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
Royal Ballet School
Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
I’m enjoying a new chapter in my life having the fortune to play women of my age and not romantic roles like the Giselles, Carmens, Juliets, Manons… all wonderful, but enough, they’re part of another Alessandra. Now I’m a 55-year-old with the knowledge of how extraordinary that is.Alessandra Ferri, now in Milan for a run of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works, created for her at The … [Read more...] about Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
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”!
The Royal Ballet promotions for 2018/19 season: Matthew Ball has been promoted to Principal dancer
Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet, has announced that Matthew Ball has been promoted to Principal Dancer. He said,I’m delighted that Matthew Ball will be a Principal dancer from the start of the 2018/19 Season. He has had a tremendous year with very exciting debuts in both classical and contemporary ballets across the repertory as well as creating roles in the new … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet promotions for 2018/19 season: Matthew Ball has been promoted to Principal dancer
Lead Principal Aaron Robison to leave English National Ballet after one season
Lead Principal Aaron Robison has decided to leave English National Ballet at the end of the current season.Robison only joined English National Ballet in June last year and will be returning to San Francisco Ballet where he danced as a Principal from 2016-2017, prior to joining ENB. Before that he danced with Houston Ballet, Corella Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet.He … [Read more...] about Lead Principal Aaron Robison to leave English National Ballet after one season
Former Royal Ballet principal Miyako Yoshida becomes Artistic Director of New National Ballet Tokyo
Miyako Yoshida, former Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, has been appointed Artistic Director of the New National Ballet Tokyo.The Ballet Company is part of Tokyo's New National Theatre, Japan's most prestigious centre for the performing arts, taking in opera, ballet, contemporary dance and drama. This season celebrates its 20th anniversary.Yoshida will be the … [Read more...] about Former Royal Ballet principal Miyako Yoshida becomes Artistic Director of New National Ballet Tokyo
English National Ballet announces promotions and new joiners for the 2018/2019 season
Tamara Rojo has announced promotions within English National Ballet and new joiners for the 2018/2019 season.Joiners and promotionsJoining the Company will be Jeffrey Cirio who joins English National Ballet as Lead Principal following his recent guest performances in Song of the Earth, La Sylphide, Romeo & Juliet, Nutcracker and Akram Khan’s Giselle. Cirio is … [Read more...] about English National Ballet announces promotions and new joiners for the 2018/2019 season
Meeting Alice Bellini, winner of English National Ballet’s People’s Choice Award 2018
Alice Bellini, who graduated from The Royal Ballet School last year, has won this year’s People’s Choice Award at the annual Emerging Artists competition held by English National Ballet to promote its new talent. The People’s Choice Award is voted for by audience members so represents how an artist communicates with the public.This is my first season with English National … [Read more...] about Meeting Alice Bellini, winner of English National Ballet’s People’s Choice Award 2018
Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers Delia Mathews and Brandon Lawrence on dancing The Sleeping Beauty
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s run of The Sleeping Beauty performances is coming to end, with the final performances being given this week at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal. The very last performance features Delia Mathews and Brandon Lawrence.Dasa Wharton went to photograph a stage rehearsal and I talked to them about the dancing this most famous of ballets.Both dancers are new to … [Read more...] about Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers Delia Mathews and Brandon Lawrence on dancing The Sleeping Beauty
Finalists of English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition at the London Coliseum in June
On Monday 11 June 2018, English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition will be held at the London Coliseum for the first time.Emerging Dancer is a key part of English National Ballet’s commitment to developing and nurturing talent within the company and through this annual event, English National Ballet recognises the excellence of its artists.Six of the … [Read more...] about Finalists of English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition at the London Coliseum in June