Oh my darlings, July is upon us, and the world of dance is positively *bursting* with excitement! I'm positively giddy with all the divine productions that have graced the stages this month. Let's dive in, shall we?
First up, darling, was my pilgrimage to the **Royal Opera House** for the opening night of **Giselle**. Oh, how I adore this tragic tale! It was absolutely breathtaking. Alina Cojocaru, radiant and luminous as Giselle, danced with such heartbreaking grace, truly capturing the innocence of the maiden and the depths of her despair. She is such a divine talent! The corps de ballet was simply spectacular, their dancing like a swirling dream. And then, **Marianela Nuñez** as Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis! Her chilling portrayal of vengeance and fury simply stopped me in my tracks. She radiated a strength that was both beautiful and terrifying. The choreography by **Frederick Ashton**, my dear, remains timeless, beautifully conveying the romantic tragedy. I confess, I nearly choked back tears during the second act. Absolutely magnificent!
Speaking of **Cojocaru**, did you see her perform **Don Quixote** at the **Royal Ballet**? It was an absolute delight, my dears! Cojocaru, so luminous and graceful as Kitri, and **Carlos Acosta** as a dashing, vibrant Basilio! The entire production was simply bursting with vibrant life and joie de vivre, a joyous celebration of love, passion, and freedom! **Acosta**, you know, he was a genuine heartthrob in his day, with his impressive leaps and magnetic energy, even now in his prime! And speaking of prime, isn't **Cojocaru** just absolutely radiant, with her porcelain skin and sculpted limbs? Oh, those perfectly honed muscles... she is pure art!
But the dance world, as always, is full of surprises! This month I was captivated by a *rather* daring performance by the **Nederlands Dans Theater**. They presented a piece called **“20th Century Bach"**. Such *unusual* contemporary dance! A seamless blend of baroque and modern that made my head spin in the best possible way! This piece explored the possibilities of movement through Bach's intricate musical structure and was *absolutely* a dance experience that demanded your attention. It wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but it was brilliantly conceived, and the choreography, simply astounding!
And what can I say about **New York City Ballet**? As always, they are delivering some seriously spectacular performances this summer. **The Nutcracker** ( yes, a little late for Christmas!) is still playing and, darlings, it's just *so* wonderfully magical! This enchanting adaptation by **George Balanchine** remains one of my all-time favourite Christmas-themed ballets. It is absolutely timeless, whimsical and joyful. I do love the artistry of Balanchine. You see his artistic genius in the grace, precision and dynamism of each and every move. The young dancers are simply magnificent - I was especially enamoured by **Tiler Peck**, such elegance and power in every movement! **New York City Ballet** also offered **Swan Lake**, one of the classics I always have to catch each year. This year I was so impressed by the corps de ballet's technical prowess and unity! Such synchronicity! It was simply amazing.
While on the subject of the classics, **American Ballet Theatre** had me enthralled with their **Swan Lake**, I do love their approach! It's just **so** romantic! This time the darling, **Diana Vishneva**, gracefully captured the dual roles of Odette and Odile. Her transformation from the pure, innocent Swan Queen to the dark and alluring Odile was absolutely captivating. This beautiful, ethereal beauty - oh, it was an absolute delight. And then of course, **David Hallberg**, a breathtaking Prince Siegfried, his elegance, poise and charisma on the stage was divine. They made such a fabulous duo! It was a magnificent performance, truly unforgettable!
Over in **Paris**, I found myself spellbound by **Le Sacre du Printemps**, a daring and powerful performance at the **Opéra National de Paris.** This production, directed by **Wayne McGregor**, explored a more abstract, modern approach to Stravinsky's score. You can tell McGregor understands the beauty of Stravinsky's raw power - he allows it to shape and guide the entire piece. He pushes the boundaries of classical dance, challenging audiences with unconventional choreography and a minimalist set design.
On a slightly different note, darling, we must also celebrate the talent emerging in the **ballet world** - we must support the *next* generation. The **San Francisco Ballet** this month showcased the exquisite **Ballet Flamenco** at their **Dance Horizons Festival** - a company full of vibrant young dancers who have perfected this uniquely rhythmic and deeply passionate form of Spanish dance. And **London's Royal Opera House** staged the **Royal Ballet** performance of **"A Midsummer Night's Dream"** – this is a very whimsical production which showcased a group of talented and charming young dancers from **The Royal Ballet School**, such promise for this future generation, don't you think?
Now, I mustn't neglect my darling readers who are a little *more* adventurous. For those with a taste for the unique, let me recommend **the National Theatre** production of **"A Little Night Music"**. This brilliant ensemble piece, starring the talented **Emma Thompson** , was beautifully choreographed by **Stephen Mear**. The movement was elegant, light, and captivating, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster that is love. A sophisticated, witty production with some genuinely powerful moments! The entire ensemble really showed their talent - the cast brought Sondheim's brilliant musical to life with perfect pitch and heartfelt delivery. And I absolutely loved the costumes, simply breathtaking! It was a dazzling feast for the senses!
And let’s not forget about **Cirque du Soleil**, always a force to be reckoned with! **"O"** was just a spectacular blend of artistry, athletics, and theatrics! I am constantly impressed by their dedication to pushing boundaries and defying gravity. There is such meticulous attention to detail and choreography, not just with the circus skills but also with the way they tell stories. **"O"** really showcased the genius and raw talent of this company. It's so much more than just a circus. It's an immersive theatrical experience - and, frankly, it leaves me speechless!
You know what, darling, I find the *beauty* of dance is in its *diversity*. It isn’t just the grand classical ballet we’ve been indulging in so far, this month. There are truly extraordinary works being produced all over the world. We saw that with **“20th Century Bach”** - it was something so unusual, challenging, but brilliant and that was wonderful. The same with the flamenco performance from **San Francisco Ballet** - we have such beautiful rich and cultural styles of dance, and so we need to embrace that, as well.
I simply can't wait to see what the coming months have in store. Until then, my dears, keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the dazzling world of dance! Remember, the art of movement transcends boundaries, unites cultures, and touches our souls. The summer, like dance itself, is a beautiful and ephemeral thing - so cherish it, my dears, cherish it! And may you dance as light and gracefully as a feather on the wind!