Ballet.co Magazine
March 2007

Next Ballet.co Magazine
April 2007

Previous Ballet.co magazine - February 2007

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Quick Links for this magazine
Interviews, Features, Flamenco Festival, Place Resolution!, In the Galleries, Reviews, Postings Reviews, External Reviews, Photographic Copyright and Credits

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Interviews



David Hallberg
Eric Taub has words with an ABT Principal going places fast...


Wayne Eagling
As Wayne Eagling's first planned programme starts touring - an all British choreographers triple bill - Jeffery Taylor pays the man a brief visit...


Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun
The Royal Ballet School trained San Francisco Ballet Soloist talks to Renee Renouf...



Steven McRae
The Royal Ballet's Steven McRae, the much noticed and award winning soloist, was a recent guest of the Ballet Association...

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Features


“A Chance for Dance”
A Dance UK symposium all about getting greater recognition for dance by backing the new Dance Manifesto was held at Sadler's Wells last October. Carole Edrich took down all the words - and we do mean all and has created a valuable record of an event and initiative that all who love dance need to get behind.



‘Navigating the Unknown’

The creative process in contemporary performing arts
Graham Watts gets to grips with a book that tries to get to grips with how dance gets created...

Hong Kong Dance Awards 2006...
Natasha Rogai reports on awards that seemed to get it right - at least for her...

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Diaries and weblogs


Jatkko Lehmus weblog... the Scottish Ballet dancer who tells it like no other. This month on Politics and being a Charity Pimp... (weblog home)


Madame Galina weblog...
Galina in Afghanistan (war work) and Stockholm (peace work)...
(Weblog Home)



Carole Edrich Weblog...
Eclectic as ever - Spanish dance, being interviewed for the Times G2 Section and trying to push sales of the Lime Suckers Calendar... (Weblog home)




Daniel Jones weblog...
'The Crab, the Fox and the Canterville Jesus' (and also being beaten up)   (Weblog Home)

Other Weblog writers
Ballet Central Students
Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains approximately 2900 images.

John Ross Photographs
Albums added 02/07...


American Ballet Theatre
Symphonie Concertante,
La Bayadere, Green Table
London, Sadler's Wells



Australian Dance Theatre
Held
London, Sadler's Wells



Royal Ballet
Swan Lake
London, Covent Garden


Famenco Festival 07
Eva Verbabuena
London, Sadler's Wells



Royal Ballet
1939 - 1946 Exhibition
London, Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms

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Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/02/2007 and 28/02/2007 will be included here...

USA Reviews

New York City Ballet

'Serenade' bill: Eric Taub

"City Ballet has really got to stop putting masterpieces with Kyra Nichols on at the beginnig of programs. After Serenade, which opened this evening of Balanchine and Robbins works, all I wanted to do was (you guessed it!) go home and savor its glorious memories..."

'Liebeslieder, Stars and Stripes' bill: Eric Taub

"...it was awe-inspiring."



Bolshoi Ballet

'Cinderella': Oksana Khadarina

"Possokhov creates a truly contemporary Cinderella, an independent, free-spirited young woman who doesn't rely on magic to change her life. ...And at the end, she doesn't need to fit the slipper—the Prince recognizes her at first sight. She is unforgettable. At last, Cinderella, welcome to the 21st century!"

'Don Quixote': Fedora

"The troupe was warmly received by the audience. And Natalia Osipova proved that her fame was well deserved, although I won't go out of my way to see her again just as I won't go out of my way to see this particular production of Don Quixote."

'Don Quixote': Fedora

"Svetlana Zakharova and Denis Matvienko had tremendous effect on the performance of the whole company, as everyone seemed to be doing their very best. And Shipulina looked better that evening."


San Francisco Ballet

'Artifact Suite' bill: Renee Renouf

Artifact: "If Forsythe can elicit such a quality in an ensemble, I guess he has to be forgiven that safety curtain act."

