Current Ballet.co Magazine
May 2008

We have the next Ballet.co Magazine coming together and you can see it grow through the next month with reviews etc until it is released at the end of March.

Next Ballet.co Magazine
June 2008 - go see a work in progress

Previous 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 and Features



Ekaterina Maximova
The great Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi talks with Ian Palmer


Martin Harvey
The Royal Ballet Frist Artist was a recent guest of the Ballet Association - here is the in-depth report


So, You Want to Learn to Dance?
Another in the series from Anjuli Bai:
Dancing for Two

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In the Galleries

Currently our Images Gallery contains approximately 4200 images.


Maurice Bejart Appreciation
Ilia Chkolnik, who photographed at Bejart Ballet Lausanne for over a decade, presents this brief appreciation of Bejart - to remember a choreographer who touched so many



Wayne McGregor - Random Dance
Entity
London, Sadler's Wells



Royal Ballet
Serenade, Rushes, Homage to the Queen
London, Covent Garden



Nederlands Dans Theater
Wings of Wax
London, Sadler's Wells



Cloud Gate Dance Theatre
Moon Water
London, Sadler's Wells



Ballet Black
Walk Through a Storm, Indigo Children
London, Linbury



Phoenix Dance Theatre
Blue Roses - Chaconne
London, Linbury



Carlos Acosta
Carlos in Cuba - El peso de una isla
London, Colliseum



Toronto Dance Theatre
Timecode Break
London, Linbury



Prix de Lausanne 2008 - Finals
Ilia Chkolnik was there to photograph the finals for us

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Diaries and weblogs


Jarkko Lehmus weblog...
the Scottish Ballet dancer who tells it like no other...
'A Skeleton Of What Should Have Been'
Jarkko nearly gives us a "deeply contemplative entry about the paradoxical fact that the insane world of dance helps me keep my sanity" and some nice photos too... (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...
"what happens when your dreams come true?" - Rym Kechacha gets a job and also some reflections on performing in the Linbury at the Royal Opera House(Weblog Home)



Carole Edrich Weblog...
.. lies have short legs
(Weblog home)

Weblog writers
Helene Cooper
Madame Galina
Tiit Helimets and Molly Smolen
Dane Hurst
Daniel Jones

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Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/04/2008 and 30/04/2008 will be included here...

USA Reviews

San Francisco Ballet

'New Works Festiva; - Program A': Renee Renouf

"Possokhov has a remarkable talent to make a slight theme interesting, even absorbing, particularly for me who is dotty for almost anything east of the Indus. While the level of his fascination did not reach his Magrittomania achievement, Fusion made an enjoyable, intelligent essay in cross cultural influences and surely imagination."


Mariinsky Ballet

'Balanchine Program': Eric Taub

"I suppose I've just praised the Kirov for finding its own way with Serenade, and criticized them for doing the same with Rubies, but I never was much for being consistent."

'Balanchine Program': Eric Taub

"I'm finishing up this review the morning after seeing New York City Ballet's Spring Gala, and it's been hard watching the company with Kirov-acclimated eyes. Sigh. I hope we won't have to wait six more years in New York for the Kirov to return..."

'Raymonda Act III' bill: Eric Taub

"I wasn't hugely disappointed that Paquita and La Bayadere didn't match the perfection of Raymonda; how could they? I was just happy to see what could well be the world's greatest company, and at such close range, too."

'Raymonda Act III' bill: Eric Taub

"I've also noticed an interesting change in the dancers' musicality from the companies I remember from 1999 and 2002. Back then, I marveled at how the Kirov dancers would almost willfully dance behind the beat, and I'd imagine young Kirov students being admonished that dancing with the beat is vulgar and arriviste. No more. This 2008 Kirov dances much more on top of the beat, like, dare I say it, the Bolshoi always did..."

'Fokine Program': Rachel Straus

"Leonid Sarafanov's interpretation of the Rose in Spectre was fussy, though all of his jumps were beautiful, clean, and proportioned. Sarafanov's object of interest was not the maiden, danced by Nadezhda Gonchar, but his arms, which he admired with dazed adoration. Before making the famous exit out the set's window, Sarafanov patted Gonchar's head like a dog that had gone around the block and done her business well."

'Le Spectre de la Rose': Eric Taub

"I'm still stunned by that second Spectre. First of all, I hate what Isabel Fokine's done to the ballet; what the Kirov has brought is very different from the "standard" reading that's evolved in the West. The poor girl spends too much time running out of gas and plopping down prettily on the stage..."

