November 2006
Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky at Sadler's Wells
‘Bussell transformed herself, as I have never seen before, into the teasing, deadly Young Girl; Zelensky was well suited to the Young Man, with his fierce outbursts of anger and sexual need.’
Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky at Sadler's Wells
‘This questing, troubled solo quickly reminds you what a fantastic dancer Zelensky is, showcasing his incredibly rapid turns, his ability to fly into the air from standing, his imperious intensity.’
Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky at Sadler's Wells
‘Marriott cleverly casts Bussell as both woman and raw material waiting to be sculpted by Trevitt’s impressive strength.’
Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky at Sadler's Wells
‘Alastair Marriott’s duet The Kiss goes deeper in revealing the dark lustre of Bussell’s technique, as, partnered by William Trevitt, she torques her long, plush limbs to spectacular effect.’
Review: Body of Experience at The Place
*Body of Experience* is a show not to be missed. Featuring professional performers over the age of 45 it celebrates the mature performerby showcasing an eclectic mix of dance styles and personalities. This group… Continue Reading
Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky at Sadler's Wells
‘For such a starry evening, this was weirdly dull.’
Review: Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky at Sadler's Wells
This combination of two of the ballet greats of recent times, whilst not without merit, fell far short of expectations. It was more a matter of quantity than substance: two intervals were longer than the dance b… Continue Reading
St Petersburg Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall & touring
‘For all the posturing and snobbery about ballet by some British dance organisations and writers who have never done a days work in a dance studio we don’t yet have a company composed of entirely British dancers which could equal this unsubsidised Russian com…
Review: St Petersburg Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall & touring
Sighting the first_Nutcracker_ is to Christmas as hearing the first cuckoo is to spring and this one-night-only gig at the Royal Albert Hall is a sure sign that the festive season has arrived. There are many mor… Continue Reading
St Petersburg Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall & touring
‘The production makes no dramatic characterisation of its girl heroine, and SPBT’s celebrated ballerina Irina Kolesnikova, a willowy blonde of much refined beauty, gives a very Russian demonstration of diva-playing-down-to-children.’
News: Peter Wright celebrates
The great ballet producer turns 80 with a celebration dinner at Birmingham Royal Ballet & a staging of his production of the Nutcracker. He looks back on a life in dance with Ismene Brown in the Telegraph, 25 Nov Continue Reading
The Spanish Riding School Of Vienna at Wembley arena
‘The final quadrille is marvellous. With choreography that’s more than 200 years old, it really is ballet.’
Union Dance in Double Bill at The Place
‘This double bill includes film imagery, candles and costumes with electric lights, but it lacks theatrical bite.’
Mokhwa in Romeo & Juliet at The Pit, Barbican
‘The scale of the piece is small (mokhwa means raw cotton) but the tragedy is genuine, and Kim Mun Jung receives the audience’s applause in tears. Recommended.’
Royal Ballet in ‘Chroma/ The Four Temperaments/ DGV (Danse à grande vitesse) at Royal Opera House
‘Between the new works is Balanchine‘s The Four Temperaments, and it’s worth noting that what McGregor and Wheeldon have sought through the construction of massive sets, Balanchine achieves through choreography alone.’