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Graham Watts

Graham Watts

Graham Watts is a freelance dance writer and critic writing regularly for Dancing Times, Dance Europe, Danza Europa, and many more publications. He regularly writes features for Sadler’s Wells, London Coliseum and La Scala. Chairman of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in the United Kingdom and of the UK National Dance Awards he has interviewed many of the greatest names in dance including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Boris Eifman, Alexei Ratmansky, Andris Liepa, Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley and Dame Gillian Lynne. When not involved in dance Graham is a keen fencer, and has captained the British Sabre team.

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Oleg Ligai and Nino Samadashvili in Swan Lake © Katja Ogrin

State Ballet of Georgia in Swan Lake: a few first night mishaps

By Graham Watts, 17 July 2026

An interesting edit on tradition but the press night was marred by a number of on and off stage incidents and a lack of chemistry between the principals.

***11

Oleg Ligai and Nino Samadashvili in Swan Lake © Katja Ogrin

State Ballet of Georgia in Swan Lake: a few first night mishaps

By Graham Watts

Kajetan Stabeusz and Martyna Wrzesińska in Reverentia by Dawid Trzensimiech © Ewa Krasucka

Rambert School/Junior Company of The Polish National Ballet: an evening of contrasts

By Graham Watts, 23 June 2026

The Next Generation Festival at the Linbury presented Rambert School and the Junior Company of the Polish National Ballet in an evening of contrasting new works.

***11

Kajetan Stabeusz and Martyna Wrzesińska in Reverentia by Dawid Trzensimiech © Ewa Krasucka

Rambert School/Junior Company of The Polish National Ballet: contrasts

By Graham Watts

Manuel Liñán in Gala Flamenca © Damiano Mongelli

Gala Flamenca at Sadler’s Wells: a masterclass in the flamenco arts

By Graham Watts, 19 June 2026

The Gala Flamenca has always been a highlight not only of the Flamenco Festival but also of the whole summer in London Dance. This year it exceeded expectations.

*****

Manuel Liñán in Gala Flamenca © Damiano Mongelli

Gala Flamenca at Sadler’s Wells: a masterclass in the flamenco arts

By Graham Watts

Sir Peter Wright Centenary with Birmingham Royal Ballet © Johan Persson

BRB’s Sir Peter Wright Centenary: a fitting tribute

By Graham Watts, 18 June 2026

A splendid evening of celebration for Sir Peter Wright at the Birmingham Hippodrome focusing on excerpts from his own classical ballets and The Green Table by Kurt Jooss.

****1

Sir Peter Wright Centenary with Birmingham Royal Ballet © Johan Persson

BRB’s Sir Peter Wright Centenary: a fitting tribute

By Graham Watts

Compañía de Danza Jesús Carmona in UndYos © Festival de la Union

Compañía de Danza Jesús Carmona in UnYdos: extraordinary, rhythmic and theatrical

By Graham Watts, 16 June 2026

Compañía de Danza Jesús Carmona in UnYdos was a stunning evening of pure flamenco artistry, enlivened by a tremendous sense of theatre, and augurs well for the rest of the festival.

*****

Compañía de Danza Jesús Carmona in UndYos © Festival de la Union

Jesús Carmona in UnYdos: extraordinary, rhythmic and theatrical

By Graham Watts

Polish National Ballet in Izadora Weiss’ Delusions (Roksana) © Ewa Krasucka

Polish National Ballet: Delusions – standing up for women’s rights

By Graham Watts, 11 June 2026

Two distinctly different stories represent women's right to freedom in Delusions, Izadora Weiss’ latest full-length work for Polish National Ballet.

****1

Polish National Ballet in Izadora Weiss’ Delusions (Roksana) © Ewa Krasucka

Polish National Ballet: Delusions – standing up for women’s rights

By Graham Watts

Conor Kerrigan and Hannah Hernandez in In Crimson by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber © Camilla Greenwell

This is Rambert: all in the present tense

By Graham Watts, 10 June 2026

Rambert celebrates 100 years presenting a triple bill of recent or new works. The message is clearly to look forward and not back.

***11

Conor Kerrigan and Hannah Hernandez in In Crimson by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber © Camilla Greenwell

This is Rambert: all in the present tense

By Graham Watts

Meirambek Nazargozhayev as Macbeth and Stephanie Chen Gundorph as Lady Macbeth in Lady Macbeth © Camilla Winther

Royal Danish Ballet’s Lady Macbeth: Akram Khan works his magic again

By Graham Watts, 07 May 2026

An excellent extension to Akram Khan’s growing repertoire of contemporary ballet, Lady Macbeth, his first creation for Royal Danish Ballet, brought out powerful performances from the entire cast.

