Ballet.co Magazine
For June 2007

Previous Ballet.co magazine - May 2007
Next Ballet.co magazine - July 2007

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

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Interviews




Natalia Osipova
Bolshoi Ballet
Ian Palmer chats with the young and bubbly ballerina whose wowing Bolshoi fans (and many others)...


Margaret Dale
Royal Ballet and BBC TV
with some of her films about to be screened again a period interview from 1963 originally by Dance and Dancers (to whom huge thanks for allowing us to republish)


Yuhui Choe
and Celisa Diuana

The two Royal Ballet dancers were guests of the Ballet Association back in January 2006 - a report for posterity has just emerged...

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Features


Remembering
Galina Mezentseva
Elena with an appreciation of a much admired Mariinsky/Kirov dancer



‘Dancing Into The Unknown'
My Life in the Ballets Russes and Beyond by Tamara Tchinarova Finch

Renee Renouf back with the Ballets Russes.


The Merry Widow in Hong Kong
Ronald Hynd in Conversation
Natasha Rogai on a super bloke and his much traveled work



‘Anna Halprin:
Experience as Dance’
Renee Renouf on a formidable biography about a singular figure in the American dance landscape.


So, You Want to Learn to Dance?
Another in the series from Anjuli Bai:
Mind Your Knees and Hormones...

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Diaries and weblogs


Jarkko Lehmus weblog...
the Scottish Ballet dancer who tells it like no other...
'Take Aim... Fire!'
Jarkko finds new strengths and 88 word sentances... "I'm fully occupied by riding a new one that Staphen Petronio is conjuring out of the dark depths of his imagination.". Also Jarkko becomes a choreographer... (weblog home)


Madame Galina weblog...
On how to sell a show and Dame Nellie Melba...
(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. This month it's Crosby, Hexham, Hadrians Wall and the Linbury coming up... (Weblog Home)

Weblog writers
Carole Edrich
Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen
Daniel Jones

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains over 3100 images.

John Ross Photographs
Albums added in 05/07 ...


Rambert - Gran Partita
London, Sadler's Well



Darcey Bussell - Farewell
London, Sadler's Well



NDT2, Sleight of Hand
London, Sadler's Well

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Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/05/2007 and 31/05/2007 are included here...

USA Reviews

San Francisco Ballet

'Muriel Maffre’s Farewell': Renee Renouf

"I wish I had counted the number of curtain calls, but my emotions and tears were caught up in those final minutes when Muriel Maffre graced our lives as principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet."

'Don Quixote': Renee Renouf

"The wedding pas de deux was further seamless collaboration between Kitri and Basilio, danced with understated elegance and panache: it befitted the triumphant couple who had managed to outmaneuver dear old Dad."


American Ballet Theatre

'Spring Opening Gala': Eric Taub

"With a program designed to show off the gems of ABT's roster and repertory, this Spring Gala had some spotty moments, but when it succeeded it was pleasant enough, if not quite of the caliber of ABT's legendary galas of the late Seventies and early Eighties."

'La Bayadere': Rachel Straus

"Angela Corella's expansive non-stop jumps seared the heart. Herrera's dancing has the potential to do the same. If only she could move beyond lightweight acting and show Nikiya's will for all its weight."

'Symphonie Concertante, The Dream' bill: Ellen Gaintner

"However much or little Balanchine ABT performs, Symphonie Concertante did the alumni proud. The corps was neat, clean, and very together, and looked happy to boot. The six demi-soloists, likewise, were a cheerful and cohesive bunch."

'Othello': Rachel Straus

"Like great ballet, Lubovitch's choreography momentarily transcended concerns of the flesh. If Thomas could transcend his desire for having it all, he too could move audiences to their feet—not only for his chutzpah but for his investment in his roles."


New York City Ballet

'Romeo and Juliet': Rachel Straus

"Indeed, every time Peter Martins tried his hand at sensuality, his production flat lined. When the ballet focused on violence, however, his choreography showed a heartbeat."


Sylvie Guillem and Akram Khan

'Sacred Monsters': Renee Renouf

"While I understood what her talent must have been in toe shoes, I was happy to see her body in service to contemporary expression, its apparent lack of strain in anything she undertook..."


Washington Ballet

'7 X 7': Oksana Khadarina

"7x7 offers many delightful and memorable moments. The result is an exciting collage of contemporary choreographic styles, techniques, and approaches to dance, united by a common theme and accompanied by an eclectic variety of soundtracks. The greatest strength of the program was the exceptional quality of dancing..."


Smuin Ballet

'Schubert Scherzo' bill: Renee Renouf

"Michael (Smuin) picked sunny-souled people for his ensemble,desiring to please, possessing clean technique and ability to meet unexpected demands. He also chose with an eye to personality. ...The ensemble is worth watching..."


American Ballet Theater Studio Company

'Ghost Light' bill: Rachel Straus

"Hopefully Artistic Director Peterson will match Studio Company 2008 with more choreographers like Hougland (Vanish), who brought out the dancers' passions as well as deftly paraded their beautiful legs and feet."


