A Midsummer Night's Dream
Oh darling, how I simply adore Midsummer Night's Dream. The Royal Ballet's production at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is positively spellbinding! The sheer magic of Shakespeare, brought to life through the captivating choreography of Frederick Ashton, is a perfect marriage of literature and dance. Itâs quite the theatrical spectacle! With sets and costumes so exquisite that they seemed to transport you to a dreamy enchanted forest.
I do so love how Ashton captures the mischievous and playful energy of Shakespeare's comedy. Every gesture is brimming with nuance. There was just so much to enjoy, from the sublime pas de deux to the riotous scenes of dancing fairies!
The Royal Ballet's cast truly shone in this production. The leading roles were inhabited with an irresistible energy and depth. I must tell you the Oberon and Titania, they simply danced each other off the stage! The pas de deux at the beginning of the final act had my heart melting with it's utter tenderness and sensuality. Oh darling! My dearest darling! That finale left me in utter awe. I truly feel, the companyâs current season at the ROH is really a gift from the dance gods.
Giselle, Royal Ballet
And now for something completely different. We journey from Shakespeareâs playful dream world to the darkness of the Romantic Ballet repertoire, in Giselle. Oh darling! I am so obsessed with this tragic masterpiece! This time, The Royal Ballet brought this classical favourite to life in another ravishing production. It's a masterpiece in its own right! Of course, this production had me simply glued to the stage by its power. You do feel the profound sorrow, and I simply adore that element of tragedy!
Giselle, with her innocent charm and passion, and her descent into madness, completely captures the hearts of every balletgoer. But, of course, we cannot forget the brilliance of Albrecht, that tortured heartbroken figure. Oh! How this dance, that beautifully melancholic piece!
And how could I forget the eerie, ghostly, Wilis who emerged in the second act! So bewitchingly ethereal, they simply swirled and glided across the stage, weaving their deadly spell, captivating me utterly.
This entire piece is a true theatrical masterpiece that pulls every heart-string with its delicate artistry and power, all seamlessly blended with classical dance and drama. Oh, a dance enthusiast like myself could never, never be overwhelmed by this utterly intoxicating production!
Diamonds - Royal Ballet
For an utterly breath-taking contemporary masterpiece I would have to mention, 'Diamonds' from "Jewels", as part of the Royal Balletâs season. Now darling, 'Diamondsâ by Balanchine, is not just a dance - it's a breathtaking jewel itself, dazzling you from beginning to end! I am just captivated by its elegant simplicity, that sense of shimmering and pure beauty. Each exquisite movement, the soaring jumps, and the breathtaking arabesques! Itâs as though I was swept into a world of shimmering jewels, with every step!
Every ballerina in this production, each an exquisite dancer in her own right, shone brightly on the stage. You really had a chance to enjoy each dancerâs mastery and style, and I just adore it. This 'Diamondâ is a must-see for any balletomane and is sure to captivate any first-timer as well!
Dutch National Ballet
Darling, what is better than one performance, but two evenings at the Dutch National Ballet! I was simply overcome with delight during my latest ballet pilgrimage! Their production of âLa Bayadereâ had me so utterly charmed by its exotic flavour!
It is such an amazing combination of dazzling dance, and just captivating choreography. From the first swirling movements, in their flowing silken costumes. I just adore this particular production at the Dutch National Ballet. It has so much life and energy! I do love, love, love how the whole performance flows - each scene is just perfect. Oh darling, how it had me lost in a completely different world!
Oh! You are simply lost for words during that amazing Grand Pas de Deux, especially at the end of the ballet. That choreography - is divine. I would go see the production a hundred times just for those five minutes! Oh, it is utterly divine!
But that wasnât all - I have been looking forward to seeing a piece by the ever so fabulous choreographer Wayne McGregor. Now darling, you do know, that Wayne McGregor is the man, I'd simply follow him into the world of contemporary dance blindfolded.
But "Atom" was beyond words - oh, the creativity, the inventiveness, just amazing! You get lost in the swirling world of bodies. I do love this manâs choreography; he is truly an absolute inspiration in the contemporary dance world. Oh darling, how this whole dance production leaves you mesmerized and deeply impressed!
