dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 San Diego Ballet opens its new season this month. Quote This program will feature two of San Diego Ballet’s audience favorites, Que Bonito Amor, performed to live mariachi music, and Mambomania, one of Artistic Director Javier Velasco’s signature works. Audiences will have two opportunities to be swept away and enjoy this incredible merging of cultures with performances on Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25 at Southwestern College Performing Arts Center. Link to comment
dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 A preview of Boulder Ballet's fortieth season. Quote “Honestly, my greatest excitement will be to see these dancers up on stage,” said Ben Needham-Wood, who took on the role of Boulder Ballet’s artistic director last month. “Everyone works tirelessly in the studio to prepare for performance, but once a dancer is on stage, their dancing takes on a whole new life and it is so exciting to see.” Link to comment
dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 The United Ukrainian Ballet performs Alexei Ratmansky's 'Giselle' in London. Quote The United Ukrainian Ballet is performing "Giselle" at the Coliseum until Sept. 17 with ticket profits going to the DEC Ukraine Appeal and United Ukrainian Ballet Foundation. Link to comment
dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 Reviews of the United Ukrainian Ballet. Bachtrack Quote Ballet companies around the world carefully build their ensembles through thousands of auditions over many years, with directors choosing new recruits to fit into their jigsaw of repertoire requirements. In the case of the UUB, the doors have been opened to any dancer escaping the war with the added complication that men under the age of 60 will have required special permission to leave the country. Many decided to stay and fight and with bitter and angry sadness, we already know that two brave men (Artyom Datsishin and, only two days ago, Oleksandr Shapoval), leading dancers at the National Ballet in Kyiv, have died in the conflict. It was hard to watch this ballet about love, betrayal and loss without thinking of their own ultimate sacrifice and I feel sure that there were tears in the eyes of their former colleagues on stage. The Guardian Quote The conductor Viktor Oliynyk sets an urgent tone – brisk tempi let the story’s shadows arrive unawares. Christine Shevchenko, the American Ballet Theatre principal who led Tuesday’s cast, skips like a gazelle while Oleksii Tiutiunnyk’s Albert – light of foot, high of cheekbone – is all arcs and scissor jumps. This willowy pair might hope to remain airborne for ever, freed from cloddish responsibility. Meanwhile, the gamekeeper (Sergei Kliachin) who adores Giselle stomps about, keeping a suspicious eye on Albert. Is true love weighty or airy? Can you move through life without care? The Financial Times Quote Kyiv-schooled Alina Cojocaru is scheduled to make guest appearances during the run but Tuesday’s Giselle was Odesa-born Christine Shevchenko, who made light work of act one’s hops on pointe and free-spinning double pirouettes. The American Ballet Theatre principal was partnered by the tall, light-footed Alexis Tutunnique. The packed house would have cheered act two’s vengeful wilis if they had had 36 left feet but the corps of 18 shimmered through the ensembles with eerie grace. Their discipline, their resilience, their sheer artistry won bouquets of sunflowers and a heartfelt standing ovation. The Daily Express Quote A nation in mourning hosted another grieving the events of the past six months. Fittingly, the night opened with the stately Benjamin Britten arrangement of God Save The King from the orchestra and artists of the English National Opera. It ended as we all stood again at the curtain call for the Ukrainian National Anthem, sung by the dancers on stage, flags draped around their shoulders. The performance itself mixed high artistry with the extraordinary story behind this company of dancers celebrating and mourning for their homeland. Later shows in the run will also include UK favourite and former Royal Ballet star Alina Cojocaru in the title role. Link to comment
dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 More reviews: The Reviews Hub Quote Prior to the ballet commencing Dr Harry Brünjes, Chairman of the English National Opera (ENO), came out to make a speech about the gravity of these events. The first of these was marked with the audience standing to hear the singing of the British national anthem with singers from the ENO, who had come in solely for this, accompanied by the resident ENO orchestra. This was something to savour, the first verse was sung with beautiful solemnity, quiet and respectful of the mourning of the Queen. The second verse’s crescendo in loud celebration and in a powerful rendition was enough to make the hairs stand on anyone’s neck for King Charles III. CultureWhisper Quote Throughout Act I, the mime is clear and effective: particularly spine-chilling is Berthe’s enactment of the legend of the wilis. Ratmansky brought to Act I a series of new dances, crowding the stage with the spirited, well-drilled ensemble. The Daily Telegraph Quote The evening’s emotive tone was set from the start with a sterling rendition – by a clutch of English National Opera members, and the ENO Orchestra – of Benjamin Britten’s take on God Save the King. It also concluded with the Ukrainian equivalent (more of which later). As for the production itself, it looks terrific, thanks to the sets and costumes designed by Hayden Griffin and Peter Farmer, and generously lent by Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Times Quote Oleksii Tiutiunnyk, noble of stature and ardent in his dancing, was a fine Albrecht who had the decency to look truly stricken when his betrayal of Giselle was revealed by the gamekeeper Hilarion (a forceful Sergii Kliachin). Ksenia Novikova was a surprisingly kind-hearted Bathilde (we are used to seeing Albrecht’s fiancée as haughty and cold), while Elizaveta Gogidze was a distant Myrtha, the imperious Queen of the Wilis. Link to comment
dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 And more: The Jewish Chronicle Quote Christine Shevchenko was a late stand-in as Giselle, due to the indisposition of Katja Khaniukova. Shevchenko’s Giselle is sunny rather than shy, and almost too flirty in Act I. Nevertheless, her mad scene is powerful and she is delicate and forgiving in Act II. Her Albrecht was Oleksii Tiutiunnyk, tall with a commanding stage presence and impressive ballon in all his jumps. The Upcoming Quote Beyond the balletic performance, which is delightful in many ways, the opening night was particularly moving due to the general atmosphere at the Coliseum. Before the start, the English National Opera chorus sang the recently updated national anthem, God Save the King – which still sounds strange to the ear – just as the late Queen’s coffin made its way to the nearby Mall. Then, following the show, the Ukrainian national anthem was played and the dancers on stage sang it passionately as they carried the Ukrainian flag. This is certainly a unique production of Giselle, and all ticket profits are going to charities supporting Ukraine. Link to comment
dirac Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 The Royal Czech Ballet performs "Swan Lake" in Australia. Quote Melissa Brown teaches ballet at Melissa's Dance Studio in Griffith, and spoke to Sally Bryant about why it's so important that her students get the chance to experience such a special show; and why this show is so well-loved. Link to comment
dirac Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 Melanie Hamrick has written a novel. Quote The novel, entitled First Position, follows a young dancer who ‘begins to unravel as her star rises’. Link to comment
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