Lynette Halewood with her personal selection of London dance memories this last year…
Tag - Don Quixote
José Manuel Carreño on being a great Cuban dancer, now director of Silicon Valley Ballet, and the strong relations developing between the USA and Cuba and what that means for ballet.
The company, based on the shores of the Caspian Sea, successfully toured the UK in 2013 and has returned again with 37 (from its full company of 65) dancers, offering the popular favourites including its latest "Don Quixote", which made for a most enjoyable evening.
David Drew, for 56 years a member of The Royal Ballet, has died after a long battle with illness. He described himself as one of a ‘bridge generation’ of dancers. The longevity of his career meant that he worked with many figures from the Ballets Russees – but also taught many dancers and choreographers working today.
So a tip to the wise up front - see them in London while you can or catch them on their subsequent UK tour....
The Trocks (Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo) programme 2 opens shortly at London's Peacock and Dave Morgan was at the photocall for us when they ran their Don Quixote...
Julio Bocca, much loved but now no longer dancing, has a new life in Montevideo, running Ballet Nacional SODRE. Marina Harss talks to a busy man rebuilding his company - fast...
Graham Watts talks to an ex-RB Soloist doing well as a Principal at Romanian National Ballet...
I was told my body type wasn’t really ideal, and during high school I had ballet teachers who said that maybe I should consider pursuing college because my body wasn’t suitable for classical ballet...
If it was up to me, I would pay more [salary] to the corps than to the principals. Half the ballet depends on them, and it is very hard to be in a good mood and trying your hardest every day when you are not getting the attention and the development that we get as principals and soloists.
Next year I want to dedicate more time to teaching, and finally bring out my clothing line, under the brand Paloma Herrera...
Q: What have you learned about Petipa from the notations? Ans: Looking at the notations changed my taste. Honestly, I just can’t stand seeing productions of the classics any more, because I know how far it is from Petipa’s intentions...
...it certainly showed that Osipova is a lightning bolt which can illuminate and energise everything she appears in.
Kateryna (Katja) Khaniukova, who has been dancing with English National Ballet these last 15 months, returned home to the company where she was a much loved principal dancer - Kiev Ballet. Graham Watts reports on the night and ballet in a country at war...
These are dancers worth following in a wide repertory of works; it’s a shame to see them go while feeling we’ve barely gotten to know them better.
One could imagine a fine partnership developing between Cornejo and Obraztsova. Both are generous and open-hearted performers.
At 42, Acosta is still a powerful presence. A much-loved artist around the world, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest male dancers of his generation.
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...
High spirits saturated this programme from Encore Dance, the graduate company of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
Kuligina was the perfect foil for Vasiliev’s Colin (Colas) and the pair played off one another. There could be no better role for Vasiliev...