****1

Meirambek Nazargozhayev as Macbeth and Stephanie Chen Gundorph as Lady Macbeth in Lady Macbeth © Camilla Winther

Royal Danish Ballet’s Lady Macbeth: Akram Khan works his magic again

By Graham Watts

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in Swan Lake © Vito Lorusso

The Trocks at Sadler’s Wells: uproariously entertaining

By Graham Watts, 05 May 2026

A very welcome and hilarious return to the UK from Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, this time at Sadler’s Wells, they offer familiar and new works.

****1

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in Swan Lake © Vito Lorusso

The Trocks at Sadler’s Wells: uproariously entertaining

By Graham Watts

Pina Bausch, Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78 © Ursula Kaufmann

Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof – Echoes of ‘78: poignant reality

By Graham Watts, 07 April 2026

A reimagining of Pina Bausch's 1978 Kontakthof by Meryl Tankard brings together eight of the original cast members in a unique and poignant revival.

*****

Pina Bausch, Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78 © Ursula Kaufmann

Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof – Echoes of ‘78: poignant reality

By Graham Watts

Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company in Solera © Elliott Franks

Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company in Solera: sensational and sensual at Sadler's Wells

By Graham Watts, 02 April 2026

Solera is a mix of experience and youth blended to create excellent vintage flamenco at London's Sadler's Wells.

****1

Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company in Solera © Elliott Franks

Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company in Solera: sensational and sensual

By Graham Watts

Melissa Hamilton as Mary Vetsera and Matthew Ball as Crown Prince Rudolf in MacMillan's Mayerling © 2026 RBO, Tristram Kenton

The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling: violent, feral, tortured dance

By Graham Watts, 30 March 2026

In this latest revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling, The Royal Ballet presents a roster of powerful and vivid interpretations across the board.

****1

Melissa Hamilton as Mary Vetsera and Matthew Ball as Crown Prince Rudolf in MacMillan's Mayerling © 2026 RBO, Tristram Kenton

The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling: violent, feral, tortured dance

By Graham Watts

Alexander Whitley Dance Company in Mirrors © Oskein

Alexander Whitley: the cutting edge of dance and technology at Sadler’s Wells East

By Graham Watts, 18 March 2026

Two new works by Alexander Whitley, Mirrors and The Rite of Spring, explore society’s increasing dependency on AI in dance.

***11

Alexander Whitley Dance Company in Mirrors © Oskein

Alexander Whitley: the cutting edge of dance and technology

By Graham Watts

Daniel Proietto in Russell Maliphant’s Afterlight © Johan Persson

Russell Maliphant’s Landscapes: three solos, three outstanding dancers at Sadler’s Wells East

By Graham Watts, 11 March 2026

Some of Russell Maliphant's best known, most enduring and loved works in an evening of unforgettable performances.

****1

Daniel Proietto in Russell Maliphant’s Afterlight © Johan Persson

Maliphant’s Landscapes: three solos, three outstanding dancers

By Graham Watts

Sweet Mambo by Pina Bausch for Tanztheater Wuppertal © Oliver Look

Sweet Mambo: charismatic masters of Pina Bausch at Sadler’s Wells

By Graham Watts, 12 February 2026

Sweet Mambo was one of those rare evenings that felt very special, unique in the sense of watching history revisited in the present day.

****1

Sweet Mambo by Pina Bausch for Tanztheater Wuppertal © Oliver Look

Sweet Mambo: charismatic masters of Pina Bausch at Sadler’s Wells

By Graham Watts

Grete Sofie Borud Nybakken as Hedda in Marit Moum Aune's Hedda Gabler © Erik Berg

Norwegian National Ballet’s Hedda Gabler: intense physicality

By Graham Watts, 07 February 2026

A visually captivating production, Marit Moum Aune’s Hedda Gabler celebrates Norway’s literary giant through a process of innovation by collaboration, bringing with it superlative and memorable central performances.

*****

Grete Sofie Borud Nybakken as Hedda in Marit Moum Aune's Hedda Gabler © Erik Berg

Norwegian National Ballet’s Hedda Gabler: intense physicality

By Graham Watts

Taraja Hudson and Ballet Black in Chanel DaSilva's A Shadow Work © Photography by ASH

Ballet Black in Shadows: a memorable debut at Sadler's Wells

By Graham Watts, 26 November 2025

Ballet Black making its debut at Sadler's Wells after 25 years with a diverse and truly enjoyable double bill.

