Dearest readers, itâs that time of year again when the crisp air invigorates our senses, the trees blaze with autumnal hues, and we are treated to a sumptuous feast of ballet, theatre and dance. Oh my, how divine! As I dash around the world, attending dazzling events, and feeling very stylishly clad, I have been truly bewitched by the exquisite artistry on display this November, both here in dear old London and far flung glamorous locales. Let us plunge in and consider some of the most notable offerings -
LONDON'S LUXURIOUS OFFERINGS
Weâre simply spoiled here in London darling! And it's simply delightful to watch London's young, impossibly beautiful ballerinas soaring across the stage of the Royal Opera House with their breath-taking finesse and poise. The Royal Balletâs production of Swan Lake with its stunningly realistically choreographed, swanlike extensions, and masterful, poignant storytelling is not to be missed - such drama. I am drawn to this timeless ballet; to me it signifies everything that is quintessentially Russian; the haunting, majestic musical score, and the beautifully-shaped, emotional choreography of Tchaikovsky, combined with the gorgeous, romantic story of the love-struck princess betrayed, transformed into a swan, and seeking the ultimate in romantic love, a sublimely romantic spectacle, my dears, simply divine. Then of course the iconic âswan armsâ, how divine! We're used to the virtuosic leaps and pirouettes, so gracefully achieved here; we need only focus on the acting of the swan herself and watch how perfectly her dramatic interpretation complements Tchaikovskyâs evocative, dramatic score. This exquisite combination results in what we would all recognise, a masterpiece! This production of Swan Lake has not disappointed! It remains the worldâs most iconic ballets! The ballerina corps have simply exquisite posture, a stunning display of synchronized beauty, truly beautiful to watch.
PARIS â BALLET OF ALL THE BALLETS
Letâs travel now to Paris, oh lĂ lĂ - and that inimitable Gallic glamour. You simply can't go to Paris without a trip to The OpĂ©ra de Paris to see Giselle . It's a bit of a clichĂ© but darling, don't you just love clichĂ©s? It is all about love and love betrayed, the romantic spirit, that most cherished of things in Parisian culture. I find the second act so intensely moving. And oh, I think the corps de ballet has never danced more expressively with such intensity. In the spirit of romantic ballet the women have mastered the iconic 'ballet handsâ, holding their wrists high, creating the perfect arched, romantic curve. They express love, fear, hope, and despair with effortless skill, all while moving with beautiful grace - all with the very real backdrop of a moonlit wood. A captivating performance indeed. But darling it is truly about that perfect romantic ideal. We must give special credit to the two principal dancers. Both danced their roles perfectly, especially the man! Such elegant lines and strength and sensitivity in every single move.
AN AWFUL LOT OF JUMPING
The British dance scene never ceases to amaze us. Here in London the dance is still thriving, despite Brexit, darling. Take for instance the Northern Ballet in their production of The Little Mermaid which is taking the ballet world by storm. As a recent ballet graduate, I am not quite sure what it is but the piece has all the ingredients for a winning family ballet and we, dear readers, all know how important that is. There are the essential elements for success; an enchanting original score from composer Joseph Sweeney, beautifully realised costumes, clever, imaginative and innovative choreography - all designed to entrance, charm and beguile, particularly for our more discerning younger viewers. Of course there are the breathtaking leaps. Oh! such amazing athleticism on display here. My favourite part was where the âLittle Mermaidâ turns into a human with beautiful leg extensions and she pirouettes gracefully on pointes. I did rather wonder at the mermaids 'flipper' feet though? This ballet, my dear readers, really shows us how far ballet has progressed from its humble beginnings. It is exciting, imaginative, creative and the mermaids are delightfully choreographed in the round and their âunderwaterâ ballet is visually dazzling; a delightful show indeed, though maybe a little too much âjumpâ for a Friday evening when all we want to do is to unwind. I know what I mean darling. We all need a little of that, I have just discovered, especially on a long plane journey.
