Ballet.co Magazine
November 2006

Previous Ballet.co magazine - October 2006
Next Ballet.co magazine - December 2006

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Quick Links for this magazine
Interviews, Features, In the Galleries, Dance Umbrella, Reviews, Postings Reviews, External Reviews, Photographic Copyright and Credits

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Interviews




David Nixon
Jeffery Taylor talks to the Northern Ballet Theatre artistic director and choreographer about doing more with less and pleasing his audience...


John Meehan
The new HK Ballet Director talks to Natasha Rogai...
"Hong Kong is a really big city, and I want this to be a really big, important ballet company, to match a big, important city. Hong Kong deserves the best."

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains approximately 2600 images.

John Ross Photographs
Albums added in October...


Royal Ballet
Sleeping Beauty
London, Covent Garden, October 2006



Royal Ballet
Coppelia
London, Covent Garden, October 2006



Royal Ballet
Stravinsky Violin Concerto - Voluntaries - Sinfonietta
London, Covent Garden, October 2006

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Features



'Bringing Balanchine Back'
30 Years after they last visited St Petersburg NYCB returned - John Mallinson reviews the HD film that captured it all



Hong Kong Ballet Group's production of "Giselle"
Natasha Rogai talks to Director Yuri Ng about the groups latest production and training dancers in Hong Kong


Ballet Rocks
English National Ballet rock-on... for 3½ minutes on Artsworld TV

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Diaries and weblogs


Madame Galina...
This month several entries including... 'I changed the beginning of my Galina show at Torquay last Saturday. Aurora was out in favour of Giselle'... (Weblog Home)


Daniel Jones weblog
It was Taiwan last time, and now Barcelona (with exclusive pics!)...
weblog home



Carole Edrich Weblog...
Life, flashbacks and whaat to make of Déjà Donné... (Weblog home)

Other weblog writers
Christopher Hampson
Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen
Jarkko Lehmus
Peter Quanz

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Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/10/2006 and 31/10/2006 will be included here...

USA Reviews

Mariinsky Ballet

'Swan Lake': Anjuli Bai

"...the corps de ballet was the true star of the evening. This doesn't subtract from the glory of the principals or the stature of the company but enhances it immeasurably."

'Swan Lake': art076

"...even with varying performances from the principals, every time I see the Kirov dance Swan Lake, it strikes me that the ballet seems to just sit in the company's blood. They know how to do it completely effortlessly, and it comes off wonderfully no matter how many times they have done it. A joy to watch."


American Ballet Theatre

'Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes' bill: Eric Taub

"ABT's formula for its tremendously popular fall seasons at City Center eclecticism leavened with a healthy measure of star power couldn't have been better represented than at this Sunday's matinee. We had something (fairly) new ... something old ... and two warhorse pas de deuxs, delivered with unforgettable gusto by some of the biggest of ABT's Big Names."

'Glow-Stop Bill': Eric Taub

"It is perhaps a cheap shot to take Elo to task for not being Tharp or Balanchine (it is, after all, a shame that there are so many great writers in the world who aren't named Eric Taub), but I would like to see exuberance harnessed to something more than itself."


Paul Taylor Dance Company

'Banquet of Vultures' bill: Lewis Whittington

" Piazzolla: "The company corps, dressed in 30s style dance dresses and high-draped pants, were so erotic and sultry that some muddy unison and the occasional mechanical drive hardly mattered."


Mark Morris Dance Group

'King Arthur': Renee Renouf

"Then there were those moments when the untamed Morris proclivities burst forth, stalking over aesthetic distance. Yet he remained musical and visually compelling. He indeed surprises..."


Washington Ballet

'In The Upper Room' bill: Oksana Khadarina

" Oui, Non: "I thought the busy and at times overly athletic choreography didn't quite capture the essence and spirit of the songs. At the same time, Oui/non has a special allure for its charming music and entertaining nature."


Pilobolus Dance Theater

'Aquatica' bill: Oksana Khadarina

"...that old Pilobolus magic still works like a charm."


Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

'Wild Cursive (Cursive III)': Renee Renouf

"Wild Cursive accomplished that rarity, achieving the universal through the highly particular of a culture. It could only have been created in a milieu imbued with the particular regimens and distinctive practices of tai chi, wu shu and chi gung."


Batsheva Dance Company

'Three': Renee Renouf

"My preference obviously lies with fluttering Balinese hand gestures and Chinese martial arts stances, not Western studies on the spastic nature of contemporary civilization. If and when, however, the occasion presents itself, I would gladly see another performance by Batsheva's remarkable dancers."


California Ballet

'In the Shadows' bill: Anjuli Bai

" Romeo: "Most engaging was the choreographer's use of the several degrees of arabesques and happily Curry as Juliet honored his choices..."


