Previous Ballet.co magazine - Nov - Dec 2004

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Dame Alicia Markova

1 December 1910 - 2 December 2004

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Interviews & Ballet Conference

International Ballet Directors'
Conference 2005

Ballet.co magazine coverage of Dance East's Rural Retreat for Ballet Directors 2005. Some interviews to start but why not have your say in our Future of Ballet Forum


Assis Carreiro... the director of Dance East gives Jane Simpson the background to this years conference.


Reid Anderson... the Stuttgart Ballet director spoke to Brendan McCarthy about ballet in Germany and his thoughts about which way forward.

Zhao Ruheng... the Artistic Director of National Ballet of China talks to Kevin Ng about her company and its increasing prominence in a changing world.

Frank Andersen... the charismatic Royal Danish Ballet director looks to the past and the future with Bournonville for company. Kevin Ng finds out more.

Other Interviews...
It's a Matthew Bourne and Swan Lake Fest!


Matthew Bourne ... Jeffery Taylor on 'Mary Poppins' and what makes one of the best known choreographers tick.


Two Swan Lake Queens... Oxana Panchenko & Nicola Tranah talk regally to Philip Bichard.

Four Matthew Bourne Swans and Princes... Jose Maria Tirado, Neil Westmoreland, Jason Piper & Christopher Marney impress Mandy Kent. (mightily)

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Ashton and History Features



An Ashton Trilogy
Richard Jones discusses the music and ballet for three of Ashton's most applauded works - Symphonic Variations, Scenes de Ballet, Cinderella - and all created within a few years of one another...



Rememberance of Things Past
Alex Martin, the former Sadler's Wells Ballet dancer, gets irate about all the good work of the past that has just slipped through our unthoughtful fingers...

ROH2 Ashton Exchange
Dance Theatre And Contemporary Perspectives... Alastair Macaulay and David Vaughan kicked off the ROH2 series of Ashton Centenary seminars. John Mallinson reports for posterity.

ROH2 Ashton Exchange
The Search For Sylvia... John Mallinson listens to Dr Geraldine Morris, Christopher Newton, Peter Farmer and ROH Production Staff discussing the reconstruction of Ashton's Sylvia.

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Features


Memories of 2004 in London...
Lynette Halewood on the memorable and less memorable dance of the year...



Ballet.co End of Season Poll Results...
They took a while to emerge but at last the details of who turned us all on. Jane Simpson summarises the results for us and a lucky reader wins the Manon CD prize...

One book, two views...

“Attitude! Eight Young Dancers Come of Age at the Ailey School”... Katharine Davis Fishman's book about the Ailey School methods and ethos is first reviewed by Anjuli Bai and...

“Attitude! Eight Young Dancers Come of Age at the Ailey School”... Renee Renouf also grabbed a copy of Fishman's book and comes away impressed.

Royal Ballet Manon DVD... the recording might be 23 years old but it still comes highly recommended by Ballet.co reader and contributor Janet McNulty



So, You Want to Learn to Dance?
Another in the series from Anjuli Bai:
Assessing the Music for Ballet Class...

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Diaries and weblogs


Jatkko Lehmus weblog...
on '...and the light came...' - Nutcrackers and stuff.
(weblog home)


Daniel Jones weblog... R&J, Buckingham Palace and Nuts
weblog home


Neophilia Weblog...
Ballet class, Woman and Sunday rehearsals
(weblog home)



Ballet Central weblog
A huge welcome to Verity Hopkins and Richard Bermange. Each year we follow some final-year Central School of Ballet students through their final training, UK tour and hunt for jobs. Introductions all around this month...



Cathy Marston Diary home...



Christopher Hampson Diary home...




Giannandrea Poesio Weblog home

Note that Weblogs are updated in real time and may be added to during the life of the magazine.

