Ballet.co Magazine
For December 09 / January 2010

Previous Ballet.co magazine - November 2009
Next Ballet.co magazine - February 2010

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

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Interviews



Nikolaj Hubbe
Artistic Director
Royal Danish Ballet
Jane Simpson catches up with the new RDB Director and his new production of Napoli and all things Bournonville: "I think the Bournonville Festival, it'll be the eternal thing that will keep the RDB back, because it will cement yet again in its cliché'd way that that's what the Danes can do, and only that - and it's an absolutely horrid thought for dance in Denmark, for Danish ballet dancers - it's so stifling."


Madeleine Onne
Artistic Director
Hong Kong Ballet
Natasha Rogai talks to the newly appointed Artistc Director of Hong Kong Ballet: “I believe in destiny.” she says. “My last show as AD of Royal Swedish Ballet was in Macau – and my first show as AD of HKB was also in Macau. How scary is that? I definitely feel that this is where I’m meant to be.”


Alexander Agadzhanov
Royal Ballet Senior Teacher and Repetiteur
Alexander Agadzhanov was a guest at Pushkin House, the Russian cultural centre, where Julian Gallant interviewed him and John Mallinson captured for us: "A good dancer can dance every role but not every role suits all dancers: some of them suit, some of them don't."

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English National Ballet Emerging Dancer Award

Simonetta Dixon interviews the 6 nominees...



Esteban Berlanga
Soloist



Anais Chalendard
First Soloist



Crystal Costa
First Soloist



Ksenia Ovsyanick
Artist



Junor de Oliveira Souza
Artist



Venus Villa
First Artist

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Bejart Ballet Lausanne
Arantxa Aguirre's on his film ‘Of Heart and Courage’
Film director Arantxa Aguirre, ballet trained himself, talks to Carolina de Pedro Pascual about his new film looking at Bejart Ballet, post Bejart, under the leadership of trusted successor Gil Roman...

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Features


State Ballet of Georgia
'Four Days In Tbilisi'
Margaret Willis visits Nina Ananiashvili's company to see all the good things it does and the premiere of a lost Bournonville work, From Siberia to Moscow, brought back to life by Frank Andersen, the former director Royal Danish Ballet...


'Margot'
BBC4 drama in the ‘Women We Loved’ season
Jeffery Taylor's thoughts on the BBC drama about Margot Fonteyn brings his own training and dance memories tumbling back - somewhat different to that portrayed on film. Also features recollections by Monica Mason and Dame Beryl Grey.


ROH Exhibition
40 Years of Royal Opera House Collections
Simonetta Dixon gets a private view of an important exhibition of original costumes and other memorabilia that you can see for free...


Royal Ballet Founders
Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey
On 17 November Westminster Abbey held a Service to Dedicate a Memorial to the Founders of The Royal Ballet. Complete detail of the event including the order of service, the Dean's address and pictures of the memorial and some of the performances...


Royal Ballet
'Swan Lake' DVD (Opus Arte)
Ian Palmer: "Any production of Swan Lake ...stands all falls by it dancing and in this recording the Royal Ballet has cast it from strength. ...As a bonus, Opus Arte offers an insightful interview with Dowell, who talks about the staging of the ballet and the initial thinking behind it. Even more insightful is a filmed conversation between four different generations of swans: Dame Beryl Grey, Dame Monica Mason, Lesley Collier and Nunez herself.

San Francisco Ballet
‘Nutcracker’ DVD (Opus Arte)
John Mallinson: "Well staged, well danced, this is well worth watching and for non-San Franciscans staying at home with the DVD might make a good alternative to your local favourite version whichever and wherever that might be."

Jose Limon
Three Modern Dance Classics DVD (VAI) Graham Watts: "...the performances are surprisingly modern and entirely relevant. The disc is worth owning for ‘The Moor’s Pavane’ alone, since this must rate as the definitive performance by the creators of this stunning work, but both of the additional works are a very welcome bonus."

Royal Danish Ballet
Leonide Massine's 'Symphonie Fantastique' DVD (VAI) Jane Simpson: "What a find! ...a completely fascinating DVD. Even apart from the content, the presentation is so pleasing: there are long and very detailed notes in a related website, and the film itself has optional subtitles which tell you what's going on and who's who - other manufacturers please copy!"


Bolshoi & Perm State Ballet 'Swan Lake' DVD's
(VAI)


Graham Watts: "So, unless you are a special fan of Maya Plisetskaya or a ballet historian, the answer to my self-posed opening question is a clear choice between seeing the very last embers of a dance legend or a ballerina (Nina Ananiashvili) at the absolute height of her ability."

