Lily Hyde sees BalleyBoyz’s 'Still Pointless' programme, admiring the company’s ten accomplished dancers, but finds some works… pointless? TitleStill PointlessCompanyBalletBoyzVenueSadler’s Wells, … [Read more...] about Review: BalletBoyz’s 25th anniversary show, Still Pointless – lacking evolution
Sadler’s Wells
Review: The Trocks in London with Olga Supphozova taking her final bows
Jonathan Gray has been admiring Robert Carter’s dancing for over 30 years, now on his last tour with The Trocks, who were “a delight from start to finish”. TitleMixed Bill: Le Lac des cygnes (Swan … [Read more...] about Review: The Trocks in London with Olga Supphozova taking her final bows
(A few) International Dance Day events – 29 April 2026
Today (some of) the world celebrates International Dance Day – Wednesday 29 April 2026 – and many initiatives have arrived in gramilano’s inbox over the last few days. Here is a selection. Siamo … [Read more...] about (A few) International Dance Day events – 29 April 2026
Review: Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote with Birmingham Royal Ballet – a frothy delight
Lily Hyde sees BRB's Don Quixote and is impressed by the lead dancers, the orchestrations, and the design, though disappointed by the corps de ballet. TitleDon QuixoteCompanyBirmingham Royal … [Read more...] about Review: Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote with Birmingham Royal Ballet – a frothy delight
Review: Company of Elders – over-60s present a double bill with charisma, poignancy and comedy
Graham Watts sees the Company of Elders at Sadler’s Wells' Elixir Festival, which champions performance by dancers of a certain age. TitleThey Look Like People | Survival Kit CompanyCompany of … [Read more...] about Review: Company of Elders – over-60s present a double bill with charisma, poignancy and comedy
Review: Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78, Pina Bausch through the eyes of Meryl Tankard
Lily Hyde sees a reworked version of Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof with original cast members from 1978 – mired in the old, the show presents something remarkably new. TitleKontakthof – Echoes of … [Read more...] about Review: Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78, Pina Bausch through the eyes of Meryl Tankard
Review: Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company in Solera – Spanish music and dance of the highest calibre
Jonathan Gray sees the Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company, a performance that ends with you wanting more from this wonderful array of artists. TitleSoleraCompanyPaco Peña Flamenco Dance … [Read more...] about Review: Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company in Solera – Spanish music and dance of the highest calibre
Review: English National Ballet’s double bill Body and Soul – commentaries on the state of the contemporary world
Jonathan Gray sees English National Ballet in a new double bill, Body and Soul, which the company dances to perfection. TitleBody and Soul (Part 1) | Proper ConductCompanyEnglish National … [Read more...] about Review: English National Ballet’s double bill Body and Soul – commentaries on the state of the contemporary world
Review: Turn It Out with Tiler Peck and Friends – an assembly of fabulous artists
Jonathan Gray sees Tiler Peck's Turn It Out – to see such a diverse array of dancing talent in one evening was wonderful. TitleThe Barre Project, Blake Works II | Thousandth Orange | Swift Arrow | … [Read more...] about Review: Turn It Out with Tiler Peck and Friends – an assembly of fabulous artists
Hofesh Shechter is awarded Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture
The Hofesh Shechter Company has announced that choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter OBE has been appointed to the rank of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This prestigious … [Read more...] about Hofesh Shechter is awarded Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture
English National Ballet announces its 2026-2027 season – A Season to ‘Feel More’
English National Ballet’s 2026-2027 season “opens up the possibilities of ballet, offering more ways to discover, feel and engage with ballet, on stage and beyond”. English National Ballet’s … [Read more...] about English National Ballet announces its 2026-2027 season – A Season to ‘Feel More’
Review: Akram Khan’s Giselle with English National Ballet – a triumph and danced with skill and understanding by an impressive cast
Lydia Wharf sees Akram Khan’s Giselle, and ten years on is moved to tears by this overwhelmingly enjoyable ballet. TitleGiselleCompanyEnglish National BalletVenueLondon ColiseumDate15 January … [Read more...] about Review: Akram Khan’s Giselle with English National Ballet – a triumph and danced with skill and understanding by an impressive cast
The best dozen dance shows of 2025 – a legacy of memories from Graham Watts’ year in dance
2025 saw a recovery in the number of shows that I saw, rising to 157 (from 135 in 2024) and – accounting for mixed programmes - they contained 216 separate works (rising from 176 in 2024). Although … [Read more...] about The best dozen dance shows of 2025 – a legacy of memories from Graham Watts’ year in dance
Review: London City Ballet with works by Page, Robbins, Chu, and Ratmansky
Graham Watts sees London City Ballet's mixed bill Rebirth, featuring Alexei Ratmansky’s "masterpiece of witty, inventive choreography" Pictures at an Exhibition. TitleRebirthCompanyLondon City … [Read more...] about Review: London City Ballet with works by Page, Robbins, Chu, and Ratmansky
BalletBoyz: Still Pointless At 25 – celebrating a quarter century on stage and screen
25 years after BalletBoyz presented Pointless at the Roundhouse, the company is back with Still Pointless, a retrospective journey through a quarter of a century of performing dance on stage and … [Read more...] about BalletBoyz: Still Pointless At 25 – celebrating a quarter century on stage and screen
