Previous Ballet.co magazine - Jan - Feb 2005

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Interviews...




Irek Mukhamedov and his Spartacus... Irek has been working with Hong Kong Ballet on a new production of the ballet which his name has become synonymous with. Natasha Rogai sat in.

Genesia Rosato...
The much loved Royal Ballet Principal Character Artist was a recent guest of the Ballet Association...


Carlos Acosta... the Royal Ballet Principal Guest Artist does more than ballet according to Francesca Lombardo


Mara Galeazzi... the Royal Ballet Principal talks about 'Mara in Motion' - her Italian gala

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Features


David Nixon on Ballet into the 21st century
David Nixon the Northern Ballet Theatre artistic director with some thoughts following the January conference involving 26 directors from all around the world...


Hans Werner Henze
Composer of 'Ondine'...
On the eve of the Royal Ballet's latest Ondine run Richard Jones looks in depth at the composer and his controversial music. Like it or loathe it you need to know more....



Diaghilev Festival in Holland
Michelle Potter, dance critic of the Canberra Times and curator of dance at the National Library of Australia reports on the hits and misses of an eventful festival


Flamenco in London... You've seen the festival now tell me more - Carole Edrich has the answers


Ballet Chronicles... Bob Kimber introduces his wonderful resource of a book that covers what the Royal Ballet companies danced and when...

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English National Ballet
Giselle Revival


Mary Skeaping’s Giselle... Jane Pritchard on a timeless gem in English National Ballet’s repertoire



The Musical World of Giselle
On the eve of English National Ballet's revival Richard Jones discusses the music to one of the most loved of 19th Century classics



Beryl Grey in the studio... a John Ross photoshoot of Beryl Grey rehearsing the company



Dancers on Giselle... English National Ballet dancers quotes on Giselle and preparing their revival


Competition for signed pair of Daria Klimentova's Pointe Shoes from first night



Competition for show tickets or to sit-in on ENB's private studio rehearsals

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Diaries and weblogs



Carole Edrich Weblog...
Carole writes about dance and flamenco but it's also all linked in with a passion for extreme sports, risk and general sensation seeking. It could go anywhere - Carole starts with 'Duende'. (Weblog home)



Lynette Wills... the Australian Ballet principal starts a diary for us as the company limber up towards their UK summer tour


Peter Quanz Weblog
Welcome to Peter Quanz - a young international choreographer hailing from Canada and with US, European and UK commissions. Currently working in Germany, London audiences will see his work later this year...


Neophilia Weblog...
'Performance day for Woman'
(weblog home)



Ballet Central weblog
Each year we follow some final-year Central School of Ballet students through their final training, UK tour and hunt for jobs. Verity Hopkins and Richard Bermange are learning rep...
(Weblog Home)



Christopher Hampson... 'Tutus on Tour'
(Diary home)...



Jatkko Lehmus weblog...
on Red Tape Diaries and earning Dollars.
(weblog home)




Daniel Jones weblog home...




Cathy Marston 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
Lots of Photoshoots of the Royal Ballet and companies visiting Sadler's Wells. See them all in his gallery area on Ballet.co

The image btw is of Pina Bausch' Nelken

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Reviews


USA Reviews

Royal Ballet School

'La Fille Mal Gardee extract' bill: Eric Taub

"The program the Royal Ballet School brought on its visit to the NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts was more serviceable than inspired, but it did provide a good showcase for the students, who shone..."


New York City Ballet

'Apollo' bill: Eric Taub

"It's a fascinating look at three seminal works which bring to mind a time when Balanchine's work was cutting-edge, although each in a different way. "

'Ballo della Regina': Eric Taub

"In Bouder's three performances of 'Ballo' so far (one more remains at this writing - I wouldn't miss it for the world), she didn't just succeed; she conquered."

'The Prodigal Son' bill: Eric Taub

"The star of the ballet, and quite possibly the entire evening, was Alexandra Ansanelli who, in her 'turning' solo to 'Marnie', rattled off several clean double fouéttes, and then concluded a series of pique pirouettes with an astonishing quadruple which looked like it surprised even her."

