Ballet.co Magazine
For January 2008

Previous Ballet.co magazine - December 2007
Next Ballet.co magazine - February 2008

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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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Ballet.co Looks Back on 2007



Reflections on 2007
in London
Lynette Halewood with some recollections on what amused, entertained, irritated, stuck in the memory or unexpectedly faded from it. Also add your own thoughts to the forum thread on 2007


Reflections on 2007
Outside of London
Ian Palmer with his picks of the last year. Also add your own thoughts to the forum thread on 2007


2007 Quiz of the Year
Jane Simpson with a whole bunch of questions about ballet and dance this last year. Answers next month...

Ballet.co 2007 Poll of the Year...


Details
Vote Here
See Results Here

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Interviews




Marianna Ryzhkina
The Bolshoi’s ‘secret’ Principal Ballerina, who sadly didn't dance in London last summer is interviewed at length by Natasha Dissanayake


Larissa Ponomarenko
and Capturing Ideas
The Boston Ballet Principal talks to Carla DeFord

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Ballet Association
Royal Ballet reports
Three old interviews have only just been cleared for publication - as ever though they are full of interest and great detail...




Leanne Benjamin
interviewed July 2006




Alina Cojocaru
interviewed November 2005




Marianela Nunez
interviewed December 2004

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Dymchik Saykeev
the Principal Character Artist with St Petersburg Ballet Theatre answers Richard Amey's questions (well most of them anyway!)

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains approximately 3800 images.


Darcey Bussell receives
National Dance Award
London, Covent Garden



Royal Ballet - Nutcracker
London, Covent Garden



Royal Ballet
Les Patineurs and Tales of Beatrix Potter
London, Covent Garden

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Features


Mikhail Baryshnikov
Making Dreams come true
a celebration of Baryshnikov’s 60th Birthday
Graham Watts looks forward to the British Film Institute's screening of some unique Baryshnikov material...

Christopher Wheeldon and the Bolshoi Ballet
Two readers give different perspectives on the UK Channel 4 TV documentary about the making of Wheeldon's Elsinore...

'Elsinore' on TV - Christopher Wheeldon working with the Bolshoi': Wulff

"Well, well, well. This was indeed an extremely interesting and revelatory programme following the trials and tribulations of Christopher Wheeldon's creation of Misericordes/ Elsinore for the Bolshoi."

'Elsinore, Christopher Wheeldon working with the Bolshoi' bill: Amelia

"In terms of the cultural gap I found as the most amusing the question that was asked about a photo in Nikolai Tsiskaridze's flat: “Who is Madame Ulanova? Your teacher?” I am not trying here to justify or to judge anyone. I just try to look at the relationships portrayed in the film from a different angle."

more (re)views in Postings Reviews section

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Diaries and weblogs


Madame Galina weblog...
The joys of Christmas shows...'The company CO put his tongue in my mouth while he administered CPR to me/Nikya after the snake bite....'  (Weblog Home)

Daniel Jones weblog...
'Sausage England' - An update on Snow Queens, Sausages and getting ready for the Coliseum. (Weblog Home)


Helene Cooper Blog...
Helene Cooper is studying for an MA in Choreography at the Laban in London. It's a time of change: "Firstly, I have begun to completely re-address what it is that I do..."   (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 years blogers are Brenda Lee Grech, Rym Kechacha and Tom Conlan. And job offers coming in already...(Weblog Home)

Other Weblog Writers
Carole Edrich
Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen
Jarkko Lehmus

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Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/12/2007 and 31/12/2007 will be included here...

USA Reviews

New York City Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Eric Taub

"I'd been following the many ups and downs of LeCrone's career since she joined City Ballet in 2002, and after too many seasons lost to injuries, she's at last starting to live up to her early promise. Her debut in Agon's pas de deux was one of the thrills of last spring's season, and her Dewdrop promised to be similarly unforgettable.
"And so it was. In today's company, LeCrone's a rare exotic: she looks like a Balanchine dancer."


Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

'Thoughts on the NY Season': Rachel Straus

"The late Maurice Bejart didn't stay home much or closet his homosexuality. He celebrated his id on the world's stages with lots of male skin. In his Firebird to Igor Stravinsky's Firebird Suite the fire lives in two costumes (blazing red unitards), and in the final tableau, where Antonio Douthit presses his pelvis into the back of Clifton Brown and sends his limbs to the stage's four corners. If this isn't an image of orgiastic ecstasy I don't know what is. The rest of the ballet,..."


San Francisco Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Willam Christensen staged the first full length US version at the Opera House in 1944 on a shoe-string, wartime budget; yet not the least of this current Nutcracker's charm is Michael Yeargen's set and the Ewardian chic of Martin Pakledinaz' designs. The opening visuals of a San Francisco evoke my relatives' stories and anecdotes, beguiling me, enchanting my image of the City's spirit."

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Her (Clara Blanco) grand pas with Nedvigin was very impressive. First there is that cameo face with its large dark eyes, sloping shoulders and beautiful, simple port de bras which ripple when felt effective. Her hands are hands, rather than an aggregate of fingers, palms and wrists, so the line throughout was delivered in service to the choreography and not to personal temperament."


Suzanne Farrell Ballet

'Program A': Oksana Khadarina

"George Balanchine's Bugaku is not a ballet to all tastes. This haunting, exotic dance, an evocation of a wedding ceremony, was inspired by ancient Japanese Imperial Court traditions and was premiered in 1963 by the New York City Ballet... 'Balanchine proved how right he could be by daring to go wildly wrong,' proclaimed Time Magazine after the ballet's premier."

'Program B': Oksana Khadarina

"Created nearly 40 years ago, 'Pithoprakta', with this new face lift, feels refreshingly young and invigorating and looks exceptionally good on the energetic Farrell dancers."


Mark Morris Dance Group

'The Hard Nut': Renee Renouf

"There's enough business in the production to invite several exposures. The audience felt the same way; whistles, cheers, standing, stomping, several curtain calls, with and without Mark Morris' expansive presence and sweeping thanks to his infectious dancers."


Oakland Ballet Company

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"There is little doubt that Ronn Guidi again is assembling a loyal, cohesive ensemble for his productions. With experience they should provide the family pizzaz, that engaging East Bay spirit the production overall already possesses. Mr. Guidi does need to be more insistent on pointed feet and hip turn out..."


Smuin Ballet

'The Christmas Ballet': Renee Renouf

"The Christmas Ballet is divided in two kernels; one reverential; the other contemporary and very sociable. Smuin appealed to the comfort level of his audience; he also recently included choreography by company members creditable. appropriate to this seasonal bonbon."


Ballet San Jose

'Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Ballet San Jose's Nutcracker should rightfully be considered Dennis Nahat and the Nutcracker as performed at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. From the program notes and Act I development, it is a Drosselmeyer-driven production to paraphrase Brooke Byrne."


City Ballet of San Diego

'The Nutcracker': Anjuli Bai

"Lights! Color! Action! City Ballet of San Diego's Nutcracker had all three and then some."


Caminos Flamencos

'Jardin De Mis Suenos': Renee Renouf

"Yaelisa is the daughter of Isa Mura, an intrepid dancer brightening the Old Spaghetti Factory Spanish nights back in the late '50's and early '60's. With other youthful San Franciscans smitten with Spanish flamenco, Mama Mura helped make North Beach atmosphere particularly wonderful."

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Russian Reviews

Mariinsky Ballet

Autumn Season visit: Kevin Ng

"At the end of November I picked an excellent week to revisit the Mariinsky Theatre... Within five days I saw the Kirov dance three different programmes – “Ondine”, “The Legend of Love”, and a triple bill including “Le Reveil de Flore”. Which other ballet company can offer such a big and diverse repertory nowadays?"