Group Motion Dance Company

'Cell - Movement in Restricted Places' bill: Lewis Whittington

"...one diamond-hard piece of modern dance that grabs you by the throat."


Gamelan Sekar Jaya

'Kali Yuga - The Age of Chaos': Renee Renouf

"For Kali Yoga it was not only the two delightful little girls in the end, but the co-founders of Cudamani interlocking connections with Sekar Jaya."


Danish Reviews

Royal Danish Ballet

'La Sylphide, The Lesson' bill: Jane Simpson

" Sylphide: "Born in the same year as Darcey Bussell, Silja Schandorff is at that lovely stage in a ballerina's career when she can pare down her interpretations to their essence, giving us everything important in a role whilst appearing to do almost nothing."

'Requiem': Jane Simpson

"Requiem has already won a major prize for Tim Rushton and has been well received by both audiences and critics: its power eludes me so far..."

'La Sylphide' bill: Norman Reynolds

"Our brother Danes were somewhat amused that Johann Kobborg's London production last year of The Lesson received, allegedly, an adult only tag as they regard it as just an amusing, absurd ballet."


Hong Kong Reviews

La Scala Ballet

'Midsummer Night's Dream': Natasha Rogai

"Balanchine famously preferred to create abstract dance, and based on this, it is a good thing that he did."


Hong Kong Ballet

'Balanchine and Beyond': Natasha Rogai

"Meehan's impact on the company is already evident – the dancers are dancing better, presenting themselves more dynamically, and it is exciting to see new faces are appearing in solo roles, and dancers revealing new aspects of their talent."


City Contemporary Dance Company

'Nijinsky': Natasha Rogai

"The entire cast was superb, and Chan Yi Jing as Nijinsky absolutely magnificent."


UK Reviews

Royal Ballet

'The Sleeping Beauty': Lynette Halewood

"Ansanelli has bags of confidence and delivered some very impressive technical set pieces in Acts 1 and 3. She has a bright, clean strong technique which she presents with a grand flourish. It's undeniably impressive but not all of it seems quite appropriate for Aurora."

'Coppelia': Jeffery Taylor

"I guarantee you will still be smiling when the curtain falls. In four years as director Monica Mason has transformed the Royal Ballet; Coppelia marks another important turning point."

'Coppelia': Celine Tan

"After the performance, I exited with mixed feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. After watching couple of different versions on different mediums, this production warms my heart and make me chuckle. However..."

'Coppelia': Tony Newcombe

"There has been some outstanding dancing by all the Swanhildas during this run but to me none of them has showed us the detail that Belinda Hatley did in the second act."

'Stravinsky Violin Concerto' bill: Jane Simpson

"The programme as a whole may work better, perhaps, with different casts in the first two pieces. As it is, it's a not entirely convincing start to the season."

'Stravinsky Violin Concerto' bill: Marike van Aerde

"With this triple bill, the Royal Ballet's start of the new season indeed seems, for the most part, to have reached its goal of fresh and sharp, yet lyrical dance. It is a promising start..."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'Ballet Hoo!, Romeo and Juliet' bill: Terry Amos

"I was unsure about what to expect at last night's performance and, to be honest, my real reason for being there was to see Jenna Roberts and Jamie Bond in their debuts as Juliet and Romeo. They didn't disappoint me but I didn't expect to end up being so enthusiastic about the performances of the Ballet-Hoo kids."

'Romeo and Juliet': Jeffery Taylor

"A strangely disconnected performance by BRB of the world's favourite love story nevertheless looked stunning on the Sadler's Wells stage last week."

'Romeo and Juliet': Terry Amos

"BRB's performances of Romeo and Juliet last week were a bit of a let down after all the Ballet Hoo fuss but the three so far this week have seen the company in top form..."

'Romeo and Juliet': Norman Reynolds

"Having seen three Requiems this year (Macmillan, Neumeier and Rushton), I began to feel this was another, Shakespeare's Requiem. And so it is in a way, interwoven with a tragic love story..."

'Romeo and Juliet + Stravinsky Programme': Janet McNulty

"I've just returned from seeing a week of BRB performances in Sunderland - and what a super week we've had."

'Stravinsky programme': Charlotte Kasner

"Kim Brandstrup's Pulcinella was utter magic."

'Stravinsky programme': Marike van Aerde

"Although technically almost whithout a flaw, it remains to be the freshness and enthusiasm of the entire company that makes Birmingham Royal Ballet such a joy to watch."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Rambert Dance Company

'Stand and Stare' bill: Jeffery Taylor

" Stand and Stare: "...where is the real Lowry in this one man's imaginary vision of another's tortured soul?"


Cabaret

'Cabaret': Jeffery Taylor

"...de Frutos throws good taste, and the excellent dancers' clothes, to the winds of war and scores a triumph."


