The Very Best of Dance to Look Forward To From Summer specials all the way to Christmas staples, the coming semester brings an abundance of dance, both national and international, to London. What follows is not an exhaustive list, but rather a selection of highlights – the shows that stand out from the crowd. Royal […]
Giselle – Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House – Review
In The Royal Ballet’s latest revival of Giselle, the dancing makes this performance unforgettable. Giselle is all about the dance. The eponymous heroine is in love and dances her way through the first act with youthful exuberance and through the second with devoted passion, with one male lead dancing himself to death and the other […]
Pierrot Lunaire – Linbury Theatre – RBO
An evocative dance-theatre meditation with stunning musical accompaniment. The haunting music of Pierrot Lunaire, written in 1912 for a singer and a small group of instrumentalists, sets 21 poems by the Belgian poet Albert Giraud (in German translation) to music. Three sets of seven poems revolve around Pierrot, the clown from commedia dell’arte. It’s a […]
Woolf Works, Award Winning Dance from Royal Ballet
Into Woolf’s inner world – Wayne McGregor’s dance response to the life and writing of Virginia Woolf. Wayne McGregor’s first full-length work for the Royal Ballet, created in 2015, has returned to the Royal Opera House. His Olivier Award–winning triptych, Woolf Works, remains an ambitious and distinctive response to Virginia Woolf, translating her restless, questioning […]
The Nutcracker, The Royal Ballet
A Magical Christmas Treat at Covent Garden Nothing says Christmas like The Nutcracker; and nothing says truly magical, transporting, transcendental Christmas like The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Sir Peter Wright’s incomparable production of the Christmas ballet, regularly spruced up since its premiere just over 40 years ago, has officially opened the festive season at a […]
Like Water for Chocolate Preview
The first reprise of Like Water for Chocolate since its 2022 premiere will bring back the original cast, as well as interesting debuts. Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé, return in the roles of Tita and Pedro, which they originated; Anna Rose O’Sullivan will alternate in the roles of Gertrudis, which she made very much her own with a rip-roaring performance in the first run, and her debut as Tita. Mayara Magri, a bit underwritten as the original Rosaura, will also get a turn at Tita, as will the promising First Artist Ella Newton Severgnini.
Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works
Magic and Joy in Four Christopher Wheeldon Ballets The mixed programme Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works has just opened at Covent Garden and is a tribute to the internationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon OBE. It is a chance to see on the ROH stage some of his works that originated in places other than The […]
Balanchine at The Royal Ballet: Three Signature Works
On Friday, 28th March, The Royal Ballet opened its triple bill of ballets to celebrate the giant of 20th century ballet worldwide, George Balanchine, who transformed American ballet, was the creator of the Neoclassical style and created over 465 works.
Romeo and Juliet – Royal Ballet
With Yasmine Naghdi and Matthew Ball in the lead roles for the opening night of Romeo and Juliet yesterday, the audience was mesmerised by this classic, emotional ballet with intricate choreography punctuated by grand ensemble scenes.
Crystal Pite’s Light of Passage at the Royal Ballet
Light of Passage is a short piece, Flight Pattern is only 30 minutes long with Covenant and Passage being 10 and 20 minutes long respectively. As a whole, however, it delivers a considerable emotional punch. Jay Gower Taylor’s set, Tom Visser’s lighting, Gorecki’s music, and of course the brilliant dancers of the Royal Ballet, create the haunting atmosphere of this profoundly moving work. This is not to be missed. – get a ticket if you can.