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Gramilano logo 2023

- dance, opera, photography...

Steven McRae

The Royal Ballet – complete 2026-2027 Season

14 April 2026 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet has unveiled a programme that aims to honour its extraordinary lineage and embrace the future of the art form during the 2026-2027 Season. In celebration of his 20th anniversary as … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet – complete 2026-2027 Season

Review: Calvin Richardson makes an expressive and beautifully danced debut in The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling

3 April 2026 by Jonathan Gray Leave a Comment

Anna Rose O'Sullivan as Countess Marie Larisch and Calvin Richardson as Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling (c)2026 RBO. Photographed by Andrej Uspenski

Jonathan Gray sees Calvin Richardson's debut in Mayerling with The Royal Ballet – Tall, elegantly proportioned, expressive and, above all, blessed with great physical … [Read more...] about Review: Calvin Richardson makes an expressive and beautifully danced debut in The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling

Prix de Lausanne 2026 from 2 – 8 February, also online

1 February 2026 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

PARK YounJae - Prix de Lausanne 2025 - photo by Gregory Batardon - 1

The 54th edition of the Prix de Lausanne runs from 2 to 8 February 2026 and will be presided over by Kevin O'Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet. All the links to view the competition can be found … [Read more...] about Prix de Lausanne 2026 from 2 – 8 February, also online

Rocchetta Grand Jeté 2025 – Royal Ballet dancers in the Monferrato wine district

23 July 2025 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Sleeping Beauty - Julia Roscoe and Aiden O'Brien - Rocchetta Grand Jeté, photo by Graham Spicer 2025 - 04

The village of Rocchetta Tanaro lies in the heart of the Monferrato wine district in Piedmont, one of Italy’s most important wine-producing areas. Here, ten Royal Ballet dancers descended for the … [Read more...] about Rocchetta Grand Jeté 2025 – Royal Ballet dancers in the Monferrato wine district

Interview: talking to Melissa Hamilton, The Royal Ballet’s new principal dancer

10 May 2025 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Melissa Hamilton 2

The Royal Ballet’s Melissa Hamilton, recently promoted to Principal Dancer, will dance in Christopher Wheeldon’s Fool’s Paradise, opening the company’s Ballet to Broadway mixed bill of Wheeldon works. … [Read more...] about Interview: talking to Melissa Hamilton, The Royal Ballet’s new principal dancer

Review: Ballet Nights 006 – high calibre works and artists going where the artistic wind takes them

5 September 2024 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

CONSTANCE DEVERNAY-LAURENCE at BALLET NIGHTS CADOGAN HALL photo by Deborah Jaffe (14)

Matthew Paluch sees Ballet Nights 006 at London’s Cadogan Hall: “A collective of (generally) high calibre works and artists going where the artistic wind takes them in order to take risks and … [Read more...] about Review: Ballet Nights 006 – high calibre works and artists going where the artistic wind takes them

Review: London Children’s Ballet’s The Secret Garden

8 July 2024 by Graham Watts Leave a Comment

The Secret Garden - London Children's Ballet, photo by ASH 2024 - 11

Graham Watts sees The Secret Garden, this year's production from the London Children’s Ballet TitleThe Secret Garden   CompanyLondon Children’s BalletVenueThe Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s … [Read more...] about Review: London Children’s Ballet’s The Secret Garden

[Review] Mosaic International Dance Festival, Dubai

18 November 2023 by Graham Watts Leave a Comment

Natalia Osipova’s Force of Nature, photo by Andrei Uspenski - 1

Graham Watts sees the 'preamble' to the Mosaic International Dance Festival in Dubai TitleRoyal Ballet Star (Natalia Osipova's Force of Nature); Nureyev – Legend and Legacy CompanyMosaic … [Read more...] about [Review] Mosaic International Dance Festival, Dubai

Royal Academy of Dance announces winners of the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2023

30 October 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

RAD Fonteyn medalist Jakob Wheway Hughes 1

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) presented the final of its Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2023 last night at His Majesty’s Theatre in London. The Fonteyn competition is the pinnacle … [Read more...] about Royal Academy of Dance announces winners of the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition 2023

Rocchetta Grand Jeté – Royal Ballet dancers among the Italian vines

22 August 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Taisuke Nakao, Meaghan Grace Hinkis and Daichi Ikarashi in Les Lutins by Johan Kobborg

This weekend – 26 and 27 August – sees Steven McRae, Sarah Lamb, Matthew Ball, Mayara Magri, Ryoichi Hirano, Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Laura Morera, and other members of The Royal Ballet, in a gala … [Read more...] about Rocchetta Grand Jeté – Royal Ballet dancers among the Italian vines

