in italiano Francesco Ventriglia, Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, has decided to step down in 2017 after almost three years with the company. He took up his appointment as the company's 11th Artistic Director in November 2014. His contract will end in mid-June, though he will remain with the company as Guest Choreographer to complete the creation of his … [Read more...] about Francesco Ventriglia to leave Royal New Zealand Ballet
William Forsythe
Old and new in English National Ballet’s 2016-2017 Season, Spring/Summer
The English National Ballet’s Spring/Summer 2017 season sees a refreshing nod to the company’s past with a revival of Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet during August of 2017 when the company makes a return to The Royal Festival Hall, its old hunting ground that it hasn’t revisited since 2008. Tamara Rojo has shown with her recent programming that she is investing in the … [Read more...] about Old and new in English National Ballet’s 2016-2017 Season, Spring/Summer
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 for the Ballets Russes as it entered the 1920s. However, from the ‘30s on it slowly started leaning towards a more modern repertoire often created by Czech composers and … [Read more...] about Choreographer Petr Zuska and the Czech National Ballet
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 thirty Nutcrackers around Christmas either, there’ll be 12 Cinderellas; usually there are just nine performances of each title. So imagine everyone’s surprise when La Scala … [Read more...] about Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
World Ballet Day 2015 with one day of live streaming from 5 companies
1 October 2015 is the date for this year's World Ballet Day live stream. Following last year’s unprecedented collaboration for the first World Ballet Day LIVE, five of the world’s leading ballet companies will once again stream 23 hours of live, behind-the-scenes footage on Thursday, 1 October. The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of … [Read more...] about World Ballet Day 2015 with one day of live streaming from 5 companies
Lisa-Maree Cullum answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 3. Why did you start dancing? My mum had a ballet school and when I saw the other children moving to music I couldn’t help myself. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Natalia Makarova. Which dancer do you most admire? Ray Barra and Patricia Neary for being such wonderful artists but more importantly … [Read more...] about Lisa-Maree Cullum answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
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) mixed with the extraordinary (her technique, her corporeal expressiveness); the anti-diva who can be diva-ish. It is a fascinating and winning combination, there is nothing obvious … [Read more...] about We may be saying ‘bye’ to the dancer, but certainly not to Sylvie Guillem
New York City Ballet’s Wendy Whelan brings new work to London for European Première
New York City Ballet principal dancer Wendy Whelan, who recently announced her retirement as a classical ballerina to focus on choreography and contemporary dance, is bringing Restless Creature to The Linbury Studio Theatre in July. Whelan, described by The New York Times as ‘America’s greatest contemporary ballerina’, collaborates with young choreographers Kyle Abraham, … [Read more...] about New York City Ballet’s Wendy Whelan brings new work to London for European Première
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 did you start dancing? I always loved it! I also grew up in the theatre - my mother was a dancer with the Kirov ballet - so it was always part of my life. Which dancer inspired … [Read more...] about Elena Vostrotina answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Zach’s Diary part three: Balanchine, class and holidays
Zach’s Diary part one: Growing up dancing in Canada Zach’s Diary part two: Starting at Stuttgart’s John Cranko-Schule Zach's Diary part three Christmastime in Germany is like a fairy tale, though so far only a couple light dustings of snow but, of course, the wonderful Christmas markets. December has been a very busy month here, with a performance in the … [Read more...] about Zach’s Diary part three: Balanchine, class and holidays