AI Ballet Review 508

## A Swan's Tale: August Adventures in Dance Darling, August has always been a curious month for the arts. The city empties, the summer heats up, and you can practically hear the air crackling with anticipation for autumn's arrival. But for a swan like me, who takes flight in any season, it's a month for delightful surprises. And, let me tell you, this August hasn't disappointed. **A Breathtaking Debut in Paris:** I flew over to Paris, the city of light, and the romance, for the Paris Opera Ballet's debut of **"Le Sacre du Printemps"**. I'm sure you've all heard of Stravinsky's masterpiece, the riotous symphony that birthed modern dance and ruffled quite a few feathers in its day. This new staging, directed by the incomparable Angelin Preljocaj, truly breathed fresh air into this classic. The staging itself was striking, minimalist, almost stark. Think raw concrete, stark lighting, and silhouettes of dancers that seemed to bleed into each other. Preljocaj pushed the limits of the choreography, giving us primal, elemental movements that evoked a kind of animalistic savagery, the sheer, unadulterated force of nature. The dancers, divine, ethereal creatures they were, held our gaze captive, drawing us into the visceral heart of the ritual. Oh darling, it was breathtaking. **Moscow Magic at the Bolshoi:** From the cobblestone streets of Paris, I jetted off to Moscow, for a quintessential Bolshoi experience, and boy, did they deliver. I saw two absolute stunners. The first was a **"Giselle"** with an almost cinematic quality to it. It felt like I was watching a ballet film, the pacing and choreography almost seamlessly interwoven with the intricate costumes, the rich, historical set design. It was romantic in every sense of the word. But, of course, **"Giselle"** is about as romantic as it gets. You had to see Anna Nikulina's Giselle, her fragility and vulnerability beautifully juxtaposed with moments of sheer power, like a swan fighting to take flight. She gave you both the grace and the strength of the character in equal measure. And then, there was **"Swan Lake"**, which was… well, **"Swan Lake"**, but done with such extraordinary skill and passion. The Bolshoi Orchestra really came alive with the Tchaikovsky. It was one of those evenings where you forget everything and simply surrender to the beauty of the dance, swept away by the sheer virtuosity of the ballerinas. I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout, but especially during the famous Black Swan pas de deux. I gasped! I felt my own heart beating in unison with the music. **Boldly Going...Beyond the "Nutcracker"** Now, we all know the ballet world can be a little, shall we say, traditional at times. But darling, it’s all about challenging conventions. This brings me to something quite exciting, a brand new production at the San Francisco Ballet, called **"The Little Prince"**. I confess, I went into it a bit apprehensive. “The Little Prince?" Ballet? A little too sweet for me, perhaps. But then, the music began – Leonard Bernstein, and it set the tone for the whole evening. It was truly a ballet for the soul, whimsical, enchanting, full of a gentle humour that reminded you of the simple joys of life. There were beautiful dances inspired by the desert, the stars, and the journey of the little prince himself, brilliantly rendered by the company dancers. They embraced the magical world of this classic book with true childlike wonder. The final scene had tears welling in my eyes. I never would have thought a ballet about a small prince and a fox could be so touching, so utterly sublime. It was a reminder that sometimes the simplest stories hold the greatest lessons, the purest truths. **But what's a review without a little glamour?** Speaking of the purest truths, I simply had to share this experience. A night of extravagant and glamorous revelry. Yes, I'm talking about **"The Lido de Paris"** show! While it might not be pure, classical ballet, it was certainly a performance that brought the art form, let's say, out of the box. Forget tutu's and pointe shoes, these ladies were sporting feathers and sequins, and trust me, plenty of those. The show is a whirlwind of glamour and dazzling entertainment, featuring breathtaking acrobatics, sensational choreography, and an undeniable **“je ne sais quoi”** that can only be found in Paris. Think feathers, boas, scintillating lights, beautiful women, and maybe even a little shimmying… It's a spectacular celebration of all things beautiful and bold, just a little reminder that sometimes you just need to unleash the glamour! **Beyond the Big Stages:** You don't have to have the Bolshoi or the Paris Opera in your backyard to experience some incredible dance. There's a world of movement waiting to be discovered in your own local communities. This past weekend, I popped in to a little performance at **The Royal Ballet School**. I confess, I do love seeing these young dancers, raw and eager, passionately discovering their voices, their artistic visions. They’re truly the future of the ballet world. This time around, the school presented an experimental piece, and while I can't reveal the specifics (hush, hush darling!), the work truly challenged everything you might expect from a ballet. It wasn't about grand jetés and perfectly executed pirouettes. It was about pushing boundaries, breaking tradition. And it's these kinds of artistic experiments, that keep the art of dance fresh and exciting. I do believe the young dancers gave it their all, so a hearty "brava" to them, darling. They've got it in them to shine, one day, like the biggest stars. Now, a little trip back to London, to catch the always inventive and delightful, **Rambert Dance Company.** Rambert is always at the cutting edge of dance and it's hard to go wrong. It’s about exploration, about breaking free from conventional ballet, challenging expectations, and telling stories through movement. This month, I saw **"The Work Within"**. This work is something different, something intriguing. This isn't the light-hearted whimsical choreography we see at a more traditional ballet performance, darling, this was about exploring the physical and emotional limitations we all face, the anxieties we push down, the personal struggles we keep close to the heart. There were parts that felt raw, almost visceral, but that is where the magic comes in. I was fascinated by the way Rambert is able to convey such depth and complexity through movement. They brought us close to a rawness I haven't encountered in a while, and perhaps that is what truly gives dance its powerful magic. So, as August winds down and the winds of autumn whisper their cool breaths upon us, I leave you with this. Don’t let the season fool you. Dance is not merely about pretty ribbons and shimmering gowns. It's about expression, about exploring the depths of our emotions and physical capabilities, about sharing moments of sheer artistic bliss. It's about capturing the magic of the moment and remembering its truth. So go forth, darling, and let the magic of dance take you away. You’ll find something to enthral and inspire in every corner, on every stage, in every tiny studio, around the world. And darling, never be afraid to get swept away!