The Fonteyn 2023 – RAD’s The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition

25 July 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Fonteyn

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) will mount The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition (The Fonteyn) from 22-29 October 2023 in London – it will be the first in-person The Fonteyn competition … [Read more...] about The Fonteyn 2023 – RAD’s The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition

Royal Ballet casting for autumn performances 2023 with role debuts

4 June 2023 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Artists-of-the-Royal-Ballet-in-Anemoi-The-Royal-Ballet-2021-ROH.-Photograph-by-Alice-Pennefather

The Royal Ballet casting for main roles is announced for all performances from 30 September 2023 until 13 January 2024. General booking opens on 2 August 2023 for the whole period. The ballets … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet casting for autumn performances 2023 with role debuts

[Review] Awakening the Beauty. Two Royal Ballet Auroras: Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Mayara Magri

27 January 2023 by Jonathan Gray 3 Comments

Mayara Magri in The Sleeping Beauty, photo by Andrej Uspenski-03

Guest author Jonathan Gray sees two Sleeping Beauty casts at The Royal Opera House, London TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueThe Royal Opera House, LondonDate17 and 19 January … [Read more...] about [Review] Awakening the Beauty. Two Royal Ballet Auroras: Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Mayara Magri

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

19 January 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Prix de Lausanne 2020-01

The Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 will be given to Carlos Acosta CBE, a Prix de Lausanne Prize Winner in 1990 and current Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Prix de Lausanne 2023 50th … [Read more...] about Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

[Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future

17 November 2022 by Matthew Paluch 7 Comments

Marcelino Sambé and Matthew Ball in For Four 2022 ROH, photographed by Andrej Uspenski

How should the Royal Opera House celebrate 60 years of The Friends of Covent Garden? Krumping? Balanchine? Don't stress, you don't have to choose, we're getting both in the buffet that is The Royal … [Read more...] about [Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future

Anna Rose O’Sullivan answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

14 February 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Anna Rose O'Sullivan as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty - photo by Helen Maybanks ROH 2019-crop

When did you start dancing? I started dancing around the age of 4 and I instantly fell in love with ballet. As a young child I would put performances on for my family using the fireplace hearth as … [Read more...] about Anna Rose O’Sullivan answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

A plethora of Swan Lake debuts at the Royal Opera House

3 February 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov photographed for Swan Lake © ROH 2017. Photographed by Bill Cooper

The Royal Ballet's 2018 production of Swan Lake returns to The Royal Opera House stage in March and May for 24 performances and with a live cinema relay on 19 May. The opening night on 1 March will … [Read more...] about A plethora of Swan Lake debuts at the Royal Opera House

Casting for The Royal Ballet Romeo and Juliet opening the 2021-2022 Season

8 September 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marcelino Sambé and Anna Rose OSullivan as in Romeo and Juliet, photo by Helen Maybanks

This October The Royal Ballet returns for its first full season in 18 months. The season includes world premieres of Wayne McGregor’s The Dante Project, Christopher Wheeldon’s Like Water for … [Read more...] about Casting for The Royal Ballet Romeo and Juliet opening the 2021-2022 Season

World Ballet Festival, Denmark, announces 2021 programme

14 April 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Lauren Cuthbertson and Marian Walter, Verdensballetten 2018

Xander Parish, Lauren Cuthbertson, Marcelino Sambé, Federico Bonelli, Yasmine Naghdi, Marian Walter and Ida Praetorius will dance at this year's festival. For 13 years running, The World Ballet … [Read more...] about World Ballet Festival, Denmark, announces 2021 programme

Ballet treats to view online during the holidays

24 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker © Erin Baiano

Dance programming for the festive period from companies all over the world are many: free, subscription and pay-per-view. Here are some that have caught my eye. Please feel free to signal in the … [Read more...] about Ballet treats to view online during the holidays

The Royal Ballet cancels its live stream of The Nutcracker

21 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Yasmine Naghdi as The Sugar Plum Fairy and Matthew Ball as The Prince in The Nutcracker, The Royal Ballet © 2017 ROH, photo by Karolina Kuras

Following London’s move to Tier 4 status The Royal Ballet has decided to cancel its stream of The Nutcracker on Tuesday 22 December. The company says that it is obviously very … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet cancels its live stream of The Nutcracker

Dancers leaving The Royal Ballet in 2020

15 December 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The following dancers have decided to leave The Royal Ballet during the 2020/21 Season, taking up voluntary redundancy as part of the Royal Opera House restructure in response to the coronavirus … [Read more...] about Dancers leaving The Royal Ballet in 2020

