Vikki Jane Vile - Page 6

The centenary of the end of the First World War had been marked widely in dance, now the Royal Ballet present their tribute within this latest triple bill, headlined by Alastair Marriot's new work The Unknown Soldier.

Director Felipe Braga is a much-celebrated talent in Latin America, with his past work including a documentary of the life of Brazilian footballer Neymar (Jr) and other professional athletes. He now turns his attention to Royal Ballet Principal Thiago Soares for his new docu-film Principal Dancer.

Ballet narratives have always used their artistic license rather liberally, and stories don't come much sillier than that of La Bayadere - or Swan Lake with ghosts as I prefer to think of it. Neither do casts come more starry than the powerhouse line-up of Marianela Nunez (Nikiya), Vadim Muntagirov (Solor) and Natalia Osipova (Gamzatti).

t's never easy to debut in a role when half the audience bought tickets to see someone else, but this was the situation Ryoichi Hirano faced last week as announcement of Edward Watson's injury was made. Watson is known for his compelling portrayal of the multifaceted role of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (1858-1889). Nonetheless Hirano makes a honourable go of the challenge, assisted ably by a stellar female lineup in MacMillan's now 40 year old ballet. 

Nearly two years ago to the day, Carlos Acosta presented A Classical Farewell at London's Royal Albert Hall, a mix of solos and pas de deux with his esteemed Royal Ballet colleagues to celebrate his career . Fast forward to 2018, and he's still saying farewell but now with a focus on the future, through his dynamic Cuban company, Acosta Danza.

It can be a rarity, but every so often, perhaps once a year if you're lucky, you stumble across a work so sublime it leaves you a little stumped as to how to describe it. Unfortunate when you need to review it, however. English National Ballet's Lest We Forget first opened in 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the first World War. Just two years into Tamara Rojo's tenure as Artistic Director, it was a bold statement about where the company was heading. Four years later it sits proudly in their repertoire, a modern masterpiece to absorb, devour and shed a tear.

As the Proms enters September and we approach the end of the run of a staggering 91 concerts, Prom 70 sees the inaugural Tango Prom. Tango is celebrated for its sultry melodies and atmospheric use of the bandoneon, creating its unique identity known to social dancers and music fans alike.

National Youth Ballet has been providing opportunities for young dancers to perform as a company since 1988. Make no mistake, NYB is a wholly professional outfit that attracts upcoming and emerging choreographers to create work for its skilled performers. Perhaps most impressive of all, the work performed in this year's annual gala was created in just ten days during the summer holidays, at Elmhurst Ballet School.

London dance fans are still reeling from the glorious opulence of Liam Scarlett's new Swan Lake for the Royal Ballet. Heavy with emotion, high on budget and dramatic staging, it's in stark contrast to the precise, drilled and efficient Swan Lake courtesy of Konstantin Tachkin's St Petersburg Ballet Theatre, playing at the London Coliseum this August.

English National Ballet's Emerging Dancer Award is now in its ninth year. It's an invaluable resource to balletomanes and dance critics, allowing the opportunity to focus on the rising stars, to put faces to names and glimpse their vibrant personalities for a unique evening that highlights the depth of talent within the company.

Life is a Dream is Rambert's first full-length work is over 40 years. It's perhaps best left to seasoned dance-lovers and those who like a challenge, because choreographer Kim Brandstrup certainly doesn't make it an easy task for his audience.

There is no greater anticipation in the ballet world than that for a new Swan Lake. The unenviable pressure of this task has fallen to one of the Royal Opera House's current Artists in Residence, Liam Scarlett. Scarlett's more recent works for the Royal Ballet include the Age of Anxiety and Frankenstein, as well as the heart-wrenching No Man's Land for English National Ballet's Lest We Forget programme.

The Royal Ballet's latest offering is a rather curious mixed bill containing contemporary, classical and carnivalesque works from three of its resident choreographers. On the surface each of them are tried and tested Opera House hits but together the programme feels confused with no common thread the weave them together.

Emerging from a winter of traditional crowd-pleasers featuring Nutcracker and La Sylphide, the dancers of English National Ballet were finally allowed to cut loose in this new mixed bill - thanks to some eerie swamp monsters and a new and unexpected club banger from William Forsythe. This certainly ain't the Kingdom of Sweets anymore.

Following on from the Royal Ballet's popular story ballets such as Giselle and The Winter's Tale, the company now turn their attention to work of Leonard Bernstein to mark a century since his birth. It comes in the form of a stylish mixed bill of Bernstein's compositions created for the concert hall. The bill features two new works, first up is Wayne McGregor's Yugen, a short piece to the distinctive Chichester Psalms. It is, as expected, an intellectual and calculated McGregor work executed with precision to a collection of choral, but unexpectedly jazzy Hebrew texts.

Ballet Black is a diverse company, comprised of black and Asian dancers, that has been annually performing their charismatic brand of dance in London since 2001.

Sadler's Wells' annual season of flamenco is now in its 15th year. It offers a varied bill, from the traditional and vibrant to more contemporary interpretations. In the case of Isabel Bayon's new work, Dju-Dju, the slightly eccentric too.

Wheeldon's popular retelling of The Winter's Tale returns to the Royal Opera House stage for the third time in four years. Of its many strengths, the meaty storytelling on display from the dancers of the Royal Ballet is its greatest selling point. It is done with such a wonderful clarity not only thanks to Wheeldon's choreography but the emotional investment from the cast really take this tale to the next level.

Marianela Nu ez celebrates her 20th year with the Royal Ballet this year. For a prima ballerina you may believe her peak years of performing are behind her. However, nothing could be further from the truth in this divine production of Sir Peter Wright's mystical Giselle, in which a stellar cast bring their superior storytelling skills to this signature work in the company's repertoire.

Thanks to Matthew Bourne, now Christmas in London doesn't only mean endless Nutcrackers (as lovely as they are) but for over fifteen years dance fans have been treated to his theatrical mix of gothic grit and fairytale charm transporting the audience to a bygone era. This year's festive offering of Cinderella (last seen at Sadler's Wells in the Christmas of 2010) is no different and fans of Bourne will adore this glamorous tale set against the contrasting backdrop of bleak wartime London.