It's always good to get back to mixed programmes after one of the Royal Ballet's long runs of blockbusters, and better still when the first item on the bill is Balanchine's timeless Serenade.
Tag - Birmingham Royal Ballet
Both as a tribute to Ashton and as a coming-out party, it’s hard to imagine how the festival could have gone better. The ballets are in good hands.
Choreographically Alexander Whitley's 'Kin.' was probably the best new thing I've seen BRB premiere these last 4 years...
All up it's an entertaining and chic-looking take on Swan Lake, and one where you don't have to know the original to enjoy it. But I'm glad I have seen a pukka Swan Lake or three...
...the audience was in thrall to the bucolic genius of Ashton’s production with as many curtain calls at the premiere as I can recall witnessing for a very long time.
In his programme note, Bintley claims to have foregone sexual romance in favour of ‘something more mystical and subtle’, connected with Japanese veneration of its Imperial family. It doesn’t resonate in this royal kingdom.
One of Bintley’s other notable commitments as Director is the rapid development of young dancers. For a graduating dance student, hungry for big roles, BRB is the company to aim for....
Bintley has created a solidly entertaining family work that never bores but never soars to another emotional level, either...
John Craxton, the celebrated designer of Frederick Ashton’s Daphnis and Chloe, is the subject of an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge...
While some of the views expressed may not chime with your own, the fascination of this book is to understand how contentious maintaining and developing ballet as vibrant theatre often is.
...Harlequin Floors have made a donation of £10,000 to open a second clinic: in Birmingham...
At times the choreography doesn't seem to fit this space... Nonetheless, the dancers do a remarkable job with what they are given.
...it’s actually a real pleasure to watch a company just working together for the good of the ballet.
What the programme showed was that, unlike most of other ballet choreographers in Britain today, Bintley's work isn’t primarily about the pas de deux.
Dance Odysseys at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival with reviews on 20 dance works by Scottish Ballet, Scottish Dance Theatre, Gelabert Azzopardi Companyia de Dansa, James Cousins and Rosie Kay. Also thoughts on 4 rare films and links to much video material and many other reviews. It's big!
The Tribute bill is a well-chosen one... The season has been so short that the dancers haven’t had time to grow into their roles. They look as though they’re remembering instructions rather than relishing the ballets.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Powney to the new post of Artistic Director Designate. Christopher will take up his position in April 2014.
Ultimately this was a very human take on the 'Dream' - full of emotional punch, fun and bold movement in a clever modern staging. It's a production that you could take anywhere...
...a jewel of a performance from Nao Sakuma. Her movement is beautifully musical, weighted and controlled - she hardly ever needs to do adjustments, so precise is she.
Birmingham Royal Ballet are busy at the moment - we catch up with them touring a mixed bill, and at home in Coppelia - happy times...