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 11 June and ahead of the that we talk to the finalists – Precious Adams, Fernando Carratalá Coloma, Giorgio Garrett, Daniel McCormick, Francesca Velicu and Connie Vowles...
Author - Bruce Marriott
★★★✰✰ The good news is that Queen of Spades is a good-looking crowd pleaser and the RDB dancers look fantastic in it - I can't emphasise that enough. Also good that it's a step up from his last commission, Frankenstein - thank goodness, really.
★★★★★ What Scottish Ballet wanted to do was take the full experience out to the Highlands and Islands. So the good folks in Lerwick (capital of the Shetland Isles, population 7,500) saw was the same show they got in Edinburgh and Glasgow...
Viviana Durante on her company and its showcasing of early Kenneth MacMillan works at London's Barbican on 18 — 21 Apr 2018. Bruce Marriott talks to one of the foremost MacMillan interpreters about her MacMillan celebration showcasing 3 very rarely seen works.
★★★★✰ Dutch National Ballet's Dutch Doubles quad bill features 3 new works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ernst Meisner and Wubkje Kuindersma plus a classic piece, new to the company, from the legend that is Hans van Manen.
★★★★★ Another year and another terrific bill from Ballet Black, mixing two strong and sophisticated works from much sought after international choreographers. ...one of the company's finest nights.
★★★✰✰ Strangely neither the Arnott website or the programme highlight or say much about why the company is all female. I'm not against single-sex companies and the BalletBoyz show how effective it can be... but it seems too restrictive a vision here.
As his new Macbeth starts its UK tour with Jonathan Goddard in the lead, we have a very quick chat with award winning choreographer Mark Bruce...
★★★✰✰ Duwane Taylor's "It's Time to Speak"... is powerful theatre that left a lump in many of our throats at the end.
★★★✰✰ Peter Wright's glorious ballet might not shine quite so magically in its Bintley/Albert Hall version but the dancers certainly do...
★★★★★ Of all the shows I've seen this year this probably had the least dance content and yet as a package it really delivers on the wonder and thoughtful difference that theatre can make to all our lives. Charmed I was...
★★✰✰✰ In truth Polunin's latest show at the London Coliseum, although it has its moments, isn't such a great advertisement for him as a dancer or as a creative mixer of the ballet pot.
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...
★★★✰✰ 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...
★★★✰✰ 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.
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.
★★★★✰ Absolutely fascinating... Scottish Ballet should feel very proud of celebrating MacMillan in such a thoughtful way...
★★★★✰ 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.
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...
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...