Full Royal Opera House TV and streaming times for the Christmas period

5 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Magic Flute, The Royal Opera. © 2017, ROH. Photographed by Tristram Kenton. (2)

The Royal Opera House has announced its biggest ever programme of streaming and digital content, across a large range of platforms, “brought straight from our house to your house” over the Christmas … [Read more...] about Full Royal Opera House TV and streaming times for the Christmas period

Marquee TV – the Netflix for the arts – now streaming MacMillan’s Mayerling

18 June 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mayerling - Steven McRae as Prince Rudolf © ROH, 2017, Photographed by Alice Pennefather

Marquee TV has been called “the new Netflix for the arts” with its global streaming TV service for dance, opera and theatre. It has a pleasing interface and, more importantly, some great content … [Read more...] about Marquee TV – the Netflix for the arts – now streaming MacMillan’s Mayerling

Another Royal Ballet dancer joins the cast of Cats the movie – Olivia Cowley

8 November 2018 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Balanchine's Apollo with Olivia Cowley as Calliope © ROH, Dave Morgan

Kevin O'Hare faces the possibility of ever more complicated cast changes on the Covent Garden stage when filming of the adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical musical Cats begins as … [Read more...] about Another Royal Ballet dancer joins the cast of Cats the movie – Olivia Cowley

Royal Ballet Principal Steven McRae cast in Cats movie

8 November 2018 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Winter's Tale. Steven McRae as Florizel. ©ROH, Johan Persson 2014

Steven McRae, Principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, is to join the cast of Universal Pictures and Working Title’s film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, directed by Academy Award … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet Principal Steven McRae cast in Cats movie

Photo Album – 40th anniversary performances of Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling

8 October 2018 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Mayerling - Steven McRae as Prince Rudolf © ROH, 2018

Kenneth MacMillan’s darkly dramatic masterpiece, Mayerling, opens The Royal Ballet’s 2018/19 Season. Featuring one of the most technically demanding male roles in classical ballet, Mayerling is based … [Read more...] about Photo Album – 40th anniversary performances of Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling

Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s triple bill by Tharp, Pita and Shechter

7 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Wind. Artists of The Royal Ballet. ©ROH, 2017, photo by Tristram Kenton 2

New work is as central to the repertory of The Royal Ballet as revivals of the classics. For Director of The Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare, contemporary choreographers and dancers are ‘creating the … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s triple bill by Tharp, Pita and Shechter

Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra

21 September 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Zenaida Yanowsky as the Red Queen in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland © Johan Persson, ROH 2011

Frank Sinatra famously retired in 1970 only to make a comeback three years later, after which he continued to sing into the '90s. Former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky is making a faster … [Read more...] about Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra

Interview with Steven McRae and Takafumi Adachi, creators of ‘Ballet Hero Fantasy’, now available in English

19 June 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dance World Map

While the phrase “Ballet Hero Fantasy featuring Steven McRae" may conjure up images of a red-haired Byronic smoulderer in tights, sweeping you off your feet, and down into a fish dive, as his lips … [Read more...] about Interview with Steven McRae and Takafumi Adachi, creators of ‘Ballet Hero Fantasy’, now available in English

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Gramilano newsletter 2019

INTERVIEWS

Sergei Polunin, Romeo and Juliet, Verona 2019

Interview with Sergei Polunin – Verona’s new Romeo

Anna Netrebko, photo by Ruven Afanador

Interview with Anna Netrebko on Tosca at La Scala: kissing, killing, and Kabaivanska

Boléro with Roberto Bolle photo by Brescia e Amisano Teatro alla Scala, 2019 (9)

[Interview] Roberto Bolle: I’m very focused on what I do… that’s a difficult pact for anyone

Jacopo Bellussi and Alessandro Frola in Peter and Igor, Nijinsky Gala, Hamburg 2021 38 © Kiran West

A new John Neumeier work brings two Italian dancers back home

Rihab Chaieb photographed by Gerard Collett - 7

Interview with mezzo soprano Rihab Chaieb – from goths to Mozart, Tunisia to Glyndebourne – a life of contrast

Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre

The Nutcracker rehearsals - Claudio Coviello with Manuel Legris, photo by Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker

Alessandra Ferri an Eleonora Duse © Kiran West

Alessandra Ferri: The art of becoming a couple is the gamble of a lifetime

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer, aka 'Gramilano', is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. 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, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.

Since 2022, Gramilano has been pleased to welcome guest authors: Paul Arrowsmith, Donatella Bertozzi, Georgina Butler, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Ann Haskins, Lily Hyde, Marta Mele, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Lucía Piquero, Graham Watts, Deborah Weiss, and Lydia Wharf.

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