'Firebird' bill: Renee Renouf

Firebird: "With this infusion of the former Ballet Russe spirit, I can only exclaim 'More, please, Yuri Possokhov, more, and soon!'"


Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

'Revelations' bill: Oksana Khadarina

"The rich, luxuriant tonality of Ellington's symphonic score immeasurably contributes to the great appeal of this dance. The balletic nature of The River was certainly no obstacle for the versatile Ailey dancers: they performed with the consummate mastery and elegance required."


Hamburg Ballet

'Death in Venice': Anjuli Bai

" Final male pas de deux: "While the pianist was playing gloriously captivating music, the two dancers were jerking their arms about, angst ridden bodies making angular shapes and eyes filled with empty agony. And that about sums up how I felt when the stage finally darkened."


Hubbard Street Dance

'Lickety-Split' bill: Oksana Khadarina

"...regardless of the quality and appeal of the given choreographic and musical material, the HSDC ensemble charmed the audience with the virtuosity of their dancing, making the evening a highly satisfying affair to everyone."


Washington Ballet

'Noche Latina!': Oksana Khadarina

"Piazzolla Caldera turned out to be the strongest dance of the evening—clearly the favorite among the audience."


Atlanta Ballet

'The Great Gatsby': Pamela Gaye

"Creating scenes that wed the elegance and grace of ballet with favorite jazz movements and couple rhythms of Charleston and swing with ballet, choreographers Lauri Stallings and John McFall capture the essence of Gatsby through an evening of danced montage."


Russian Reviews

Mariinsky Ballet

'Raymonda, Balanchine programme': Kevin Ng

Raymonda: "This production shows off the Kirov troupe at their very best, both in terms of classical and character dancing, and should be shown more on overseas tours."


French Reviews

American Ballet Theatre

'Symphonie Concertante' bill: Kevin Ng

Green Table: "...powerfully led by David Hallberg as the death figure, is dated and tedious though... I found the work relentlessly gloomy and depressing."


Paris Opera Ballet

'Laurent Hilaire's farewell performance: Apollo, Songs of a Wayfarer': Naoko S

"Shoulder to shoulder, two of the finest male dancers of their generation were there to receive warm applause from the packed auditorium. Then Legris disappeared, leaving Hilaire standing all alone on the stage for the next 10 or so minutes. All the while he was showered with bright red petals, coming down from the above, and I thought I saw tears in his eyes...."


Italian Reviews

Mara Galeazzi

'Homage to the Royal Ballet': Li

"In true Italian style, the performance had begun at 9.30 p.m. - half-an-hour after the advertised time – and it finished at 11.30 p.m.... The evening was a popular triumph, both for the dancers and for Mara Galeazzi personally, ending with rhythmic clapping and wild enthusiasm from the audience."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Roberto Bolle

'Roberto Bolle Gala for Unicef': Susy

"The first half closed with Ashton's “Sylvia”. It was probably the last time that Darcey Bussell danced a choreography by Ashton and what a farewell it was! No less exalting was Bolle's Aminta."


Danish Reviews

Royal Danish Ballet

'Caroline Mathilde': Janet McNulty

"On Tuesday night Thomas Lund gave an incredibly powerful and compelling performance as the King. His slightest movement had meaning and added to the portrayal – he was totally magnificent."


UK Reviews

Royal Ballet

'Swan Lake': Jane Simpson

"It's odd, too, given how often she (Marquez) and Putrov dance together, that there seemed so little chemistry between them. A Swan Lake without passion has lost its heart and most of its reason for existing."

'Swan Lake': Simonetta Dixon

" Rojo and Acosta: "If you've got it, flaunt it...but naturally."

'Swan Lake': Marike van Aerde

"The designs and interpretations may not strike the right cord with everyone in the audience, but it is a fact that the Royal Ballet shines when it dances 'Swan Lake'."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


American Ballet Theatre

'Le Corsaire Bedroom pdd' bill: Charlotte Kasner

"The tiny snippet of Le Corsaire could have been a mere filler but turned out to show the explosive joie de vivre of this company at its best... the visual equivalent of eating space dust..."

