AI Ballet Review 506

## **A Dancer’s Diary: June 2010** Darling, it’s June, the month of roses and grand debuts, and the world of ballet is buzzing! As I flit between Parisian rehearsals and London premieres, I thought I'd share some of the most divine and divine-ly awful shows I've seen. Prepare yourself for an excitingly chaotic whirl of sequins, silks, and the intoxicating scent of anticipation... **A Parisian Dream: "Giselle" at the Palais Garnier** First stop, Paris, the city of light and love. It’s impossible to feel anything less than pure joy in the legendary Palais Garnier. This June, the étoile Marie Agnes Gillot took center stage as Giselle. Her performance was exquisite – a heartbreaking vulnerability perfectly offset by her captivating grace. And those effortless leaps! They were like ethereal feathers drifting through the air. The final pas de deux with the beautiful Alexandre Hammoudi had the whole audience enraptured. Truly a perfect ballet evening - even my fussy Aunt Clarisse approved! **From Vienna to Vienna: "The Sleeping Beauty" - Vienna State Opera** A short hop over to Vienna for their stunning production of "The Sleeping Beauty". This enchanting ballet is one of those stories that transports you straight into a fairy tale. The sets were positively opulent – imagine crystal chandeliers and velvety stage curtains with floral motifs, darling! But the real gem was the performance of Natalia Osipova. She embodies Aurora with a fierce yet fragile elegance, her leaps reaching the heavens with such beautiful precision. But my heart truly melted when the court ladies came onstage – those vibrant costumes, darling, the pink tulle and fluffy feather boas - absolute divine! **London Calling: The Royal Ballet in "Romeo and Juliet"** Now, who doesn’t love a bit of Shakespearean romance? The Royal Ballet’s production of "Romeo and Juliet" is definitely worth the trip to London. This performance was a real showcase of the company’s raw talent. I particularly adored Natalia Osipova again (can you blame me?) as Juliet - her emotion poured out onto the stage. The pas de deux with Marianela Nuñez, the iconic, “The balcony scene,” left me completely breathless. The passion, the vulnerability, the unspoken longing - utterly spellbinding! But be warned - bring a tissue, darling! You'll need it. **A Touch of Tango: "Tango Argentino" at Sadler's Wells** Time for something a little different: a splash of sensuality and fiery Latin spirit with "Tango Argentino." It wasn't exactly ballet, but I do love a touch of that wild passion in my dance routine, you know! It was less ethereal, more intense. I enjoyed seeing the way those performers connected to each other - every move oozing confidence, tinged with a whisper of something dark and delicious. A good lesson for every ballerina – we need more than just grace; we need to know how to own the stage with our own fierce feminine charm! **Beyond Ballet: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in London** And finally, for a touch of avant-garde, we travel to the National Theatre. I wouldn't normally venture this far away from a classic ballet, but a friend's recommendation made me curious - literally! The production, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," was a fascinating departure. The choreography wasn’t typical balletic, more like contemporary dance, incorporating some acrobatic elements, which surprised and intrigued me. It was moving and intense and truly a reflection of the internal struggles of the protagonist, Christopher, a young man with Asperger’s. **Back to Reality: Rehearsal Time** Of course, even the most glamourous ballerina life can’t be all about glamorous performances and star-studded parties, darling. Rehearsal calls await, with endless stretches and barre work - a vital but often quite boring reality. Yet, with every plié and relevé, with every graceful pirouette and majestic grand jeté, I can't help but dream of those electrifying performances. And perhaps, just perhaps, there might be a whisper of those wonderful performances in my next "Giselle," a glint of those opulent Vienna chandeliers in my next "Sleeping Beauty." After all, isn't the world of ballet like life itself – a blend of beauty and hardship, delights and demands, a constant push towards that sublime ideal? Until next month, darling. May your pirouettes be precise and your stage kisses passionate!