AI Ballet Review 592

## The Art of Motion: A Ballerina’s August 2017 Diary Darling, August was simply divine. Paris, New York, London - I practically lived out of a suitcase! Each stop offered a dazzling array of balletic delights, and I wouldn’t have missed a single pirouette. **Parisian Whimsy: "Giselle" at the Opéra Garnier** The City of Lights was bursting with romance, and I found myself swept away by the Paris Opéra’s **Giselle**. The production was a visual masterpiece. I adored the lush costumes – those tutus were to die for! The staging felt perfectly balanced between the ethereal and the theatrical, just as a ballet should. The performance itself was a joy, particularly the ballerina in the lead role - her acting was heartbreaking. My personal favourite, however, was the interpretation of Albrecht's "mad scene." The sheer power in the dancing! He literally took the audience's breath away, and for a moment, I even forgot about those delicious pastries I had bought earlier that afternoon. You can tell this is an artistic team in love with their craft, pushing the boundaries, while still remaining respectful to the classics. **New York City's Explosive Choreography:** Then there was the *always* electric energy of New York City. It’s a constant dance in that metropolis, and I was thrilled to witness Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s **"Revelations"** at City Center. My darlings, you've never seen anything like it! This work is nothing short of electrifying. The choreography felt as powerful as it was raw and evocative. These dancers were, simply put, *mesmerising*. They told the story through pure motion – the storytelling felt authentic and visceral. The whole experience was raw and authentic and left me breathless. It is certainly worth catching a performance when they are in your town! But I am also utterly obsessed with the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at New York City Ballet - talk about artistry, oh darling! That set design was something straight out of a fantasy! This *Romeo and Juliet* story never fails to captivate me. The use of fairy lights in the ballet's final scene, however, was a genius touch. Just like the Paris ballet, this one really embodied the idea of finding romance amidst a fantastical realm, but this production leaned more towards the modern, bold aesthetic, giving it a sense of theatricality I truly adored. **The Homefront: London’s "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"** Returning home to London, I found myself immersed in another ballet-fueled dream – "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" at The Royal Opera House. My dears, it was enchanting! The story, which, as we all know, tells the tale of a young girl, is rendered perfectly on stage! And this version did not disappoint. The dancers did an incredible job of breathing life into Lewis Carroll's imaginative characters - especially the mad hatter and the Cheshire cat! What impressed me the most were the clever tricks incorporated, especially the dancing clocks and, of course, the iconic rabbit disappearing through a door. I especially adored the final scene – oh, the spectacle of the whole set! So many of the elements in this work gave me the feeling that I was literally falling down a rabbit hole - my darlings, just like Alice, I did not want this dream to end! **An Italian Dream:** I flew into Milan just for the occasion of seeing La Scala Theatre’s annual gala – a showcase of talent and fashion all at once! It’s simply not to be missed! My dears, it was sheer opulence, a feast for all the senses! This annual tradition brought together world-renowned dancers in the most dazzling collection of costumes I have ever witnessed. Even the programme, was itself, a small work of art. I can’t resist mentioning the **Swan Lake** performance! It felt like watching a timeless masterpiece reborn, a ballet that touched upon the eternal beauty and drama of romance. The dance steps themselves were not reimagined – but the production was as polished and elegant as any opera! It was breathtaking, a performance that captured my imagination and transported me back to my youth. **An August of Dance Delights:** August, I declare, is truly the month for ballets and, I may be a bit biased, a truly stylish one. As a ballerina who loves fashion, I appreciate when performances take as much time to perfect a production’s fashion and visual elements as its choreography, as well as those pieces which make bold stylistic statements, daring the audiences to experience and be transported! But what was most refreshing to see was a blend of traditional and experimental work, each one captivating in its own way. So, dear readers, do consider taking a journey into the world of ballet in August. It’s a voyage into beauty and emotion – and I promise, it will leave you feeling as if you’ve stepped out of a fairytale, and perhaps inspired to add a new pair of designer ballet flats to your collection... just in case the stage beckons!