Bruce Marriott is editor of DanceTabs
Under are the articles written for DanceTabs. Reviews on Balletco
Sergei Polunin – Dancer, Choreographer & Actor – on his new London show and life…
On the eve of his new London show, which includes two premieres and a rarely seen piece of early Russian contemporary ballet, we catch up with Polunin about the shows and life in general. He’s clearly a man who wants to leave his mark…
Royal Danish Ballet – Raymonda – Copenhagen
★★★✰✰ All up, I think this production demonstrated the strengths and weaknesses of “Raymonda” as a ballet. It certainly is a fabulous looking (and listening) calling card which might tour well…
Svetlana Zakharova – Amore: Francesca da Rimini, Rain before it Falls, Strokes Through the Tail – London
★★★✰✰ Happy for Zakharova who ultimately curated an interesting night, very happy to see her retinue of Bolshoi dancers and happy to see Donlon provide such final good cheer.
5 Questions to George Williamson – freelance choreographer and recipient of the first BRB Ballet Now commission
Ballet Now is an initiative between Birmingham Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells to develop the (classical) choreographers, composers and designers of the future. It’s a 5-year programme with 2 commissions each year, made possible by the Oak Foundation, matched BRB funding and driven by a Creative Consortium.
Scottish Ballet – The Fairy’s Kiss, The Rite of Spring – Glasgow
★★★★✰ Absolutely fascinating… Scottish Ballet should feel very proud of celebrating MacMillan in such a thoughtful way…
Dutch National Ballet – Hans van Manen, Ode to the Master bill – Amsterdam
★★★★✰ An outstanding bill in showing Hans van Manen’s work for three companies and its rich contemporary diversity – it all looks so fresh and of today.
5 Questions to Emma Maguire, RB Soloist, about the Ann Maguire Gala and Charity
We talk to Emma Maguire about the Gala that honours the life of her mum, Ann Maguire, and this year takes place at the Leeds Grand Theatre on 3 September. The proceeds go to support the Ann Maguire Arts Education Fund – inspiring young people through the arts…
5 Questions to Erna Ómarsdóttir, Iceland Dance Company director, about the company and their latest touring bill – Sacrifice
Iceland Dance Company are about to present the UK premiere of Sacrifice at London’s Royal Festival Hall – so an excellent time to catch up with Erna Ómarsdóttir, their choreographing director…
Birmingham Royal Ballet – Coppelia and Three Short Story Ballets – Bristol and Birmingham
★★★✰✰ I went to Bristol to catch Coppelia and the specific lead casting of Celine Gittens and Tyrone Singleton – who have now totally transitioned from being rising stars to fully risen Principals.
Dutch National Ballet – Shostakovich Trilogy (European premiere) – Amsterdam
★★★★✰ This little trip made it abundantly clear we need to see more Ratmansky in the UK and Europe…
Images Ballet Company – Distant Beauties, Concerto for Joyce and Dennis, Handsfree, Scenes of Death and Disaster – London
★★★★✰ This year’s Images Ballet Company is 8 strong, small in the graduate school scheme of things, and yet their show was one of the most exciting I’ve seen in years with a wonderful and eclectic choice of repertoire, danced with passion and verve.
Ballet Central – 2017 Tour – London
★★★✰✰ At the end of the evening was what you might call the blockbuster piece of the tour – 30 minutes of Matthew Bourne in the form of Act II of his “Highland Fling”. Bourne’s take on “La Sylphide” is a wonderful piece of work, full of wit, style and pathos…
Royal Danish Ballet – Dangerous Liaisons (premiere) – Copenhagen
★★★★✰ …I was again struck by just how effortlessly a story can be communicated and emotions laid bare by ballet – it was a triumph.
5 Questions to Eleanor Sikorski and Flora Wellesley Wesley of Nora
We talk to two of the three artistic directors of Nora about what makes them tick and touring their latest bill – “Nora invites Aggiss, Burrows, Fargion and Tanguy”.
English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer 2017 Competition – 5 Questions to 4 Finalists
English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer Competition is unique in British ballet in throwing the spotlight on more junior dancers or “tomorrow’s stars” as ENB put it. This year’s competition is on the 25 May and ahead of the that we talk to 4 of the 6 finalists – Isabelle Brouwers, Rina Kanehara, Madison Keesler and Guilherme Menezes…
Birmingham Royal Ballet – Arcadia (premiere), Wink – Cheltenham
★★★✰✰ The South tour is particularly interesting this year because it features a new piece by Ruth Brill, a first artist within the company, and this is her first major commission.
Scottish Ballet – Each Other (premiere) – Glasgow
★★★★✰ Each Other makes you reflect and think – and it deserves to be seen much more widely.
Northern Ballet – Casanova – Leeds
★★★★✰ This is Northern Ballet firing on all dramatic cylinders – a fine show made great by the entire company.
Vanessa Fenton – Bouncing back and new works presented in Siobhan Davies and Clore Studios
After a few years below the radar Vanessa Fenton has been quietly bouncing back choreographically and this month presented her own double bill at Siobhan Davies Dance Studies and once again contributed a piece to the Royal Ballet’s latest Draft Works bill.
Rosie Kay Dance Company – MK Ultra – Birmingham
★★★✰✰ Overall I came away impressed by an intelligent multimedia show that really makes you think about your views and how they have been influenced by what you see and hear…