'Todo Buenos Aires': Eric Taub

"Whelan and Bocca were, beyond a doubt, the hottest couple of the piece. Indeed, they're one of the hottest pairings I've seen on a ballet stage."


San Francisco Ballet

'7 For Eight' bill: Renee Renouf

"There is this rush of wonderful music that pushes, urges and swells; the dancers respond, yet, save for the principals, the invention for this musical surge eludes those eager young technicians."

'72nd opening night Masked Ball Gala': Renee Renouf

"A Tomasson Gala is a wonderful study in energy ebbs and flows, a programmatic rubato rarely ceasing to satisfy."

'Falling' bill: Renee Renouf

"It's an interesting and thoughtfully varied program."

'Giselle': Renee Renouf

"Nedviguine left no doubt that his was a princely personality in disguise; the classical demeanor, gesture and line never once faltering, his ardency clear yet restrained. The portrayal proceeded before the eyes like aesthetic balm in Gillead."

'Giselle': Renee Renouf

"The LeBlanc-Garcia partnership continues to evoke a particular electricity; it provoked a wel-deserved standing ovation of half the orchestra at the Sunday matinee. She dances like thistle down; even in his exhausting, death-driven Act II variations Garcia elevates like a rocket."

'Reflections' bill: Renee Renouf

"It was the company's fine dancing which dominated, starting with Tina LeBlanc... How unrelenting the demands are, and how steadily, simply and clearly LeBlanc met them, as did Zahorian in one of the most animated performance she has given."


Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

'Love Stories' bill: Anjuli Bai

"The Ailey dancers are a shining example of total commitment, fulsome energy and I find myself watching with a constant smile. They revel in both their membership as a whole unit, but also celebrate their individuality. It becomes a mutual celebration: dancers and audience."


Ballet Flamenco - Sara Baras

'Suenos' bill: Renee Renouf

"The performance became testimony to the Hindu ideal of the sahrdaya where the intent of the artist is shared with and fulfilled by the audience response, a dialogue of spirit. To say we were mesmerized is mild; it was a standing, almost stomping ovation."


Bollywood Berkeley

'Bollywood Berkeley - 4th Annual Hindi Film Dance Competition': Renee Renouf

"The reaction was positively deafening. I can't wait for next year's inventions."


California Ballet Company

'Sleeping Beauty': Anjuli Bai

"It has been quite some time since I have attended a performance of the California Ballet and I can see from last evening's event that I have waited much too long."


Dance Vision Series

'Mixed Programme': Renee Renouf

"For the high school groups, particularly from public schools, the task of the teacher, frequently choreographer, is to get a group of non dancers, with a minimum of cost outlay for props and costuming, to move and look well on stage without embarrassment."


Peninsula Ballet Theatre

'Black Swan and More': Renee Renouf

"Briones, still in her early teens, demonstrated phenomenal balance and endless reserves of strength."


Royal Thai Ballet

'Khon': Renee Renouf

"The stretched fingers with filigree movements as the hands circled from the wrist, completing arm undulations and the character's commands, testified to hours of drill, practice and study from a tender age."


Stars Of The 2lst Century

'Gala': Eric Taub

"Even to canned music, there were many moments where Cojocaru seemed to spin out time almost indefinitely, the seemingly limitless subtlety and granularity of her arms contributing as much to her Giselle's incorporeality as the enormity of her soubresauts. The sensitivity of Kobborg's partnering and understated brilliance of his solos also helped make these excerpts an emotional refuge from the gala's tinny clamor."


Trisha Brown Dance Company

'Set and Reset' bill: Renee Renouf

"I was enthralled, awed; mystified by what I witnessed, I concur it is unclassifiable."


UK Reviews

Royal Ballet

'La Fille Mal Gardee': Jeffery Taylor

"Acosta stole the show, not so much by the brilliance of his physical ability, but the natural charm of his performance. An exotic Cuban star epitomising “Englishness”? Even Sir Frederick Ashton would be entranced."

'La Fille Mal Gardee': Jane Simpson

"When the central characters are as well done as on the opening night of this season's run, it's easy to believe that this is one of the greatest creations of the 20th century."