***11

Taraja Hudson and Ballet Black in Chanel DaSilva's A Shadow Work © Photography by ASH

Ballet Black in Shadows: a memorable debut at Sadler's Wells

By Graham Watts

Tanaka Roki in Mthuthuzeli November's Oh Deer © Ingo Hoehn

TanzLuzern in HOPE: outstanding double bill of new works

By Graham Watts, 08 November 2025

Two complementary new works for TanzLuzern, Mthuthuzeli November's Oh Deer and Phoebe Jewitt's White Rabbit, are striking and memorable additions to the repertoire.

*****

Tanaka Roki in Mthuthuzeli November's Oh Deer © Ingo Hoehn

TanzLuzern in HOPE: outstanding double bill of new works

By Graham Watts

Giovanni Rotolo as Liliom and Alina Nanu as Julie in John Neumeier's Liliom © Serghei Gherciu

John Neumeier’s Liliom: a Prague triumph for this modern masterpiece

By Graham Watts, 23 October 2025

Czech National Ballet scores a hit in John Neumeier’s masterpiece Liliom, with back to back performances and multiple casts.

*****

Giovanni Rotolo as Liliom and Alina Nanu as Julie in John Neumeier's Liliom © Serghei Gherciu

John Neumeier’s Liliom: A Prague triumph

By Graham Watts

Birmingham Royal Ballet in Black Sabbath – The Ballet © Johan Persson

Birmingham Royal Ballet in Black Sabbath – The Ballet: the right balance between ballet and rock

By Graham Watts, 22 October 2025

The choreography, music and performance made this an impressive event, but Iommi’s cameo was an emphatic cherry on the top that sent the crowd home with an enthusiastic spring in their step.

****1

Birmingham Royal Ballet in Black Sabbath – The Ballet © Johan Persson

Black Sabbath – The Ballet: right balance between ballet and rock

By Graham Watts

Hofesh Shechter Company in Theatre of Dreams © Todd MacDonald

Hofesh Shechter's Theatre of Dreams: episodic deep dive into the realms of human subconscious

By Graham Watts, 15 October 2025

After a slow beginning, the work gathers pace, thoroughly engrossing the audience in its exhilarating, foot-tapping momentum.

****1

Hofesh Shechter Company in Theatre of Dreams © Todd MacDonald

Hofesh Shechter Company: Theatre of Dreams at Sadler's Wells

By Graham Watts

Acosta Danza in La Ecuación by George Céspedes © Argel Ernesto González Alvarez

Acosta Danza – A Decade in Motion: a truly tremendous quadruple bill

By Graham Watts, 23 September 2025

The brightest of many stellar things to have happened in dance over the past decade, Acosta Danza wowed the audience at Sadler's Wells with their vitality.

****1

Acosta Danza in La Ecuación by George Céspedes © Argel Ernesto González Alvarez

Acosta Danza – A Decade in Motion: a truly tremendous quadruple bill

By Graham Watts

Yui Yonezawa as Giselle and Shun Izawa as Albrecht in Miyako Yoshida's Giselle © Tristram Kenton

National Ballet of Japan’s Giselle: a triumphant London debut

By Graham Watts, 24 July 2025

National Ballet of Japan offer a 21st-century remake of this 19th-century Romantic classic with impeccable performances.

*****

Yui Yonezawa as Giselle and Shun Izawa as Albrecht in Miyako Yoshida's Giselle © Tristram Kenton

National Ballet of Japan’s Giselle: a triumphant London debut

By Graham Watts

Dancers in R.o.s.e by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar © Johan Persson

Sharon Eyal and Gail Behar's R.o.s.e: innovative, but disappointing

By Graham Watts, 10 July 2025

R.o.s.e is an immersive experience of a performance within a rave – not the most enjoyable way to appreciate the professional dancers.

**111

Dancers in R.o.s.e by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar © Johan Persson

Sharon Eyal and Gail Behar's R.o.s.e: innovative, but disappointing

By Graham Watts

Gina Harris-Sullivan as Ella and Toby Gray as Buttons in Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella © Photography by ASH

London Children’s Ballet: Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella is a rip-roaring triumph

By Graham Watts, 04 July 2025

A “high-five” for the maturity, professionalism and outstanding production values of the London Children's Ballet's latest full-length ballet.

