Can art, in this case dance, be a protection from politics? Do you become a collaborator if your work is helping to fill the coffers of the regime? Conductors Furtwängler and Toscanini offer a … [Read more...] about The silence of the cultural elite – moral dilemmas of working in dance in today’s Russia
Ukraine
Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January
On 28 and 29 January 2023, the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan will present Rasputin, a project by and starring Sergei Polunin – the ‘rock star of world dance’ according to the theatre’s … [Read more...] about Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January
La Scala’s glitzy season opening with Boris Godunov: Protests, Putin and politicians
This evening the curtain goes up at La Scala on the opera to open the season, Boris Godunov. Ukrainians asked for the Russian opera to be replaced. Then the idea emerged that the opera could be … [Read more...] about La Scala’s glitzy season opening with Boris Godunov: Protests, Putin and politicians
Ukrainian children’s choir rehearses in a bomb shelter before its New York concert
The Shchedryk Children’s Choir from Ukraine has been rehearsing in a bomb shelter for its concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in December. After the recent increase in missile strikes in Kyiv the … [Read more...] about Ukrainian children’s choir rehearses in a bomb shelter before its New York concert
Giselle with Alina Cojocaru and the United Ukrainian Ballet: unforgettable moments
I begin this review with the statutory mission of the foundation of the United Ukrainian Ballet: supporting the displaced dancers in their livelihoodupholding ballet and dance as an important part … [Read more...] about Giselle with Alina Cojocaru and the United Ukrainian Ballet: unforgettable moments
Sergei Polunin now boasts three Putin tattoos
Three days ago on Instagram and two hours ago on VK, the dancer Sergei Polunin posted an image of his torso with the well-known central tattoo of Vladimir Putin, together with two more Putins on his … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin now boasts three Putin tattoos
Odesa Opera House reopens, but without Russian music
The Odesa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet has eliminated Russian music from its programming. The theatre’s artistic director, Nadezhda Babich, said, “We have stopped working on … [Read more...] about Odesa Opera House reopens, but without Russian music
Royal Opera House dance and opera initiatives for Ukraine
Today, the Royal Opera House unveiled fundraising initiatives in support of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The Royal Opera – Concert for Ukraine On Good … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House dance and opera initiatives for Ukraine
Anna Netrebko ‘under new management’
Until a few days ago, the contact information on Anna Netrebko’s site stated that her general management was Centre Stage Artist Management in Berlin. CSAM’s managing director, Judith Neuhoff, was her … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko ‘under new management’
Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
The Russian principal dancer Olga Smirnova, an outspoken critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has decided to leave the Bolshoi Ballet Company where she is one of its most popular and admired … [Read more...] about Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
Gala for Ukraine with Ukrainian ballerina Iana Salenko
The Royal Danish Theatre will host a Gala for Ukraine on 19 March 2022. Danish lawyer Philip Maury has managed to organise the event in the space of a few days to raise funds for the Red Cross’ … [Read more...] about Gala for Ukraine with Ukrainian ballerina Iana Salenko
Sergei Polunin cancels Milan show. Reason? Injured Achilles.
Sergei Polunin’s much-delayed show, Rasputin has been cancelled… again. First scheduled for April 2020 it was moved to July 2020, then October 2020, then June 2021, then February 2022, and finally to … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin cancels Milan show. Reason? Injured Achilles.
Natalia Osipova and international ballet stars dance for Ukraine
Former Royal Ballet stars and impresarios Ivan Putrov (Ukraine) and Alina Cojocaru (Romania) are putting on Dance for Ukraine, a benefit gala at the London Coliseum to raise funds for people in need … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and international ballet stars dance for Ukraine
Principal dancers leave the Mariinsky and Bolshoi companies
Principal dancer Jacopo Tissi has decided to leave the Bolshoi ballet company and principal Xander Parish the Mariinsky because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are both exceptional as there … [Read more...] about Principal dancers leave the Mariinsky and Bolshoi companies
German support for Ukrainian dancers
The non-profit organisation, Praetorian, together with Tobias Ehinger, Executive Director of the Dortmund Theatre, are setting up a support system in Germany for Ukrainian dancers who have had to … [Read more...] about German support for Ukrainian dancers
Anna Netrebko cancels Adriana Lecouvreur performances at La Scala
La Scala finds itself scrambling to find a conductor for the remaining performances of The Queen of Spades from 4 March after Valery Gergiev refused to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko cancels Adriana Lecouvreur performances at La Scala
Dancing in the museum: Diana Vishneva’s cross-media project ‘Imprint in Motion’
Diana Vishneva’s latest project - Imprint in Motion - is a cross-media project fusing the fine arts, contemporary dance, music, and film making, and focuses on the human body in a variety of … [Read more...] about Dancing in the museum: Diana Vishneva’s cross-media project ‘Imprint in Motion’
Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
In an interview, before several appearances in the Italian peninsula over the next two months, Sergei Polunin said, I deeply believe in love. It’s a universal feeling; everyone wants to love and be … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
Passion, Love, Life… InternationBalLET makes its debut in Italy
InternationBalLET has arrived in Italy for two performances of its programme Passion, Love, Life... The newly-formed group is made up of dancers from the Hungarian State Ballet in Budapest but, … [Read more...] about Passion, Love, Life… InternationBalLET makes its debut in Italy
Albert Ayzenberg photographing dancers, “it’s not just about capturing a beautiful silhouette”
Photographer Albert Ayzenberg was born in the Ukraine, transferring to the United States when he was a child. It was there that he received his first camera. Since I was a little boy I've been … [Read more...] about Albert Ayzenberg photographing dancers, “it’s not just about capturing a beautiful silhouette”
Choreographer Petr Zuska and the Czech National Ballet
The Czech National Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. It was founded in 1883 to provide dances for the opera and it also put on the classics of the time introducing creations … [Read more...] about Choreographer Petr Zuska and the Czech National Ballet
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’s Take me to Church: pirouettes or politics?
In the week since David LaChapelle’s video with Sergei Polunin went online it has gone viral, even sending this blog offline a couple of times due to the surge in people searching for information … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin’s Take me to Church: pirouettes or politics?
Zakharova’s charity gala money is refused by Kiev school
Culture connects people, and it is a thread which can't be broken by political tensions. When the Malaysia Airlines Boeing was shot down over the Ukraine last year I was on tour with the Bolshoi in … [Read more...] about Zakharova’s charity gala money is refused by Kiev school
Svetlana Zakharova’s Gala brings the Ukraine to the heart of Russia
Last night, Svetlana Zakharova's Gala Ballet without Borders took place on the Bolshoi stage in Moscow. Ballet stars danced in support of young dancers in war-torn Ukraine. This politically sensitive … [Read more...] about Svetlana Zakharova’s Gala brings the Ukraine to the heart of Russia
Men in Motion’s magic under the Tuscan sky
In 2012, Ivan Putrov had the conceit to produce an all-male gala where Don Q variations were banished, Le Corsaire’s jetés outlawed, and Albrecht’s entrechats six forbidden on pain of death. It short, … [Read more...] about Men in Motion’s magic under the Tuscan sky
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
Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Don Quixote
The third ballet programme brought to London by the Marrinsky Ballet was Don Quixote, the perennial crowd-pleaser with which the Bolshoi scored such a success a year ago. Strangely only two days of … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Don Quixote
