January 2007
Royal Ballet in La Sylphide double bill at Royal Opera House
‘Bournonville’s La Sylphide, now returned to the Royal Opera House in Johan Kobborg’s production, is the only choreography extant to tell us something valid about ballet in the first flowering of Romanticism, and this through continuity of performance.’
Royal Ballet in La Sylphide double bill at Royal Opera House
‘Domestic realism is something the Royal does very well, and the whole cast take admirable lead from Jose Martin’s romantic but limited Gurn and Laura Morera’s sweetly uncomprehending Effie.’
Resolution! at The Place
Performance: 9 January ‘All of them added speech to the mix of movement and music, presumably with a view to spelling things out. Yet in neither Mirjam Gurtner’s ensemble nor Kerstin Schellander’s solo did I have a clue what was going on.’
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
It’s the contradictions that stand out. This was a child-friendly ballet matinee with noise from anti-racism campaigners as well as toddlers. English National Ballet’s Simone Clarke, the heroine at this performance of the romantic ballet Giselle, was recently…
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
‘The Giselle devised for ENB in 1971 is the best Giselle you are ever likely to see.’
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
But the night [Thurs 11] belonged to Elena Glurdjidze. This was a thrilling and profound performance which bypasses precise technical analysis. Enough to say, perhaps, that when the curtain fell, several people near me were in tears.
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
‘There’s a particularly generous amount of dancing for the lovers, a healthily traditional reliance on (very clear) mime, and, in David Walker’s designs, a rich sylvan atmosphere, autumnally amber in the first act, spectrally luminous in the second’.
Resolution! at The Place
A team of dance critics and emerging writers are covering every night of Resolution. Find reviews of each night by at least two writers on The Place’s website:
Protest awaits BNP supporting ballerina
Anti fascist groups were expected to picket the London Coliseum today, where Simone Clarke is due to perform in English National Ballet’s production of Giselle.. A spokesperson for ENB has said: “Any… Continue Reading
Resolution! at The Place
Opening night ** ‘For artists and audiences alike, hope is what Resolution! is all about. Someone’s breakthrough is bound to be poised on the horizon. Unfortunately it didn’t happen here, but there are still 97 chances to go.’
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
‘You can’t beat a good classic when it’s danced by stars such as Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur.’ Times
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
‘..the pleasure of watching English National Ballet’s version, first staged in 1971, is akin to coming across a forgotten treasure.’
English National Ballet in Giselle at London Coliseum
10 January 2007 As the great expert on courtly and romantic ballets of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Mary Skeaping had several goes at recreating ‘Giselle’, the quintessential ballet of th… Continue Reading
The contemplation of space
Adam Benjamin, the co-founder of Candoco Dance company, was one of the first recipients of the Rayne Fellowships for Choreographers year. As part of the Fellowship he spent two months working with some of the in… Continue Reading
Dance - not just for Christmas
Recently The Guardian delivered a punchy editorial comment urging greater public investment in dance. Unfortunately it was two days before Christmas, when most of us weren’t reading the papers…. R… Continue Reading