'La Fille Mal Gardee': Graham Watts

"With these performances, the Royal Ballet has paid an appropriate homage to its Founder Choreographer by excelling in the joie de vivre of his finest full-length work."

'Manon': Jeffery Taylor

"Perhaps MacMillan's greatest gift to the British stage was his ability to build into his characters the ineffable fact that human nature can rarely be pinned down."

'Manon': Lynette Halewood

"It was Guillem and Cope's night, and the audience response was passionate and heartfelt. They are amazing, and how lucky we have been to have them."

'Manon': Ami Shah

"Thursday night's opening of Manon delivered. The fine acting was nuanced, allowing the choreography to tell the story and quick glances to capture our hearts."

'Rhapsody' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"The Royal Ballet ... is in cracking form in the current programme of Ashton, Wheeldon and Balanchine, though the revival of Ashton's Rhapsody is sabotaged by Jessica Curtis's new decor."

'Rhapsody' bill: Jane Simpson

"The Royal Ballet's latest mixed programme, which had looked a real cracker when first announced, turned out to be something of a damp squib."

'Swan Lake': Lynette Halewood

"Yanowsky's Odette is a warmer creature than Rojo's, but still palpably a wild animal in her initial terror at Siegfried's approach. In the white pas de deux in Act 2, when Rojo is lifted by Acosta it doesn't so much appear that she jumps but is about to fly away: he pulls her back to earth. Yanowsky's Odette has a stillness and grandeur to her, with particularly luscious backbends."

'Tombeaux' bill: Bruce Marriott

" Tombeaux: "But Bintley, about to leave the institution he loved, works on us at an emotional level too - the piece is bright and breezy and then deeply reflective by turns, ending in poetic melancholy as the central partnership is broken. Good to see it back on the stage it was created on."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Matthew Bourne

'Highland Fling': Jeffery Taylor

"Created in 1994, Bourne has re worked his “romantic wee ballet” and what we see during its current three month UK tour is now, in dance terms, his most rewarding production."

'Highland Fling': Graham Watts

"This juxtaposition of cuddly farce and nauseous high drama is too immediate. Where will it all end? I can't shake off this image of Sooty suddenly appearing during Lady Macbeth's descent into madness and asking for directions to the lavatory."

'Highland Fling': Mandy Kent

"The characterisations are drawn with care and the dancers have given much thought to their roles...It's very much a team effort and the strength of the work depends on the whole cast rather than on individual 'stars'."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

English National Ballet

'Giselle': Jeffery Taylor

"In Mary Skeaping's 1972 back to basics version, Daria Klimentova's Giselle is a flesh and blood young thing, making perfect sense of the whole baroque extravaganza of thatched cottages and panniered skirts."

'Giselle': Alison Penfold

"Compared with other current productions, though, it does not feel so much as though there is a continuous dramatic impetus running through the first act, and indeed some of the action feels a little mannered at times."

'Romeo and Juliet': Graham Watts

"...there is still great power in the final scenes for Nureyev's Juliet but the tears have to come from a standing start. "


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'The Four Seasons' bill: Bruce Marriott

"Summer was, and remains, a spellbinding piece...overall this is a beguiling and enjoyable work that I suspect will repay more seeing."

'The Four Seasons' bill: Trog Woolley

"The final piece is Twyla Tharp's In The Upper Room. There is an almost perfect work struggling to escape from this, all it needs is different music, different costumes and different choreography."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Rambert Dance Company

'A workshop season of new choreography': Graham Watts

"Workshops of new choreography developed by dancers of the same company are sometimes unable to shake off the collective common denominators that evolve from people who dance together. A distinctive Rambert flavour flowed through all these pieces but there was also plenty of imagination and invention to be savoured."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'La Traviata': Jeffery Taylor

"Set to all those Verdi sobbing, soaring melodies we grew up with, Paeper goes for bodice ripper, but in the best possible taste."

'La Traviata': Bruce Marriott

"Music, sets and NBT dancers deliver the dramatic goods, but some stronger choreography is needed to make a good show stunning."

