Dearest darlings,
Oh my goodness, itâs May already! Honestly, the days seem to be melting into weeks like a delicious piece of dark chocolate in the spring sunshine. But before those sunny days take over completely, I have to tell you about the whirlwind month of dance Iâve just experienced. Itâs been a truly extraordinary journey, filled with both dazzling delights and a few artistic disappointments. My feet are still aching a little â a good sign of a good month I always say, my dears - so grab a cuppa, settle into your favourite armchair, and letâs dive into this monthâs dazzling review of ballet.
First, we begin, as all things elegant do, with the legendary **Royal Ballet**, darling. At the **Royal Opera House**, a spectacle worthy of the grand old buildingâs stature, was their breathtaking rendition of **âSwan Lake.â** Oh, my dears, itâs a ballet that always leaves you sighing deeply with satisfaction and craving for another viewing. And this performance, was particularly divine! With the luminous **Marianela Nuñez** as Odette, I found myself, as usual, captivated. Marianela moved with such heartbreaking grace; her despair at the betrayal of Prince Siegfried felt almost tangible, every drop of passion in the performance oozing right into our souls. Her transformation, both physically and emotionally, from innocent swan maiden to a despairing spirit was positively spellbinding, a veritable tour de force that had us completely mesmerized. The Prince Siegfried, in this production, was beautifully played by **Steven McRae** â who, for someone who only started his professional training with ballet as late as his teens, displays an incredible mastery of this art. Their pas de deux, my dears, were pure enchantment, a delicious dance of heartbreak and hope, and ultimately love, beautifully executed by the pair. It truly was an enchanting, uplifting experience. Now, it would be rude of me to ignore the amazing performance of **Edward Watson** in this production. He, the broodingly elegant Prince Von Rothbart, radiated wickedness, his powerful movements holding an air of danger. And let us not forget the sublime dancing of the **corps de ballet**. Those delicate swan-like movements were beautifully done, each dancer gliding with grace and elegance; the ensemble pieces truly breathtaking. It truly was a perfect production, and a real must-see. Oh, I do love a ballet with a tragic element! I just donât get how anyone could walk away from such a production without having shed a few well-deserved tears.
Now, I donât know if you have noticed the growing trend in Ballet, darling? It seems a plethora of choreographers are reinterpreting the classical masterpieces, offering an often more personal interpretation, giving new perspectives on the classic tale, a breath of fresh air into this time honoured art. **"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland",** at the **English National Ballet** this month was a most peculiar delight! Now, this ballet is based on Lewis Carrolâs famous childrenâs story and is the first work of **Wayne McGregor**, a celebrated contemporary choreographer, with **English National Ballet**. Now I must confess, my dears, I am a staunch devotee of the classical art, but Wayne has created an utterly enchanting production which perfectly encapsulates the madness, beauty, and magic of Lewis Carrollâs timeless masterpiece. Now the music of the production by Joby Talbot - beautifully eclectic mix of modern and classical music - provided an engaging musical counterpoint to McGregor's imaginative choreography. With a stage designed to echo Alice's descent down the rabbit hole and featuring extraordinary and stunning costumes, the staging was truly superb. With so much imagination on display, we had the distinct pleasure of a unique reimagining of the classic story. Oh, and the ending, darling? Donât get me started! Itâs all a little bit confusing, leaving us with more questions than answers, just like a good dream! It certainly gave us, my dears, a great deal to talk about over our champagne after the show. Now if, like myself, you have some nostalgic affections for the story you will have to take a peek.
Now it would be unfashionable not to give **"The Sleeping Beauty"**, the opulent classic, a moment in the sun. For my taste, my dears, the Royal Ballet production at the **Covent Garden** in London truly made this classic come to life. In a grand, magnificent, even opulent production, you truly have the sensation of being transported back in time to the opulent world of 19th century Russian high society. The dancers brought so much vitality to their roles. With the incomparable **Lauren Cuthbertson** and **Marcelino Sambé** as Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré - both in perfect artistic synchronicity with each other and with the music of Tchaikovsky - and with exquisite dancing throughout (particularly the stunning **Friedemann Vogel**, as Carabosse, radiating an evil power that literally tingled!) this production is truly the definition of a ballet spectacle. For a spectacular experience that left me utterly mesmerised - and that really left me feeling truly transported to a bygone world of lavishly beautiful and fantastical events - this one has my vote.
