Ballet.co Magazine
February 2007

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March 2007

Previous Ballet.co magazine - January 2007

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

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Interviews & Features


Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani
and Jonathan Watkins

RB Artists and recent Ballet Association Guests.


Remembering
Margaritta Kullik
Elena with an appreciation of a much admired Mariinsky/Kirov dancer

UK National Dance Awards
Graham Watts on who won what at the years annual gathering of the great and good in British dance and ballet

Ballet.co 2006 Poll of the Year...


Results Jane Simpson draws conclusions from a mixed set of entries

The entries: Exactly what you said and the way you said it


Answers to the
2006 Quiz of the Year
Jane Simpson reveals all...

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Diaries and Weblogs



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. This years brave crew, Emma Chadwick Freya Jeffs and Matthew Williams introduce themselves...
(Weblog Home)


Madame Galina...
Galina interviews Tom Whitehead (yes really)... (Weblog Home)

Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen


Our newest weblog writers, the husband and wife San Francisco Ballet principals Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen. This month...
Molly on Nutcrackers and lots of rehearsals     (Weblog Home)



Carole Edrich Weblog...
This month Flamenco, Tango, the economics of writing and... spinning classes... (Weblog home)

Weblog writers
Daniel Jones
Jarkko Lehmus

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains approximately 2850 images.


Royal Ballet
La Sylphide
London, Covent Garden


Royal Ballet
Rhapsody and Napoli
London, Covent Garden


Ballet Black
London, Linbury Studio Theatre


2006 National Dance Awards
London, Sadler's Wells

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Reviews

USA Reviews

New York City Ballet

'Stravinsky and Balanchine- An Eternal Partnership': Eric Taub

"In addition to Agon and Symphony in Three Movements, Monumentum Pro Gesualdo, Movements for Piano and Orchestra, and Duo Concertant rounded out the program, so it was, at least on paper, a Balanchine lover's dream. Alas, it became more of a nightmare."

'Stravinsky and Balanchine- An Eternal Partnership': Eric Taub

"Maybe things will be better in the spring."

'Essential Balanchine': Eric Taub

"...the performance of Liebeslieder which followed was extraordinary. Led by the company's three senior ballerinas Kyra Nichols, Darci Kistler and Wendy Whelan and the soon-to-be-departed Miranda Weese, this Liebeslieder seemed heavier than most with its intimations of mortality, its happy, lovestruck moments sometimes seeming like forced gaiety in the face of the unknowable. What a treasure these women are, and this ballet, and how many decades of distilled experience, of life and dancing,..."

'Mozartiana': Eric Taub

"There's no little truth to the commonplace that our departed loved ones live on in our memories, and, for some of us of a certain age, Nichols' performances are a magic window to a world where Balanchine the artist still lives. When Nichols retires this spring, after thirty-three years with the New York City Ballet, that window will close for the last time, and we'll all be the poorer."


Mariinsky Ballet

'Romeo and Juliet': Oksana Khadarina

"As Juliet, the remarkably talented 23-year old Obraztsova, moved the audience to tears. Dancing with irresistible passion and shimmering lightness, she was Juliet personified, a sweet, gentle girl, innocent yet capable of enduring love."

'Romeo and Juliet': Fedora

"In the 3rd and final act, this amazing dance drama reached genuine Shakespearian proportions."

'Romeo and Juliet': Fedora

"For days after the show I was walking in a daze. Guys, there's nothing, no-thin-g like seeing a great work of art for the first time..."

'Romeo and Juliet': DCat

"But my personal favorite Romeo was Skylarov, with so much youthful enthusiasm and everything to prove, he did not disappoint-His movement was lightning strength, and with a controlled abandon..."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

San Francisco Ballet

'Gala': Renee Renouf

"Seen was a glorious range of ballets, dancers and interpretive depth promising to move the company along even as one of the brightest stars in its firmament, Muriel Maffre,counts down for her departure."


American Ballet Theatre

'Kingdom of the Shades' bill: Oksana Khadarina

"Xiomara Reyes as the Cowgirl captured hearts of the audience with her sweet shyness and child-like stubbornness. Whether riding a bronco, mimicking roping techniques or pulling up her pants, her earnestness was simply irresistible."

'Othello': Oksana Khadarina

"Although ensemble dances are not the strongest point of this Othello, Lubovitch excels as a master of solo and duet choreography, in which he creates interesting psychological portraits..."


French Reviews

Paris Opera Ballet

Giselle and Coppelia: Sheila Cross

"So, two productions of the classics by Patrice Bart, one deeply traditional, one a hybrid that needed either to shake off its traditional parts or to develop them more consistently. Both portraying madness, from sudden breakdown in 'Giselle' to psychosis in 'Coppelia', both capturing the tension between illusion and reality. Both superbly danced."


Italian Reviews

Mara Galeazzi

'Homage to the Royal Ballet': Mandy Kent

"It was a lovely evening and the dancers all deserved the enthusiastic response from the audience. Congratulations and thanks to Mara and all the dancers and technicians who made the performance possible."


La Scala

'Gala des etoiles': Susy

"Even with an impressive row of guest stars, the Gala des étoiles held at La Scala on the 19th of Jaunary wasn't perfect."


Hong Kong Reviews

Hong Kong Ballet

'Primary Moves': Natasha Rogai

"All the pieces had good moments, but much of the choreography looked similar, and there was a sense that most of the choreographers had not had enough time to develop their work fully."


