December 2012
New Adventures - Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty - Sadler's Wells
There are admirable design ideas, a super-loathsome puppet baby Aurora, characterisations distinguished by their vivacity but little else, and a resistible older Aurora. There are tiny hints at Petipa, hat-tippings to Tchaikovsky’s exquisitely detailed music-drama.
New Adventures - Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty - Sadler's Wells
It’s a flawed production, then, but one with a beating heart and a twinkle in its eye, and it was rapturously received.
The Royal Ballet - The Nutcracker - Royal Opera House
Meaghan Grace Hinkis is endearing as the young heroine Clara, whose dream journey takes her through a snowy pine forest to the Land of Sweets. Hinkis is bright and spontaneous in her reactions and her footwork.
New Adventures - Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty - Sadler's Wells
That’s a lot more plot than there is in traditional Beauties – which makes sense, since Bourne’s strong point is storytelling, rather than pure dance display. But Tchaikovsky’s score was written to show off dancers, with number after gleaming number crying out …
New Adventures - Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty - Sadler's Wells
After 'Nutcracker!' and 'Cinderella', Bourne turns his eye for reinvention to another perennial Christmas ballet favourite, 'Sleeping Beauty', with often spectacular results. Continue Reading
The Royal Ballet - The Nutcracker - Royal Opera House
Even if Christmas never quite matches up to expectations, Peter Wright's Nutcracker at The Royal Ballet is never likely to disappoint. Continue Reading
New Adventures - Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty - Sadler's Wells
The show is tightly performed, brilliantly designed and produced, and clean as a whistle in execution.
New Adventures - Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty - Sadler's Wells
Bourne’s choreography makes some adroit references to the original Petipa steps, but reworks them with a range of flickering, sensual, comic imagery that’s anything but fey.
The Snowman - Peacock Theatre
Not quite panto and not quite ballet, the stage version of Raymond Briggs’ story, first published in 1978 and brought to life as an animated film in 1982, is a cuddlier, funnier and more heartfelt alternative to the endless Nutcrackers.
Craig Revel Horwood takes it to heart
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood is not the villain of the show, but instead his cutting criticism is just his way of showing his love for dance - according to Sarah Ditum. Continue Reading
Kevin O’Hare
Kevin O’Hare, director of The Royal Ballet, takes Crane.tv backstage and explains his plans for the future. "I really want to push the company forward. We have amazing choreographers working with us." Continue Reading
ZooNation 10th Anniversary at Sadler's Wells
Performers ranged from the youngest students of ZooNation’s own dance academy to the grown-up stars of the recent UK tour. It made for a happy evening, with juicy dancing an exuberant sense of community.
Wayne McGregor | Random Dance - Linbury Studio Theatre
Whitley is a choreographer of quiet distinction, and this is a nicely considered piece whose shape and structure gradually reveal themselves as soft beams of light touch the darkened stage.
Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic
I greatly warmed to this show after the interval, the second half kicking off with the slinky jazz number “Too Darn Hot”, choreographed by Stephen Mear.