AI Ballet Review 535

## November En Pointe: Where Elegance Meets Innovation Darling, let's get this month's dance fix underway! The air is crisp, the leaves are ablaze with colour and my new season's Louboutins have been given their inaugural outing - the perfect recipe for a divine month of ballets, performances and a few truly exquisite glimpses of artistry. Firstly, I must share a confession - I'm absolutely smitten with **Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo**. Oh, the utter, fabulous camp of it all! These extraordinary men have a unique ability to make me laugh and marvel simultaneously. Imagine the precision of a classical troupe but infused with sparkling cheekiness, impeccable comedic timing, and costumes that would make a feather boa blush! This November, they brought their riotous brand of "women in drag" ballet to **The Place** in London, where they stole the show in "The Dying Swan," which featured a delightfully hammy "prima ballerina," who brought both drama and delicious parody to the piece. This troupe isn't just about laughter, darling. These boys are ballerinas with incredible talent and passion - I dare you to keep a straight face watching them flit through a sublime rendition of "The Nutcracker." Now, for a bit of sheer elegance. My favourite of this month's performances was, without a doubt, the Royal Ballet's "La Bayadere" at the **Royal Opera House**. The ethereal Nikiya, a dancer's dream role, was beautifully brought to life by the radiant Marianela Nuñez. Her flowing, sensual movements captured the essence of the exotic bayadere, while the captivating, intense dance of the temple scene had me utterly entranced. Speaking of entranced, have you ever been so spellbound by a performance that you held your breath? The entire stage came alive with intricate steps, swirling colour, and powerful emotion that was utterly spellbinding. "La Bayadere" is a truly romantic and evocative experience, a masterpiece beautifully realised on stage. Across the Channel, the Parisian Ballet Company at the **Palais Garnier** treated me to the sublime "Giselle." A dance legend, "Giselle" never fails to tug at my heartstrings with its tale of unrequited love, betrayal and madness. This production showcased the luminous and expressive Alice Renavand as Giselle, a delicate and tragic figure brought to life with poignant artistry. Alice, you see, is a real force of nature. Her ethereal beauty and refined technique are a perfect fit for this complex role. And let's not forget the captivating corps de ballet; those intricate sequences were mesmerizing. It's always an enchanting experience seeing these classical pieces performed with such refined grace. And speaking of enchanting, **The Bolshoi Ballet** graced **The Metropolitan Opera** in New York with the iconic "Swan Lake." You know I'm a huge fan of the grand ballets, and "Swan Lake" truly hits the spot. From the majestic and athletic choreography to the opulent costumes and dramatic story, it is ballet at its finest. And their principal ballerina, Olga Smirnova, captivated the audience with her power and precision as both the noble Odette and the dark, beguiling Odile. This is a performance I'd be happy to see again and again. It's simply stunning. But beyond the grand ballets, this November presented some remarkable showcases of contemporary dance. At the **Barbican** in London, **DV8 Physical Theatre** debuted their groundbreaking new work, "The Cost of Living". Now, darling, DV8 are renowned for their edgy, experimental productions and "The Cost of Living" didn't disappoint. It is raw, real, and beautifully poignant, addressing universal themes of life and death, joy and grief, all woven together through a tapestry of movement. Their performance was truly gripping and brought up some uncomfortable truths about the human condition, which I'll be mulling over for a while. The entire piece was a masterpiece of storytelling through movement, making me gasp at the emotional rollercoaster ride. Staying with contemporary, the **New York City Ballet** put on an exceptional performance at **Lincoln Center** with **The Glass Pieces** - a contemporary work that has captured my imagination for years. The company, with their seamless flow of movement and raw emotion, simply mesmerised me. These contemporary works offer such a unique and challenging exploration of human emotions and the power of the human body. And, of course, it wouldn't be a dance season without some captivating dance performances that leave a lasting impact. At the **Grand Theatre** in Lyon, I had the honour of seeing **Les Ballet de l’Opéra National de Lyon** showcase their latest masterpiece, a daring, and mesmerizing rendition of **"Prometheus: Dance With The Devil"**. Now, this wasn't your usual dance ballet; this performance pushed the boundaries, offering a thrilling blend of contemporary ballet and innovative technology. The dancers blended seamlessly with video projections that made them appear as mythical creatures within the confines of the stage. But enough about all these incredible troupes and productions! I'd be remiss not to mention some standout individual performances this November. **Royal Ballet** newcomer **Akane Takada** stole the show in **"Manon."** I was enthralled by her pure talent, radiant energy and powerful stage presence. This young star truly lit up the stage. And, who could forget the breathtaking **Tamara Rojo**, the formidable Artistic Director of the **English National Ballet,** who took the stage in **"La Sylphide."** A true legend in her own right, Rojo is always an absolute force on stage. Watching her graceful and poignant performance was a pure joy - this woman radiates such power and control. November has been a dance lover's dream come true, darling. The sheer artistry, creativity and passion on display has been awe-inspiring. And I'm already looking forward to next month’s dance fix! But first, let's indulge in some Champagne to celebrate another exquisite month in the dance world. Cheers!