Japanese Reviews

K Ballet

'The Two Pigeons, Winter Dreams' bill: Satoko Kamatani

"'The Two Pigeons' is a lovely piece and I heard this piece made by later year's of Sir Frederick Ashton. So, lot of excellent essence of Ashton are included there. Miyako Yoshida (17th) performed a young girl, so cute and living really "a girl" in Act 1 and so sensitively in Act2."


UK Reviews

Ballet Grigorovich

'Yuri Grigorovich 80th Birthday Tribute': Margaret Willis

"Like Ashton with his 'Fred step', Grigorovich, too, has trademark features in his choreography: his heroes always explode onto the stage on the diagonal; there is a powerful frenzy of male bravura, their legs and arms beating furiously as they turn to each of the four corners of the stage..."

'Yuri Grigorovich 80th Birthday Tribute': Ian Palmer

"Ratmansky's Bolshoi troupe may now be a leaner, meaner dancing machine (swans and wilis that dance with a finesse comparable to its St. Petersburg rivals) but it owes its spirit – its gung-ho, razzle-dazzle bravura style ... to the tradition embodied by Grigorovich and his ballets."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Royal Ballet

'Napoli Divertissements, La Sylphide' bill: Jane Simpson

"Johan Kobborg added a divertissement from Napoli (mostly) to the revival of his fine production of La Sylphide, and whatever the imperfections of the performance, it was a real treat to see this sunny, joyful piece on the Covent Garden stage."

'Rhapsody, La Sylphide' bill: Lynette Halewood

"Rhapsody is one of the very few of Ashton's works are programmed this season, and for those of us who are missing the delicacy and precision of his choreography, this was a treat, though not faultlessly delivered."

Napoli Divertissments, Rhapsody and La Sylphide: Marike van Aerde

"Of the sylphs, Sarah Lamb's interpretation stood out for otherworldy beauty and gentle intensity; she truly seemed to be the embodiment of James' unobtainable longing."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Birmingham Royal Ballet

BRB June-Dec 2006: Terry Amos

" Outstanding Male Dancer: "This is a no-brainer, it has to be Robert Parker. In his final season (he finishes his dancing career after the Spring season), he remains the leading dancer in the company and it is obvious that he is retiring while still at the top of his form.!"


English National Ballet

'Giselle': Jeffery Taylor

"English National Ballet is back in cracking form. After a couple of years in the financial doldrums, the company is dancing with the physical vigour and artistic sincerity that has endeared it to the British public for over half a century."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Matthew Bourne

'Swan Lake': Marike van Aerde

"Is Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake a new classic in its own right? Perhaps I am not fully convinced, but I can see why it indeed may be heading into that direction."


St Petersburg Ballet Theatre

'Giselle': Ian Palmer

"Though Kolesnikova's interpretation here is well crafted, it appears too studied and lacking in spontaneity; her strength is in Adagio dancing ... The orchestra, conducted by Alexander Kantorov, gets better and better, and drove into Adam's score with a sense of drama I have rarely heard before."
{NOTE: 'St Petersburg Ballet Theatre' is a touring name used by two very separate companies. This review is of the Konstantin Tatchkine company."

'The Nutcracker': Ian Palmer

"The dancers of the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre have a distinct academism of behaviour (in the placement of the arms, the carriage of the head) which speaks of diligent Russian schooling and technical accomplishment, yet somehow this can seem an end in itself, rather than a means by which to justify a more artistic end."
{NOTE: 'St Petersburg Ballet Theatre' is a touring name used by two very separate companies. This review is of the Konstantin Tatchkine company."

'Sleeping Beauty': Norman Reynolds

"The dancing was in line with these high production values... Sabina Yapparova was splendid in the demanding role of Princess Aurora."
{NOTE: 'St Petersburg Ballet Theatre' is a touring name used by two very separate companies. This review is of the Konstantin Tatchkine company."

'Stars of SPBT Gala': Norman Reynolds

"This was the cream of classical ballet, the right way to bring ballet to the people."
{NOTE: 'St Petersburg Ballet Theatre' is a touring name used by two very separate companies. This review is of the Konstantin Tatchkine company."


Maresa von Stockert - Tilted Productions

'Marjorie's World Unhinged': Ian Palmer

"Dancers are rarely great stage speakers and the brush with which she has painted their speech has been held with too heavy a hand. Far better for von Stockert to concentrate more on the movement, where her touch is undoubtedly lighter, more quizzical and more fascinating."


Kiev Classical Ballet

'Snow White': Norman Reynolds

"One's first impression of these dancers is how young they all are, but also very competent technically, immediately apparent by the confidant pointe work. However, this is a Christmas ballet, not grand ballet, and does not stretch the dancers to any great extent."

'The Sleeping Beauty': Norman Reynolds

"This is a slimmed down version lasting 100 minutes plus one interval. The setting is very spare, with a touch of scrollwork on an otherwise plain backdrop, a couple of thrones and some seats for the first act.... The costumes had been much better thought out..."

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Postings Reviews section
Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov) 'Romeo and Juliet': NataliaN
Destination Dance 'Destination Dance programme': Renee Renouf
Royal Ballet 'Napoli Divertissements, La Sylphide' bill: Paul N
Royal Ballet 'The Nutcracker': Jane Simpson
Royal Ballet 'The Nutcracker': Wulff
Royal Ballet 'The Nutcracker': Michael LL
Royal Ballet 'The Nutcracker': Leonid
English National Ballet 'Giselle': Lynette Halewood
English National Ballet 'Giselle': Simonetta Dixon
English National Ballet 'Giselle': Amelia
English National Ballet 'Giselle': Celine Tan
Ballet Grigorovich 'Yuri Grigorovich 80th Birthday Tribute': Amelia

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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 January to 31 January (last update of this page) we have 361 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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