★★★★✰ The annual ballet gala organised by Olga Balakleets and Ensemble Productions was deferred to the end of this year because of coronavirus restrictions. Fortunately, invited dancers from European countries were able to travel before the latest measures were imposed...
Tag - George Williamson
★★★★★ "I cannot recall being so moved at a dance performance for a very long time, if ever."
★★★✰✰ Williamson’s commission – the first of an ambitious Ballet Now programme for new works – was themed on issues of gender and alienation, with Brandon Lawrence being a man struggling for identity...
BRB in George Williamson's new "Embrace" and Alexander Whitley's 2014 hit "Kin". Gallery by Dave Morgan...
★★✰✰✰ Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café saves a dispiriting evening by providing nimble demi-character dancing with a timely message, first delivered nearly 20 years ago.
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.
★★★★✰ The highlight of the second half of the programme was Mats Ek’s Pas de Danse, staged by his assistant, Pompea Santoro.
★★★✰✰ Some of these pieces are more successful than others but the dancers seize the opportunities with relish...
Gallery by Dave Morgan...
Of the three Choreographics evenings to date I thought this was the best, with all the pieces feeling buffed-up, thought about and nobody making a huge wrong turn.
Full press release of English National Ballet's 2015/16 Season.
George Williamson’s storming rise to the position of English National Ballet associate artist at just 23 suggests a lot of people see much promise in the young choreographer....
It's always nice to be in at the start of a new company especially one associated with a class troupe like Dutch National Ballet (DNB). Their 13-strong Junior Company, newly minted this season, is for dancers aged 18-20...
Gallery by Dave Morgan...
All up this was a solid night and a good complement to ENB's 'Lest We Forget' (WW1) bill that was so recently on the main Barbican stage. But I hope that next year they return to a more open choice on what choreographers can do and also concentrate on choreography rather than include musical soiree interludes.
Dust is a resounding success for Khan as creator, Rojo as artistic director and both as performers.
Award winning British choreographers Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett will all create new works for English National Ballet, as part of a programme of dance inspired by the centenary of the Great War.
I hope ENB do lots more short and sweet choreographic initiatives to real audiences. Well done all, great to have a go - now do more.
English National Ballet dancers turn choreographers when five of them get a chance to create new works in collaboration with students from the Royal College of Music...
As I say ultimately the kids on the afternoon I was there had a good old time. But I'd like to think that something where the steps assume greater significance will show little people even more of the joy of dance.