Planning a major gala during a global pandemic is no easy feat—but don’t say that to Dame Darcey Bussell. In an amazingly short time, the former Royal Ballet principal and “Strictly Come Dancing” judge has curated a historic evening to support the dance industry in her home country. The British Ballet Charity Gala will bring […]
The ballet Sylvia, which is based on a legend from Greek mythology, originally debuted in France in the late 19th century, but it soon slipped under the radar. However, the rich score by Léo Delibes inspired British choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton to recreate the ballet in 1952, giving it a new lease on life. When […]
Later this month, six dance companies from around the UK will come together to celebrate Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s life and works with performances at Covent Garden. As the program highlight, members of five different troupes will perform in the British choreographer’s ballet Elite Syncopations. The fanciful and colorful piece set to Scott Joplin’s ragtime tunes […]
If you thought kissing a Frog Prince was strange, you’ve clearly never heard the plot of The Prince of the Pagodas. In 1989, Sir Kenneth MacMillan restaged John Cranko’s elaborate 1957 ballet, created to a commissioned score by Benjamin Britten. In this clip from a 1990 performance, The Royal Ballet’s Darcey Bussell dances the role […]
The ballet Sylvia has undergone many reincarnations since its 1876 premier by the Paris Opéra Ballet. Some of the past two centuries’ most notable choreographers—Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Mark Morris and John Neumeier—have seemed inescapably drawn to creating their own versions of this ballet, as if it was an artistic scratch they simply had […]
Imagine what it would be like to be Princess Aurora on her 16th birthday. Never mind the pressure to choose a suitor—think of how difficult it must be to keep composed as the center of attention. To us, Aurora has an inherently beautiful, ethereal presence. But perhaps she’s like any 16-year-old girl—anxious to maintain the […]
It’s no surprise that in romantic ballets, love presides over each characters’ motivation. But not every story concludes with a joyous marriage. Marius Petipa’s La Bayadère, set in India, reveals the possible complexities once jealousy and betrayal destroy true love. This clip features Gamzatti’s variation from Act III, right before the gods take vengeance on those who […]
The 2024 Prix de Lausanne came to a close Sunday, marking the end of an exciting week of classes, coaching sessions, and performances. The annual international competition, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, awarded nine young dancers scholarships to enter one of its prestigious partner schools or companies. Eighty-six dancers ages 15 through 18 participated in the […]