In 1963, journalist Barry Norman – later famous on television as a film critic – was writing on entertainment for The Daily Mail, and he shadowed Dame Margot Fonteyn for a day, the day she recorded … [Read more...] about Dame Margot Fonteyn’s topsy-turvy day, with Rudolf Nureyev, Annette Page and Richard Attenborough
Swan Lake
Marianela Nuñez celebrates 20 years with The Royal Ballet
Incredibly, this February Marianela Nuñez celebrates 20 years of dancing with The Royal Ballet. She arrived in London from Argentina when she was 16, and studied for a year at The Royal Ballet … [Read more...] about Marianela Nuñez celebrates 20 years with The Royal Ballet
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
Saved by the corps! The Mariinsky under par for Swan Lake in Turin
The buzz of anticipation in the theatre wasn’t matched by the Mariinsky Ballet’s performance at Turin’s Teatro Regio. Maybe the company decided not to field its top players because it … [Read more...] about Saved by the corps! The Mariinsky under par for Swan Lake in Turin
Xander Parish becomes a Principal Dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet
Last night, on the stage of The Royal Opera House which he left eight years ago, Xander Parish was promoted to Principal Dancer of the Mariinsky Theatre. The Mariinsky are in London for a three … [Read more...] about Xander Parish becomes a Principal Dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet
Ratmansky’s Swan Lake delights once again at La Scala: music and choreography restored
Such was La Scala’s confidence in Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake that even before its premiere in Milan in June 2016 — the co-production with Zurich had had its world premiere four months earlier — it … [Read more...] about Ratmansky’s Swan Lake delights once again at La Scala: music and choreography restored
Bolshoi Ballet’s Italian dancer, Jacopo Tissi, on his first year in Moscow and dancing Diamonds at the Lincoln Center
Last August, young ballet dancer Jacopo Tissi, resigned from the La Scala Ballet to accept the offer a contract with the Bolshoi Company. As I wrote last September, it’s not something that happens … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet’s Italian dancer, Jacopo Tissi, on his first year in Moscow and dancing Diamonds at the Lincoln Center
Cuban National Ballet in Turin with refreshing musicality and flair
Picture this. Turin. A balmy summer evening. To the left is piazza Castello with its impressive medieval castle. To the right, the Royal Palace, once home to the Kings of Savoy. Between the two, a … [Read more...] about Cuban National Ballet in Turin with refreshing musicality and flair
Luisa Spinatelli – celebrating the life of the Milanese opera and ballet designer
Luisa Spinatelli… taking tasteful to a higher dimension The Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala), run by the indefatigable Anna Crespi, gathered together at the association’s spectacular … [Read more...] about Luisa Spinatelli – celebrating the life of the Milanese opera and ballet designer
The tale of a dyslexic ballerina
Sabrina Brazzo, former Principal Dancer at La Scala – but still dancing wonderfully – is dyslexic, and she has put her story onstage. Dyslexia isn’t just about difficulty with reading and writing, … [Read more...] about The tale of a dyslexic ballerina
Martina Arduino and Claudio Coviello as the star-crossed lovers at La Scala
The roles of Romeo and Juliet are unexpectedly hard to bring off in ballet. In the play, the timbre of the voice and meaning of the text explain what the two are thinking and feeling, whereas, using … [Read more...] about Martina Arduino and Claudio Coviello as the star-crossed lovers at La Scala
Anaïs Chalendard answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I started taking "ballet" class when I was very little; about 4 years old. But I think I really started proper classes when I turned 6 or 7. Why did you … [Read more...] about Anaïs Chalendard answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
La Scala Ballet returns to Paris with Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
After the success in Milan before the summer, La Scala now takes Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake to Paris for six performances at the Palais des Congrès. The production was coproduced with the Opernhaus … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet returns to Paris with Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
Martina Arduino in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – a ballet star is born at La Scala?
If you visit NASA’s website, they define a protostar as the “hot core at the heart of the collapsing cloud that will one day become a star”. 19-year-old Martina Arduino, who graduated from La … [Read more...] about Martina Arduino in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – a ballet star is born at La Scala?