'Fancy Free' bill: Jane Simpson

"Next time I hope they'll come for a bit longer and rethink their choice of repertory - I didn't think this visit, or at least the bit I saw, really did much for their reputation."

'Symphonie Concertante' bill: Simonetta Dixon

" Corsaire: "Carreno could have gone on and on...and I wish he had."

'La Bayadere - Kingdom of the Shades' bill: Lynette Halewood

"The Bayadere scenery and staging looked sadly a little truncated. The corps had some fine moments but not consistently."

'In The Upper Room' bill: Marike van Aerde

"That liveliness and enthusiasm are some of ABT's greatest strengths becomes evident in their performance of Twyla Tharp's 'In the Upper Room'...."

'Symphonie Concertante' bill: Ami Shah

"Overall, while the piecing together of this Bill might be somewhat questionable, ABT seems to have provided a wide-eyed glimpse into its repertoire. I was happy to see a company made up of individuals, of obviously varying styles, body types, etc, yet still looking cohesive as a corps."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'Cyrano': Bruce Marriott

"I much enjoyed the new Birmingham Cyrano, certainly one of David Bintley's best ballets, but as I exited last Thursday's matinee, along with a highly appreciative audience, I had a nagging, uneasy feeling."

'Cyrano': Terry Amos

"Last night's World Premier was greeted with great applause which seemed to be directed at both the creators of the ballet and the dancers who brought it so vividly to life."

'Cyrano': Trog Woolley

" Very bad weather in Birmingham... "David Bintley announced that they would be performing the full ballet. They had a full cast of dancers, some who had walked a long way in arduous conditions to be there. The lack of a full orchestra wasn't a problem! He said that they had a chamber orchestra, with three conductors in the pit, one on baton, one on piano and one on drums. The horn section was missing and he explained how the score would sound a bit odd."

'Cyrano': Norman Reynolds

"Hard to believe that it is just a new ballet and not one of the classics. Perhaps one day it will be. Certainly David Bintley has not lost his touch."

'Stravinsky - A Celebration 2007': Ian Palmer

"The marvellous refraction of music and dance is no better seen than in Agon, which opens this bill, clarifies our vision and prepares us for the works ahead. It is a ballet of utter cleansing – of dancers and their dance and musicians and their music – and Balanchine's gift is to reduce the score to its quintessence."

'Stravinsky - A Celebration 2007': Janet McNulty

"I think that the contrast between Cyrano and Stravinsky 2007 made for a very fulfilling 2 weeks of ballet and I am looking forward to seeing both programmes again at the Lowry this week..."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


English National Ballet

Sinfonietta Giocosa, Million Kisses, Melody on the Move bill: Graham Watts

"It's a shame that so few turned out to see this interesting programme and it certainly deserves to fill Sadler's Wells when it plays there, next month. "


Sadlers Wells Sampled

'Sadler's Wells Sampled': Graham Watts

"The first half of Hofesh Shechter's 'Uprising' is pure genius and represents one of the finest new works to have been seen in 2006..."

'Sadler's Wells Sampled': Graham Watts

" This is a review written simultaneously whilst viewing the live streaming of 'Sunday night Sampled' at Sadler's Wells. It has been posted within 5 minutes of the performance ending.
"Yerbabuena is regarded as one of the most important female dancer/choreographers in flamenco and it was a privilege to see this artistry at work even if online rather than in person."


Australian Dance Theatre

'Held': Charlotte Kasner

"I would love to see this exciting company play against type and work more on the slower, more subtle movements with those wonderfully honed bodies."


St Petersburg

'Sleeping Beauty': Ian Palmer

"Andrei Yakhnyuk: "It is dance that appears, as Clement Crisp is often fond of remarking, “inevitable” - his grand jete traces a perfect arc, hovering mid-air and sinking effortlessly into the softest landings; his pirouettes expand with an ever-spiralling breadth; double tours begin and end in perfect fifth position..."
{NOTE: 'St Petersburg Ballet Theatre' is a touring name used by two very separate companies. It's not always directly clear from reviews which company the review is..."


