The newest principal dancer of England’s Royal Ballet is 19-year-old Romanian phenom Alina Cojocara. Her rise from corps dancer to soloist to principal has been meteoric, and her powerful performances have captivated public and professionals alike. BBC
Month: April 2001
OLD-AGE MOVEMENT
“A surprising number of recent productions in Britain suggest that choreographers are finding themselves less entranced by the perfect limbs of 20-year-olds than by the dramatic and physical possibilities of bodies that have been lived in.” The Guardian
NOT SO GRAND ANYMORE
The Bolshoi Ballet’s upcoming tour of Britain “is a bit of a mess, adding to the general impression that for the past decade the Bolshoi has not handled its tours to Britain with the style and aplomb of the Kirov.” The Telegraph (London)
PALE IMITATION?
Impressario Raymond Gubbay is bringing the Bolshoi to London for a week. But the critics are already sniffing at the self-styles “people’s impressario.” The reason – it’s not the entire Bolshoi, only a pared down group. And they’ll only be dancing a hits-of-the-hits program. The Independent (London)
WHAT WENT WRONG AT BOSTON BALLET?
A year of turmoil at the top and unsettled artistic fortunes. New York Times (one-time registration required for access)
NO NUDE R&J
For his final production, outgoing English National Ballet director Derek Deane had planned a provocative new Romeo and Juliet in which the main dancers ended up nude onstage. But then allegations that Deane had harassed a junior soloist surfaced and now the original production has been canceled. Sunday Times (London)
DeCOU OUT IN SF
“Emil De Cou, the San Francisco Ballet’s acting music director and conductor since 1998, will leave the company after the Paris tour next month…The San Francisco Ballet has been without a permanent music director since the late Denis de Coteau retired in 1999.” San Francisco Chronicle
THE CELEBRITY DANCER
“No one begrudges dancers their moment in the media spotlight, or indeed the additional income they can earn in what is a relatively poorly-paid profession.” But some of British ballet’s biggest stars seem more intent on fame than their art… The Times (London)
KICK IN AND DANCE
It’s National Dance Week in the US. Dance may be a universal language, but sometimes it needs a little help getting attention. The New York Times (one-time registration required)
SHALL WE DANCE
Russia’s Maryinsky Theatre launches a new international dance festical. “During the eight-day, nine- performance festival, guest stars from Europe and the United States danced with stars of the Maryinsky Ballet (which tours abroad as the Kirov Ballet, its former name).” The New York Times (one-time registration required)