Derek Deane answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I was nearly 16. Late... I never had any intention of becoming a ballet dancer. Why did you start dancing? So that I could play the Artful Dodger in a local … [Read more...] about Derek Deane answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dance Edition
Countdown to Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – photos and video interview
Tonight's the night. One of the most anticipated of La Scala's season. The debut of Alexei Ratmansky's reconstruction of Petipa and Ivanov's Swan Lake. The production is a co-production with Zurich … [Read more...] about Countdown to Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – photos and video interview
La Scala dancers talk about being in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
The new director of La Scala’s ballet company, Mauro Bigonzetti, has chosen to present the new version of Swan Lake with in-house casting “to help our dancers grow”. This is very unusual at La Scala, … [Read more...] about La Scala dancers talk about being in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
Ratmansky explains why his Swan Lake is arriving bigger and better at La Scala
Alexei Ratmansky’s reconstruction of Marius Petipa’s Swan Lake was rapturously received by almost all the critics when it premiered in Zurich in February. Alastair Macaulay in The New York Times said, … [Read more...] about Ratmansky explains why his Swan Lake is arriving bigger and better at La Scala
A good, old-fashioned gala? Pignotti salutes Nureyev
Luigi Pignotti was Rudolf Nureyev’s massager then manager. He now has a company which produces evenings of ballet, flamenco and tango… though not together. It was, maybe, obvious that he would … [Read more...] about A good, old-fashioned gala? Pignotti salutes Nureyev
Svetlana Zakharova on her emotions, motherhood and not wanting to dance
Does Svetlana Zakharova find it easier to express her emotions on stage than in life? Without a doubt. In life I don’t like to reveal them. Why? Is it a Russian thing? No, it’s how I was brought … [Read more...] about Svetlana Zakharova on her emotions, motherhood and not wanting to dance
Sergei Polunin to replace ailing David Hallberg in Giselle with Natalia Osipova
David Hallberg has been forced to withdraw from his Spring engagements as he his still recovering from the surgery he underwent during the Summer of last year. In a thrilling casting coup, he will be … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin to replace ailing David Hallberg in Giselle with Natalia Osipova
En Avant’s next ballet projects include a special encounter with Marcelo Gomes
The En Avant Foundation will present specialised coaching master classes for advanced pre-professional and professional dancers in San Francisco and in New York in April 2015. The Foundation's … [Read more...] about En Avant’s next ballet projects include a special encounter with Marcelo Gomes
Les Étoiles in Rome: Zakharova, Nuñez, Lopatin, Soares…
A good old-fashioned ballet gala: Nutcracker, Don Q, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire… it’s sometimes just what the doctor ordered. Daniele Cipriani’s Les Étoiles injected the audience in Rome with a generous … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles in Rome: Zakharova, Nuñez, Lopatin, Soares…
Francesca Hayward answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 3 years old. My grandparents didn't know how to keep me occupied so they bought a video of The Nutcracker on a whim and that was it, I was happy … [Read more...] about Francesca Hayward answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
What a mess: Italian tv tries to film Don Quixote
What an opportunity: two of the best dancers in the world - Natalia Osipova and Leonid Sarafanov - in one of Rudolph Nureyev's most successful choreographic works, and with a company at the top of … [Read more...] about What a mess: Italian tv tries to film Don Quixote
Opera snobs won’t stop us going back to La Bohème
By Peter Franklin, University of Oxford The Royal Opera House’s restaging of La Bohème will get the same responses as any other production of the Puccini opera. The savvy enthusiast hedges … [Read more...] about Opera snobs won’t stop us going back to La Bohème
Mini-interview with David Hallberg
Before David Hallberg's début in Rudolf Nureyev's Swan Lake at La Scala he went into "hibernation", something he says he does before all performances, especially opening nights. I stay still to not … [Read more...] about Mini-interview with David Hallberg
Ukrainian ballerinas perform anti-Putin Swan Lake in front of tanks
In Odessa four brave cygnets danced to Tchaikovsky's music in front of military tanks. The Ukrainian ballerinas were outside Odessa's military history museum, and, reports The Moscow Times, "was … [Read more...] about Ukrainian ballerinas perform anti-Putin Swan Lake in front of tanks
Adam Bull answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? At 8 years old. Why did you start dancing? I was encouraged to dance by my Grade 1 primary school teacher. She saw something within me which I didn't even … [Read more...] about Adam Bull answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Hallberg and Zakharova: a sublime couple in Nureyev’s Swan Lake in Milan
David Hallberg's reception at La Scala was rapturous. He is making his house début in Milan as well as tackling Rudolf Nureyev's tricky choreography for Swan Lake for the first time. Loud cries of … [Read more...] about Hallberg and Zakharova: a sublime couple in Nureyev’s Swan Lake in Milan
