Monday, January 27

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A review of the Ballet Icons Gala by Debra Craine in The Times.

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The great thing about this ballet gala was not what they were dancing, but who was dancing it. The programme featured two dozen international artists, some rarely seen in London, and if you could complain that a succession of duets — 13 in all — made for an evening with little in the way of variety, the compensation was some outstanding performances.

Review by Maryam Philpott for The Reviews Hub.

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Other post-war pieces fare just as well with a terrific interpretation of George Balanchine’s 1967 Diamonds, a beautiful, romantic and sometimes dangerous yet entirely captivating duet performed by Alyona Kovalyova and Xander Parish whose luminous costumes dazzle in the blue-white light. Following them are Lucia Lacarra and Matthew Golding in Finding Light, a more fluid melancholy rhumba that has the audience in raptures at its dramatic emotionalism and skilful presentation.

 

[dirac]

A review of Scottish Ballet in "The Snow Queen" by Bruce Marriott for DanceTabs.

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The matinee show was led out by Araminta Wraith as the Snow Queen, supported by young dancers Roseanna Leney as Gerda, Jerome Barnes as Kai and Anna Williams as Lexi/Summer Princess. Wraith is well suited to the Snow Queen role – a mix of distant imperiousness but also played with a rather sad human dimension: a mythical character that you could believe in and actually have some sympathy with. I also really warmed to Jerome Barnes; Kai might be a boy next door character but he executed the steps with a cheeky and rather pushed panache. He only joined the company 2½ years ago and on this showing is one to watch. He needs to work on his partnering, though. But as a collective group, despite a couple of headdress malfunctions, they brought the ballet alive for an appreciative full house that often let rip with applause, particularly in the second act.