Bolshoi
You know I am forever a fan of The Bolshoi. But it is worth mentioning how utterly bewitched I was by this season's new production. A classic from Tchaikovsky and the original choreographer Marius Petipa, this version of "Sleeping Beauty" truly left me breathless, in pure adoration! Now, darling, if a classic doesn't captivate you with all of its glory and extravaganza, you really need to ask yourself if you truly are a ballet enthusiast!
The grandeur and opulent splendour - it was just truly breathtaking, a stunning display of Russian balletic tradition! Oh darling, they just made you forget that it was just an ordinary Tuesday evening. The dance and the sheer performance of every single dancer just swept me away, taking me to a dream-world of enchantment. Oh, this truly felt like an extravagant, almost divine dream-world experience!
But most impressive of all was the company's flawless execution and incredible talent! Oh, my dear! These artists have every single moment honed and refined so utterly perfectly! Each dancer, from the principal to the corps, every member of the ensemble delivered the pure essence of balletic technique.
You can tell how much these dancers have truly trained! You know I do enjoy how these incredible ballerinas, all in perfect synchronicity in a blur of beautiful costumes in glorious and enchanting formations, take us to the most delightful realms of imagination. This simply left me enchanted, for nights to come, after the final bow! Oh darling, the Bolshoiâs âSleeping Beautyâ is truly, the ballet to watch, and a dream-world escape.
New York
I just have to, mention a new and utterly modern ballet company to grace New York's stage - BalletX, based in Philadelphia, has been bringing its captivating contemporary ballet to The Joyce.
Now darling, this particular piece - âSynapsisâ - by the talented ballet-maker Matthew Neenan left me mesmerized and speechless. With his elegant and incredibly unique style, Neenan weaves stories on stage, like a true artistic magician, by telling captivating tales about life and the journey we are all on. The ballet is utterly charming! Its blend of gentle tenderness and power makes the work quite intriguing to a dance lover like myself!
It is, you must see for yourself, a performance with a contemporary vibe. The entire production felt utterly fresh, exhilarating and new - I have been completely charmed, and truly enthralled, by the company's innovative approach and talent, from the very beginning to the final bows! Iâd definitely add this to my âmust-seeâ ballet list!
Oh darling, BalletX is such an incredibly thrilling new company on the New York scene! Their unique aesthetic and style is an inspiring, captivating must for any ballet lover, as we enter a brand new season of artistic delights!
Across The Pond
And for something utterly exotic and spectacular, a trip to The Mariinsky Ballet, Saint Petersburg, is the answer! Now darling, we do know it is not always so easy to take such a journey. But once youâve had that wonderful journey across the pond, and have settled in to a cosy spot at The Mariinsky Theatre, your spirits simply will soar with ballet and artâs true enchantment! I adore this iconic theater - it just feels so luxurious and regal! And then, it simply explodes, on stage, in a ballet production by Marius Petipa. I just do adore the Russian, grand-scale theatrical tradition!
Oh, how it took my breath away. This time the Ballet's dancers were in "La Bayadere." Their breathtaking artistry was at its finest in this captivating ballet. Every single moment in this performance is one of breathtaking, technical virtuosity, as if, from a world of enchantment! Each pose is perfection and every dancer on stage is simply incredible in every movement!
I particularly remember the dazzling corps de ballet who are utterly mesmerizing in their delicate beauty and breathtaking synchronicity. Youâll have your jaw dropping every moment, I assure you! Oh darling, I will be revisiting these performances, in my dreams for weeks! The Mariinsky Ballet and "La Bayadereâ is a pure ballet indulgence - one to be experienced!
American Ballet Theatre, NY
Darling, one of the most inspiring dance companies in the world, the American Ballet Theatre, was presenting it's Summer Season at The Metropolitan Opera House.
As ever, ABT was bursting with extraordinary talent and performance quality! But you have to be prepared for something special when they have the ever-so-stylish choreographer Alexei Ratmansky on board, for a new ballet work. "The Concerto DSCH" with music by Shostakovich - was a wonderful display of technical prowess. It also was truly artistic and expressive! The music flows beautifully with the movements and the dance is as powerful as it is delicate!
But oh! How I simply adores Ratmansky's style and I truly adored seeing the performance on the stage! It was such a triumph that I felt like standing on my seat for the final curtain!
You just have to make sure you get yourself to one of their performances, and just take in the energy and creativity on the Met stage, You truly will feel how exciting and inspiring ballet truly is when watching this amazing company perform, night after night.