”What I admire about New York City Ballet dancers is their rhythmic complexity. You can see all shades of rhythm in their bodies. With Russians, what you see is a melodic thread in their dancing, an upper-body expressiveness that brings out another side of the work. In ABT, the dancers have a bit of both. It’s good. I can play with that. - Alexei Ratmansky
Alexei Ratmansky with Diana Vishneva © Gene Schiavone
“Classical technique is the basis, the foundation, for all our work at Paris Opera. Through this foundation they go beyond and show that dance is not some dusty old art form but relates to today. I see the art of the dance today.”- Brigitte Lefrèvre
Qbuz
Having taken over from Patrick Dupont in 1995, Paris Opera dance director Brigitte Lefèvre announces her retirement in 2014. Now it’s official! The succession period is open and the name new director will be announced in March by the Opera director Nicolas Joel. The 2014/2015 season programme is already in place and it is expected that the transition process will run smoothly and without great impact on the dancers’ lives.
There are rumors that Laurent Hilaire, shaped up by Nureyev, may be one of favourite candidates. However, the charismatic Nicolas Le Riche may also be considered for the role.William Forsythe and Alexei Ratmansky have already been mentioned by the media. Although they have created works for the Company, many find that the appointment of these choreographers will be unlikely.
Although Lefrèvre’s directorship included works created by great choreographers ranging from Serge Lifar to Wayne McGregor, Nureyev’s legacy still survives immortalised in his major productions such as Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, Cinderella and of course the famous staging of La Bayadère.
In times of recession, whoever the new director will be, he or she will have great challenges ahead such as renewing the casting, filling in the auditoriums, reviewing the Company’s repertoire and investing in new talents, since ballet is responsible for generating a great share of the Opera revenue.
“Going home to a Milan which now seems as fake as reality tv. The one thing missing to complete my journey is to get back into my world and dance for Africa” - Roberto Bolle
Photo: Roberto Bolle and Alessandra Ferri via Oberon
By Juliana Araújo
For those who are unaware, Roberto Bolle is not just a pretty face stamped on Italian fashion magazines. In addition, the étoile dancer of the American Ballet Theatre and Alla Scala of Milan, was nominated goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in 1999 during a gala evening at the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome.
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Foto: Isabelle Guérin and Laurent Hilaire via Baletissimo
“Ballo” is a very classical ballet at high speed. Virtuosic steps at full throttle; it’s a very joyful happy, uplifting ballet. The music is so full of energy, it gives you oxygen. It’s a wonderful example of Balanchine being more neoclassical and expanding his dance vocabulary.” - Merrill Ashley
Photo: Merrill Ashley in the HK Ballet studios © Conrad Dy-Liacco
By Juliana Araújo
As part of the May/June`s double bill, Ballo della Regina was performed this season, along with La Sylphide by the Royal Ballet of London.
On 12 June last, the dancers did a flawless show. This ballet is a masterpiece, and showed us Balanchine`s technique translated into fast steps, focus on the upper body and arabesques performed with dancers facing the public. With breathtaking extensions, the dancers did their steps with an impressive speed, as if their feet were blades striking the floor. Read more here
“Never forget who you are while doing this magnificent profession. Dancers are artisans; it requires enormous amounts of work. You must be interested in other forms of art to enrich and inspire you. Respect your partners and those who work with you. Stay humble because you know there is always someone who can be better than you!” Aurélie Dupont
Photo via L’Express
Photos via Les films d’ici
“I don’t have the desire to please at any price. I dance because I love it and to put myself on the line. I want to discover myself, extend my range as an artist. In the end—it’s selfish!”
“I think that dance should primarily be entertainment. It`s a visual theatre and an oral theatre… beautiful people, beautifully dressed, doing beautiful and meaningful things”. - Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey via Speak Equal
“… La Sylphide choreographed by August Bournoville is one of the most famous ballets of the Romantic era. Johan Kobborg‘s production is steeped in the greatest traditions of the Bournonville style and training of which he himself is an expert exponent.” - Monica Mason
Marie Taglioni, La Sylphide, Alfred Edward Chalon (RA), Richard James Lane (A.R.A). lithograph, coloured by hand – Victoria and Albert Museum, London
By Juliana Araújo
The Royal Ballet of London has included one more gem in its repertory this season: La Sylphide. As part of May/June’s double bill, this ballet was performed along with George Balanchine‘s Ballo della Regina, with Alina Cojocaru and Steven McRae at the opening night.
The ballet which was originally choreographed by Filippo Taglioni, the father of Marie Taglioni, had its debut at Paris Opera in 1832. However, in 1836, August Bournonville recreated the ballet for the Royal Danish Ballet, with additional changes including emphasis on the footwork and uninterrupted allegro sequences — arms in bras bas letting the legs do all the work – which have become the Danish ballet’s hallmark. Read more here
“… Success is just the result of much effort and work …” - Cecilia Kerche
Cecilia Kerche via the Red List
“It is only perfection in the foundations that can lead to mastery of the whole…Talent is work”- Galina Ulanova
Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya via Ballet la Superlativ