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In the Galleries



John Ross Gallery
John has been busy again...
Royal Ballet, Swan Lake (Dec 04)
Mathew Bourne, Swan Lake (Dec 04)
Royal Ballet, Cinderella (Dec 04)
Royal Ballet, Ashton Bill (Nov 04)




Phil Bremner...
Phil Bremner's stunning work opens the Dance Drawings, Paintings and Cartoons section of our Gallery. Phil is also making some special offers on prints for Ballet.co readers too - enjoy.

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Reviews
USA Reviews

Bolshoi Ballet

'Raymonda': Renee Renouf

"As a whole, the vision scene demonstrated not only Petipa style, but the musicality of the corps, even in that cramped space; on a larger stage, how they must fly!"

'Romeo and Juliet': Renee Renouf

"The Donnellan/Poklitaru production has quite a bit going for it along with the flaws of exaggerated adolescent behavior. The corps de ballet is used effectively, frequently with brilliance; the talent and general youth of the casting not only apparent, but justified. The tone is Eastern European contemporary drab."


New York City Ballet

'Ballet Four Ways': Eric Taub

"Although Whelan is never wild and crazy, she does swoop and swoon above, around and into the magnificently solid Soto with a breathtaking freedom which speaks volumes of the perfect rapport and trust of this great and, sadly, soon-to-be-concluded partnership. "

'The Nutcracker': Eric Taub

"A great treat of the past week or so has been watching how well, and differently, some of these astonishing women have acquitted themselves. There's also more than a little competition; and it's not at all unusual to see dancers borrowing inventions from each other in a game of subtle one-upmanship."


American Ballet Theatre

'Le Corsaire' bill: Eric Taub

"One of the more interesting stories of ABT's season, for me, was how the company handled the absence of some of its better-known stars, what with Ananiashvili and Stiefel out, Dvorovenko on maternity leave, and Ferri and Kent dancing below their accustomed levels. Here's a look at the stars who shone more brightly, and a couple who might, or should have."

'Pretty Good Year' bill: Eric Taub

"Murphy's regal carriage, matching perfectly the swell of Tchaikovsky's strings, left me with no doubts that she's grown from a cold, dispassionate technician into one of the greatest ballerinas of her generation."

'VIII': Eric Taub

"In 'VIII,' Wheeldon shows, yet again, that sometimes it's better to aim for a low mark and hit, rather than for a high one and miss entirely. For all the high-mindedness of his conception, his leads are seldom affecting, and then more by dint of the dancers' exertions than his choreography."


Matthew Bourne

'Nutcracker!': Renee Renouf

"I have several seasonal Nuts to crack, but I hope to see Mr. Bourne's creation again. Gilbert and Sullivan must have gazed with approval as the production took shape."

'Nutcracker!': Anjuli Bai

"Bourne certainly has given lovers of theater and dance something to chew on, savor and see again. I would in a heartbeat."


Mark Morris Dance Group

'I Don't Want to Love' bill: Renee Renouf

"This program was a revelation of movement and music."

'Violet Cavern' bill: Renee Renouf

"I don't mind having my mind and taste stretched or acquiring a new perspective, but monotony of sound magnified by electronics contributes precious little to the spirit."


Merce Cunningham

'Events': Eric Taub

"It's a measure of Cunningham's genius that he can produce works of stunning beauty using methods with which a less sure hand might produce only pedantry-in-motion; that simple steps simply combined can produce such engrossing, time-stopping power."


San Francisco Ballet

'Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"The casting of Nutcracker is such one would like to overdose, seeing the range of interpretations. Out of eight possibilities I managed to enjoy a second view, the December 26 matinee, where I enjoyed my first glimpse Natnaree Pipit-Suksun, the Royal Ballet graduate, who joined San Francisco Ballet last summer as a soloist..."

'Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"This new production, amortized over the minimum of a decade, doubtless will demonstrate that going first class provides a like response. "


Diablo Ballet

'A Revealing Glimpse Into The Obvious' bill: Renee Renouf

"Bohnstedt and Pelaez provide us with a believable romance and excellent partnering and the rest of the cast give valiant interpretations."


