AI Ballet Review 598

Dearest darlings,
It's February, which for me, always means a feeling of being wrapped up in beautiful fabric, luxurious silks and of course, tulle, as my heart and mind turn to the divine beauty and art that is ballet. There's something so very sensual, poetic, and ethereal about a dance form as ancient as ballet.
**The Dance Diary** I simply must begin my review of this month's performances with the dazzling premiere of "Giselle" at the Palais Garnier in Paris. The Paris Opera Ballet, led by the absolutely incredible Aurélie Dupont and Mathieu Ganio, completely transported me to the forest where Giselle meets her tragic fate. The set design was magnificent and brought a real sense of the romantic atmosphere of the story and Aurélie, simply divine, danced with such precision and captivating power that I felt myself being whisked away. I’m told that there were a few issues with a late-running show and some last minute replacements for principal dancers - a shame, though that only speaks to the true dedication and passion of those taking on such roles at a moment’s notice.
But speaking of dedication - did you see what happened at the Bolshoi in Moscow?! What drama, darling. This month they were premiering their production of "The Nutcracker" with Olga Smirnova as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Vladislav Lantratov as the Prince. Olga has such a dazzling technique that simply takes your breath away and Lantratov brings a strength and grace to the stage that has no comparison. There was the usual hubbub and some chatter before the start of the show, a small delay due to a slight wardrobe mishap. I hear a small incident occurred backstage, causing the stage curtain to fall, bringing the show to a sudden halt, with a few tears and quite a lot of screaming... a true diva's way of leaving her mark on a production, no doubt. The incident resulted in the remainder of the evening's performances being postponed until March. You simply have to go - the buzz is palpable.
**Something Old, Something New, Something… Edgy** Across the ocean at the New York City Ballet was another premiere, and one with a more modern vibe. The always provocative choreographer Justin Peck (it really feels as though his name is synonymous with ‘modern and edgy’ nowadays, it’s a little predictable in my opinion) debuted his latest creation “The Bluebird's Grand Suite" and oh, darling, it was divine! The music was a collaboration of several compasers. You’d be mistaken in thinking that combining styles would not be possible, but each movement, every gesture flowed flawlessly, creating a wonderfully layered experience for the audience, who loved the whole experience. The dance is also very technical which of course, means that only the very best and most well-trained dancers can perform it flawlessly, so of course I am eager to hear from any fellow ballet fanatics, as I’m curious as to whether the general ballet going public can truly appreciate such technical and complex dance? I wonder if there is a deeper and more intellectual understanding that's required.
And who could miss the "The Winter's Tale", the dance theatre piece by Akram Khan that graced the Royal Opera House stage for the past few months? (it was the highlight of my Christmas and I feel like I must have been in a trance, watching it in that grand old theater). It was a production, darling, which made me ponder life, love and loss with every movement. If ever there was a piece to showcase the extraordinary power of dance as art then this would be it! There's an energy in Akram's work that is electrifying.
A World of Ballet** If, darling, like me you’re looking for more of that fabulous, theatrical ballet, then a trip to Amsterdam's Dutch National Ballet might be in order. It was simply wonderful to see such brilliant dancing, but what was so special was the revival of George Balanchine’s ballet "Symphony in C". If ever a production was a classic with a sense of joy, it would have to be this one.
You know me so well, you've heard my rants and rave about all things Italian... Well darling, I found myself this month mesmerized by a trip to La Scala in Milan. I was treated to the wonderful ballet "Romeo and Juliet", a performance by the talented étoile, Roberto Bolle. You all know that I adore Roberto and, as always, he did not disappoint. Such wonderful leaps and those dramatic, emotional moments were incredible. His performance of the love scene was beyond romantic. Roberto brings a power and strength to the stage, I’m sure you would agree there isn’t another male dancer like him in the world today.
I went on to spend a couple of nights at The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, enjoying two spectacular productions. The first, "Manon" was absolutely beautiful, a ballet with real heart, that told the story of a beautiful girl forced into a life of desperation. I must say the dancing from the lead dancers, Maria Alexandrova and Vadim Muntagirov was quite simply extraordinary - each had me enthralled. "Manon" was truly beautiful. A few days later, "La Bayadère" offered a spectacular display of talent in its celebratory grandeur, however it failed to really wow or surprise me - it was as though the piece had gone into slumber. And who hasn’t found a piece that sometimes just seems a little predictable, a little bit underwhelming. Maybe the Royal Ballet needs to take a new and edgy route to spice things up a little?
Beyond the Stage** There’s always so much to explore, you know darling? This month I decided to focus on dance and music for a little while. Ballet does have the strongest relationship with classical music and you know that a trip to Vienna is just as glamorous as any visit to the theater. As it happens I visited the Staatsoper and treated myself to an incredible performance of "The Marriage of Figaro", the famous operatic comedy that is so cleverly constructed. The performers’ passion and the orchestral brilliance created a true treat for the senses and of course, it was simply wonderful to spend some time in the beautiful Viennese capital - all those imperial palaces and coffee houses.... so full of tradition.
Speaking of music, one evening I found myself sitting in the concert hall in London to watch the BalletBoyz perform their "The Five" program. BalletBoyz always delivers an innovative program that blends ballet with dance theatre - it’s contemporary, innovative and just so visually appealing, a true treat for any ballet fanatic.
And that, my dearest dancers, brings this month’s review to a close. Until next time, keep dancing - we can only get better, darling!
**Lots of love,**
**Natalia**