City Ballet of San Diego

'Balanchine': Anjuli Bai

"H.L. Mencken said “People get the government they deserve.” In this case, San Diego needs to realize that it finally has a classical ballet company, and I hope it deserves it."


Malashock Dance

'Persian Sketchbook: Stay the Hand': Anjuli Bai

"If there is any hope left for peace between the various countries and ideologies of the Middle East, that hope most probably resides in the arts and the artists who want a peaceful world in which to work and create..."


Danish Reviews

Royal Danish Ballet

'Ailey Zuska and Brandstrup triple bill': Jane Simpson

Les Bras de Mer: "Danish RDB watchers worry that almost all of the company's principals are over 30, and though one sympathises with their worries about the future succession, it's really good too to see so many grown-ups on stage, portraying people who are way beyond adolescent first love."


Danish Dance Theatre

'Passion': Gunild Pak Symes

"Despite the obstacles, the production is a must-see if only to challenge one's wits and see if one can stomach the gristle; art isn't always pretty. There is a sort of beauty one can find in the grotesque. Passion is what it says, and no one can deny its obvious impact. Upon leaving the theater, one spectator exclaimed, 'Oh, man, I need a drink.'"


German Reviews

Bolshoi Ballet

'Don Quixote': Kevin Ng

"This Bolshoi production of 'Don Quixote' ... is more or less fine. But dramatically it is not as logical as the Kirov's production for instance. ...Still it was most worthwhile seeing the two exciting young stars Osipova and Vasiliev."


Hong Kong Reviews

Hong Kong Ballet

'The Merry Widow': Natasha Rogai

"... this was a triumph for the company as a whole and John Meehan in particular, and there is no doubt The Merry Widow is in Hong Kong to stay."


UK Reviews

Royal Ballet

'Swan Lake': Jeffery Taylor

" Nunez: "At 25, the blonde, award winning Argentinean is just getting her teeth into the big ballerina roles and watching her grow promises future thrills for us devotees."

'Swan Lake': Lynette Halewood

"Both the lead performances individually had much to admire in them, and the only reservation I had about this performance was the lack of rapport between them"."

'Swan Lake': Simonetta Dixon

"Well, another very assured debut from Lauren Cuthbertson. As soon as she made her entrance, her presence was felt everywhere in the House."


'Seven Deadly Sins bill': Bruce Marriott

"MacMillan's La Fin du jour I really rather enjoyed - it looked like a master choreographer having fun and giving himself permission to try new things well away from comfort zones. The dancers haven't quite given themselves the same permission yet..."

'Seven Deadly Sins bill': Ian Macmillan

"After a day's reflection, I still have the flat and disappointed feeling with which I left the Opera House last night."

'Seven Deadly Sins bill': Paul N

"Well this was a right mixed bag; and what to make of it all? What are the purposes of these works and what, if anything, are they trying to say to me? ... now having seen it, I don't think I'm much the wiser."

'Mayerling': Lynette Halewood

"It was an outstanding achievement from the company to produce so many fine performances from four different casts. They gave MacMillan's work the commitment and strongly delineated performances that it needs to make Mayerling deliver its huge emotional punch."

'Mayerling': Paul N

"He (Harvey) really made the most out of his numerous relationships with the women in his life, contrasting well the differences between them. They, more than anything else, provided a much needed sketch of some of the forces at play. The pas de deux could hardly have been delivered with more intensity, brittleness and poignancy."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Darcey Bussell

'Darcey Bussell Farewell': Margaret Willis

"...like Tony Blair, Darcey Bussell has started to slide gently into retirement from her top ranking job, making sure that the occasion does not go unnoticed. And why shouldn't she? On a film strip during this, the first of her many farewell galas, she admits candidly, 'I thrive on attention”, so she must have been pleased with her reception at the Wells. Her doting audience responded loudly to her natural wit as well as her on-top-form dancing."

'Darcey Bussell Farewell': Jeffery Taylor

"We Brits are notoriously buttoned up when it comes to tributes. But last week's Farewell to Darcey Bussell at Sadler's Wells verged on the reluctant."

'Darcey Bussell Farewell': Celine Tan

"It was an evening of fine and exquisite dancing and showmanship. One may ponder, 'what more can one ask for?' ..."


Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT2)

'Sleepless' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"Young and beautiful, superbly trained and extravagantly talented, the hugely popular dancers of NDT2 opened a month's UK tour at Sadler's Wells last week. They do not disappoint. But as usual the works presented do."

'Sleepless' bill: Ian Palmer

" Sleepless: "Kylián's skill is to present the greatest tension from the simplest of means – expressing the infinite by saying so little."

'Sleepless' bill: Ian Palmer

"The dancers of NDT2 continue to march onward through the cities of the land. Having dispensed with Ohad Maharin's frightful Spit, their programme seems much tighter, more secure."

'Sleepless' bill: Celine Tan

" Chapeau: "A complete opposite to the previous two pieces. This is delightful, fun and over-the-top cheesiness."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Rambert Dance Company

'Pond Way' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"Gran Partita, with a world premiere last week at Sadler's Wells, is Rambert's next big hit."