'La Traviata': Bruce Marriott

"Music, sets and NBT dancers deliver the dramatic goods, but some stronger choreography is needed to make a good show stunning."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Richard Alston

'Such Longing' bill: Jane Simpson

"I'm still left hoping for the day when Alston will finally let the fires he keeps so determinedly damped down, blaze out. "

'Such Longing' bill: Carole Edrich

"With so much sensuous choreography and so many stunning moves to choose from, it's surprising that the strongest image that remains is from the very first piece, where a solo ends as the dancer seems to wash his face in pain and wonder."


St Petersburg Ballet Theatre

'La Bayadere': Jeffery Taylor

"Irina Kolesnikova's eponymous Bayadere displays a lot of flesh and mixes natural grandeur with heavy lidded innocence and the touch-me-not allure of Greta Garbo."
NOTE: 'St Petersburg Ballet Theatre' is a touring name used by two very separate companies. It's rarely directly clear from reviews which company the review is about and this link may or may not be pertinent to the company you are interested in. The company websites concerned are at www.spbt.ru/about_en.php (Konstantin..."


Anurekha Ghosh and Company

'Ruins': Trog Woolley

"Anurekha Ghosh presented yet another wonderful evening entertainment, an ambitious work, executed with aplomb."


Australian Dance Theatre

'Birdbrain': Trog Woolley

"The athletic choreography and the well-honed group of dancers, who are capable of a variety of dance styles, combine to create a visually breathtaking work."


BEA Theatre

'Ruby and The Big Top': Bruce Marriott

"A professional show and I was also aware that this was entertainment for us out front which you don't always feel with younger companies."

'Ruby and The Big Top': Ann Williams

"There's some terrific choreography (and dancing) on display here..."


Ballet West

'Coppelia': Trog Woolley

"I've always thought that the best measure of a show is how it makes you feel. I had a good time and I would happily see this production again and indeed I hope to do so, if only to see a good show get even better."


Ballet in Small Spaces

'Dance and Music Showcase': Bruce Marriott

"Throughout I just couldn't stop thinking why on earth there are not more events like this the length and breadth of the country...It's a different type of community dance and one we badly need - though I have never seen it anywhere near so clearly before."


Dark Ground Coffee Dance

'L': Ann Williams

"But this was a polished piece, and further viewings might be required to get it into better perspective."


Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre

'Giselle': Simonetta Dixon

"This Giselle does not have the emotional depth of the ballet, and the audience must harden themselves to a degree to watch this without being uncomfortable...Highly recommended to those not interested in a re-hash of the ballet, but instead in a new take on an old story."


Flamenco Festival London

'The Four Elements': Carole Edrich

"The mix of traditional flamenco with flamenco Nuevo (new style) and huge variety of music was an excellent introduction to those new to flamenco and to the Sadlers Wells Flamenco Festival. The music was fantastic but I felt the choreography didn't meet its initial promise."


Hagit Bar-Fleming

'Taken Slowly': Jeffery Taylor

"...Apparently a free movement therapy for the terminally depressed..."


Henri Oguike Dance Company

'Second Signal' bill: Lynette Halewood

"Talented and hard working dancers with a distinctive style and a deeply felt response to a broad range of music. "


Imperial Russian Ice Stars

'Sleeping Beauty On Ice': Jeffery Taylor

"The sooner this pretentious Icecapades returns to its natural home in the nation's sports arenas the sooner we can forget this misbegotten visit to London's West End."


Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet

'Don Quixote': Lynette Halewood

"Overall, the production could do with a bit more fizz to take off, but enjoyable dancing, decent performances and an orchestra that treated the score with respect and affection."


Neophilia

'Woman': Bruce Marriott

"A more broad and thoughtful piece than I was expecting and the coupling of that to the intelligent sassy glitz that immediately hits you makes for a refreshing and most welcome change to usual dance fare."

'Woman': Ann Williams

"Neophilia's 'Woman' was a tonic - funny from start to finish, and showing some sharp, slick and refreshingly original choreography..."


Northern Youth Dance Company

'Prom' bill: BeccaKing

"The company reminded me of the point of dance. I think we need more of this sort of evening – we have the dancers and we have the audiences. If this company comes near you, go – they're worth travelling to see."


Nu Tempo Experimental Dance

'Scene and Seen': Jeffery Taylor

"...not immediately obvious."