Brenda Wong Aoki

'Ghost Festival': Renee Renouf

"In the five plus decades I have watched dance theatre, such versatility is rare. Such power and restraint are also seldom seen in these decades of lengthy self-indulgence."


Columbia City Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Stephanie Wragg

"Act 2 begs a simple question: why? Clara shows up for a few minutes with the Nutcracker Prince (danced by the dancer who was Fritz in Act 1 by the way) and then all the traditional numbers proceed in her absence..."


UK Reviews

Royal Ballet

'Cinderella': Jeffery Taylor

" Alina Cojocaru plays Cinderella as one of those lucky people whose first response to an ugly world is a smile – don't you just hate that? But we all know the tale is about hope and the power of love, and choreographer Frederick Ashton never lost his Quixotic faith in these beliefs."

'Cinderella': Bruce Marriott

"A pleasant coupling of panto and serious hi-art. But it would be better in the old designs."

'Cinderella': Graham Watts

"It is one of fate's gentle ironies that one of the very few Prima Ballerina Assolutas should pass from this world on a day where that evening's performance in dedication to her should be danced by one of the most prodigious talents of this generation. "

'Requiem' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"Thanks to moving performances from world class dancers like Tamara Rojo and Federico Bonelli, Requiem is so simple and true it hurts."

'Scenes de Ballet' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"Company director, Monica “Goldfinger” Mason, has done it again.
"With brain surgeon's precision she has put together a programme illustrating the catholic scope of the Royal Ballet's founding choreographer, Frederick Ashton (1904-1988)."

'Scenes de Ballet' bill: Jane Simpson

"This Isadora is driven, passionate - angry, even - and Rojo gives her a vividly theatrical immediacy. It's a stunning portrait and can live beside the softer Seymour version, which it in no way displaces. And in either version, the start of the last dance, as Isadora runs down to the footlights with rose petals spilling from her hands, is one of the great dance images of the last century."

'Swan Lake': Jeffery Taylor

"In the famous duet with her nemesis lover, Prince Siegfried (Carlos Acosta), and without raising an eyebrow or faking a sigh, Rojo sucked the sympathy from 2,200 people by performing the savagely simple steps with unassailable honesty."

'Sylvia': Jeffery Taylor

"...the whole conceit is told with such a cascade of steps it takes the audience's breath away let alone the dancers."

'Sylvia': Lynette Halewood

"Those variations in the third act pas de deux just demand to be seen again. Indeed it all does – there is so much to absorb in a production on this scale."

'Sylvia': Graham Watts

"Recalling the contemporary descriptions of Fonteyn and Grey in the title role and thinking of today's dancers, over fifty years on, I was struck by how well these descriptions could apply in equal measure to the stunning first performance as 'Sylvia' by Zenaida Yanowsky. Hers was an entirely triumphant debut in the role."

'Winter Gala': Lynette Halewood

"The evening was structured as a careful mix of different numbers, so that fans of ballet or opera never had to wait too long for another item. I daresay this also gave Ms Gheorghiu time for her changes of dress."

'Winter Gala': Cheryl Angear

"The evening was a fantastic opportunity to see world class talent, and though it was a costly night, it was worth every penny."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Matthew Bourne

'Swan Lake': Mandy Kent

"There is something very special about this show that repeated viewing reinforces; the power and beauty of the choreography combined with Lez Brotherstone's superb designs and the genius of Tchaikovsky's score culminate in a performance which is visually stunning and emotionally fulfilling. "

'Mary Poppins': Anthony Kent

"As a show for all the family this is top quality entertainment. The standard of the sets, lighting and special effects were what you expect of a Cameron Mackintosh production. Not one for dance purists..."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Mark Morris Dance Group

'The Hard Nut': Charlotte Kasner

"It is one thing to satirise the storyline and poke gentle fun of our balletic expectations but, at times, this production tends to slide into plain 'can't do ballet'..."

'The Hard Nut': Jeffery Taylor

"...we need to see this unhealthy antidote to annual saccharine on a regular basis."

