★★★★✰ It’s not the kind of work that will persuade anyone that ballet can be a subtle, nuanced and poetic art, but it is cracking entertainment and a treat in a dreary month.
Tag - English National Ballet
Lynette Halewood with some reflections on London dance performances over the last year - the good and the less good...
★★★✰✰ Having premiered in 2010, it is now two years’ past the median lifespan of an ENB Nutcracker and – despite many attributes – the show has reached its sell-by date.
★★✰✰✰ There was certainly some spectacle and some good dancing, and not just from the big stars. However, the most heavily promoted piece and world premiere was an excruciating fifteen minutes of disappointment...
★★★★✰ The dancing is so enjoyable, the comedy so appealing, that any flaws in the story telling are easily overlooked.
★★★★★ Everything about this production is topical, very real and will probably be so for many years to come. Absolutely five stars to the company...
Gallery by Foteini Christofilopoulou...
★★★✰✰ English National Ballet School is celebrating 30 years since its inception in 1989 - it had just 12 students in that inaugural year. The numbers are ever increasing and there is evidence of significant talents among the graduates this year.
The Young Talent Festival at London's Royal Opera House included an important Symposium, hosted by Theresa Ruth Howard, under the title "Exposure, Access and Opportunity: Exploring the Cultural Barriers to Ballet." Deborah Weiss with a comprehensive report on a stimulating event...
★★★★✰ A spectacular show, full of colour, humour and romance...
Northern Ballet has just announced details of its 50th Anniversary Season for next year. The plans include a big Gala and new full evening works by Kenneth Tindall (Geisha) & Drew McOnie (Merlin). Here are the full headlines and dates on one page...
★★★✰✰ As with most retellings, Liping’s centres on a young woman destined to dance herself to death. However, the dancemaker has invoked Buddhist principles, including the concept of reincarnation...
A busy time for Morgann Runacre-Temple with work for Scottish Ballet's Digital Season, Stuttgart Ballet's Noverre Young Choreographers Evening, English National Ballet and also her recent Northern Ballet commission will be touring again. She stops to answer 5 questions...
I was at the recent Critics’ Circle lunch when Carlos Acosta won his latest award and was struck by Graham Watts citation - it seemed to splendidly sum up Carlos, both the man and his illustrious career... and why exactly we all admire him. BM, Ed.
★★★✰✰ The 2019 winner is London-born Julia Conway and her success was well deserved.
A huge welcome to Araminta Wraith, Scottish Ballet soloist and DanceTabs guest blogger during this, the companies 50th anniversary season.
★★★★✰ Putov brought together remarkable performers whom we long to see again, and left us wanting more...
★★★★✰ Grouping this diverse triple bill under the title She Persisted works in so many ways...
★★★✰✰ The annual Ballet Icons gala, now in its 14th year, aims to promote Russian culture while providing a Sunday evening's entertainment for Russians in London and ballet-lovers...
Part of the 'She Persisted' bill at Sadler's Wells. Gallery by Foteini Christofilopoulou...