Shobana Jeyasingh

'Faultline, Exit No Exit' bill: Ian Palmer

"Her dancers (all trained in differing styles from around the world) propose the works on offer with real integrity and stylish execution and I particularly admired the mercurial Saju Hari, for his quicksilver precision and remarkable grace."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'A Sleeping Beauty Tale': Ian Palmer

"I think that Nixon makes two mistakes. The first is to place too much weight upon narrative. His second (and to my mind more serious) mistake is to undermine Tchaikovsky's score..."


Ballet Black

'Taniec' bill: Charlotte Kasner

" Hinterland: "Sharp changes of direction and again strong partnering brought the work to a rousing conclusion and propelled Ballet Black into the forefront of companies to watch out for if they continue to progress at this pace."


Tom Sapsford

'Flock': Marike van Aerde

"As dark descends and people step onto the stage that Trafalgar Square has been transformed into, they are suddenly caught in the middle of a spotlight of their own. The shadows and shapes of their every move are incorporated into the surreal atmosphere and fast-moving compositions of light that bring the square to life."


Eddie Ladd

'Cof Y corff / muscle memory’': Charlotte Kasner

"Cancel everything that you have planned and see this work."


Ultima Vez

'Spiegel (Vandekeybus retrospective)': Graham Watts

"It is in many ways like a remixed 'Greatest Hits' from any iconic rock band, hitting us between the eyes with the heaviest metal before bringing it all to a close in the mental chill-out room."


Maresa von Stockert - Tilted Productions

'Marjorie's World Unhinged': Graham Watts

"It has a tremendous cast and whether seen as vividly creative and inventive dance theatre or a ruthless parody of the harsh rigour of ballet, it is definitely worth seeing."


Sound Moves

'Sound Moves 8': Jonathan Still

"Just back from an uplifting afternoon at the Royal College of Music. ... I'm so glad I went. It was an inspiration, and it restored my faith in human nature, the arts, young people, you name it."


Motionhouse Dance Theatre

'Driven': Graham Watts

"Motionhouse could become a victim of its own success: it has tried and tested processes which have enabled the company to achieve its award-winning brand of explosive dance theatre ... But the template has limitations in the range of possibilities it provides for innovative work and with 'Driven' it may have reached its sell-by date."


Moscow Ballet La Classique

'Don Quixote': Natalie Wilson

"Let's hope Moscow Ballet La Classique keep returning with more of the same. They may not have been able to offer Johnny Depp but it was a fun night out, and made a change from Swan Lakes and Nutcrackers usually doing the rounds."


Footloose - The Musical

'Footloose - The Musical': Ian Palmer

"Foot tappingly enjoyable, it carries us along in a haze of goodwill and is cheered to the rafters, but for me it left niggling doubts: footloose, yes, but never fancy free."

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Ballet.co at Resolution!


Darren Ellis Dance

'Resolution!: ROMEO ERROR': Ann Williams

"...deliciously dry martini ...rather witty and made a satisfying end to the evening..."


Henrik Kaalund

'Resolution!: 4': Ann Williams

"What to say about Henrik Kaalund's '4'? Depressingly, not much..."


Company Decalage

'Resolution!: SEE': Ann Williams

"...it was enjoyably strong beer compared to the weak tea of the preceding offering."


Red-i

'Resolution!: Automata': Graham Watts

"...a relatively short but beautiful work of abstract, often slow and frequently repetitive dance, hauntingly enhanced by the low lighting."


Pere Faura

'Resolution!: This is a picture of a person I don't know': Graham Watts

"His immensely enjoyable work mixed nostalgia and modernism in an extraordinarily novel cocktail."


