Oh darling, it's November! The air has a crispness to it, the leaves are turning, and the season of ballets and performances are in full swing. I’ve been busy fluttering from one beautiful venue to another wearing all the best new autumn looks, my darling - you know, velvet, sequins and all things decadent! Oh, and all the perfect scarlet lips to match! The international ballet world has been delivering some genuinely glorious productions this month, all showcasing the absolute crème de la crème of talent and perfection - just exactly as we love it here!
Let's dive into some absolute delights, shall we, my pet?
The National Ballet of Canada, darling, have been captivating audiences with their annual season opener. It was a joy to be among the first to see "Emergence", a new work from the ever so creative Christopher Wheeldon. His imagination never fails to leave me simply gasping. The entire performance was visually captivating, with breathtaking costumes by the fabulous designer Alessandro Sartorio and sets that were as sumptuous as a Louis XV palace - oh darling, you simply *had* to see it! There was a delicate play between light and shadow and such evocative, magical music that transported me to another realm, all in a flurry of tulle and silken sashes, it was positively divine! The ballet's brilliant principal dancer, Sonia Rodriguez, floated across the stage with the lightness and grace of a bird. Her effortless leaps and exquisite lines left me speechless. Let's face it, this was a true showcase for all those reasons we absolutely *love* ballet!
Speaking of spectacular, darling, "Swan Lake" in Paris was absolutely sublime! There were goosebumps! Honestly! At the Palais Garnier, the iconic production, with the utterly breathtaking Marie-Agnès Gillot in the lead role of Odette/Odile, it really had the entire room buzzing with electricity! The audience was in complete rapt attention and when she executed those iconic double tours it was a truly beautiful, chilling moment - and I am certainly not the only one in the audience who had a few happy tears! What I absolutely adored was the fact that the production did not try to reinvent the wheel, but played on those classic elements which are timeless in beauty and elegance for which ballet is so revered. With this production, I really was in another world, my dear, one of swans and magic and romance and beauty.
Over in Russia, the Mariinsky Ballet was serving up "Don Quixote," another of the classical favourites and a work that never seems to lose its charm. What's not to love? It's vibrant, funny and so, so energetic and visually captivating - and a feast for the eyes! The beautiful Olga Smirnova and Vladimir Shklyarov, the stars of the production, danced with incredible energy, the dynamic energy that just has the audience hooked. They literally had me on the edge of my seat. I don't think I’ve seen this iconic work of the ballet repertoire so brilliantly performed in ages!
You can not mention the Russian ballet scene without thinking about Moscow State Ballet and its current run of "La Bayadere" - Oh my god darling! It's another one of those performances that I will not be forgetting for a very long time - truly memorable! The famous Kingdom of the Shades scene with its ghosts, dancing on points, is absolutely legendary! I can tell you, there is absolutely nothing that will stop the crowds from flocking to see the sheer perfection that this production has achieved. Moscow's dancers, all perfectly in sync and in harmony, have absolutely nailed the beauty and grace, the artistry of this exquisite work.
My darling, I absolutely adore the way classical and modern are starting to converge into something truly extraordinary. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre had a breathtaking, beautiful production this month - and my darlings, you have got to experience it! "Revelations" a ballet that really is full of life and energy! This stunning performance takes audiences on a journey into the heart of the African-American community through an enchanting sequence of dances - oh it just brought a tear to my eye! Such powerful storytelling - with every dance that was in that incredible sequence I saw just everything, from love to pain to hope and redemption - and that is truly something that sets Alvin Ailey apart, their ability to move audiences and transport them to another place, with this raw and visceral and powerful emotion and connection that only dance can truly offer.
Now I know there are those amongst us who don't consider themselves lovers of ballet. Oh my darlings, let me tell you that is absolutely a travesty! However, I know that if you don't think ballet is for you perhaps there is something else that will draw you in! In New York we saw an extraordinary, stunning, performance of "The Lion King" - a musical production, you might be saying? - Oh, but my darling, it is so much more than that! This is something that will absolutely captivate your imagination - the magic of the theatre, the incredible artistry and talented cast and the brilliance of the puppetry all combined for an truly incredible show that will truly blow your mind - this isn’t your run of the mill production, darling, it is one of the most exciting and awe-inspiring spectacles you're likely to see. The production of The Lion King that is on show right now, at the Lyric Theatre in New York, is absolutely magnificent. All the elements combine in something truly special! So, let me persuade you my darlings, put down those knitting needles, darling, or those designer handbags, for a moment and indulge your soul in the artistry of dance - and if it’s musical theatre, be sure to catch the current show of "The Lion King - I promise you will be in awe!
The season has only just begun and it already looks as though the future of dance, as with art itself, will be truly brilliant in the months to come! So darlings, get out there, buy a gorgeous, new frock and catch one of these breathtaking shows. Let's raise a glass to beauty in motion and artistry - let's celebrate what we all love - the wonderful world of dance.