Gina Harris-Sullivan as Ella and Toby Gray as Buttons in Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella © Photography by ASH

Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella is a rip-roaring triumph

By Graham Watts

Corlee Haverty and Scott Millar from Rambert School in Richard Alston’s Waltzes in Disorder © Photography by ASH

ENBS and Rambert School excel in an eclectic programme at the Linbury

By Graham Watts, 27 June 2025

English National Ballet School and Rambert School present a diverse and entertaining programme for the Next Generation Festival.

***11

Corlee Haverty and Scott Millar from Rambert School in Richard Alston’s Waltzes in Disorder © Photography by ASH

ENBS and Rambert School excel

By Graham Watts

Far From The Norm in Botis Seva's Until We Sleep © Tom Visser

Botis Seva/Far From The Norm: Until We Sleep is full of intrigue

By Graham Watts, 24 June 2025

Botis Seva's Until We Sleep for his company Far From The Norm offers intriguing imagery and movement, but it is too loud and too dark.

***11

Far From The Norm in Botis Seva's Until We Sleep © Tom Visser

Botis Seva/Far From The Norm: Until We Sleep is full of intrigue

By Graham Watts

Constance Devernay-Laurence in Christopher Wheeldon's I Married Myself © Deborah Jaffe

Ballet Nights – Spring Into Summer a fascinating hotchpotch of dance

By Graham Watts, 05 June 2025

Ballet Nights 008 – Spring into Summer proved to be a judicious choice of quality and diverse repertoire.

****1

Constance Devernay-Laurence in Christopher Wheeldon's I Married Myself © Deborah Jaffe

Ballet Nights – Spring Into Summer a fascinating hotchpotch of dance

By Graham Watts

Compañía Manuel Liñán in Muerta de Amor © Marcos G Punto

Fully-fledged theatricality: Compañía Manuel Liñán’s Muerta de Amor

By Graham Watts, 02 June 2025

Sadler’s Wells Flamenco Festival continues with Manuel Liñán’s Muerta de Amor, a show that screams much more of the power of love than its death.

****1

Compañía Manuel Liñán in Muerta de Amor © Marcos G Punto

Fully-fledged theatricality: Compañía Manuel Liñán’s Muerta de Amor

By Graham Watts

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras in Vuela © Sofia Wittert

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras in Vuela: a theatrical spectacular

By Graham Watts, 27 May 2025

The enduring artistry of Sara Baras and her company opened the London Flamenco Festival with a stunning and memorable performance from the entire cast.

****1

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras in Vuela © Sofia Wittert

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras in Vuela: a theatrical spectacular

By Graham Watts

Rachael Gillespie and Northern Ballet in Cathy Marston's Jane Eyre © Tristram Kenton

Northern Ballet’s Jane Eyre: worthy of repeated viewings

By Graham Watts, 22 May 2025

A revival of Cathy Marston’s Jane Eyre marks another success in Northern Ballet’s strong tradition of narrative dance theatre.

****1

Rachael Gillespie and Northern Ballet in Cathy Marston's Jane Eyre © Tristram Kenton

Northern Ballet’s Jane Eyre: worthy of repeated viewings

By Graham Watts

Rambert in Hop(e)storm by (La) Horde © Hugo Glendinning

Rambert x (La) Horde: Bring Your Own is dance for the millennials

By Graham Watts, 07 May 2025

The whole evening feels like observing a rave, while bits are very good and some disappointing, it's never boring.

***11

Rambert in Hop(e)storm by (La) Horde © Hugo Glendinning

Rambert x (La) Horde: Bring Your Own is dance for the millennials

By Graham Watts

Lukas B. Brændsrød and Marianela Nuñez in Wheeldon's Fools Paradise © Johan Persson

The Royal Ballet, Wheeldon’s Ballet to Broadway: never a dull moment

By Graham Watts, 09 May 2025

A showcase presenting the rich diversity of Christopher Wheeldon’s choreography should become a staple in The Royal Ballet's calendar.

***11

Lukas B. Brændsrød and Marianela Nuñez in Wheeldon's Fools Paradise © Johan Persson

The Royal Ballet, Wheeldon’s Ballet to Broadway: never a dull moment

By Graham Watts

Giorgi Potskhishvili as Basilio and Anna Tsygankova as Kitri in José Carlos Martínez' Don Quixote © Pavel Hejný

Brno National Ballet's Don Quixote: refreshingly uncomplicated

By Graham Watts, 25 April 2025

Brno National Theatre Ballet give an authentic Don Quixote indelibly forged in Madrid, offering tremendous dancing in two separate casts.

