabust

The magnificent Italian ballerina Elisabetta Terabust died in Rome this morning, 5 February, at her home near the Campo de’ Fiori, after a long illness. She was just 71. She became a Principal … [Read more...] about Italian ballerina Elisabetta Terabust has died in Rome at 71

Dance Oscars 2017 are awarded in Rome

8 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Virna Toppi confirmed as Dancer of the Year

The ceremony for the first edition of the Oscar della Danza has been held at Cinecittà World in Rome. In Italy, there are the David di Donatello awards for cinema, the Italian Musical Awards, the … [Read more...] about Dance Oscars 2017 are awarded in Rome

Nutcracker in Milan – Bouder and Macario open tomorrow night

1 December 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Nutcracker   Amadeo Amodio and Emanuele Luzzati 01

There is a rare opportunity to see Amedeo Amodio and Emanuele Luzzati's glorious Nutcracker which has been dusted down and is ready to conqueror Italian ballet-goers once again. The famous … [Read more...] about Nutcracker in Milan – Bouder and Macario open tomorrow night

Amodio and Luzzati’s Nutcracker and Coppélia once again go on tour

26 October 2016 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Ashley Bouder as Clara and Rezart Stafa as the Nutcracker   photo by Yasuko Kageyama, Opera di Roma 2014

One of the most charming and winning productions of The Nutcracker seen in Italy during the last fifty years, was created for the relatively small company AterBalletto. The company is now known as a … [Read more...] about Amodio and Luzzati’s Nutcracker and Coppélia once again go on tour

Passion, Love, Life… InternationBalLET makes its debut in Italy

6 July 2016 by Gramilano 5 Comments

InternationBalLET has arrived in Italy for two performances of its programme Passion, Love, Life... The newly-formed group is made up of dancers from the Hungarian State Ballet in Budapest but, … [Read more...] about Passion, Love, Life… InternationBalLET makes its debut in Italy

Carla Fracci gives her first ever masterclass… Giselle

30 March 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

After years of refusing offers from all over the world to share her intimate knowledge of the characters she has portrayed, Carla Fracci has agreed to give her first masterclass. The Ecole Superieure … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci gives her first ever masterclass… Giselle

Carla Fracci is the ‘white lilac lady’ in Moscow tonight

28 September 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

  Carla Fracci will perform in Moscow this evening in Lilacs, part of an evening dedicated to Sergei Rachmaninov. The concisely named Moscow State Musical Folklore Theatre Russkaya Pesnya … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci is the ‘white lilac lady’ in Moscow tonight

Carla Fracci 79 (today) to Roberto Bolle 40

21 August 2015 by Gramilano 9 Comments

Today Carla Fracci turns 79∗ and during August, she has been performing once again. Roberto Bolle is half her age and at 40 shows no sign of ending his career on stage. In 2007 Bolle famously … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci 79 (today) to Roberto Bolle 40

MAB 2015 shows some exciting ballet talent and surprising choreography

25 May 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The dance competition MAB (Maria Antonietta Berlusconi), has reached its sixth edition. It was born after the premature death of Silvio Berlusconi’s sister whose love for ballet led to her opening a … [Read more...] about MAB 2015 shows some exciting ballet talent and surprising choreography

How to stage a ballet… Maina Gielgud explains

17 May 2015 by Gramilano 4 Comments

The indefatigable Maina Gielgud is a freelance stager, guest teacher and coach. In 1983, two years after leaving her successful and varied career as a dancer, she became Artistic Director of the … [Read more...] about How to stage a ballet… Maina Gielgud explains

Eleonora Abbagnato on being both an Étoile in Paris and a company director in Rome

11 May 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

I'm happy that the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, and Sovrintendente Fuortes, have had faith in my passion. My heart has always remained in Italy and this theatre needs people who believe passionately … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato on being both an Étoile in Paris and a company director in Rome

Eleonora Abbagnato becomes director of the Rome Opera Ballet

4 April 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Eleonora Abbagnato is to become the new director of the Rome Opera Ballet. The official announcement from the Rome Opera's sovrintendente is expected in the next few days. It is known that Rome's … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato becomes director of the Rome Opera Ballet