'The Hard Nut': Lynette Halewood

"Overall, some very funny and effective moments but no real warmth of feeling. Morris has produced many other works with real feeling for the music, so it's a surprise to see how patchy his response was to it in this case."


English National Ballet

'Romeo and Juliet': Jeffery Taylor

"...a truly stunning portrayal of Juliet by company ballerina Daria Klimentova, one of the British dance world's most under rated and over looked dancers. A pure classicist but with a virtuoso technical range, Klimentova doesn't do flashy or pushy, she first lets the steps speak for themselves."


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'The Two Pigeons' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"Director David Bintley continues to produce pure quality from one of the UK's busiest touring dance companies."

'Such Sweet Thunder': Lynette Halewood

"The three works on this programme are just too unvaried a diet...in the end they diminish each other's impact."

'Concerto barocco' bill: Terry Amos

"It was 2002 when BRB last performed The Nutcracker and I think the two-year break has been an advantage. It has come up looking fresh and sparkling and the dancers seem to have approached it with renewed vigour. Overall this seems to me to have been the best series of performances ever and I have heard nothing but praise."

'Nutcracker': Janet McNulty

"I first saw this production in its first season in 1990/91 and it is still as fresh as a daisy and, in my opinion, the best production around."


Rambert Dance Company

'Irony of Fate' bill: Olivia Swift

"Together, the four pieces amount to more than their sum and are ample evidence of Rambert's rise."

'Irony of Fate' bill: Jeffery Taylor

" Rambert "...lso have new dance maker Rafael Bonachela who extracts the essence of music, steps and human body and produces high octane cocktails like last week's opening number, Irony of Fate..."

'Irony of Fate' bill: Graham Watts

"Notwithstanding my own personal unease with 'Swamp', which was clearly not in line with the majority view, there is no doubt that this is a programme that is brimful of quality and innovation."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'Swan Lake': Janet McNulty

"It was as fine a performance as I can ever remember seeing from Hiro Takahashi - he has always been a lovely dancer and over the last couple of years he has developed into a very fine actor."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Scottish Ballet

'Nutcracker': Jeffery Taylor

"Honest dancing, sound techniques and a refreshing belief in their work are now hallmarks of Page's dancers and they tour The Nutcracker until February – don't miss them."

'Nutcracker': Bruce Marriott

"Tradition dictates a family ballet at Christmas and the modern Scottish Ballet have a good-looking one."


Arc Dance Company

'The Anatomy of a Storyteller': Jane Simpson

"The work as a whole created a darkly memorable picture of a very complex and strange man, who never seems to have achieved what he wanted either professionally or personally, and whose lasting fame would undoubtedly astonish him."

'The Anatomy of a Storyteller': Mandy Kent

"No Disney tweeness here, the story sticks to the original horrific tale where the Sea Witch allows the Mermaid to transform to human form yet cuts her feet so that each step feels like walking on knife blades..."


St Petersburg Ballet Theatre

'The Nutcracker': Jeffery Taylor

" As a whole, the production reeks of artistry and quality with, as its backbone a corps de ballet of individual artists groomed into a whole which proves deeply satisfying to watch. A welcome addition to Britain's festive scene."


Moscow City Ballet

'Sleeping Beauty': Graham Watts

"This performance of 'Sleeping Beauty' confirmed my previous view that the company does well in living up to its founder's ideals of bringing classical ballet to a wide, and often new, ballet-going public."


Philippe Decoufle

'Solo': Philip Bichard

"Overall a pleasant enough 55 minutes, and some interesting ideas were raised about identity, ego and perception, but there were just too many hyperbolic promises left unfulfilled... and one left wishing for a bit more bang for one's bucks."


Carol Brown Dances

'The Changing Room': Ann Williams

"The disparate elements of this strange and thrilling show add up to a very satisfying whole, though at times I felt the technology was swamping the choreography. A pity; because Brown's choreography is more than capable of standing on its own sturdy yet very elegant legs."