'Raymonda Act III' bill: Eric Taub

"Initial thoughts on opening night... All I can say is, "wow." I'm still raving over the character dancing the mazurka and czardas in Raymonda. Lopatkina is about as close to perfect as I can imagine, and I loved the way she clapped her hands without actually clapping them in her solo..."


New York City Ballet

'Jerome Robbins gala': Eric Taub

"It was fortunate to have City Ballet back, of course, at the beginning of the company's celebration of Jerome Robbins, apropos of his birth ninety years ago, and his death ten years ago. There were, I'm happy to say, no speeches, only Robbins' choreography, and images of his career."


Washington Ballet

'High Lonesome' bill: Oksana Khadarina

"The (High Lonesome) choreography is a vibrant mix of street dance, swing, and contemporary ballet. It's straightforward, dynamic and highly entertaining."


Akram Khan and the National Ballet of China

'Bahok': Rachel Straus

"But for all the beauty and ingenuity Khan's dancers created, bahok didn't offer any resolution or meaningful statement about feeling homeless in a technologically interconnected world marked by constant traveling. Nor did the dancing, which borrowed from gymnastics, ballet, Tanztheater, improvisation and release techniques, forge its own style."


Doug Varone and Dancers

'Lux' bill: Renee Renouf

"...a stellar experience, one quietly stunning me. Doug Varone is one of the comparatively few contemporary choreographers possessing his own very muscular, visual voice. Varone surveys contemporary life, its dissents, its intimate searches, its domestic tensions exacerbated by God knows what, but melded into a striking visual display capturing the essence of a theme."


ZviDance

'Personals' bill: Rachel Straus

"Zvi Gotheiner's dance works resemble emotional dissection: A peeling back of layers where his dancers' skin and bones fall away to reveal ricocheting lines. Like stones being cast into the sea, their dancing gives off an unmoored, un-tethered quality."


Oakland Ballet

'The Secret Garden': Renee Renouf

"For all the excellence of performance and production, Guidi's choreography registered as simplistic, tending towards repetition; his frequent use of a raised arm with a hand like a Blasis drawing enclosed, rather than extended the dancers' line. These observations didn't seem to affect the audience, however, screaming with delight and enthusiasm."


Perm Tchaikovsky Ballet

'Swan Lake': Renee Renouf

"...the company labored under stage conditions too small for the company size and production; though cramped, Perm benefitted with its own orchestra conducted by Valery Platanov, leading a sweet, soulful rendition of Tchaikovsky's score. The lighting with the Zellerbach technology were just fine, though there was a bit of noise with the scenery opening night; but even the dry ice came through to start the matinee'sfourth act."


Ballet Tech

'Backchat' bill: Rachel Straus

"During Isis in Transit, the formidable former Martha Graham dancer Fang-Yi Sheu made the most of Feld's tendency to fill the stage with large-scale props of which she bounced, balanced, burrowed and was buoyed by. Sheu didn't dance much, and that was the heart of the problem in both of Feld's premieres, where inventive set designs reigned and choreographic development of ideas suffered."


ODC Dance

'Program 2': Renee Renouf

"I was less entranced at the program than reflective of the overall arc of ODC's evolution and some of the incredible dance artists who have peopled the ensemble. Some days soon, when Way's administrative talents are not too dominated by projects, maybe ODC will have either a company reunion or a repertory retrospective. What a treat that would be."


Basil Twist

'Petrushka': Rachel Straus

"The success of ballet hinges on identifying with the soulful, simple and ungainly Petrushka, who is manipulated by others like a puppet. But hoping a puppet can reveal the pathos of being puppet-ed, especially when the puppet's face resembles a white pincushion, is like hoping that a paper flower will smell like a rose."

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Russian Reviews

Mariinsky Ballet

'Mariinsky Festival and Gala': Kevin Ng

"The greatest performance in the gala came from the Munich stars Lucia Lacarra and Cyril Pierre in Roland Petit's lyrical piece “Thais”. It was my first time seeing this renowned couple who missed the 2006 festival. Their dancing, so perfectly lyrical, was sheer bliss and harmony."

