Ballet News | Straight from the stage – bringing you ballet insights

English National Ballet announces 2014 season This morning, amid the plush surroundings of the Penthouse Suite at The Dorchester Hotel in London, English National Ballet’s Artistic Director Tamara Rojo laid out her plans for 2014, which are a continuation of her clear vision for the company. Akram Khan was on hand today because, despite his [...]

Famous love story Queensland’s first Super Star The Newman Government is delivering on a key Arts for All Queenslanders election commitment, with the announcement of the first Super Star project. Arts Minister Ian Walker said Queensland would be home to an exclusive season of the ballet Romeo and Juliet, featuring internationally acclaimed dancers.   “This [...]

Ballet News Limited Edition Collection | No.2 For my second collection of exclusive illustrations by Berenice Bercelli I have chosen drawings focusing on famous pas de deux’s that highlight some of the defining ballet moments so far during 2013. These illustrations are not prints – they are handmade and come in limited numbers, so it’s essential to [...]

THE ROYAL BALLET TAKES ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, SWAN LAKE AND A GALA PROGRAMME TO JAPAN   Friday 5 to Sunday 14 July 2013   The Royal Ballet returns to the Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo with three exciting programmes including the Asian premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Anthony Dowell’s production of [...]

English National Ballet’s Tamara Rojo profiled I recently announced that Tamara Rojo will be profiled on The South Bank Show. Over an hour, the documentary attempts to get under the skin of English National Ballet’s latest Artistic Director, Tamara Rojo, as she takes on the dual role of artistic head and principal dancer. The programme comprises [...]

Natalia Osipova joins The Royal Ballet next season Natalia Osipova joins The Royal Ballet in the 2013/14 Season. Her first performances will be as Juliet in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet with Carlos Acosta. This follows a guest slot during the run of Swan Lake, also with Acosta. Director of The Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare said “I’m delighted [...]

The Royal Ballet’s Olivia Cowley | Pointe Shoes & Plasters There is nothing remotely glamorous about being a professional ballet dancer. As Olivia Cowley, a dancer in her 10th season with The Royal Ballet tells me, “people think it’s blisters but actually it’s not. It’s the nails, the bed of the nails, no matter how [...]

The Royal Ballet announces 2013/14 season Today saw the launch of Artistic Director Kevin O’Hare’s second season at The Royal Ballet, and he was characteristically understated but also quietly confident that as his first season is going very well - the company is selling almost all of the tickets it offers - and is excited about the new season. Has [...]

Cupcakes & Conversation with Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Soloist, The Royal Ballet What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ? I’m fully ready to ‘get at it ‘on Monday. Sunday is my day off and I use it to fully decompress and recharge. Company class on Monday morning is the lead-in to a busy and [...]

The Royal Ballet’s Fernando Montano nominated for Personality of the Year The Royal Ballet’s Fernando Montano has been nominated for a prestigious Latin-UK  (LUKAS) award – Personality of the Year. LUKAS is the world´s first ever awards ceremony to recognise the contribution of Britain´s one million Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese residents. It is a [...]

Cupcakes and Conversation with Yosvani Ramos, Principal, The Australian Ballet What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ? I make myself a double espresso coffee every morning as soon as I wake up. Couldn’t function without it! Why ballet ? There’s nothing else I’d rather do. Who would you most like to dance [...]

Sadler’s Wells Spring 2013 Season The Spring 2013 season at Sadler’s Wells is on sale, and there are some treats in store. The National Ballet of Canada will dance Alexei Ratmansky’s Romeo & Juliet from Wednesday 17th-Sunday 21st April, with tickets from £12 to £45. The London Children’s Ballet present The Secret Garden, choreographed by [...]

Carlos Acosta masterclass with Michael Parkinson Carlos Acosta recorded a materclass with Michael Parkinson earlier this year. I attended the filming at Sky studios in May and if you follow the link you can read my backstage reportage. Acosta performs three times and in between, talks to Michael Parkinson about his life and career. Michael [...]

Darcey Bussell : A Life in Pictures Darcey Bussell needs no introduction.  Known throughout the ballet world and far beyond its structured borders, Bussell defines what it is to combine very rare talent with exxceptionally good manners : in other words, a prima ballerina and a really lovely lady to boot. Putting together this photographic memoir, partly so [...]

Ballet News Previews : Imagine, Dancing with Tititan The Royal Ballet’s recent run of Metamorphosis : Titian 2012 is the subject of a documentary screened tomorrow evening as part of Imagine on BBC One. Going backstage to the start of the collaborative process instigated by out-going Artistic Director Monica Mason, the programme looks at each [...]

THE ROYAL BALLET ANNOUNCES GUEST ARTISTS FOR 2012/13 SEASON Principal of the Mikhailovsky Ballet, Natalia Osipova, will make her Royal Ballet debut in Swan Lake later this year. She will join the Company for three performances on 10, 13 and 25 October, dancing alongside regular Royal Ballet Principal Guest Artist Carlos Acosta. Tamara Rojo and [...]

The Royal Ballet casting debuts during Winter 2012/13 Following the recently announced company promotions, there are some notable debuts in place during the Winter season at The Royal Ballet, which covers the period between November 2012 and April 2013, so here are the dates and details for your diary.  Public booking opens on 17th October 2012. Please note that listing [...]

The Royal Ballet | Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 Currently in rep at the Royal Opera House, Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 is a unique collaboration set up by the Royal Ballet’s out-going Artistic Director Monica Mason as a bold way of looking to the future of dance (though she is not actually ‘leaving’ and will return next season part time as a [...]

Sky Arts announces Michael Parkinson Masterclass with Carlos Acosta Beginning Tuesday 13 November at 9pm on Sky Arts 1 HD and Sky Go Sky Arts today announces an extraordinary line-up of guests for Sir Michael Parkinson’s exclusive new series, which will begin on Sky Arts 1 in November. Sir Michael will welcome an astonishing array of guests from [...]

Carlos Acosta in feature film debut | The Day of the Flowers Gorgeous, gorgeous authentic Cuban music percolates through the speakers, performed by A Band Apart (El dia de las flores session). British made (and funded) The Day of the Flowers follows two Scottish sisters leading very disparate lives but with a clue to follow, as they roar off to the airport in a vintage [...]