Ah, 31st December 2025 – the final, swirling pirouette of a year filled with such dramatic highs and lows! It’s a time for reflection, for quiet contemplation on the graceful pirouette that was our year, a chance to twirl away the old and embrace the new. And what better way to reflect than through the timeless language of ballet music? This year, more than ever, has underscored that these scores are not merely notes on a page, but powerful symphonies of emotion, stories told in every crescendo and diminuendo. Each melody, each haunting note, has painted a poignant tableau on the world’s stage – reminding us, as we rush towards the next act, of the beauty and fragility of it all. This year has seen a surge in the ballet world – a resurgence of classical works, daring new choreography, and exciting cross-disciplinary collaborations. It seems the world is, once again, yearning for the artistry, for the profound poetry of the dancer’s body weaving tales in the ethereal silence. Let us delve into a year’s worth of shimmering stories, stories whispered on the wind, told through the poignant notes that have danced within us all. Ballet Music & Its New Lease of Life From the romantic yearning of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to the hauntingly modern whispers of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, the past year has seen these classics given new life. * **Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake**. Yes, our enduring Swan Lake. The romantic masterpiece saw numerous revivals this year. A new, minimalist production by The Royal Ballet showcased the work in all its breathtaking beauty, reminding audiences that sometimes, less truly is more. But let us not forget those extraordinary interpretations – from the Bolshoi’s powerhouse performance in Moscow to the San Francisco Ballet’s fresh and playful reimagining – each was a unique translation of the eternal dance between love and sacrifice. * **Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring**. It was bold, it was disruptive, and it was a seismic shockwave to the world of ballet when it first appeared, in 1913. And it remains so. It was the highlight of 2025. There were powerful revivals from major companies – The Paris Opera Ballet, The Bolshoi Ballet, and The American Ballet Theatre all gave it a go this year. * **Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht**. And this masterpiece too, by Arnold Schoenberg! This score was a huge highlight, the sheer dramatic impact of his 1899 creation truly captivating. The Dutch National Ballet brought the 20th century music back into the light of the stage, making the original score from 1899 suddenly new again. A testament to Schoenberg's profound gift for creating a symphony of emotions. **Dance's New Storytellers – A Collaborative Landscape** Let's not forget the new wave of talent that emerged in the world of dance this year. We saw, not just the classic ballets, but the emergence of unique narratives crafted through bold collaboration. * **Choreographers on the Move**: Take the collaboration of Akram Khan and his captivating, thought-provoking choreography set to the pulse of Indian classical music in his new work “Kaash” for the Sadler’s Wells in London. It was a testament to the fusion of traditions – a fusion that captivated London. * **Breaking Down the Barriers**: The barriers between classical and contemporary are rapidly blurring. One of the year's highlights was the fusion of ballet and contemporary styles in a unique reinterpretation of Tchaikovsky's Pathétique, a ballet performance where street dancers merged their vibrant style with the grand elegance of classical ballet. It was a powerful juxtaposition of contrasting dance styles, all woven into the story, all brought together by a modern musical arrangement that was edgy and experimental yet, in some odd way, wholly respectful of the composer's intent. **Emerging Stars: A Kaleidoscope of Talent** We’ve been witness to a dazzling emergence of new talent in the world of ballet. A constellation of new dancers are emerging as bold voices for our times. * **Rising Stars:** And where there are young dancers there are also new choreography. One such star has emerged this year, 24-year-old ballerina Chloe Grace. This rising talent, who danced her way into the hearts of everyone during a star turn at the Paris Opera Ballet's "Romeo & Juliet," her ethereal portrayal of Juliet's tenderness and defiance has cemented her place as one of ballet’s emerging stars. * **Making Waves in London**: We were also lucky to see an astounding performance by young newcomer Thomas James in the Royal Ballet's “The Sleeping Beauty” at London’s Covent Garden this year. This talented performer had everyone, every critic and member of the audience on the edge of their seats! * **From The Ballet to The Screens:** Speaking of a stunning new talent. Remember 22-year-old Londoner Alice Jackson, who broke into the limelight through the “Ballet Moves” reality TV show this year? This incredibly driven artist was captivating the nation's attention week on week - with an elegant combination of passion, strength and pure artistic talent that shone through every time she danced. Her winning performance for “Ballet Moves”, “Swan Lake’s” Adagio, captured everyone's imagination and secured a scholarship for this incredibly gifted and up-and-coming ballerina at the Royal Ballet. **A Symphony of Sound, A World of Fashion** This year saw a burgeoning dialogue between ballet and fashion, two worlds, in essence, completely interwoven and utterly complimentary. The exquisite, the delicate, and the flowing - all that the ballet has always inspired in fashion – reached a pinnacle of collaborative power. * **From the Dance Floor to the Catwalk**: Let’s just take the launch of the world renowned couture house Chanel’s limited edition collection of "Les Ballet" couture inspired fashion. They’re gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. They've transferred the iconic choreography of a ballerina, with their light, and graceful shapes, and the fluidity of the dance. * **The Return of the Leotard:** We’ve all fallen in love with the resurgence of the leotard and I am thrilled that 2025 saw its return to the world of everyday style! It is a style that epitomises that classic silhouette of grace and sophistication. A must for any discerning dance-loving lady’s wardrobe this year. If you're looking to complement your blush coloured tutu for those after-ballet dinners, consider this Leotard in the same tone – its soft silhouette a whisper against a background of rose golds and pastel pinks. It's all about adding a dash of ballet-inspired elegance to our everyday style. The designers behind “Ballet Basics,” have cleverly produced leotards that transcend their classic elegance and look beautiful with almost any style from skinny jeans to a simple flowing skirt. * **Taking The Stage: The Return of the Ballerina Dress:** And we’ve seen a huge comeback for the elegant ballerina dress – the dress, the outfit, the very symbol of elegant style! And these styles, these designs, are more contemporary than ever – bringing back a new sense of movement and femininity in this new millennium! The iconic ballet dress that was seen so frequently in the fashion collections during London Fashion week this past year proves a strong nod to the elegance and timeless beauty of ballet itself! Ballet's Unfolding Legacy As 2025 draws to a close, a sense of poetic melancholy is hanging in the air, as is customary. There is something deeply introspective in this bittersweet farewell to another chapter. * **New Voices**: But just as a curtain closes on one act, a new one unfurls in the blink of an eye. So what are we waiting for? New adventures, new challenges, and new artistic discoveries all wait for us just beyond the stage. * **The Heart of a Ballerina:** What is the heart of ballet? Its heartbeat is emotion. Every step, every graceful gesture is the pulse of life, told in a language that transcends words. Let's all listen in, let's hear the music of life dance within us all, in the silence between the notes, on the last page of a year just closing and the start of one newly open. There we have it. Our look back on 2025. May the new year bring us even more balletic moments of art and wonder! Happy New Year and may your every movement be a graceful and artful one!