Roberto Bolle on (not) retiring at forty

28 March 2015 by Gramilano 4 Comments

All the stars, the étoiles, have gone on dancing past pensionable age. Roughly speaking, that's 45 for a dancer. For most people this is about the right age, but it changes for those who have … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle on (not) retiring at forty

Les Étoiles in Rome: Zakharova, Nuñez, Lopatin, Soares…

12 January 2015 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Svetlana Zakharova © Gramilano

A good old-fashioned ballet gala: Nutcracker, Don Q, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire… it’s sometimes just what the doctor ordered. Daniele Cipriani’s Les Étoiles injected the audience in Rome with a generous … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles in Rome: Zakharova, Nuñez, Lopatin, Soares…

More dancers decide to leave Italy… most never come back

25 July 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Italy's Got Talent. Lots of it. Sometimes that talent finds it difficult to emerge - it's not always what you know but who you know - and sometimes there's not enough room for everyone to show what … [Read more...] about More dancers decide to leave Italy… most never come back

Carla Fracci, Claudio Coviello and the Prix Benois 2014

30 May 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

For more than twenty years the Benois Prize has been recognising talent with the most starry juries imaginable. The first year it consisted of Yury Grigorovich as its president, with Galina Ulanova … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci, Claudio Coviello and the Prix Benois 2014

Carla Fracci returns to dance on Italy’s heel

28 March 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Carla Fracci, now in her 78th year, will be opening in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice tomorrow, at Lecce's Teatro Politeama Greco. The Italian ballet icon will be appearing with the Balletto del Sud in … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci returns to dance on Italy’s heel

Black Swan Gala with Bouder, de Luz and Picone, tours Italy

25 March 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The title may make serious fans of ballet balk: Gran Gala Il Cigno Nero - Black Swan Gala. If Daniele Cipriani, the producer, wants to cash in on some of the publicity from the Darren Aronofsky film … [Read more...] about Black Swan Gala with Bouder, de Luz and Picone, tours Italy

Maina Gielgud answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

7 June 2013 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I took my first ballet classes when I was about 6 years old. It was in Brussels, and with a Russian teacher married to a Belgian. Her name was Mme de … [Read more...] about Maina Gielgud answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Étoile Eleonora Abbagnato and footballer hubby Federico Balzaretti: It’s complicated!

9 May 2013 by Gramilano 3 Comments

The new Paris Opera Ballet étoile, Eleonora Abbagnato, is back in Italy for the first of six episodes of a television talent show, Amici, where she will captain a team of young singers and … [Read more...] about Étoile Eleonora Abbagnato and footballer hubby Federico Balzaretti: It’s complicated!

Claudio Coviello is promoted to primo ballerino at La Scala

5 May 2013 by Gramilano 5 Comments

21-year-old Claudio Coviello, who famously stepped in at the last minute to replace Ivan Vasiliev, has been named primo ballerino (principal) after yesterday's performance as Albrecht in … [Read more...] about Claudio Coviello is promoted to primo ballerino at La Scala

Beppe Menegatti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Directors’ Edition

3 February 2013 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Q&A When did you first go to the theatre? To see Rigoletto at the Teatro Comunale in Florence on 10 October 1939 for my tenth birthday, with Gino Bechi, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Lina Aimaro and … [Read more...] about Beppe Menegatti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Directors’ Edition

Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

17 October 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 13 years old. Why did you start dancing? Because I liked it and in my house it was something normal to see ballet; although first I wanted to be a … [Read more...] about Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

15 January 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Q&A When did you start dan­cing? At 9 years old. Why did you start dan­cing? I saw Carla Fracci dancing. Which dan­cer inspired you most as a child? Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn for their … [Read more...] about Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Paul Chalmer answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

27 December 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? Age 6, then National Ballet School, Toronto, age 9. Why did you start dancing? Saw ballet on TV. Which dancer inspired you most as a … [Read more...] about Paul Chalmer answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Italian dancer Vito Mazzeo is promoted to principal with the San Francisco Ballet

24 June 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

At the end of his first year with the San Francisco Ballet, Italian ballet dancer Vito Mazzeo has been promoted to the role of principal dancer. Mazzeo is a product of the school of the Teatro alla … [Read more...] about Italian dancer Vito Mazzeo is promoted to principal with the San Francisco Ballet

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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