Mark Bruce

'Spring Loaded: Sea of Bones': Bruce Marriott

"...lots of mesmerising cameos. ...I'd really love to see it again. On tour through to the autumn, this is recommended."


Cathy Marston

'Echo and Narcissus': Bruce Marriott

"Echo and Narcissus is Marston's latest piece before she heads off to direct Bern Ballet and it would have been nice to be more positive, given the Bon Voyage."


Liz Lea

'Eros-Eris': Bruce Marriott

"...while she (Lea) cuts a dash as a dancer, particularly in a beautiful Martha Graham stretchy black dress, her choreography seemed unimaginative and tedious."


Michael Clark

'MMM....': Ian Palmer

"Clark's Apollo will always beat Clark's Dionysus, because it shows him as he is best – as Clark the Classicist."


Jonzi D

'Tag - Me vs the City': Bruce Marriott

"I'm in two minds about this show, varying from tremendous admiration to weary depression."

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Breakin' Convention 2007 at Sadler's Wells...

ZooNation Youth

'Breakin' Convention: Seen But Not Heard': Ian Palmer

"...show us the street language as vitalization of its musical scores – marking the off-beat by sharp twists..."


Moving Shadows

'Breakin' Convention: Out of the Shadow': Ian Palmer

"...played with patterns, shapes and metaphors of life in a pre and post-lapsarian world. To a sound-track of Richard Strauss, Verdi and the like we saw primal images of sacrifice and betrayal, of love and pleaure, of death and destruction dressed in the most brilliant of artistry."


Compagnie Revolution

'Breakin' Convention: Soli II': Ian Palmer

"Alluring, provocative, it imposes femininity upon a distinctly unfeminine dance form..."


Frank Ejara

'Breakin' Convention: Som di Movimento': Ian Palmer

"...though he possesses what can only be called a “sturdy” physique, he bewitches with his fleet footwork, delicate ripples up to his knees and the feline grace with which his movement babbles along."


Baby Flex

'Breakin' Convention: Solo': Ian Palmer

"...creates elastic shapes, pushing them onward into extraordinary poses..."


Dance 2XS

'Breakin' Convention: Dance Toy XS': Ian Palmer

"...a kind of hip-hop version of Coppelia..."


Electric Boogaloos

'Breakin' Convention: Tribute to Skeeter Rabbit (R.I.P.)': Ian Palmer

"...only once narrative had been shaken off did they relax into virtuoso showmanship."


Vagabond Crew

'Breakin' Convention: Aliens': Ian Palmer

"...spin with tremendous speed, their legs drawing hieroglyphics in the air."

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CandoCo

'The Stepfather, And Who Shall Go to the Ball' bill: Ian Palmer

"Two premieres by Arthur Pita and Rafael Bonachela opened CandoCo's 2007/08 season at the Contact last week; both young, both having come a long way in the shortest space of time and both with differing (though no less valid) ideas of how to bring dance to the stage and how, in turn, to delight their audiences."


Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company

'Justitia': Ian Palmer

"The set looks great, its use impressive and there are moments of truly vivid dance making. Now the gaping holes need filling in."

'Justitia': Anthea West

"The choreography is fresh and powerful, the performances accomplished and passionate. If there's any justice in the world, these people should have full houses every night."


Ballet Central

'Shift' bill: Bruce Marriott

"This year's Ballet Central tour is an absolute corker - certainly one of the best in the last few years and terrific that it is peppered with new work too - major companies take note."


Fleur Darkin

'Augustine': Jeffery Taylor

"Darkin brilliantly succeeds in capturing the essence through movement of an extreme of human behaviour, though she shrinks from the ultimate misery with a collective jolly that feels like a cop out."


London Childrens Ballet

'The Secret Garden': Graham Watts

"Christine Sundt's choreography is a mature and very British representation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's enigmatic story, with strong shades of Ashton in her emphasis on flexible upper bodies and crisp, neat footwork."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'Romeo and Juliet': Janet McNulty

"This is a superb production and the company are on great form. Miss it at your peril!"


Akademi

'Daredevas': Janet McNulty

"The four dancers were Seema Patel, Hanna Mannila, Shamita Ray and Amina Khayyam. Each danced one solo piece, on either side of the interval. They were a mixture of traditional and “based on” Kathak and Barathanatyam. I enjoyed all the pieces..."

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Postings Reviews section
Royal Ballet 'Mayerling': Paul Arrowsmith
Royal Ballet 'Seven Deadly Sins bill': Robert
Royal Ballet 'Mayerling': Jenny Taylor
Royal Ballet 'Mayerling': Janet McNulty
Royal Ballet 'Mayerling': Amanda Steeds
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': David Hill
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Sleeping Beauty': Kathleen Charon
Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT2) 'Sleepless' bill: Paul Williams
Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT2) 'Sleepless' bill: Norman Reynolds
Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT2) 'Sleepless' bill: Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'The Three Musketeers': Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'Romeo and Juliet': Mandy Kent

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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 May to 31 May (last update of this page) we have 389 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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