**The World of Dance: A June Jewel Box**
Darling, it’s June, the month of roses and a very special season for ballet. The air is thick with anticipation for the ballets, tours, and dance galas happening around the world. We’re seeing premieres, revivals, and performances of iconic classics - a true feast for the eyes and the soul. The world stage is awash with the grace of ballet and it’s time for us, my dears, to take it all in, don’t you think?
First, a whirlwind to the Bolshoi. Can we talk about **Natalia Osipova**? Now there’s a ballerina for you! The sheer power and intensity she brings to “La Bayadere” is intoxicating. This performance was practically dripping in exquisite drama and Osipova, dear reader, was utterly divine. I’m afraid I barely breathed throughout the entire ballet, completely transfixed by her incredible footwork, expressive artistry, and the stunning energy she exuded. It’s simply impossible to describe, you just have to see her. A complete spectacle.
Speaking of spectacle, the **Royal Opera House** pulled out all the stops for its revival of "The Sleeping Beauty" in May. With exquisite sets and costumes by **Peter Farmer** that practically stole the show, and the delicate precision of the corps de ballet, this production was, well, magical! There’s simply nothing more enchanting than the awakening scene with the ethereal, glittering costumes. Every performance was captivating, with superb technical execution and genuinely breathtaking performances, particularly from **Marianela Nuñez**, she absolutely oozed elegance as Aurora, and let's not forget her impressive leaps - truly a show-stopper. All in all, it’s simply a must-see.
Now, a little detour to New York City, darling! There’s an exciting new ballet on the block that I have to tell you about. **Justin Peck**’s “The Times Are Racing” debuted at the **New York City Ballet**. It's not exactly classical, dear, and certainly has a modern sensibility - all about life's unpredictability, full of frantic bursts of energy and bold choreographic twists and turns. Some say it’s challenging to watch, others love it for its raw, honest, approach, and its refreshingly innovative style. Certainly, Peck’s work always makes you sit up and take notice. Personally, I find it thought-provoking and exciting – the music by Schoenberg makes for an unusual, even edgy, backdrop. If you love something unexpected and bold, be sure to check it out!
While we’re across the pond, a nod must be given to the **Nederlands Dans Theater** (NDT), known for its fresh, innovative choreography. And darling, their season never disappoints! The NDT 1 in June featured a truly remarkable new piece, "The Raft" by the phenomenal choreographer, **Marco Goecke**. Oh, this was a tour-de-force! The lighting by **Bastiaan R. van Gemert** was brilliant and complimented the masterful choreography so beautifully. I’m always enthralled by Goecke’s work. It's always compelling and captivating. It's the sheer emotional power, the dramatic storytelling through movement that is truly captivating, a ballet where the audience simply cannot look away!
Over in San Francisco, **San Francisco Ballet** is celebrating the art of storytelling in their performance of **John Cranko**’s “Onegin.” This is truly a classic and I do so enjoy a bit of classical balletic storytelling! The romantic drama unfolded magnificently and the poignant performance left a truly memorable impression. Cranko's signature dramatic flair with exquisite choreography just leaves me wanting to see it again and again. This really is ballet at its finest! And we absolutely cannot forget the beautiful costumes by Desmond Heeley which, simply, set the scene beautifully. It’s truly captivating to watch a company like the San Francisco Ballet, known for its stunningly high standards, tell this poignant tale of love and loss with such masterful artistry.
And if we are to talk of classics, my dears, then it's simply impossible to avoid **American Ballet Theatre’s** summer season. They just opened with a gala production of "Swan Lake" with, darling, the legendary **Misty Copeland**, leading the charge! Now that's ballet history in the making, for it’s not just the exquisite, pure dance – Copeland is the first Black woman to lead an American Ballet Theatre production in this iconic role. There was quite a lot of press around this, as you can imagine! But my dears, let me tell you – this woman truly does transcend ballet history and embodies the spirit of Tchaikovsky’s score. There's an incredible amount of technical finesse, of course, but, oh, how intense and deeply emotive it all is. You just feel the sheer power and beauty of the piece coming from her! It was simply exquisite. And Copeland was the epitome of grace in every single scene! Of course, there is something very special about "Swan Lake," this story of love, beauty, and deception, has captivated the world, for so many years. It was simply sublime and the audience went absolutely wild.
Well darling, it wouldn't be a ballet season without **Matthew Bourne**’s magic! He never fails to surprise and this year's "Swan Lake" - which you must know has a very special place in my heart, it is just perfection - has toured throughout the UK and beyond. It’s been wowing audiences with a whole new production! Now, I’m afraid “Swan Lake” with a new twist, can sometimes feel a little risky - some audiences find the male-only corps of ‘swans’ slightly jarring. But frankly, this re-imagination, for me, really amplifies the whole tragedy of this heartbreaking tale! You really do fall in love with the dancers in their elegant and sensual Swan form. The whole ensemble works together to build a beautiful, and tragic, world around the prince - so clever! You’ve simply got to see this masterpiece at some point, my dears! And of course, it wouldn’t be a Bourne production without those beautifully unique costumes! I adored the costumes – simple yet so very effective!
Of course, a journey through the ballet world cannot ignore **the Paris Opera Ballet**. I just love the tradition, the grandeur, the sophistication of it all! This month they have **Twyla Tharp**’s "The Golden Section," which brings her fresh and dynamic choreography to this prestigious company. Always innovative and unique, it’s definitely worth checking out!
You might also want to check out “A Suite for Two,” this season’s **ballet blanc**, for the Paris Opera Ballet. This classical performance provides a glimpse into the graceful fluidity and finesse that this company is so famous for. The balletic choreography in the "ballet blanc" is such a beautiful spectacle! And darling, the dancers - particularly, **Margot Fonteyn** - were just heavenly.
It's truly thrilling, the whole ballet world feels electric this month and you can just feel the joy that fills every single performance. Let me know what you’ve seen!