2 replies to this topic

[Jane Simpson]

The French-born dancer Jonathan Chmelensky has been promoted to soloist at the RDB - he's been doing some good work recently.

Eva Kistrup gives the background here

[Anne]

What great news! I am really glad to hear this. Many congratulations to Chmelensky!
I was very impressed by his Blue Bird in December last year and thought he had just the right kind of bravura for the RDB: a smooth and flexible technique (completely silent in his landings!) and not overdoing or overselling the virtuoso parts.
I don't know how he is in character roles, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of him and to discover other sides of his talent in the future.

[Jane Simpson]

Chmelensky has just danced his first big leading role, as Solor in the new production of Bayadere.

Eva Kistrup saw him and was impressed - her review is here . She also liked Holly Jean Dorger's Gamzatti (the characters have different names in this production but I still think of them as Solor and Gamzatti) - this has been a break-through season for Dorger and I'm glad she's been given this big opportunity.