Of course, ballet, dear reader, isn't limited to grand theatres, in London. From **The Place** with its more contemporary and experimental pieces to the** Sadlerâs Wells** with itâs penchant for bringing us cutting edge work from around the world, the options are plentiful and full of delight.
One of the most enchanting performances that I saw this month was **The Rambert Dance Company** at **Sadler's Wells**. This season of their work, **"Dances with Music"** brought together an intriguing mix of pieces that celebrated the unique art form of dance. Each dancer in their dynamic ensembles seemed to give life to their own character. Each piece told its own unique tale, offering a fascinating exploration of human emotions. This eclectic mixture made the company feel refreshingly modern. They were wonderfully diverse; some with the classical purity and other pieces reminiscent of the frenetic energy of urban landscapes - each one a unique gem of performance.
For the ballet purist, my dears, the **"National Ballet of Canada"** made a glorious appearance this month in **"Giselle".** Their version is a powerful, dynamic rendition, one that gives this enduring classical story a refreshingly modern spin. **Hannah OâNeil**, a rising star in the world of dance, truly brought the title character Giselle, the romantic young peasant girl, to life, showcasing her grace and talent, her passion truly shining through on stage. You will also want to look out for her, she has the talent to make it big. In fact, I felt this production made me think again about what a powerful ballet Giselle can truly be, not just a classical piece, but one that can inspire the most talented dancers to showcase the sheer power of their talent and grace.
Moving away from Europe, dear reader, the **New York City Ballet** is well worth travelling for, and one of my must-see companies. The NYCB continues to dazzle and enchant. Their month of May brought forth a flurry of exquisite ballets. My favourite has to be **Balanchineâs âAgon"**, an ingenious piece set to the vibrant music of Igor Stravinsky. This work, with its bold geometrical shapes and stunning dance sequences reminded me once more of what makes Balanchineâs work so uniquely captivating. There is a beauty, a captivating grace in the precise, rhythmic choreography. Then a complete contrast, the beautiful **Jerome Robbins** classic, **âAfternoon of a Faun.â** Now, this iconic work had the added element of the exquisite dancersâ elegant movements making it feel so intimate and graceful â such elegance! I love how the choreography uses light to create a beautiful atmosphere and sense of atmosphere. Of course, there were so many more, each a masterpiece of their own. But, youâll have to travel to see them yourselves, my dears!
Now I canât complete a dance review, without a nod towards modern, and often abstract dance, as the evolution of dance is, of course, not to be ignored! A notable example is the work of the young and immensely talented choreographer **Benjamin Millepied.** The performance by his company, **L.A. Dance Project** at the **Barbican Theatre**, in London, presented his highly unique take on dance - an artistic combination of classical ballet, and modern dance. Now, Benjaminâs pieces were full of both classical virtuosity and captivating movement sequences - they offered a real treat. This young, vibrant troupe had real energy. And a nod to one piece in particular - "Hearts and Arrows," inspired by the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. My dears, the dance flowed beautifully, with exquisite movements; I especially liked the powerful moments when the dancers worked in a captivatingly choreographed group sequence, almost an explosion of powerful dance. If you haven't already seen a work of his, my dears, get yourself booked for his next tour!
For a bit of a break from ballet, I felt compelled to spend a few enchanting evenings watching some wonderful dance at **The Royal Opera Houseâs âLinbury Studioâ** . My first choice for the evening, **'Moving into Dance',** presented the work of five exciting and inspiring artists and offered a showcase of emerging dance talent in Britain - some beautifully poignant moments, some powerful dance and all with something unique to say, I highly recommend these shows for those wanting to take a step into a newer more dynamic approach to dance. Now, as the days lengthen, these spaces - smaller intimate theatres with less formal seating - will be filled with dance performances, and it will provide the perfect respite from the balletic grandeur of larger, more formal spaces.
And so my dears, May, as always, brought forth so much to admire, so much to applaud, and so much inspiration. Oh! Dance, my dears, truly makes life better!
Yours,
**Margot**