I was lucky to see two performances of Royal New Zealand Ballet, now with Ethan Stiefel at the helm. On its first U.S. tour in 21 years, the small but vital company toured to four cities including Santa Barbara, where I happened to be teaching last week, and New York. In a way, what […]
On choreographing for the upcoming TV show “Flesh and Bone” and taking the Royal New Zealand Ballet on a U.S. tour Photo by Evan Li, Courtesy RNZB Ethan Stiefel has always been a multitasker. He not only danced with American Ballet Theatre but also played Cooper Nielson in Center Stage, led the University of […]
There is a spate of new artistic director appointments (all of them male—of course): Devon Carney, former Cincinnati Ballet associate artistic director, is now running Kansas City Ballet…. Kevin Irving (previously A.D. of the Göteborg Ballet) has gone to Oregon Ballet Theatre….Former Ballet West principal Michael Bearden now leads Ballet Arkansas….Choreographer Edwaard Liang has taken […]
This just in: Alina Cojocaru, perhaps the most ethereal classic ballerina of our time, will join English National Ballet. It was announced just last month that she and her life partner, Johan Kobborg, are leaving The Royal Ballet. Today comes the announcement from ENB that she is to start performing with the company in October. […]
DVDs on The Royal Ballet, Zakharova and Hallberg in Sleeping Beauty, Savion Glover; Contemporary Dance in Cuba book; Alexander Ekman’s short film 40 M Under Sleeping Beauty, on the Evening with The Royal Ballet DVD. Photo © Bill Cooper, Courtesy Naxos. DVDs An Evening with The Royal Ballet Opus Arte. 90 minutes. […]
Hofesh Shechter’s Political Mother. Photo by Gabriele Zucca, Courtesy Hofesh Shechter Company. Politically Hofesh When it had its London premiere two years ago, our reviewer was astounded by Hofesh Shechter’s unpredictable, near-chaotic piece for 10 dancers, Political Mother. Describing the work by this Israeli-born choreographer, Barbara Newman cited the shadowy figures, animal instincts, and “frenzy […]
What happens when the performers are engaged to each other and you’re watching them kiss? Does it change how you see the choreography? Does it change how you respond to their onstage partnership? What if they’re married? What if they’re brother and sister? Mother and daughter? Do we get a special pleasure out of knowing […]
As every dancer knows, the time you spend onstage is only a tiny fraction of what the career demands. The Royal Ballet is taking the unprecedented step of livestreaming its packed workday tomorrow on its YouTube channel (where you can view the full schedule). It’s an incredible lineup. Starting at 10:30 AM London time, which […]
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