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German Reviews

Berlin Staatsoper Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Margaret Willis

"...the Staatsballett Berlin, today under the guidance of Vladimir Malakhov, performs the anomalous production that Patrice Bart created for the company in 1999. Yes, it follows the skeletal plot with many of the usual fairy-tale characters and growing Christmas tree, but it also includes dark overtones of kidnap, neurosis and bewilderment."


Mariinsky Ballet

'The Sleeping Beauty': Azulynn

"Fairytales sometimes do come alive on stage, as if they'd always been there, just forgotten, allowing us to remember why we go to the theatre, again and again. The Mariinsky Sleeping Beauty indeed looked like a truce on all matters of politics or casting in Baden-Baden, a splendid show every dancer that afternoon could be proud of."

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French Reviews
'Casse-Noisette (Nutcracker)': Norman Reynolds

"The whole performance worked very well, with the Georgiadis designs, lighting (Rui Dematos-Machado), the Paris Opera Orchestra under Kevin Rhodes, all full of movement, action and fine dancing, especially from Clara and the Prince."


Paris Opera Ballet School

'Demonstrations de l'Ecole de danse (School Presentations)': Ferlodewal

"The audience's appreciation was evident throughout hence the multiple curtain calls. The rest of Sunday I languished in the thrills of an afternoon well spent."

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Hong Kong Reviews

Hong Kong Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Natasha Rogai

"This version has always been notable for the warmth and sparkle of Act 1, where the Christmas magic of the ballet lies. The first night felt somewhat lacklustre and the vivid acting and sense of teamwork that have distinguished the production in the past seemed muted. By the fifth night when I saw it again, things had picked up and it was a pleasure to see the cast adding new bits of business and to revisit well-loved performances..."


City Contemporary Dance Company

'HerStory': Natasha Rogai

"HerStory has resonance and explores some powerful themes, but is an uneven work. Apart from the scenes mentioned above, the choreography lacks the originality of Lai at her best, relying too much on disappointingly standard contemporary dance vocabulary."

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Thai Reviews

Mariinsky Ballet

'Chopiniana, Scheherazade, Divertissements': No7

"The Divertissements were the highlights of the evening. The company brought talented soloists to present their superb techniques."

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UK Reviews

Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins

'Viva La Diva:': Jeffery Taylor

"In the final line up, trilby, collar and tie do something for Bussell and the programme pictures of Jenkins cheering up British barracks in godforsaken areas of military action actually make up for everything."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Matthew Bourne

'Nutcracker!': Graham Watts

"Well, strike me thrice across the face with candy floss, if this wasn't the most exhilarating, bouncy, fanciful and colourful evening I've experienced for a long while."


Royal Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Jeffery Taylor

"But it is the whole company that produces the deeply satisfying performance of a work that is, to many generations, a first taste of our beautiful art form."

'The Nutcracker': Lynette Halewood

"Ansanelli looked like a dancer deeply thrilled and pleased to be successfully negotiating some particularly tricky passages of choreography, but this was a private affair. She flashed the audience glances of steely triumph but despite her technical accomplishment she didn't radiate the calm blessing and unruffled authority of the classical ballerina."

'Jewels': Jeffery Taylor

"...though the RB fielded an impressive bunch of dancers last Tuesday as a second cast, the likes of Roberta Marquez, Alexandra Ansanelli and Marianela Nunez failed to shake themselves free of the pervading dullness."

'Jewels': Ann Williams

"Best of all was the company's rendition of 'Diamonds', though maybe my judgement here has been influenced by Alina Cojocaru's sublime performance in the ballerina role. She danced so lightly and so effortlessly that it looked as if she was being blown by a breeze..."

'Jewels': Paul N

"Most importantly of all though, this is mandatory viewing, the Ansanelli/Cervera partnership especially so. Huge thanks to everyone involved in this production. Popular demand must demand its early return."

