Ballet.co Magazine
For March 2008

Previous Ballet.co magazine - February 2007
Next Ballet.co magazine - April 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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Interviews & Features



Veronika Part
ABT Principal
A dancer looking for more - Graham Watts chats with a Russian star as she passes through London...



Mikhail Baryshnikov on Film
John Mallinson sees ‘Making Dreams Come True’ - London's BFI retrospective on one of the 20th Centuries greatest dancers as captured on film and TV.



Sadler's Wells Sampled
Carole Edrich breaths in the Sadler's Sampled air in a crazy day of workshops and snatches of performances by the broadest range of dancers you'll find - from flamenco to hip-hop and from classical to dance theatre...


So, You Want to Learn to Dance?
Another in the series from Anjuli Bai:
Partnering – Do I Dare?

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains approximately 3900 images.


Royal Ballet
Electric Counterpoint, Afternoon of a Faun,
Tzigane - A Month in the Country
London, Covent Garden



Royal Ballet
Chroma, Different Drummer and Rite of Spring
London, Covent Garden



Bonachela Dance Company
Square Map of Q4
London, QEH

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Diaries and weblogs


Jarkko Lehmus weblog...
the Scottish Ballet dancer who tells it like no other...
'Psychoholically Unsound Meditation'
Jarkko with some serious naval contemplation... "Arriving as a burnt-out and prejudiced hulk of a person into the socially and professionally challenging environment that a ballet company is, how do I make the best of the cards I've been dealt? After four and a half years of working for a ballet company I finally have a hunch that I might be becoming a more technically accomplished and useable tool for the various choreographers that I encounter and that I might have mileage beyond my obvious strengths..." (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...
This months it's auditions (Scottish Ballet particularly) and Friends Previews preparations. I have to say this years students are a fine bunch of writers - go see why...(Weblog Home)

Weblog writers
Helene Cooper
Carole Edrich
Madame Galina
Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen
Daniel Jones

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Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/02/2008 and 29/02/2008 will be included here...

USA Reviews

New York City Ballet

'Nikolaj Hubbe's Farewell': Eric Taub

"It was no wonder, then, that Borree was crying her eyes out at Hubbe's final curtain, or that other ballerinas were near tears, much as they were at Jock Soto's farewell. Soto made his partners beautiful by being a rock beneath their feet; Hubbe made them beautiful by looking at them. And what man without a stone for his heart could watch Hubbe without a sympathetic twinge or tear of his own? "

'American Songs and Dances': Eric Taub

"I can die happy now. I've seen Georgina Pazcoguin's debut as Anita in Jerome Robbins' West Side Story Suite. and it was all I'd hoped it would be."

'Spirit of Discovery': Eric Taub

"The program closed with a perennial favorite of mine, Balanchine's Western Symphony. Perhaps, perhaps, it shouldn't be numbered among Balanchine's greatest works (he had so many!), but in how it accomodates Balanchine's grand conceit, of making an old-style Imperial Ballet divertissement in the trappings of America's Wild West, Western's a work of genius, or, rather collaboration of geniuses. Hershey Kay's brilliant orchestration of familiar cowboy tunes into a grand symphony gives it its..."

'Double Feature': Eric Taub

"Despite their need for tighter pacing, each half of Double Feature stands well enough on its own, and I left wondering if it would be technically feasible to present The Blue Necklace on its own, as a sort of Single Feature. Then I wondered what ballets one could possibly pair with it (or Makin' Woopee), and gave up. For better or worse, this is a package deal."

'Traditions': Eric Taub

"I left the theater glowing from the memory of that Square Dance, the best thing I'd seen City Ballet do all season, and trying not to dwell on the fact that I'd never see Hübbe dance it again."

'Passages': Rachel Straus

Oltremare: "Addressing universal hardship, the ballet's Italian title and Bigonzetti's style deliver a very un-New York City Ballet production. Balanchinian coolness it is not, but a heart-on-your-sleeve dance."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


San Francisco Ballet

'Giselle': Renee Renouf

"I would like to see Yuan Yuan Tan with an all Asian cast for Giselle to determine how she would appear as a ghost among Asians; her mad scene resembled eerie floating premonitions depicted in illustrated Asian folk tales."

'Divertimento No. 15' bill: Renee Renouf

" Firebird: "Possokhov is a choreographer given to themes and stories: Magrittomania; The Damned; Reflections; now Firebird. He's good at it."


Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov)

'La Bayadere': Susanne

"Lopatkina was exquisite, she creates another world when she dances, poetry. Beautiful arms, lovely lines, and every movement is Nikiya. ...Of the three Gamzattis, Osmolkina may have been the most impressive. She had a shining poise, lovely musicality, faultless technique and a beautiful use of upper body."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Trisha Brown Dance Company

'Foray Foret' bill: Rachel Straus

Foray Foret: "...Thirty-five minutes later I was even more mystified. I had gotten lost in Brown's quirky world where beautiful patterns reign, and seams of meaning are so subtle it's stupefying."


State Ballet of Georgia

'Chaconne' bill: Renee Renouf

"Its Berkeley reception was warm and appreciative if the quality did vary between principals and corps de ballet. When the Georgians are good, they are very, very good; when less so, it reminded me of many US dancers in the '50's and '60's, earnest more than polished in performance."


Washington Ballet

'Genius!': Oksana Khadarina

"As puzzling as it seems, 'Drink to Me' is immensely captivating. In a way, this dance mirrors the vibrant personality of the choreographer, his charm and wit, his enthusiasm and earnestness."


Ronald K Brown-Evidence

'One Shot': Rachel Straus

"Like a beloved black and white photo, One Shot lingers in my mind's eye. Here is a dance with staying power."


Moiseyev Dance Company

'Russian folk dancing programme': Renee Renouf

"The ensemble today seems neater, brighter and technically as good, if not better than ever. Toes are pointed, a la seconde positions at 90 degrees, passes the human equivalent of a triangle,men as well as women, foot work precise, heel or toe, booted or slippered. The women are devoid of sylph proportions, but still exhibit great silhouettes..."


Ballet San Jose

'Swan Lake': Renee Renouf

"Quibbles aside, Ballet San Jose's Swan Lake reflected the Russian classic with consistently motivated dancing of frequently dazzling caliber."


Nrityagram Dance Ensemble

'Pratima - Reflection': Rachel Straus

"In western dance, hands are extensions of line, devices to grasp a partner, the body's addendum in space. But with the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, hands form flowers, birds, fluttering hearts, rivers, temple roofs and steeples to heaven."


Company C Contemporary Ballet

'Dark Elegies' bill: Renee Renouf

"Reservations aside, Company C continues to develop; I follow it with interest and hope."

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French Reviews

Paris Opera Ballet

'Casse-Noisette (Nutcracker), Paquita' bill: Sheila Cross

"The role of Paquita is particularly demanding but both Gilbert and Gillot had the stamina, dramatic conviction and charm to carry it off, and brilliantly tossed off the pirouettes, fouettes and jetes of the taxing grand pas de deux. Legris, as ever the epitome of the danseur noble, and Paquette partnered and danced well."

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Hong Kong Reviews

Stuttgart Ballet

'Swan Lake': Kevin Ng

"Waasdorp was lucky to have such a fine and strong prince in Friedemann Vogel. Tall and handsome with an innate nobility and an elegant line, Vogel's classical dancing has an effortless ease and grace. His virtuosity in the black swan pas de deux was splendid."

'Onegin': Natasha Rogai

"...overall this was a good performance of a major work and the Hong Kong audience new to the ballet gave it a rapturous reception."

'Onegin': Kevin Ng

"Filip Barankiewicz, a fine dramatic dancer, was entirely compelling as Onegin. His acting was nuanced, and his partnering was strong and solid."


E-Side Dance Company

'Craze Explosion': Natasha Rogai

"...Craze Explosion, features three very different pieces which give a good indication of the range and commendably high standard of indie contemporary dance in Hong Kong."

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Italian Reviews

Mara Galeazzi

'Mara Galeazzi Gala' bill: Anthony Kent

"When the Ballet Gods were handing out talent and organizational acumen, Mara Galeazzi caught them on a good day. This is the fourth Italian tour she has arranged during the mid-season break, and each has been a delight. This year took in Brescia, Cremona and then Lucca..."

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UK Reviews

Maris Liepa Gala

'Flight Gala - A Tribute To Maris Liepa': Charlotte Kasner

"The programme opened with film footage of Liepa's major rôles followed by daughter Ilze's tribute to her father, choreographed by Jurijus Smoriginas to a section of AI Khachaturian's adagio from Spartacus. I'm sure that I was not the only one shedding tears."


Royal Ballet

'Electric Counterpoint' bill: Lynette Halewood

Electric Counterpoint: "Wheeldon seems to have a commendable desire to attract more people to the ballet, but I wonder if the dancers' remarks he presents here will really assist that aim. I would have thought that some people might be put off by the rather downbeat 'it's all so difficult' tone which comes dangerously close to both navel gazing and the curiously inconsequential."