English National Ballet

'Alice in Wonderland': Jeffery Taylor

"What a delightful and welcome return of Derek Deane’s Alice to the family Festive season."

'Alice in Wonderland': Ian Palmer

"There are two stars of Derek Deane's Alice in Wonderland which launched ENB's winter tour at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on Thursday evening. The first is Sue Blane whose designs are a fantasy of magical craftsmanship... The second star is Maria Kochetkova..."

'Synergy': Mandy Kent

"Did it all add up as promised? We were shown four new works, with original music, and whilst all four pieces were interesting I felt that only the central two really succeeded in pulling the individual elements together to create something special."


Richard Alston

'Red Run' bill: Ian Palmer

"Rarely is a stage so excited by a dancer's presence (Jonathan Goddard), rarely does choreography speak to us so vividly. What a privilege it is to see such an extraordinary artist. How lucky Alston is to have him."


The Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs

'Yipeee!!!': Ian Palmer

"...subscribes to the fur-coat and no knickers school of dance – lots of style (if you like fetish clubs) and little substance."


Cathy Marston

'Traces' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"High qualities of dance making and a terrific bunch of dancers makes Cathy Marston's current tour of three of her recent works a delight for any dance lover."


Antonia Franceschi

'Up From the Waste': Graham Watts

"This is not for the feint-hearted. Within minutes of the start, we have already clocked up graphic references to murder, masturbation, rape, orgies and serial child abuse..."


Anastasia Volochkova

'Eternal Love': Graham Watts

"One has to give her full marks for stamina. The duets were augmented by two long solos and two variations within ensemble pieces so that Anastasia danced in eleven of the 16 danced sections, a monumental achievement by any standard..."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'The Three Musketeers': Paul N

"... a big thank you to NBT for touring the UK and bringing such a marvellous work to my doorstep. Very much appreciated."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Ascendance Rep

'Chaps': Ian Palmer

"All praise to Rachel Wesson for her inspired leadership, her artistic vision and her guts for programming three intelligent, challenging and ultimately (in their own individual ways) pleasing works."


Chicago

'Chicago': Ian Palmer

"We might expect that a touring operation would lose some of its articulation, its bite, in the travel, but here (in its pared down size) it gains in intensity, in devastating slickness. ... it is great, intelligent Musical Theatre."


Shaolin Monks

'Kung Fu Masters Live': Ian Palmer

"The ordained Shaolin Monks, of whom there are twenty on this tour, guard the Shaolin Temple in China. I imagine they do a very good job..."


Russian Classical Ballet Theatre

'The Sleeping Beauty': Jeffery Taylor

"...light years away from a ballet company."

'Swan Lake': Jenny Taylor

"I enjoyed the production which was special in its own right because this was the first ever ballet performance for my four year old step grand-daughter and she was entranced."


European Ballet

'Nutcracker': Richard Amey

"...Russian former Bolshoi dancer Stanislav Tchassov takes it on himself to choreograph Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella and Carmen, of EB's full-length repertoire, and as he matures in this field, his company's presentations are increasing interest."


Swansea Ballet Russe

'Cinderella': Trog Woolley

"Easily the largest production ever staged by the "Welsh Russians", the audience are given a visual feast with stunning costumes, consumate performances and a classic story."


Imperial Ice Stars

'Swan Lake on Ice': Ian Palmer

"Intelligence is by no means the key to Swan Lake on Ice: from the mangled Tchaikovsky to the Disney-esque designs (by Eamon d'Arcy and Albina Gabueva) it appeals to the heart rather than the head. The same is true of the skating..."

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Postings Reviews section
Royal Ballet 'Coppelia': Paul N
Royal Ballet 'Coppelia': Alison Penfold
Royal Ballet 'Stravinsky Violin Concerto' bill: Pippa Lang
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Romeo and Juliet': Janet McNulty
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Romeo and Juliet': Paul Williams
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Stravinsky programme': Jane Simpson
Northern Ballet Theatre 'The Three Musketeers': Janet McNulty
Kathak at the Cross roads 'Kathak at the Cross roads - Innovation Within Tradition: Kathak works': Renee Renouf
Bare Bones 'The 5 Man Show': Janet McNulty
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo 'The Flames of Paris' bill: Alison Penfold

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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 the:
TodaysLinks page

In the period from 1 October to 31 October (last update of this page) we have 512 links for you.

Alternatively try searching for exactly what you are after with our: Reviews Advanced Search page

All our links list dancer details, a full list of pieces performed and a brief quote that gives the flavour of the review. Sadly not all papers maintain their links and so we cannot absolutely guarantee any particular URL. Enjoy, and if you think we have missed a review do send us a link.

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Photographic Copyright and Credits

All photographs are copyright and cannot be taken and/or used elsewhere. Click on an image to be taken to the associated page where appropriate credits are stated.

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