I don’t really believe in lists, but it’s admittedly fun to look back over the year and reflect on moments that have stayed with me. So here they are, in no particular order…
Tag - Haydn
★★★★★ Houston Ballet is a prime example of what a 21st century ballet company should look like: diverse, dynamic and accomplished.
★★★★✰ Thirty years after its creation, In the Upper Room is still the ultimate Twyla Tharp piece, an expression of American dynamism and New York style.
Jann Parry talks to the recently promoted Mayara Magri at an important time - she is about to make her debut as Gamzatti in The Royal Ballet's production of La Bayadere - her first major and leading role in the company she joined 6 years ago...
★★★✰✰ Kevin O’Hare is commissioning choreographers who want to make use of what the Opera House can offer; he’s not setting out to declare where ballet ought to be heading and he’s not playing safe.
★★✰✰✰ BODYTRAFFIC, the Los Angeles-based contemporary dance troupe, drew a robust crowd to the Joyce on Friday night.
★★★★✰ This is the largest production yet mounted by Rambert - celebrating its 90th Anniversary, this year - accounting for over 110 performers, including 70 musicians and singers.
★★★✰✰ Every few years the Mark Morris Dance Group presents an evening of dances at the company’s Brooklyn headquarters, a nondescript brick building across from BAM...
For the next six months, dancers (three at a time) will be performing daily at Tate Britain from 11am to 5pm.
One of the go-to international choreographers, particularly if you want something arresting and unusual, is Alexander Ekman. His "Cacti", appropriately featuring a stage full of Cacti, is about to be presented by Royal New Zealand Ballet and Sydney Dance Company - Valerie Lawson catches up with a dance maverick...
American Ballet Theatre know how to do a Gala and this was their 75th Anniversary as well - Everybody seemed to have a good time says Marina Harss...
Morris seems particularly interested in deploying turning and spinning movements these days; turns appear again and again in different forms in many of the new works, especially fast chaînés or dizzying rotations in one spot.
Like the best comedians, Ekman is as facetious as he is profound, leaving the viewer with plenty to ponder post-performance.
With its new program titled Twyla Tharp: All American, the Washington Ballet paid homage to the high priestess of American dance...
...so I will just conclude with noting that another depressing thing about the evening's kitsch-ridden choreography was that it didn't quite obscure the occasional glimmers of brilliance that reminded us that these men are, indeed, among the world's best, despite this tawdry presentation.