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 exhibition of Umenoto’s sculptures:His works are contemporary but respect the past – you can feel the importance of memory yet there is a profound break with it. After seeing his … [Read more...] about Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
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 Verona’s vast Arena with 30,000 seats it is the equivalent of a 15-performance run in an opera house.Joining them on stage will be The Royal Ballet’s First Soloist, Valentino … [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, Eleonora Abbagnato, and her “attitude”. The Italian news agency Adnkronos printed the letter in full.The company, which gave its last performance of Romeo and Juliet at the … [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 loved. Today, I see a separation between men and women with too much aggressivity and competition between the sexes. For me, if I don’t have love in my life, I’m unable to do … [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 of the ballet from the wings, and to take shots from behind the curtain during Hayward and Corrales’s triumphant curtain call.Romeo and Juliet 5 pmGetting readyFrancesca … [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, currently in a triple bill, was followed by a gala of extracts from ballets representing some of Fonteyn’s most celebrated roles.Another dame, Dame Darcey Bussell, also appeared on stage … [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:Sylvia14 December 2019 – 14 January 2020Music: Léo Delibes Choreography: Manuel Legris based on Louis Mérante and others Story and libretto: Manuel Legris and Jean-François Vazelle based on Jules Barbier and Jacques de Reinach Sets and costumes: Luisa … [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, was present at La Scala’s opening of Wayne McGregor’s ballet Woolf Works earlier this month on 7 April and saw Andrijashenko dancing the role of Septimus in the work’s first part, I … [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 WhartonI last interviewed Yasmine Naghdi in September of 2015 when she and Matthew Ball were preparing to dance Romeo and Juliet together. They were dancing the roles for the first time — she was a Soloist and he a First Artist.Time passes … [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 Ballet of Canada, announced that Sadler’s Wells in London will co-produce Frame by Frame, a collaboration between theatre artist Lepage and Choreographic Associate and Principal … [Read more...] about Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté’s new dance work Frame by Frame to come to Sadler’s Wells