'Les Patineurs, Tales of Beatrix Potter' bill: Bruce Marriott

"The joy of the bill is the 24 minutes of Les Patineurs - Ashton's simple skating party from 1937 with quite wonderful designs by William Chappell. ...A magical start to a programme, but next time I do hope I see it in better company."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Scottish Ballet

'The Sleeping Beauty': Ian Palmer

"Since taking over Scottish Ballet 2002 Page has worked hard to create a company that dances an eclectic modern repertoire of Stephen Petronio, Han van Manen, Trisha Brown and Balanchine (very well!) amongst many others and the effect is that it has bleached their ability to present the classical repertoire with a sense of true classical style. This is no bad thing, if they are not attempting a work such as Sleeping Beauty. Unfortunately, they are."


English National Ballet

'The Snow Queen': Jeffery Taylor

"But this is the best of Corder so far, courageous and ambitious; if he has the nerve next time to let the story tell itself he will surely make his own history. Congratulations, too, to Eagling for flying in the face of the accountant's crippling abacus, because there lies the future of the art form we love."

'The Snow Queen': Jane Simpson

"The last act is the most successful of the three: for a few minutes, when Gerda reaches the Snow Queen's domain and rescues Kay from her icy clutches, we finally get some genuine dramatic tension and even come to care a little about the outcome. It's too late, though."

'The Nutcracker': Simonetta Dixon

"My daughter reminded me last night that 'The Nutcracker is for children to make their Christmas magical, it is not for critics or boring grownups, and children of all ages enjoy this Nutcracker because it is young, fun and different'. And so say all of us."


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Ian Palmer

"Tait is just one of the company's senior figures who enlivens the party – Alain Dubreuil is her husband, Michael O'Hare is Herr Drosselmeyer – and it is impossible to over-estimate the effect that their collective presence has on the scene. I do not think I have seen it so alive, so effectively real as at the evening performance."

'The Nutcracker': Jeffery Taylor

"If anybody still doubts that classical ballet is all about people, this is the time of year to discover the exhilarating, life enhancing truth.
"Wright leaves the Freudian theories in the background to be dipped into by those concerned with murkier waters. It is a dream familiar to all mankind, he says, of unspeakable fears washed away by hope for the future."


St Petersburg Ballet Theatre

'Swan Lake': Jeffery Taylor

"Looking technically sharper and with a scattering of talented new recruits, this company's spirit is irresistible to any dance lover..."

'Gala': Richard Amey

"Striking was his long line (Iznov) and his distinctive arch of the back, and when I noticed his repertoire includes Ali the Slave in Le Corsair, he made me recall that physical aspect of the unmistakeable Faroukh Ruzimatov..."


William Tuckett

'Pinocchio': Graham Watts

"All that said, however, it was not a memorable evening – too adult for the children, too childish for the grown-ups, and unless you know the story really well, it gallops by."

'Pinocchio': Jeffery Taylor

"....what a terrific Dad choreographer Will Tuckett must be with his childlike line of serious silliness. His Pinocchio is a moral fable dressed up as an all dancing, singing and deliciously blood thirsty knockabout."


Vienna Festival Ballet

'Nutcracker': Richard Amey

"And the power of sound system took us right into Tchaikovsky's marvellous orchestration in this superb recording used by the VFB. If there was a question on the night - a choice of live orchestra or tape - I am tempted this time to have said the latter. The evening had genuine fizz and elan because of it."

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Postings Reviews section
Bolshoi Ballet 'Elsinore' - Christopher Wheeldon working with the Bolshoi: Ian Palmer
Royal Ballet 'The Nutcracker': Simonetta Dixon
Royal Ballet 'Jewels': Bruce Marriott
Royal Ballet 'Tales of Beatrix Potter, Les Patineurs' bill: Jenny Taylor
Royal Ballet 'Tales of Beatrix Potter, Les Patineurs' bill: Gonetorome
Royal Ballet 'Tales of Beatrix Potter, Les Patineurs' bill: Paul Bunton
Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins 'Viva la Diva': Beryl H
Margaret Jenkins Dance Company 'Other Suns': Renee Renouf
Marin Ballet School 'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

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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 December to 31 December (last update of this page) we have 273 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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