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English National BalletMarch 2006 Richmond, Richmond Theatre by Mandy Kent |
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As posted on our Postings pages... English National Ballet are in top form.I enjoyed their recent performances of Sleeping Beauty and Giselle so I was anticipating an excellent evening at Richmond. The mixed bill is a delightful and well thought out programme which is just right for the smaller venue.The theatre is beautiful in itself, red plush seats, ornate ceiling and chandelier... it was a treat just to be there ! The programme started with Hampson's clever Perpetuum Mobile. Sarah McIlroy danced the opening sequences and her strong style complimented the trickiness of the rapid steps and beats which so intelligently illustrate Bach's music. She was joined by Maria Kotchetkova,Adela Ramirez,Desiree Ballantyne,Yosvani Ramos, Arionel Vargas, Laurent Liotardo and Nicholas Reeves, weaving numerous flowing patterns of dance across the stage. Daria Klimentova and Arionel Vargas danced the central pdd and his partnering was very accomplished, there are some difficult lifts onto his back and they were made to look effortless , elegant and simple. The middle section of the programme featured two complimentary ballets... 'Pas de Quatre' ( choreo: A Dolin and J Yuresha) which is based on the romantic ballet famously created on the four prima ballerinas of the 1840's Taglioni, Grisi, Cerrito and Grahn , followed by 'Variations for Four' by the same choreographers, which is a showcase for some spectacular dancing from four men. We were treated to Elena Glurjidze, Adela Ramirez, Fernanda Oliveira and Begona Cao in the former, looking very feminine in their flowing pink tulle gowns with floral headresses. In the latter Yosvani Ramos, Yat Sen Chang, Dmitri Gruzdyev and Fabian Reimar stole the show with their synchronous multiple pirouettes .
We ended with Balanchine's 'Who Cares', a light hearted trip through the streets of New York to Gershwin's jazzy rhythmns. The cast was lead by Dmitri Gruzdyev who partnered Erina Takahashi, Sarah McIlroy and Simone Clarke with five couples waltzing by; Adela Ramirez and Daniel Jones, Begona Cao and Andre Portasio,Desiree Ballantyne and Juan Rodriguez ,Joanne Clarke with Michael Raynaud and Elisa Celis with Van Le Ngoc. The simple set ( a New York skyline) and pretty costumes were delightful and the dancing divine.
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