Darling, the world of ballet continues to enchant and inspire us this month, a flurry of prima ballerinas grace the stages, and we've had a whirlwind of a month, whisking from Paris to New York, catching the most exquisite productions.
Our first stop was **Paris** of course, the city of love, the epicentre of romance and, in the world of ballet, a hub of timeless grace. At the Palais Garnier, a breathtaking venue if ever there was one, the **Paris Opera Ballet** put on an unforgettable production of **Swan Lake**. It was truly a testament to the beauty of classical ballet; the precision, the breathtaking arabesques, and those poignant moments where we simply felt swept away.
We particularly loved the graceful choreography, how it captured the ethereal nature of the swan's transformation. It was the quintessential swan, elegance and exquisite movements with every turn and leap.
Our darling, **Sylvie Guillem**, simply stunning as Odette/Odile. Her technique was exquisite, a true masterclass, you could feel the pure passion in her every movement. Her performance radiated vulnerability and a heartbreaking grace as Odette and an audacious power as Odile.
Weâve heard it said, darling, that âSwan Lakeâ is one of those ballets everyone needs to see at least once. You know what? They're right. I'd go again, just to see Guillem in action one more time. Her portrayal of the swan was both ethereal and intensely emotional. The sheer technical ability coupled with that powerful emotional depth... breathtaking.
But donât you think, my darlings, that a ballet like "Swan Lake" should be viewed in its original format? The opulent grandeur of the production is all part of the experience, from the gilded decorations of the theatre to the elaborate costumes. Such richness simply canât be captured in the cold and sterile digital age. It's almost sacrilege to consider. We just can't imagine the beauty of a perfect performance, such as Guillemâs, viewed solely on a small screen.
Next up, we jetted to New York City for the **New York City Balletâs** production of **The Sleeping Beauty**.
A delightful and enchanting experience. I just adore this ballet and **Tiler Peck** simply brought the magic alive in this enchanting classic.
**The Sleeping Beauty**, as we know, is a true showcase for young ballerinas. A magical ballet for sure, but perhaps a little predictable. Well, whatâs wrong with predictability, my dear? We just love this little fairytale, donât we? The costumes! Oh darling, donât even get me started on the costumes! Such breathtaking detail! You feel the love and care poured into each and every outfit, just perfection.
And the dancing, oh darling, the dancing! **Tiler Peck**, what a divine performance, such pure and beautiful technical mastery and yet, despite all the steps and the virtuosity, a graceful fluidity. Tiler made Auroraâs vulnerability so apparent. When she is reunited with her Prince, their joy simply exuded through every move.
Speaking of "Sleeping Beauty," have you heard of **The National Ballet of Canada**? We popped over to **Toronto**, where this exquisite company put on a truly divine production, and a rare treat at that.
They even gave us a special peek behind the curtain for a backstage look.
Imagine a ballet world of sparkling tutus and shimmering shoes. And not just any ballerinas. The **National Ballet** is a real hotbed of young talent.
Back in London, it's the turn of the **Royal Ballet** at the **Royal Opera House**, which simply cannot be missed. **The Royal Balletâs** âRomeo and Juliet" is nothing short of perfection, darling.
Oh the heartache! Such romantic drama, a story about true love amidst such heartbreaking tragedy, this production never fails to make us sob, darlings, just sob. Such poignant and powerful drama. What truly makes this production exceptional though is its sublime elegance. The costumes, oh my! We particularly adored the swirling skirts and the stunning hues of Julietâs dress - just imagine this magnificent gown billowing like the very wind itself as Juliet dances, her passion and anguish as visible in each intricate move as her expressions.
The dancers? **Darcey Bussell**! Weâre a bit biased darling, she was the reason I became a dancer myself when she was only just starting out at the **Royal Ballet.**
Her passion on the stage just transcended through her performances and ignited an adoration of this magical art in many of us who now, years later, still stand spellbound in her wake. Itâs wonderful to watch these new ballerinas coming up, but seeing a true legend like **Bussell** - so familiar yet still so powerful and expressive on the stage â it just makes your heart sing!
Speaking of the Royal Ballet, this month saw a spectacular new creation. âA Vision of Julietâ is a stunning choreography by the always dazzling Wayne McGregor, in its premiere on the London stage. What a spectacular performance, an exceptional addition to the Royal Balletâs repertoire. Wayne McGregorâs choreographic style? Truly unique! He pushes boundaries. His contemporary dance approach with the precision and rigor of classic ballet just doesnât miss a beat. Itâs thrilling to watch the dancers work with these innovative and technically demanding steps and intricate footwork - an utter pleasure. And the beauty of it, darling? This new approach in McGregorâs choreography, just fits beautifully within the context of "Romeo and Juliet.â
And you just have to hear **John Adams**â score. So bold. Such rich musical language and he weaves his music around each element of McGregorâs stunning vision. And I have to add how spectacular the staging was. There was this sense of a dream-like ethereal beauty, as though the dancers moved not just across the stage but through an exquisite tapestry woven with lights and shadows, with subtle hints of gothic drama and theatrical intrigue. You could feel a shift in the choreography as Juliet transitions from girlhood to a youthful but profound and poignant passion. So much dramatic impact in every element from the set design to the costuming. This dance-work is truly breathtaking. It was almost impossible to keep from being moved to tears by this breathtaking dance piece. It just made us gasp and weep with a rare blend of power and exquisite beauty. Simply exquisite.
And now to a different style, something entirely fresh! Itâs always lovely, my dears, to find something different from the tradition of ballet, and we were fortunate to be invited to the **Edinburgh Fringe Festival** in **Scotland** this month! The **Scottish Ballet** truly went out on a limb. Their production of **âThe Fairyâs Kissâ**, with the iconic **David Allan** choreography, was an eclectic affair! But we loved every second, a riot of colour, emotion, and whimsy!
This **David Allan** choreography brought a completely new angle to our enjoyment of ballet, this wonderful combination of classical movements with theatrical, quirky and expressive movement and dramatic physicality â not to mention the truly wild and daring set design!
But beyond its theatrical charm, this âThe Fairyâs Kiss" production showed the incredible talent of **Scottish Ballet**âs dance corps, whose expressive and acrobatic movements were truly spellbinding.
And this is exactly why, darling, that we love going to a performance. This unexpected adventure through ballet from Edinburgh, and the Scottish Ballet's daring and unconventional style. We all loved their commitment to artistic creativity. But youâre right! They could learn a thing or two from âRomeo and Julietâ in how they build up the romantic story telling!
I must mention, darling, that we loved seeing how so many performers in both these shows - "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Fairyâs Kiss" â had a unique flair of storytelling that really connected us to their characters. There was something utterly personal about their delivery which left audiences in a transfixed hush of applause.
Oh darling, what an exquisite whirlwind this month has been! The artistry and athleticism, and those exquisite moments of passion and elegance that only ballet can provide⊠You see, darling, ballet continues to captivate our hearts! The graceful elegance and those intricate, demanding movements... oh, just simply divine! Isnât it just lovely, to find that beauty which only comes from a dedicated and painstaking pursuit of a timeless and perfect art? I have never tired of ballet, its charm, its delicate artistry never fades as a timeless joy for our eyes and our soul.
Stay lovely!