European Ballet

'Sleeping Beauty': Richard Amey

"LOVERS of most opulent and arguably most electrifying of Tchaikowsky's three definitive ballet scores felt shortchanged by Stanislav Tchassov's production when its 11-week British tour made its fifth call..."


Swansea Ballet Russe

'Swan Lake': Trog Woolley

"The company are to be congratulated in taking classical ballet to the more remote parts of the country. The audiences appreciate what they see and enjoy themselves. What more can one really ask for?"

'The Nutcracker': Trog Woolley

"It is so well performed and the audience really took it to their hearts. On the way out, I really enjoyed seeing huge smiles and the children attempting to stand on pointe. This was pure joy."


Ijodee Dance Company

'Ori': Mandy Kent

"There was some business with a flame and a bowl of ground maize meal, with the muttering of incantations, and there was a lot of running about and rolling over each other in the fashion of a tribal rugby scrum. I'm afraid that it was not my scene at all..."


Raiz Di Polon

'Duas Sem Tres': Mandy Kent

"I enjoyed this performance immensely, the artists were charming and their dancing was athletic yet graceful."


Pick Up Performance Company

'The Chairs': Lynette Halewood

"It's rather hard to work out why it's part of Dance Umbrella...don't expect what you might conceive as a dance performance or dance theatre, because this isn't one."


Hong Kong Reviews

Hong Kong Ballet (HKB)

'Dreams of Tenderness and Solitude' bill: Kevin Ng

"The ensemble dancers were convincing in the primitive movements evoking the savageness of a tribe, and their assembly in a chorus-line formation towards the end was quite theatrical. However the final moment with Leung simply splashed with water from above was an anti-climax, lacking a powerful enough ending to match the music."

'Dreams of Tenderness and Solitude' bill: Natasha Rogai

"The dancers maintain the ferocious speed with admirable energy and their obvious enthusiasm for the piece is infectious, though a couple of the girls should be reminded gently that there is such a thing as smiling too much."

'The Nutcracker': Natasha Rogai

"For its 8th birthday, the production has received a welcome facelift – some of the freshness and sparkle it had at the beginning have been wearing off in the last couple of years, and it was good to see it looking rejuvenated."


National Ballet of China

'Serenade' bill: Natasha Rogai

"Disappointingly, these three milestones of 20th century ballet showed the company's weaknesses, rather than their strengths."

'Sylvia': Natasha Rogai

"Sylvia herself is a heroic role, and on the first night Zhu Yan gave a performance of exemplary technique and astounding stamina."


Taiwan Reviews

Kirov Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Kevin Ng

"The Kirov danced magnificently... Irina Zhelonkina, who is seldom cast in leading roles on the Kirov's overseas tours, was superlative as Masha right from the start. Her dancing in the Act 1 pas de deux had an amplitude and grandeur. How rare it is nowadays to see this old-style Kirov ballerina quality..."

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Postings Reviews section

Royal Ballet 'Cinderella': Joanne
Royal Ballet 'Cinderella': Wulff
Royal Ballet 'Scenes de Ballet' bill: Bruce Marriott
Royal Ballet 'Scenes de Ballet' bill: John Mallinson
Royal Ballet 'Scenes de Ballet' bill: BeccaKing
Royal Ballet 'Scenes de Ballet' bill: Martha
Royal Ballet 'Scenes de Ballet' bill: Wulff
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': Martha
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': Martha
Royal Ballet 'Sylvia': Linda Beard
Royal Ballet 'Sylvia': Martha
Royal Ballet 'Sylvia': Naoko S
Royal Ballet 'Sylvia': Wulff
Royal Ballet 'Requiem Mixed Programme': Alison Penfold
Matthew Bourne 'Swan Lake': Jane Napier
Northern Ballet Theatre 'Peter Pan': Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'Peter Pan': Ian Graham
La Scala Ballet 'Onegin': Mauro Beretta
K Ballet 'Don Quixote': Satoko Kamatani

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External Review Links

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