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Hungarian Reviews

Henriett Tunyogi and Tamas Vasary

'Budapest Spring Festival: The Two Faces of God': Jann Parry

"In Vasary's hands, Liszt's fiendish music lured and destroyed Faust, with Tunyogi as his Marguerite, a chimera both consoling and treacherous. Liszt, as Ashton knew, requires flamboyant choreography, and Paroni obliged. He made the most of Tunyogi's contradictory qualities of coolness and warmth, serenity and volatility."

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Hong Kong Reviews

Hong Kong Ballet

'All Tchaikovsky' bill: Natasha Rogai

The Way Alone: "I had not seen Baynes' work before and was impressed by his musicality and ability to create mood. Spiritual, meditative and melancholy, this is a beautiful work, enhanced by Bacchus Lee's elegant set design and Billy Chan's atmospheric lighting. It marks a milestone for HKB as the company's first commissioned work with the potential to enter the international ballet repertoire."


City Contemporary Dance Company

'Seasonal Syndromes': Natasha Rogai

"Dominic Wong's Xtremely Four Seasons is set to Gidon Kremer's celebrated recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and proved to be equally fresh and joyous in its approach to this often over-used musical masterpiece."

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Swiss Reviews

Bern Ballet

'Ghosts': Ian Palmer

"Cathy Marston un-veiled Ghosts at the Linbury Theatre in 2005 on the eve of her departure as the Royal Opera House's Artistic Associate. In 2008 she plays it at the awakening dawn of her new company in Bern. It is, I believe, her masterpiece thus far and though in the intervening years the piece's structure has changed but little, its nuances and sonorities, its contours and emphases, have altered and morphed with Marston's own deepening maturity."


Danish Reviews

Royal Danish Ballet

'Onegin': Janet McNulty

"We had seen two terrific performances of my favourite ballet and I came away from both with mascara streaks on my face and more memories to add to my store."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

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Singapore Reviews

Singapore Dance Theatre

'Giselle in the Park': Celine Tan

"Giselle in the Park, with the trees and its set growing out of the stage and into nature, was something interesting, not to forget to mention the occasional bats flying through and about, above our heads and across the stage, along with the constant chirping sound of the crickets. Bringing the ballet, Giselle into the park was indeed a great idea and a daring idea indeed. With the props and sets to bear in mind, and the humidity of the climate in Singapore must have been a challenge for the..."

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Estonian Reviews

Estonian Ballet

'Swan Lake, La Dame Aux Camelias' bill: Minder

"Estonia has a good company of about 60 dancers and are strong on the acting and story telling. While the dancing is more uneven the style seems a bit more reserved like the people in general..."

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UK Reviews

Royal Ballet

'Rushes Bill': Jane Simpson

"...a complex and fascinating work (Rushes) which I hope will find a lasting place in the repertoire."

'Rushes Bill': DaveM

"OK, so how how does one describe such overwhelming gorgeousness as the Royal Ballet's performance of Serenade on opening night... All in all, a marvellous night I thought - so if you've been hesitating about going, get yourself a ticket."

'The Sleeping Beauty': Jeffery Taylor

"Technically she (Marquez) was strong and fearless but more importantly she has an unforced ability to connect both with audience and leading man. The killing combination in the midst of a coolly classical setting of physical brilliance, profound musicality and looking like a real woman in love marks Marquez as a singular artist. A Petipa ballerina in the truest meaning of the word."

'The Sleeping Beauty': Diandri

"Sleeping Beauty is one of those ballets that there is always much to enjoy or admire even if you see it regularly. ...I think it should have at least one 10 show run every single season so that its always in rep & never goes out of shape."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Random Dance Company

'Entity': Bruce Marriott

"...you would be daft to miss this show. I obviously find it all too easy to be deeply unimpressed by the McGregor verbals but the man has such an original touch and ultimately it's what you see on stage that matters - and that is very good and very original indeed."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

'Moon Water': Charlotte Kasner

"This is a very special evening and a very special company that goes beyond dance and beyond theatre. Catch them or regret it as we will have a longer wait than usual until their next visit."


Phoenix Dance Theatre

'Chaconne' bill: Lynette Halewood

Paseillo: "There's a lot of snogging going on out there. People are having a good time. It all sounds quite loopy but the musical mix is surprisingly beguiling and the overall effect rather enchanting."

'Cattle Call': Ian Palmer

"It is telling that the only dance to have survived most vividly in the memory, amidst the frenzy of Thomas' brilliant satire, is that which was pitched at the highest of decibels."


