Acosta Danza – Up Close bill – London
★★★✰✰ This was indeed a case of Up Close and personal with five intimate pieces variously dosed with Cuban fire and flair…
Gallery – Royal Ballet in The Cellist and Dances at a Gathering
Gallery by Foteini Christofilopoulou…
Gallery – Acosta Danza in Up Close: Mundo Interpretado and Two
Gallery by Foteini Christofilopoulou…
Gallery – Russell Maliphant & Dana Fouras in The Space Between (Maliphantworks3)
Gallery by Foteini Christofilopoulou…
Russell Maliphant – Maliphantworks3: The Space Between, Film One & Two, Duet – London
★★★★✰ In this magical programme of two duets and two short films, Maliphant is investigating weightlessness – not so much defying gravity as conjuring its non-existence.
Galactik Ensemble – Optraken – London
★★★✰✰ Hats in the air for these five guys from France for coming up with something new, which requires nothing but their own ability to dodge things and stay alive!
Ballet Icons Gala 2020 – London
★★★★✰ The annual Icons gala provides the chance to see dancers who don’t often appear in London…
Rambert – Aisha and Abhaya – London
★★✰✰✰ Rambert dancers on stage perform with great energy and commitment but the whole thing doesn’t manage to live up to its ambitious objectives…
Royal Ballet – Onegin – London
★★★★✰ The ballet works as a conflicted love story centred on the heroine, Tatiana. When Natalia Osipova dances the role, she brings home how Russian the character is.
Gallery – English National Ballet 70th Anniversary Gala – Etudes
Gallery by Foteini Christofilopoulou…
English National Ballet – 70th Anniversary Gala – London
★★★★✰ For those of us that have been involved with the company, no matter how small a part, it is clear that the ‘happy family’ that is English National Ballet, reveres and appreciates all who have been part of its 70 year existence.
English National Ballet – Le Corsaire – London
★★★★✰ 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.
Birmingham Royal Ballet – The Nutcracker – London
★★★★✰ In spite of all the problems with performing a proscenium arch ballet in an arena setting with a purpose-built stage, it is no less magical than any other production and in some ways, it works advantageously.
Some Memorable Performances of 2019 – London
Lynette Halewood with some reflections on London dance performances over the last year – the good and the less good…
Luca Silvestrini’s Protein – The Little Prince – London
★★★★✰ Silvestrini has fashioned a striking theatrical experience in perfect harmony with this timeless story, capped by a triumphal performance in the title role.
Arthur Pita – The Little Match Girl – London
★★★★★ Think comic opera meets dance theatre, with choreography so animated there’s no translation needed.
