A tribute by Ioannides Yiannakis In 29 December 1984, after a memorable performance of Swan Lake at the Paris Opera, the great Rudolf Nureyev named an extraordinary 19-year-old étoile. Her name … [Read more...] about Sylvie’s last dance: a tribute to Guillem, the artist and her career
Sylvie Guillem
Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
Milan is not like London or New York… there’s not a lot of dance going on. The resident company at La Scala will be performing six titles during the coming season. That’s S-I-X. And there will not be … [Read more...] about Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start dancing? In a gym near our house when I was seven-years-old. Why did you start dancing? It was something my mother wanted me to do, and she took … [Read more...] about Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Alessandra Ferri: age doesn’t mean anything, I love to laugh, I love to live
Several recent posts on this blog have pondered on dancers' ages: Sylvie Guillem at 50 on her farewell tour; and just the other day I wrote about Carla Fracci returning once more to the stage at 79 … [Read more...] about Alessandra Ferri: age doesn’t mean anything, I love to laugh, I love to live
50th Anniversary of MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet
The Royal Ballet 2015/16 Season opens this September with the return of Kenneth MacMillan’s landmark Romeo and Juliet, celebrating 50 years since its première at the Royal Opera House in 1965. It will … [Read more...] about 50th Anniversary of MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet
Ardani Artists 25th Anniversary “If only all Galas could be like this”
Sergei and Gaiane Danilian, The Russian couple known by their company name, Ardani Artists, marked their 25th anniversary of dance management, production and promotion with a gala featuring some of … [Read more...] about Ardani Artists 25th Anniversary “If only all Galas could be like this”
Sabrina Brazzo & Co take their all-leather ballet to the Lincoln Center
Tonight, at the Lincoln Center in New York, a new Italian ballet will take to the stage which features almost only leather costumes. When the piece made its début in Milan two years ago, I … [Read more...] about Sabrina Brazzo & Co take their all-leather ballet to the Lincoln Center
We may be saying ‘bye’ to the dancer, but certainly not to Sylvie Guillem
Sylvie Guillem is an extraordinary creature: exuding a special aura yet blessed with the common touch. She has almost always been this way, the ordinary (little or no makeup, bare legs in ballet) … [Read more...] about We may be saying ‘bye’ to the dancer, but certainly not to Sylvie Guillem
Ek, Laguna, Mercy and Linke in Rome: over 200 years of dance experience
For two nights from tomorrow in Rome there is the possibility to attend a most unusual dance gala. While there are only four taking part, their ages combined total 266 years. The dancers are Mats Ek, … [Read more...] about Ek, Laguna, Mercy and Linke in Rome: over 200 years of dance experience
Massimo Murru on Roland Petit: he was a great s*****o!
We tend to gloss over the negative aspects of colleagues who are no longer with us, and are usually discreet about their shortcomings when they are still alive. It is left to the gutter press to dig … [Read more...] about Massimo Murru on Roland Petit: he was a great s*****o!
Another Italian dance company to close
After a series of ‘si’, ‘no’, ‘si’, ‘no’, the decision has been made to axe the corps de ballet in Florence. MaggioDanza, under the umbrella of Il Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, which even Sylvie … [Read more...] about Another Italian dance company to close
Ludmila Pagliero answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? Because I was always moving as a child and I had to do something with my body. I asked my mom and she … [Read more...] about Ludmila Pagliero answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Elena Vostrotina answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I was always dancing since I can remember. From when I was 5-years-old in various ballet schools, and since I was 10 at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Why … [Read more...] about Elena Vostrotina answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Paloma Herrera answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I started studying ballet when I was seven years old. Why did you start dancing? I have no idea! Nobody in my family danced. My parents loved classical … [Read more...] about Paloma Herrera answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
The original Madame No: Ekaterina Maximova’s 75th anniversary celebrated in Moscow
It all began with a fouetté is the name of a new exhibition in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the birth of Ekaterina Maximova. Way before Sylvie Guillem came to be known as 'Madame Non', … [Read more...] about The original Madame No: Ekaterina Maximova’s 75th anniversary celebrated in Moscow
Natalia Osipova and an excellent cast début in Manon at La Scala
Natalia Osipova's début as Manon has inevitably aroused curiosity in dance circles as this ballet is one of the cornerstones of the Royal Ballet's repertory, a company she will be joining later this … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and an excellent cast début in Manon at La Scala
Jurgita Dronina answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I've been dancing since I remember; ballet school at 9. Why did you start dancing? I started with ballroom dancing, then hip-hop and a bit of break dance... … [Read more...] about Jurgita Dronina answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Stephen Hough answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Musicians’ Edition
Q&A When did you start playing the piano? When I was about six - a toy piano at first, then a German upright bought at an antique shop for £5. Why did you start playing? I was utterly … [Read more...] about Stephen Hough answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Musicians’ Edition
Sylvie Guillem shines in Forsythe’s Steptext in Florence
Various off-stage dramas lead up to Sylvie Guillem's participation in MaggioDanza's Great Choreographers programme. The second performance became the première after strike action cancelled Monday's … [Read more...] about Sylvie Guillem shines in Forsythe’s Steptext in Florence
Sylvie Guillem’s ballet cancelled and a dancer finishes in hospital: backstage drama
Monday night's opening of a quadruple bill at Florence's Teatro Comunale was cancelled at the last moment, though a warning had been issued previously. A protest in Rome, against the cuts in the … [Read more...] about Sylvie Guillem’s ballet cancelled and a dancer finishes in hospital: backstage drama