Stuttgart Ballet

'Romeo and Juliet': Jeffery Taylor

"Director Reid Anderson's twelve year tenure has brought an artistic scope and a recognisable humanity to the company, which with less than 70 artists on the payroll is on the small side for an international institution. We were privileged to see Stuttgart this spring, the sooner they return the better."


Nederlands Dance Theatre

'Wings of Wax' bill: Charlotte Kasner

"The final work of the evening (Tar and Feathers) was, alas, a real downer. A two year old piece by Kylian, about which the programme notes were mysteriously silent. ...Too long, too empty and too, too self-indulgent."

'Silent Screen, Toss of a Dice' bill: Janet McNulty

"Needless to say that all the dancers were wonderful. ...the two pieces complemented each other and made for a seemless evening of scintillating and mesmerising dance."


Richard Alston

'Fingerprint' bill: Ian Palmer

Body and Soul: "But Lawrance is a choreographer of great talent and it is good to see someone creating in Alston's line. In doing so, the Uncle may soon have a Son."

'Shuffle It Right' bill: Richard Amey

"Shuffle It Right closed proceedings and suddenly the scene changed to men, uniform in light-shaded shirts and trousers, ties tucked away inside the front buttons and - a rare departure from Alston's customary barefoot dancing - in socks. And the girls (five, as there were of men) were in varied, colourful sleeveless, A-line 40s-style dresses in modern-material."


Carlos Acosta

'Tocororo Suite' bill: Lynette Halewood

"The audience were very appreciative but I thought the evening had its ups and downs. While Acosta is on the stage though, it's difficult to take your eyes away from him."


Birmingham Royal Ballet

'Evening of Music and Dance': Terry Amos

"The annual “Evening of Music and Dance” at Symphony Hall has become a highlight of BRB's season and this year's event was no exception."

'Swan Lake': Janet McNulty

"I can honestly say that I have truly enjoyed all the performances of Swan Lake I have seen this season. The performances have ranged from excellent to awesome."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

Rosie Kay

'The Wild Party': Graham Watts

"I admire Kay's artistic integrity for not miking-up her performers although some of the text was indistinct as a consequence, but overall it made little difference to my thorough enjoyment of this dynamic show."


Maresa von Stockert - Tilted Productions

'Glacier': Ann Williams

"This wasn't a show you could quickly put out of your mind, but then keeping it in your mind is exactly what its creator intended - and 'Glacier' needs to linger in the memory."


Northern Ballet Theatre

'Hamlet': Charlotte Kasner

"David Nixon's Hamlet is a double helix of a work: the two strands - occupied France and Nazism, and Shakespeare's play - intertwine with regularity and sometimes connect but a really two separate entities."


Laila Diallo and Melanie Demers

'Sense of Self': Ann Williams

"The performance ended on a high note, with balloons, paper hats and the celebratory sound of exploding fireworks..."


Toronto Dance Theatre

'Timecode Break': Lynette Halewood

"This does all sound rather negative, but I'm perhaps reacting to the way the performance was billed rather than the work itself. It was well crafted and cleanly performed and the hour didn't drag. But it wasn't by any means the “stunning creation artistically and technically” that the publicity claimed."


Ye-Gam Inc

'Jump': Charlotte Kasner

"There were enough belly laughs throughout that suggested that this was sufficient for some and Ye Gam's training, discipline and stamina were evident everywhere, but they just could not sustain the credulity for the duration."


Live Screen

'Live Screen': Carole Edrich

"Whether it's mature structured choreography, self absorbed artlessness, arts student anarchy or contrived coloured meaninglessness this evening's production is an unforgetable trip."

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Postings Reviews section
Royal Ballet 'Rushes Bill': Michael LL
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Wulff
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Carmela
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Paul N
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Diandri
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Carmela
Royal Ballet 'Draft Works:': AlexP
Royal Ballet 'Draft Works:': DaveM
Royal Ballet 'Serenade' bill: Carmela
Royal Danish Ballet 'Don Quixote': Janet McNulty
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'All That Jazz': Janet McNulty
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre 'Moon Water': Diandri
Random Dance Company 'Entity': DaveM
Carlos Acosta 'Carlos Acosta with Guest Artists from the Royal Ballet': Julie Milner

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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 April to 30 April (last update of this page) we have 363 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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