Phoenix Dance Theatre

'inter vivos': Graham Watts

"This 'Eng-er-land' was an uncomfortable but beautifully observed snippet of social history told superbly through the innovative interaction of live dance and film to create a quite unique brand of dance theatre."

'inter vivos': Ian Graham

"There was an extraordinary performance in the lead role from the young Brazilian dancer Yann Seabra. His fast movements were precise and meaningful and every balance was held perfectly steadily."


Rosie Kay

'Asylum': Jeffery Taylor

"an energetic exploration of how we laden ourselves with baggage..."


Singapore Dance Theatre

'Birds of Paradise' bill: Graham Watts

"On the evidence of this triple bill, the Singapore Dance Theatre would seem to be a little Asiatic gem."


Swansea Ballet Russe

'Swan Lake': Trog Woolley

"The eight swans in the corps filled the limited space; had there been any more, they would have resembled a battery farm."


Tanz Theater Wuppertal Pina Bausch

'Nelken' bill: Graham Watts

"The best advice to anyone new to Bausch is simply to accept it for what it is: any attempt to unravel the package of layered imagery and find the hidden meaning within is bound to quickly disintegrate in confused frustration."


Transitions Dance Company

'Trans< odiem>' bill: BeccaKing

"This company, however, is always worth seeing because of the complete commitment and excellence of its members."


Vienna Festival Ballet

'Coppelia': Richard Amey

"...this production looks and feels absolutely right."


French Reviews

Paris Opera Ballet

'Sleeping Beauty': Philip Bichard

"An appropriately sparkly and uplifting production to see before heading towards the fireworks, and the collection for the Asia Earthquake at the theatre ensured it would be as enjoyable and guilt-free a New Year as could be possible under the circumstances."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Italian Reviews

Mara Galeazzi

'Mara in Motion': Mandy Kent

"It may seem like a bizarre alien mating ritual but whatever your interpretation it is a stunning work and almost as exhausting to watch as it must be to dance."


Japan Reviews

Adam Cooper Productions

'Les Liaisons Dangereuses': Karen Ritchie

"How to begin to describe this theatrical experience? Adam Cooper and Lez Brotherston have created a masterpiece."


Hong Kong Reviews

Ballet Nacional de Espana

'Grito' bill: Kevin Ng

"The Solea, which has a trio of fleet-footed male dancers, is particularly impressive, displaying well the men's prowling machismo."


Bejart Ballet

'Seven Greek Dances' bill: Kevin Ng

"The loudest ovations heard in dance performances in Hong Kong for a long time."


Compagnia Aterballetto

'Les Noces' bill: Kevin Ng

"Aterballetto's dancers are superb in illuminating Bigonzetti's unique choreographic style in the three works."


Hong Kong Ballet (HKB)

'Classics Beyond': Natasha Rogai

"It was refreshing to see so many new ideas, and such a wide range of choreographic styles."


Karas

'Kazahana': Kevin Ng

"There is a prevalent tension and bleakness throughout this piece which lacks any contrasts."

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Postings Reviews section

Royal Ballet 'La Fille Mal Gardee': Wulff
Royal Ballet 'La Fille Mal Gardee': Wulff
Royal Ballet 'Rhapsody' bill: Wulff
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': John Mallinson
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': BeccaKing
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': Elise
Royal Ballet 'Tombeaux' bill: Martha
Royal Ballet 'A Curtain Call For Aid (Tsunami)': Anthony Kent
Matthew Bourne 'Swan Lake': Dani Crawford
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Romeo and Juliet': BeccaKing
Northern Ballet Theatre 'La Traviata': Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'La Traviata': Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'La Traviata': Ann Welsh
Chisinau National Ballet 'Sleeping Beauty': Ann Welsh
Paris Opera Ballet 'Sleeping Beauty': Naoko S
Adam Cooper Productions 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses': Junko
Adam Cooper Productions 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses': Satoko Kamatani
Adam Cooper Productions 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses': Satoko Kamatani

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External Review Links
Each day Ballet.co scour the world for Review links (and news and interviews ones too) and put them in our database along with our own reviews. You can see the last few days' links on our TodaysLinks page In this last 90 days period we have 805 links for you: click here

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