'Maya'
Portrait of Maya Plisetskaya DVD (VAI) Charlotte Kasner: "Perhaps such an epic life and career deserves several volumes of visual biography. This is not too bad a start, and a must for those who have not been fortunate enough to see her dance live and at her peak."

Bolshoi Ballet
'Anna Karenina' - Maya Plisetskaya DVD (VAI) Charlotte Kasner: "It remains to be seen whether anyone else will attempt this production, and difficult to see who could re-create Anna when she is so much the artistic child of Plisetskaya and Shchedrin. In the meantime, one could do a lot worse than see it on DVD."

Bolshoi Ballet
'The Seagull' - Maya Plisetskaya DVD (VAI) Charlotte Kasner: "...it would be worth purchasing this recording as a historical record and it is always worth seeing Plisetskaya. If you want to know what happens in the play though, the bookshop or the dramatic stage would be your best bet."

‘Keep Dancing’
a film with Marge Champion and Donald Saddler
Renee Renouf: "How many dance documentaries are intimate and tender? You can count on the fingers of one hand, I’m afraid. And how many are both affectionate and accepting of the brevity of mastery, control and audience adulation? Still fewer, alas. Keep Dancing helps to remedy that situation, demonstrating not only the validity, but the necessity to do exactly what the title states."

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International Reviews
Ballet.co reviews entered between 01/11/2009 and 31/12/2009 will be included here...

Danish Reviews

Royal Danish Ballet

'Napoli': Jane Simpson

"So far as I'm concerned, this isn't as rewarding evening in the theatre as a good performance of the original - but it's an interesting experience, something I don't mind the thought of seeing again, and it certainly gives you a lot to think about. Just so long as it's not for ever."

'Dances at a Gathering': Jane Simpson

"Bojesen's dancing has a an immensely attractive simplicity and honesty. She and Lund have danced together very often and their big duet had an emotional depth and expressiveness which was entirely convincing and very touching."

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French Reviews

Paris Opera Ballet

'Ballets Russes': Azulynn

"After a much-needed interval, Petrouchka was perhaps the greatest surprise of the evening. This Fokine ballet has always seemed to me cramped and slightly odd on film, but it truly came to life in live performance - bright, busy yet clearly presented, full of theatrical savvy."

'Jewels (Joyaux)': Azulynn

"...our two Americans in Paris rocked the Palais Garnier in Rubies. We should be thankful for their visit, as they brought with them unaffected Balanchine, relying entirely on the music and their own instincts. Ashley Bouder, in particular, embodies the possibility of an American style (has she been made a national treasure yet?) that is certainly not vulgar. Her power, her explosive jumps, everything about her draws the eye..."

'Jewels (Joyaux)': Kevin Ng

"In “Emeralds” the first ballerina on both nights was Melanie Hurel. Her dancing lacked lyricism. On the first night her partner was Mathieu Ganio, a real danseur noble. His elegant dancing was a pleasure to watch."

'Jewels (Joyaux)': Don Q fan

"I have just been to see the Paris Opera Ballet in one of my favourite ballets, Balanchine's Jewels (Joyaux). I saw the performances on Saturday evening and the Sunday matinee. I had 2 different seating positions for the 2 performances and it really showed the ballet in 2 different lights. ...I think Mr B would have been pleased!"

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USA Reviews

Morphoses - The Wheeldon Company


'Rhapsody Fantaisie' bill: Eric Taub

"Sometimes I feel like slapping Wheeldon and saying, "You can do better than this!" but then I think, can he?"


New York City Ballet

'Opening gala': Eric Taub

"Rubies is a ballet of excess, celebrating the power of falling off balance, the thrill of deviating from the mean and clawing one's way back. Balanchine loved this vulgar energy. The only reason you'd hang a mental plumb line next to the Rubies couple would be to remark on how emphatically they stray from the vertical. The beautifully trained Parisian dancers own the vertical; they've internalized that plumb line so powerfully they seem unable to conceive of movement that's not ineluctably..."

'Opening gala': CatherineC

"The world premiere of the evening was the new Martins ballet "Naive and Sentimental Music", with a score by John Adams. ...I wait optimistically for the critics and others to tell me I was wrong, and it's actually a masterpiece!"

'Washington Program A': Oksana Khadarina

"If there were a title to the first mixed-bill program presented by New York City Ballet (NYCB) at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December, more than likely it would be “Three Masterpieces.” Three gems of the 20th century ballet repertory, all touchstones of the NYCB choreographic heritage, were on display..."

'Washington Program B': Oksana Khadarina

"The choreography (in Christopher Wheeldon's Liturgy) – an amalgam of starkness and complexity – is intriguing and infinitely inventive, as Wheeldon improvises on the movement vocabulary he introduced in his acclaimed Ligeti ballets: Poliphonia and Morphoses."