'Different Drummer' bill: Lynette Halewood

"The dark and tortured intensities of MacMillan's Different Drummer, a problematic work in a rare revival (still only the 19th performance), really didn't sit comfortably between the cool but astringent spikiness of Chroma and the stomping whirlwind of Rite of Spring. Something a little light hearted and frivolous might have provided a more piquant contrast. ...There are frustrations in this programme, but there are some tremendous performances in it."

'Different Drummer' bill: Simonetta Dixon

"No-one does mania like Edward Watson. No-one. And no-one interprets Kenneth MacMillian's tortuous dramatic depths and difficult choreography like Edward Watson. In the opening of the current revival of Different Drummer yesterday, Watson was once again on magnificent form, both technically and dramatically."

'Different Drummer' bill: Paul N

Rite: "Rojo's eyes were magnificent – frozen wide with shock and terror. Also, towards the end she put everything into dancing – and acting – herself to death: you could see the trembling of her limbs as the exhaustion of the dance took its toll. A stunning dance and musical spectacle in every respect."

'Different Drummer' bill: Paul Arrowsmith

"As has been said by other posters here, perhaps a smaller theatre would show Different Drummer to better advantage, but in its current form it looks like one of those intractable pieces unsuited for the vastness of an opera house which has the consequence of making ballet a medium unsuited to carry the seriousness of MacMillan's exploration of human behaviour."

'Different Drummer' bill: Graham Watts

"This was an extraordinarily powerful mixed programme, albeit very oddly timed for an early afternoon "first night" - I agree with Lynette that it was peculiar to come out of Different Drummer into the bright sunshine of the Floral Hall. But, unlike others who have posted, it was the powerful expressionism of DD that really made the programme a triumph for me and I came out in the second Act needing a drink!"

'Different Drummer' bill: Paul Bunton

" Chroma: "I have to say that the piece wasn't as "shocking" or revolutionary this time around and I think it totally appropriate for this dynamic ballet company to dance. The choreography isn't all that crazy and it is very beautiful to watch."

'Different Drummer' bill: Alison Penfold

"Well, despite all its obvious (and well-documented) flaws, I have to say I became more and more taken with Different Drummer as the run went on..."


Tanz Theater Wuppertal Pina Bausch

'Cafe Muller, The Rite of Spring' bill: Jane Simpson

"The two pieces in Pina Bausch's Sadler's Wells programme both date back to the 1970s: early works, and more dance than dance-theatre. Cafe Muller is a clear signpost to the way she was to develop, but The Rite of Spring is a one-off, and a shatteringly effective one too."

'Cafe Muller, The Rite of Spring' bill: Jeffery Taylor

"Bausch must thank her lucky stars when she watches her full complement of exceptional dancers make so much more of her steps than she could ever imagine."


Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre

'James Son of James': Graham Watts

"In the programme notes, Keegan-Dolan says that he's not world famous like Pina Bausch. Maybe not, yet."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'Hamlet': Jeffery Taylor

"...Nixon has created perhaps one of the greatest male roles in contemporary dance."

'Hamlet': Janet McNulty

"This is a dark tale darkly told and it is hard to say that I enjoyed it but I did find it dramatic and absolutely compelling. ...Well done to David and the whole company."


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'Swan Lake': Paul N

"To perform Odette–Odile for one's first full-length major lead role is a task and a half indeed. Natasha Oughtred rose to the challenge most admirably and can count this as a well-deserved success. As with Jamie Bond, I would say again 'about half way there' – indeed, for the most part, she gave a consistent and coherent performance, impressing both in her negotiation of the technical course and particularly in her interpretation."


Holiday on Ice

'Holiday on Ice: Romanza': Jeffery Taylor

"From the massive ice to ceiling façade of a Greek temple comes a colossal three storey heart that spews creation, no less, embodying the sensational Nina Ulanova (Eve) and Martin Simicek (Adam). Superb athletes, the couple set the tone of the evening with their exhilarating speed, superb control and harmony. Sit as near to the ice as you can because nothing is more thrilling than feeling the draught of this beautiful couple whipping by at 30 miles an hour..."


Henri Oguike Dance Company

'Touching All' bill: Ian Palmer

"Having just won a Critics' Circle Dance Award, Henri Oguike is off on the road showing people exactly why. As a former dancer with the Richard Alston company, Oguike inherits Alston's felicitous musical response to a score, but colours it in and brings the music (when it is deserving) to rich life."