Cathy Seago and Dancers

'Resolution!: How we know we are here Part 1. Cupp for three': Graham Watts

"This is not a work that would necessarily be comfortable for a casual consumer of dance but it is a compelling exploration into the deeper recesses of movement potential and its relationship with other media."


Mikaela Polley

'Resolution!: Inbox': Ann Williams

"This brief (15 minute) piece provided some rewardingly meaty moves for its two dancers, and if we couldn't make the connection with the programme note's statement that it was about 'modern modes of communication', no matter."


Alice Theatre

'Resolution!: In Bed with Alice': Ann Williams

"A really promising debut, and I'd be both surprised and disappointed if we didn't hear a lot more from Joanna Young."


VAN L DANCE COMPANY

'Resolution!: The D----': Ann Williams

"...a puzzle, beginning with the title of the piece. What did 'The D -' mean? - There was no clue in the piece itself, which ploughed a determinedly obscure furrow, accompanied by Ricardo Cosalbo's unenlightening score..."


Coy-Motion

'Resolution!: Curiouser and Curiouser': Graham Watts

"...certainly a work that deserves to be developed beyond this one-night stand at The Place and I hope that Rebecca Convey and her collaborators get the support to take it further."


Avant Garde Dance

'Resolution!: iPod and i': Graham Watts

"...full marks for concept and effort but quite a few less for delivery."


Fine and Dandy Dance Theatre

'Resolution!: Time': Graham Watts

"Whatever the inspiration for Diwangkara's work, it was delivered with panache and humour and the addition of some ballet into Resolution is to be welcomed..."


MIKS

'Resolution!: Only On Mondays': Graham Watts

"My heart sank when I heard that this work was to be constructed from the audience's suggestions... However, this was a very funny performance..."


Synergy Dance Theatre

'Resolution!: Expanse': Graham Watts

"...their performance had an innate beauty in its flow and elegance and a surprising physicality..."


himherandit-productions

'Resolution!: Ice oh lation': Graham Watts

"...engagingly performed... this dragged towards the end of its half-hour and it would have been more effective with some minor pruning."


Karensa Louis

'Resolution!: Flicker': Marike van Aerde

"...the choreography is as haunting as her dancing is strong... And yet the piece seems to lack a level of daring..."


Anne Juren and Kroot Juurak

'Resolution!: Look Look': Marike van Aerde

"...a remarkable piece, which seems a simple concept at first, but which keeps encouraging more ideas and interpretations the longer one dwells on it."


Porters

'Resolution!: The first rule is you don't talk about it. The second rule is you don't talk about it': Marike van Aerde

"...overall the piece does not succeed in stepping beyond a level of chaos that is not in its favour."


Zephyr in Zanussi

'Resolution!: The Problem with Dance Series A Vlolume 1': Graham Watts

"I disliked the obviously fake beginning.... The ending featured an example of wholly gratuitous nudity and the equally unnecessary use of a rabbit..."


Adesola Akinleye

'Resolution!: Climbing with Bare Feet': Graham Watts

"...Akinleye needs to declutter the concept and prune the consequent awkwardness..."


Innercoredance

'Resolution!: xposiv': Graham Watts

"...like the two works that went before the problem with this dance was that it included much that should have been lost on the cutting room floor."

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Postings Reviews section
American Ballet Theatre 'Symphonie Concertante' bill: Norman Reynolds
American Ballet Theatre 'La Bayadere - Kingdom of the Shades' bill: Celine Tan
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': Anna Asada
Royal Ballet 'Swan Lake': Celine Tan
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Cyrano': Janet McNulty
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Cyrano': Martin Parker
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Cyrano': Janet McNulty
Mara Galeazzi 'Homage to the Royal Ballet': Anthony Kent
ROH2- The Wind in the Willows 'The Wind in the Willows': Janet McNulty
English National Ballet 'The Canterville Ghost': Robert
Northern Ballet Theatre 'A Sleeping Beauty Tale': Marilyn Westbrook

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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 February to 28 February (last update of this page) we have 454 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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