Review: Hofesh Shechter’s Theatre of Dreams – magical and compelling
Lily Hyde sees the return of Hofesh Shechter Company’s Theatre of Dreams to Sadler’s Wells – an overwhelming sensory experience. TitleTheatre of DreamsCompanyHofesh Shechter CompanyVenueSadler’s … [Read more...] about Review: Hofesh Shechter’s Theatre of Dreams – magical and compelling
Review: Acosta Danza’s A Decade in Motion – an incredible coterie of dancers
Lily Hyde sees Acosta Danza celebrating A Decade in Motion – the incredible dancers deserve a better programme in which to display their talents. TitleA Decade in MotionCompanyAcosta … [Read more...] about Review: Acosta Danza’s A Decade in Motion – an incredible coterie of dancers
Review: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s ‘Vlaemsch (chez moi)’ – a love letter to Flanders
Graham Watts sees Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Vlaemsch (chez moi) with an outstanding ensemble of dancers. TitleVlaemsch (chez moi)CompanySidi Larbi Cherkaoui/ EastmanVenueSadler’s Wells, LondonDate18 … [Read more...] about Review: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s ‘Vlaemsch (chez moi)’ – a love letter to Flanders
Review: Michael Keegan-Dolan’s How to be a Dancer in Seventy-Two Thousand Easy Lessons
Graham Watts sees Michael Keegan-Dolan and Rachel Poirier in "How to be a Dancer…" – “never less than absorbing”. TitleHow to be a Dancer in Seventy-Two Thousand Easy LessonsCompanyMichael … [Read more...] about Review: Michael Keegan-Dolan’s How to be a Dancer in Seventy-Two Thousand Easy Lessons
Review: Momentum with London City Ballet – astonishing maturity
Graham Watts sees London City Ballet's return to London with Momentum – the company deserves every success. TitleMomentumCompanyLondon City BalletVenueSadler’s Wells, LondonDate13 September … [Read more...] about Review: Momentum with London City Ballet – astonishing maturity
Review: Russell Maliphant’s Maliphantworks4 – “I could watch it repeatedly, week-after-week.”
Graham Watts sees Russell Maliphant Dance Company in Maliphantworks4 – Russell Maliphant’s dance is a perfect prescription to cleanse the soul. TitleMaliphantworks4: In A Landscape | Afterlight … [Read more...] about Review: Russell Maliphant’s Maliphantworks4 – “I could watch it repeatedly, week-after-week.”
Dance Umbrella, London’s annual international dance festival in October, is also online
Dance Umbrella, London’s annual international dance festival, runs from 2 - 31 October 2025, not just at various theatres and sites in London, but also online. “This year’s Festival brings together … [Read more...] about Dance Umbrella, London’s annual international dance festival in October, is also online
Review: Rambert Dance’s Peaky Blinders – A major success. Catch it, if you can.
Graham Watts sees Peaky Blinders with Rambert Dance, which captures the 1920s aura with aplomb. TitlePeaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby CompanyRambert DanceVenueSadler’s Wells, … [Read more...] about Review: Rambert Dance’s Peaky Blinders – A major success. Catch it, if you can.
Review: Aakash Odedra is captivating in Songs of the Bulbul combining strength with grace
Graham Watts sees Aakash Odedra Company in Songs of the Bulbul, a sublime performance that received a rapturous, spontaneous standing ovation. TitleSongs of the BulbulCompanyAakash Odedra … [Read more...] about Review: Aakash Odedra is captivating in Songs of the Bulbul combining strength with grace
Interview: Christopher Marney, director of London City Ballet
Tonight, London City Ballet heads out on its second international tour, which starts at the Sintra Festival in Portugal, visits many venues around the UK (including London’s Sadler’s Wells from 13-14 … [Read more...] about Interview: Christopher Marney, director of London City Ballet
Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell – the masterful storyteller returns
Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel sees New Adventures in The Midnight Bell with Matthew Bourne exploring different kinds of love through “intricately beautiful choreography”. TitleThe Midnight BellCompanyNew … [Read more...] about Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell – the masterful storyteller returns
Review: Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía in PINEDA – a difficult work to comprehend
Graham Watts sees PINEDA with the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía – a mesmerisingly synchronised corps but lacking in magic. TitlePINEDA. Romance popular en tres estampas.CompanyBallet Flamenco de … [Read more...] about Review: Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía in PINEDA – a difficult work to comprehend
2024 National Dance Awards announced in London
The Winners of the 2024 National Dance Awards were announced at a ceremony at the Barbican Centre in London. It is the 25th anniversary of the Awards. The awards – voted upon by the 60 dance … [Read more...] about 2024 National Dance Awards announced in London
Review – Romancero del Baile Flamenco with Compañía Mercedes Ruiz
Graham Watts sees Compañía Mercedes Ruiz in Romancero del Baile Flamenco – a near-perfect demonstration of the elegant and authentic traditions of flamenco. TitleRomancero del Baile … [Read more...] about Review – Romancero del Baile Flamenco with Compañía Mercedes Ruiz
Review: Ballet BC double bill – Frontier and PASSING… we’re a universe in ourselves
Lucía Piquero sees Crystal Pite's Frontier and Johan Inger’s work PASSING with Canada's Ballet BC, on tour – dance that gives a sense of life. TitleCrystal Pite's Frontier - Johan Inger’s … [Read more...] about Review: Ballet BC double bill – Frontier and PASSING… we’re a universe in ourselves