Bonachela Dance Company

'Square Map of Q4': Graham Watts

"...this is a collaborative team that simply hasn't made a product with their consumers in mind; as a theatrical work it seems to do little but satisfy their own indulgence. In any collaborative team someone needs to take responsibility for standing up from time to time and saying “this is not right” but that leadership appears to have escaped this project."

'Square Map of Q4': Ian Palmer

"Great video Raphael…shame about the song."

'Square Map of Q4': Jeffery Taylor

"...musicality is Bonachela's great gift. He is still developing his personal dance language and the delight for an observer is watching Bonachela relish the challenge of each new piece."


Tango Por Dos

'Buenos Aires Tango': Jeffery Taylor

"The purist will say that tango never works commercially, that it only belongs where it was born, on the pavements or in bars. Zotto has found a knife edge where he balances a theatrical display of technique with tango's spirit, an intense connection between man and woman."


La La La Human Steps

'Amjad': Graham Watts

"I feel that it would be appropriate to now write thousands of words, not because it would take this many to describe 'Amjad' – far from it – but simply as a tokenistic gesture to illustrate that this work needs a good edit."


Jerome Bel

'The Show Must Go On': Ann Williams

"Even Bel's avowed 'controversialism' hardly explained the yawning holes in this show. He seemed unwilling to entertain his audience with anything remotely resembling what the show had advertised itself as – a dance performance - or indeed any kind of activity that one would be required to pay money to see."


Jerome Bel and Pichet Klunchun

'Pichet Klunchun and Myself': Ann Williams

"I came away realising that Bel was not the charlatan I had suspected, and that if I'd seen 'Pichet Klunchun and Myself' first, I'd probably have written a different review of 'The Show Must Go On'. Just don't ask me to see it again, please."

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British Dance Edition 2008...


Russell Maliphant Dance

'Small Boats': Ian Palmer

"I had missed Maliphant's Isaac Julien collaboration, Cast No Shadows, when it premiered at Dance Umbrella last year and watching Small Boats, one part of their Triptych, I was fascinated to see the rest."


Scottish Dance Theatre

'Tenderhook': Ian Palmer

"As ever with SDT, the performers were top-class and the troupe deserves to be given a season at Sadler's Wells."


Shobana Jeyasingh

'Faultline': Janet McNulty

"I found it mesmerising..."


Hofesh Shechter

'Uprising': Janet McNulty

"...had a powerful, rhythmic score and showed the tribal instints of a group of lads on, perhaps, a stag night."


Richard Alston

'Gypsy Mixture': Janet McNulty

"The performances were fantastic and it was easy to see why Jonathan Goddard has received such recognition."

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Compagnie Thor

'V.-Nightmares: Fluid Mechanics, TAN': Gareth K Vile

"Like Les Ballets C de La B, Compagnie Thor are a convincing argument for the supremacy of Belgium as the home of contemporary dance. Although they get close at times to performance art, and they are informed by art history, the company never abandons the core principles of technique and rhythm, and their experimentations serve to extend the possibilities, never to revel in a false novelty."


Stephanie Schober Dance Company

'Between Sound and Silence': Graham Watts

"There is much to admire in choreographers who find their own space in a cluttered landscape, creating performances which are distinct from the surrounding territory. Stephanie Schober is certainly of this ilk..."


Beijing Modern Dance Company

'Oath (Midnight Rain), Unfettered Journey' bill: Lynette Halewood

"This was the first for me of what will be many visits from Chinese companies this year. And it was... odd."


Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour

'Strictly Come Dancing Live!': Jeffery Taylor

"Strictly Come Dancing Live! might have been more exciting on ice. At least we would have had the added spice that the ice was very, very thin."


Array - Darren Johnston

'Outre': Charlotte Kasner

"At a late stage in the long, long hour that was Outré, one of the performers peers through the smoke machine-induced murk and proclaims "...there is a limit to the treasures and wonders we can offer, and this limit has been reached..." Actually the limits of Darren Johnston and his entourage were reached in this respect, sadly, long before..."

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Postings Reviews section
Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov) 'La Bayadere': Susanne
New York City Ballet 'Double Feature: The Blue Necklace, Makin' Whoopee': Brice
Royal Ballet 'Electric Counterpoint' bill: Carmela
Bonachela Dance Company 'Square Map of Q4': Janet McNulty

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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 29 February (last update of this page) we have 510 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

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