MOVEMENT AS METAPHOR
We leave now for a trip across the pond to NYC, a bustling city where fashion and culture thrive - the very essence of urban cool, darling! The Metropolitan Opera continues its stellar run of excellence this November, staging the New York City Balletâs production of Balanchineâs âTheme and Variationsâ,. You simply have to catch this one. The opening sequence is just breath-taking! I love the precision and purity of the style. As for the costumes! Such an inspiration, each dancer wearing a different and uniquely- designed layered costume, inspired by ballet tutus and classical ballets, - divine darling, pure elegance and chic! The design itself makes a clear, simple and strong statement about the dance piece. As one of New Yorkâs best loved ballet choreographers George Balanchine has chosen for us the traditional Ballet-school curriculum as a theme and given us a beautifully staged ballet with innovative variations of technical adagio and 'allegro' , with the dancers demonstrating their skills as they navigate the complex, highly structured movement sequences; all underpinned by Tchaikovskyâs beautifully dramatic âVariationsâ. It was as though I were being taken back to a ballet class - the familiar exercise executed with the most extraordinary athleticism and artistry, with flawless, precise execution - what a beautiful visual language for the viewer! This is a highly impressive production with an intelligent structure. The audience are clearly appreciative of the classical ballets as they demonstrate a clear knowledge of Ballet vocabulary through their applause. This particular ballet - itâs the little things - makes the familiar dance fresh, modern and exhilarating again.
AN INSPIRATIONAL SHOW FOR ALL
This November saw New York dancing with joyous excitement as the dance-world icon choreographer Bill T. Jones opened his new work at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in NYC. Jones is a real favourite with his unique dance-style and theatrical genius. A highly successful dancer, choreographer and creative genius, heâs made a serious contribution to the American dance scene and he always delivers something wonderfully unexpected! In âAn Essay in Lines for the Cameraâ, he creates a moving âlive filmâ for a mere nine dancers using black-and-white visuals. In the piece heâs trying to capture âthe nature of the self as reflected in and affected by the surrounding environment, while paying homage to the artists of the past, most particularly the pioneers of abstract filmmakingâ, so they tell us in the program notes. Such a treat to see him exploring the role of film within dance, and a very timely theme in a world increasingly dominated by visual content. I found the dance piece and his ideas beautifully presented, quite unpretentious, indeed highly compelling.
ANOTHER MUST SEE
The dancers at Alvin Ailey have really brought Ailey's vision to life and theyâre simply sensational and we all know Aileyâs vision is as contemporary as the work of the late Alvin Ailey, himself, an inspiration to all. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is showcasing his iconic masterpiece, Revelations, and to the uninitiated this simply has to be seen - A balletic vision, it takes us back to the antebellum south and its emotional impact on African American culture is undeniable and simply irresistible. Revelations continues to thrill and touch, move and motivate with its originality and power and this particular production at NYCâs City Center was very special with all the original costumes.
FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE COMIC - DANCE AND THEATRE
In London the National Theatreâs new production of the 1970âs A Chorus Line is currently creating a lot of excitement. I loved it and it has taken a much-needed leap in time. As with all of Michael Grandage's productions the stage and production design are exquisite, so contemporary. There are now 17 performers dancing in A Chorus Line - the dancing itself is not bad either! The dance routine was perfectly pitched, the dancers had a superb stage presence and their physical prowess and athleticism are quite outstanding. The actors are a talented group who have come together to give a thoroughly modern interpretation to this 40 year old, musical-dance classic, and for me this production was everything it was meant to be, fun - funny - and fabulous!
DANCE IS EVERYWHERE -
In Vienna this November there are two major exhibitions on dance â one at the Theater Museum ( âDance, Film, Digital Culture ) and another at the Albertina ( âExpression : The Dancing Body in the Modern Ageâ ) which looks at how dance is represented in visual arts - photographs and drawings. Darling the dancing body in all its shapes, styles, colours and forms is such a treat, simply inspiring and I am just so fascinated with the visual art created to celebrate the beauty of the human form. And as always we must remember that dance is the universal language, darling! We can communicate without words! Dance tells a story better than any language! What a thought.
THE SEASON OF EXCITEMENT
This time of year brings us a new sense of hope, beauty and inspiration â so I will sign off for now but I will leave you with one final thought darling and a little advice to add a touch of drama to your own evening out - donât forget your tiara !! And why not! If you want to have fun dress up like youâre attending the Ball and you are about to dance with your favorite prince charming! A good time will be had by all!