On 14 March 2020, The Royal Ballet’s principal dancer Lauren Cuthbertson was dancing Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. A rare honour. She was partnered by former … [Read more...] about Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Lauren Cuthbertson – so much passion
Romeo and Juliet
Erik Bruhn and Carla Fracci – Romeo and Juliet, 1966
Erik Bruhn choreographed a version of Romeo and Juliet, which he and Carla Fracci danced with the Rome Opera Ballet in 1966. Between performances, they recorded the balcony scene, which today has … [Read more...] about Erik Bruhn and Carla Fracci – Romeo and Juliet, 1966
Alessandro Macario answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start dancing? I started dancing when I was four. Why did you start dancing? My uncle was a dancer and ran a ballet school, so I’m sure that I began dancing … [Read more...] about Alessandro Macario answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Three years ago, Jacopo Tissi left La Scala to join the Bolshoi Company in Moscow. Makhar Vaziev, the Company’s current director, was previously the director at La Scala and had seen Tissi’s work. It … [Read more...] about Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Interview with Sergei Polunin – Verona’s new Romeo
On the eve of the debut of a new Romeo and Juliet at Verona’s Arena with choreography by Johan Kobborg and with Sergei Polunin and Alina Cojocaru in the title roles, Polunin talked with Vogue Italia’s … [Read more...] about Interview with Sergei Polunin – Verona’s new Romeo
Matthew Bourne’s new Romeo and Juliet comes to cinema screens
Matthew Bourne’s contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is set in the not-too-distant future in ‘The Verona Institute’. ‘Difficult’ young people are mysteriously confined by a … [Read more...] about Matthew Bourne’s new Romeo and Juliet comes to cinema screens
Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
Johan Kobborg asked David Umenoto to design the sets for his Romeo and Juliet which has its world premiere in Verona’s vast Arena on 26 August. The commission came about after Kobborg had seen an … [Read more...] about Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti is Mercutio in the Kobborg-Polunin-Cojocaru Romeo and Juliet
On the 26 August, there will be a single performance only of Johan Kobborg’s new production of Romeo and Juliet with Sergei Polunin and Alina Cojocaru in the title roles. But when the theatre in … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti is Mercutio in the Kobborg-Polunin-Cojocaru Romeo and Juliet
Rome Opera Ballet dancers accuse director Eleonora Abbagnato of “disrespectful” behaviour
Unions representing the dancers at Rome Opera Ballet have sent a letter to the directors of the Rome Opera House complaining about the “disrespectful” behaviour of the director of the ballet company, … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet dancers accuse director Eleonora Abbagnato of “disrespectful” behaviour
Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
In an interview, before several appearances in the Italian peninsula over the next two months, Sergei Polunin said, I deeply believe in love. It’s a universal feeling; everyone wants to love and be … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
Backstage at The Royal Ballet: Francesca Hayward and Cesar Corrales
Dasa Wharton took her camera backstage to glimpse Francesca Hayward and Cesar Corrales preparing for a performance of Romeo and Juliet at The Royal Opera House. She was also there to capture moments … [Read more...] about Backstage at The Royal Ballet: Francesca Hayward and Cesar Corrales
Photos and full programme of Margot Fonteyn, A Celebration with The Royal Ballet
Last night, 8 June 2019, The Royal Ballet celebrated the centenary of the birth of its most famous ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn, who was born on 18 May 1919. A performance of The Firebird, … [Read more...] about Photos and full programme of Margot Fonteyn, A Celebration with The Royal Ballet
La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
This morning, Frédéric Olivieri, director of La Scala’s ballet company, announced the theatre's 2019-2020 season: Sylvia 14 December 2019 – 14 January 2020 Music: Léo Delibes Choreography: Manuel … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
La Scala’s Timofej Andrijashenko to guest as Romeo with The Royal Ballet
La Scala Principal Dancer Timofej Andrijashenko will dance Romeo at The Royal Opera House in London on 27 April and 4 May alongside Melissa Hamilton. The director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare, … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Timofej Andrijashenko to guest as Romeo with The Royal Ballet
Interview: For The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi it’s “Ready, Steady, Go”!
Interview with Yasmine Naghdi as she dances in the world premiere of Alastair Marriott’s The Unknown Soldier - with photos by Dasa Wharton I last interviewed Yasmine Naghdi in September of 2015 when … [Read more...] about Interview: For The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi it’s “Ready, Steady, Go”!
Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté’s new dance work Frame by Frame to come to Sadler’s Wells
Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté's new dance work Frame by Frame opens tonight, 1 June, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National … [Read more...] about Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté’s new dance work Frame by Frame to come to Sadler’s Wells
Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
Last night a Gala to celebrate Rudolf Nureyev was had at La Scala. It is the 80th Anniversary of his birth and also 25 years after his death. The Gala was previewed by a benefit audience on Thursday, … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
Interview with The Royal Ballet’s hot couple: Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell
Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell are quickly becoming The Royal Ballet's ‘couple to see’. After recent successes dancing Clara and the Nutcracker, as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her … [Read more...] about Interview with The Royal Ballet’s hot couple: Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell
Rudolf Nureyev died 25 years ago – La Scala pays tribute to the great dancer
Rudolf Nureyev’s debut at La Scala was on 9 October 1965 when, finally, the Milanese public had the opportunity to see the Russian dancer that all the newspapers were writing about. With him was … [Read more...] about Rudolf Nureyev died 25 years ago – La Scala pays tribute to the great dancer
La Scala’s fired ballerina, and eating-disorder author, Mary Garret on her first year back with the company
In 2016, Mary Garret walked through the artists’ entrance at La Scala, ready to take daily class again with the company that had fired her four years previously. The ballerina Mariafrancesca … [Read more...] about La Scala’s fired ballerina, and eating-disorder author, Mary Garret on her first year back with the company