Darling, January has been a whirlwind of sequins, silk, and sheer genius, and as we welcome the radiant embrace of February, I simply must share the splendours that have captivated my soul, and those of my dearest dance aficionados!
The world, my dears, is an extravagant stage. It bursts forth with stunning artistic flourishes. In the hushed hush of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, one feels transported to another era. **Romeo and Juliet**, the pinnacle of love, loss and poetic artistry, once again moved me to tears with its raw, unbridled emotion. The sheer physicality of the ballet, the breathtaking jumps and lifts of the star dancers - my word, you could feel the electricity crackle through the air. This year’s production had a newfound poignancy, the intensity of their passions echoing with contemporary angst, a beautiful reminder that while history may unfold, love's enduring fire remains unchanged.
However, the season is not all about traditional grandeur, darling. Take **A Thousand Pieces** at Sadler’s Wells, London. A raw, dynamic piece by the visionary, bold, and beautifully brutal Russell Maliphant. It’s about finding beauty within the fragmented. Each movement was a powerful articulation, the lighting almost palpable, as if the stage itself were breathing with the performers. This isn’t your quintessential romanticism, it’s art as a living, breathing conversation.
Speaking of conversation, I just have to tell you about **The Four Temperaments** at the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg! Darling, my dear, this was simply divine. I practically wept when the virtuosic Kirov dancers flowed effortlessly across the stage, their movements infused with the essence of the music itself. Each tableau evoked the four ancient Greek temperaments: melancholy, phlegmatic, sanguine and choleric. But with such precision, such nuance, that the performance became a kaleidoscope of colours and moods. The choreography is pure genius; so perfectly matched to Khachaturian's breathtaking score! One simply has to experience the power of the ballet, for words alone cannot do it justice!
But for pure unbridled joy, one cannot ignore the magnificence that is **A Midsummer Night's Dream** at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. Imagine the vibrant costumes, the delicate flitting of fairies amidst the opulent court of Duke Theseus, the sublime magic! And that iconic waltz scene – divine! Each arabesque, each graceful turn felt utterly breathtaking. The Bolshoi dancers embody the playful, magical spirit of Shakespeare’s world in this utterly delightful production.
For a change of pace, let's step away from the grandeur of the European scene. In the city that never sleeps, New York, the **American Ballet Theatre** treated us to a contemporary masterpiece. **Afterlife** is a visceral, introspective journey into grief and the healing process. It brings the complexities of human emotion to life through the stunning choreography of Jessica Lang. The haunting score, the striking silhouetted projections - my word! - It's a profound and achingly beautiful meditation on loss. The stark honesty of the work left a profound impression on me, leaving one with a feeling of quiet, profound serenity.
I’d be remiss, of course, to not mention **The Sleeping Beauty**, which was the glittering heart of the **Paris Opera Ballet** this past month. The opulent production at the Palais Garnier felt like stepping into a sumptuous fairytale. Every detail, from the lavish costumes to the dramatic sets, evoked an atmosphere of enchantment and grace. As the young Aurora pirouetted effortlessly, she awakened a longing for dreams and forgotten enchantments. One cannot help but get swept up in the pure beauty of it all, for truly, it’s a love story of epic proportions.
Across the Atlantic, I must tell you of the extraordinary performance of **Swan Lake** by the National Ballet of Canada. I do adore the grandeur of classical ballet, and **Swan Lake** never fails to deliver. Each graceful movement was etched with emotion, from the ethereal beauty of the White Swan to the raw power of the Black Swan. The Canadian dancers embraced this time-honoured piece with genuine artistry, bringing both vulnerability and strength to the timeless story.
Of course, this dance odyssey couldn't end without some more modern magic, so I dashed off to The Barbican, London, to see **The Rite of Spring**. This work by the legendary Pina Bausch - simply stunning. She pushed boundaries as only she can! It is truly a spectacle unlike any other! Her choreography unveils primal urges and instincts, the raw energy of a timeless ritual manifesting on stage. Each performance of this iconic piece is as unique and as exciting as the last. One just can’t look away. The beauty of dance is in its vulnerability, and in this, Pina Bausch has truly redefined the art of choreography.
From the timeless elegance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to the gritty modern edge of Bausch's The Rite of Spring, we are witnessing an incredible dance renaissance! The beauty and the vulnerability of the human form, articulated with such grace, passion and virtuosity; truly a rare and wondrous gift, and something that has made this season oh so memorable.
Of course, darlings, it's all about the clothes! So much attention was given to the costumes this month, it simply wouldn't be fair to leave it out. I loved the playful, whimsical tutus in **A Midsummer Night's Dream** at the Bolshoi, a whimsical nod to the fairytale aspect. The bold, colourfully geometric costumes of **A Thousand Pieces** by Maliphant spoke to the fractured, fragmented theme of the piece - utterly inspired!
Then we had the exquisitely embroidered and jewel-encrusted ballroom gowns worn in **Sleeping Beauty** in Paris! They whispered of extravagance, grandeur and true fairytale magic! Not to be outdone, the dancers at the American Ballet Theatre’s Afterlife wore simple yet elegant lines, their stark black attire juxtaposed with their dynamic movement, echoing the quiet beauty of the piece itself.
And darling, I cannot forget those wonderful ballerina-inspired trends gracing the runways of Milan, Paris and London. All those flowing silk skirts, chiffon layers and feminine silhouettes, oh, it simply screamed *ballet*, don’t you think?
February holds so much promise. From the elegance of the "Diana and Actéon" and "The Afternoon of a Faun" ballets by the Paris Opera Ballet to the world premiere of Cinderella with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, there's an extraordinary array of shows and performances. Let's swoon over the swaying swans of **Swan Lake** and revel in the breathtaking athleticism of contemporary ballet. Remember, darlings, it's not just about the art itself, but about the collective human experience; a reminder of the emotions that tie us together. So saddle up your best heels, slip into that little black dress and join me as we discover the magic of the dance world.