'Nutcracker': Eric Taub

"After the pas de deux and finale, it remained only for Marie and her prince to soar home in their reindeer-drawn sleigh as Fairchild's Sugarplum waved her wand in a circular, bourreing benediction, reminding us that, at least for that moment, everything was indeed right with the world."


Suzanne Farrell Ballet

'West Coast Bills including pas de deux by Balanchine': Renee Renouf

"Suzanne Farrell gives an audience a lucid view of Balanchine's choreography neatly rendered by dancers most still shy of technical mastery. Farrell displays them with skill; their warmth and sweetness is an apt alternative as dancers on the rise."


San Francisco Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Sofiane Sylve's Sugar Plum Fairy was a revelation; her approach to Clara was warm and intimate, maternal; the response to Martin's clear mime was wholehearted. Most impressive, beyond light jetes and rapid pirouettes, was the upper arm phrasing, varied in dynamic and reach depending upon the music."

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Chung as a classicist, not only is musical but, like Domitro is without affectation, sticking to music and form in a manner audiences familiar with R.A.D. training would recognize. It was not hard to see why the announcement of her advancement to principal status was on its way."


Mark Morris Dance Group

'The Hard Nut': Renee Renouf

"Seeing the Hard Nut at Zellerbach Hall December 11 with Robert Cole directing a very spirited rendition of the Tchaikovsky holiday perennial elicited nostalgia. I didn't like it the first time, warmed up the second and positively relished it Friday night."


Pennsylvania Ballet

'Nutcracker': Oksana Khadarina

"This was a truly special evening. Even though The Nutcracker more than anything else is the children's story – a little girl's dream of Christmas, in which presents come to life and incredible adventures ensue – the Balanchine's masterpiece still has the power to bring joy and provide entertainment for audiences of all ages."


Nashville Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Pamela Gaye

"Where Nashville goes next is a mystery; yet for this viewer its recast Nutcracker provided a rare glimpse into a late-nineteenth century moment in time, parallel to the moment of the original and leaving its audience begging for more..."

'Giselle': Pamela Gaye

"Giselle may be called a period piece evocative of the past, but in Nashville it was performed fraught with humanity and lightness, giving the audience much to think about concerning ballet's history and the remarkable growth given forth in its performance by Nashville dancers."


Trey McIntyre Project

'Ma Maison' bill: Renee Renouf

"The reception was deservedly enthusiastic; certainly McIntyre has an amazing perspective, an inventive movement style and simply sensational dancers. To garner such diverse support in these times is quite commendable. I'm fence sitting with my feelings; they're waiting for something more."


City Ballet of San Diego

'Giselle': Anjuli Bai

"To convince the modern audience that one can indeed die of broken hopes becomes more difficult with the passage of each decade that this ballet is performed. Equally, the male dancer as Count Albrecht has a great deal of latitude – more than in many roles for the danseur – to transcend the choreography."


BalletX

'They Break' bill: Lewis Whittington

"Ballet X's fall program of three premieres at the Wilma Theatre in November didn't have the dazzle of many of their previous concerts and in fact, that may have been just the point..."


Ballet San Jose

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Alexandra Meijer rose with elan in the grand pas de deux with Meng Lu; their series of fish dives were exultant, each one more energetic than the last. It is the first time Meijer has enjoyed a partner of strength, skill and presence; she clearly reveled in the situation."


Oakland Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"If this matinee was any indication, Oakland audiences found the Carvajal version captivating."


Diablo Ballet

'Apollo' bill: Renee Renouf

"It's a pity Diablo can't produce Coppelia more often; they have in this pint-sized version, a real winner."

more reviews in Postings Reviews section


Abhinaya Dance Company

'Dance Progressions': Renee Renouf

"I wish more dance lovers were exposed to Kumar programming; it is intelligent, informative and good exposure to a fascinating artistic and cultural tradition."


CONTRA-TIEMPO - Ana Maria Alvarez, Colette Eloi, Sri Susilowati

'Counterpulse Performing Diaspora Festival: Weekend 2': Renee Renouf

"Weekend two brought two African diaspora groups, one Hispanic and a solo Indonesian artist..."


Theatre Flamenco

'Ser Y Estar - Flamenco programme': Renee Renouf

"The theme with its fresh use of flamenco, widens its interpretive range, and makes Theatre Flamenco's performances eagerly anticipated."


Dance Brigade

'Great Liberation Upon Hearing’': Renee Renouf

"The Great Liberation managed to convey the churning energy and multiple images one sees in Tibetan thankas, and in simplified form introduce an American audience to an alien tradition which has deeply touched Keefer. I admit to admiration, but also to some confusion."


