© Sasha Gusov 'Leah' reviews ENB 'Swan Lake' reviews 'Swan Lake' reviews Ananiashvili in reviews Glurdjidze in reviews recent ENB reviews more Jeffery Taylor reviews Web version held on Ballet.co by kind permission of Jeffery Taylor and the Sunday Express Express Website

Nothing can dim Ananiashvili’s captivating stage presence, her long arms and exquisite legs and feet. And most of all the dash of a free spirit on stage that gives us all a breath of hope. But during her first programme at Sadler’s Wells last week, she tried her darndest to bury it under layers of choreographic flannel. Only Alexei Ratmansky’s Leah showed any sign of inventivness, but even a little used Ananiashvili in the title role failed to prevent Leah’s slide into mediocrity.

Rumour has it that ticket sales were poor. Perhaps we are waking up to the wonders we have spawned at home because, if only they hadn’t lost them, the “House Full” signs would have been plastered all over Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre last week for the start of English National Ballet’s mammoth 10 month UK tour. And what a spanking, sparkling night out you get for your money with Derek Deane’s Swan Lake.

Under Matz Skoog’s directorship the company is young, good looking and eager to please. They can dance, too, and determined you won’t miss a trick. Peter Farmer’s designs create a pop up dream world of Gothic gardens, colonnaded Throne Rooms and a dank, dark lakeside where Siegfried (Jan-Erik Wilkstrom) plays out his fateful meeting with Odette/Odile (Elena Glurdjidze). Glurdjidze is a dancer of two halves. Above she has classically beautiful arms and the authority of experience but it’s best not to examine too closely what happens with the rest. And if her bulk and his lack of it occasionally has Wilkstrom reeling, it sort of doesn’t matter either. Because it is the whole company, strong and stylish, well drilled and happy to make us happy, that is a striking endorsement of Skoog’s leadership.
 

If only matters were as sunny backstage. Thousands of theatregoers absolutely adored ENB’s Swan Lake last week and tens of thousands more will have the pleasure between now and Christmas. Why, then, does ENB receive such tight fisted State subsidy it is forced to cancel new productions? Underfunding such a national treasure is a national disgrace.