Mark Foehringer Dance Project-SF

'Nutcracker at the Zeum': Renee Renouf

"A word about the dancing and dancers. I felt as if watching a replica of 19th century theatrical dancing, due to the dancers's size, all well trained, many with college-level education. Both size and setting contributed to an intimacy and cosiness which must have its English and European equivalent during this solstice season."


Atlanta Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Pamela Gaye

"Although Atlanta's fiftieth season Nutcracker did allow room for a little “polishing” it nevertheless afforded a rare glimpse into the transitions of American Ballet through visions of a stunning seasonal performance."


San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest

'San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest' with performances by: Ill-Abilities, New Style Motherlode, One Step Ahead, DS Players, Kenichi Ebina,Deep Down Dopeizm, Smash Bro'z, Plague, Last for One,B-Boy Spagetti, Bad Taste Cru: Renee Renouf

"All colors, shapes and sizes, forms and ages in people, print and sound seem to converge at Micaya’s annual Hip-Hop Festivals; this Eleventh was no exception. The hip-hop phenomenon reached international dimensions perhaps two or three years ago; number Eleven saw the addition of South Korean, Irish and Norwegian expressions in addition to two from England. November 22 provided a second viewing for both programs, an all-day audience immersion."


Marin Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Renee Renouf

"Julia Adam choreographs with a unique vision and an emphasis on story line realized with delightful gusts of whimsy and invention. Sometimes, she stretches the line a bit far, and is left with the need, perhaps due to the music, to provide excessive detail."


California Revels

'Oakland Christmas Revels:': Renee Renouf

"The third dance came as part of the Volkstucke - Hanswurt und Der Drachen where an ensemble of men executed sword dance figures from the village of Kaplitz in the Bohmerwald region of Bavaria."


Caminos Flamencos

'Canciones 2': Renee Renouf

"To be sure, there was some excellent dancing and the added attraction of a fledgling flamenco guitarist, Roberto Granados, all of ten years old. There was the interesting phenomenon of hearing Stevie Wonder and Elton John accompanied by taconeo, pitos and the visual complexity of flamenco..."


Montgomery Ballet

'The Nutcracker': Pamela Gaye

"As a renewed Nutcracker, Lazar's Christmas creation breathed versatility into a stunning array of seasonal performance."

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Hong Kong Reviews

Hong Kong Ballet

'Romeo and Juliet': Natasha Rogai

"For the lovers, the best was saved for the third cast when Wei made his debut as Romeo (at van Dantzig's special request, the choreographer having been so impressed by his Tybalt in 2007) with 22 year-old Liu Yu-yao as Juliet."

'Symphony of Movements': Natasha Rogai

"In their new triple bill, Symphony of Movements, Hong Kong Ballet looked world-class in modern work but in the programme's classical segment failed to reach the heights of which they have proved themselves capable in the past."


Shen Wei Dance Arts

'Re- (I II III)': Natasha Rogai

"There is no doubt that Shen is a genuinely original voice. The movement he has developed is extraordinarily organic and fluid, yet extremely precise. It is made to look effortless, although in fact the seamless flow demands exceptional control."

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Japanese Reviews

Mariinsky Ballet

'Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty' bill: Yunawang

"I managed to catch 3 swan lakes (tereshkina/sarafanov, vishneva/kolb, lopatkina/ivancehnko) and 2 sleeping beautys (vishneva/kolb, somova/sarafanov)"

more reviews in Postings Reviews section

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Postings Reviews section
Carlos Acosta 'Apollo and Other Works': Diandri
Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov) 'Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Mariinsky Gala': Naomi M
Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov) 'Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Humpbacked Horse, Mariinsky Gala': Naomi M
Royal Ballet 'Agon' bill: DaveM
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Jane Simpson
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Ann Williams
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Paul Arrowsmith
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Paul Arrowsmith
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Diandri
Royal Ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty': Anna Merrick
Royal Ballet 'Mayerling': Diandri
Royal Ballet 'Mayerling': Alison Penfold
Royal Ballet 'Les Patineurs, Tales Of Beatrix Potter' bill: Michael LL
Mark Morris Dance Group 'Italian Concerto' bill: Jane Simpson
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Cyrano': Ann Williams
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Cyrano': Janet McNulty
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Quantum Leaps': Ann Williams
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'Quantum Leaps': Janet McNulty
Birmingham Royal Ballet 'The Nutcracker': Janet McNulty
English National Ballet 'Giselle': Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'A Christmas Carol': Janet McNulty
Northern Ballet Theatre 'Peter Pan': Janet McNulty
Matthew Bourne 'Swan Lake': Mandy Kent
Bounce 'Insane In The Brain': 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 November to 31 December (last update of this page) we have 628 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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