****1

Giorgi Potskhishvili as Basilio and Anna Tsygankova as Kitri in José Carlos Martínez' Don Quixote © Pavel Hejný

Brno National Ballet's Don Quixote: refreshingly uncomplicated

By Graham Watts

Czech National Ballet in Andrey Kaydanovskiy's ...And How Is Your Life? © Serghei Gherciu

Czech National Ballet: vibrant programming in Sarcasms

By Graham Watts, 24 April 2025

Czech National Ballet present an outstanding programme of intriguing new dance, enveloping a late twentieth century gem.

****1

Czech National Ballet in Andrey Kaydanovskiy's ...And How Is Your Life? © Serghei Gherciu

Czech National Ballet: vibrant programming in Sarcasms

By Graham Watts

Sangeun Lee in William Forsythe's Rearray (London Edition 2025) © Photography by ASH

Infectious joy: ENB’s The Forsythe Programme is a winner

By Graham Watts, 10 April 2025

English National Ballet present a riveting triple bill of William Forsythe's works including audience favourite Playlist (EP) at Sadler's Wells.

****1

Sangeun Lee in William Forsythe's Rearray (London Edition 2025) © Photography by ASH

Infectious joy: ENB’s The Forsythe Programme is a winner

By Graham Watts

Anaïs Touret and Douwe Dekkers in Samantha Lynch's Couch © Erik Berg

Norwegian National Ballet's Dialogues II: brief but brilliant

By Graham Watts, 03 April 2025

A brief but excellent programme of five duets showcased on the main stage of the Den Norske Opera.

***11

Anaïs Touret and Douwe Dekkers in Samantha Lynch's Couch © Erik Berg

Norwegian National Ballet's Dialogues II: brief but brilliant

By Graham Watts

Trisha Brown Dance Company in Noé Soulier's In the Fall © Joyce Baranova

Trisha Brown Dance Company: a return to pure dance at its best

By Graham Watts, 13 March 2025

Trisha Brown Dance Company in a programme that focused on dance rather than visual effects.

****1

Trisha Brown Dance Company in Noé Soulier's In the Fall © Joyce Baranova

Trisha Brown Dance Company: a return to pure dance at its best

By Graham Watts

NOW © Tristram Kenton

Jasmin Vardimon’s NOW – a timely reminder of a leading light in British dance theatre

By Graham Watts, 07 March 2025

A revisiting of Vardimon’s past work in a collage of important ideas from her existing repertoire, stirred in with new choreography, design and sound.

****1

NOW © Tristram Kenton

Jasmin Vardimon’s NOW – a timely reminder of a leading light

By Graham Watts

Scottish Ballet in Cayetano Soto's Schachmatt © Rimbaud Patron

Twice-Born: Scottish Ballet punches well above its weight

By Graham Watts, 06 March 2025

A film and two live performances prove to be an excellent demonstration of Scottish Ballet's diverse talents.

****1

Scottish Ballet in Cayetano Soto's Schachmatt © Rimbaud Patron

Twice-Born: Scottish Ballet punches well above its weight

By Graham Watts

Jordan James Bridge and Chia-Yu Hsu in Wayne McGregor's Deepstaria © Ravi Deepres

McGregor’s Deepstaria explores the deepest recesses of the oceans

By Graham Watts, 27 February 2025

A visually striking and thought-provoking work requiring continual concentration to absorb.

***11

Jordan James Bridge and Chia-Yu Hsu in Wayne McGregor's Deepstaria © Ravi Deepres

McGregor’s Deepstaria explores the deepest recesses of the oceans

By Graham Watts

Danilo Lo Monaco as Des Grieux and Romina Contreras as Manon in MacMillan's L'Histoire de Manon © Serghei Gherciu

L’Histoire de Manon: MacMillan's great ballet comes to Prague

By Graham Watts, 20 February 2025

Czech National Ballet sheds a new light on MacMillan's unique ability to make story-telling ballets on a grand scale.

****1

Danilo Lo Monaco as Des Grieux and Romina Contreras as Manon in MacMillan's L'Histoire de Manon © Serghei Gherciu

L’Histoire de Manon: MacMillan's great ballet comes to Prague

By Graham Watts

Tanztheater Wuppertal in Pina Bausch's Vollmond © Martin Argyroglo

Tanztheater Wuppertal inject new life into Pina Bausch's Vollmond

By Graham Watts, 18 February 2025

A late Bausch classic reinterpreted by a nearly new ensemble, it remains an excellent example of her remarkable artistic dynasty that continues to astonish over 15 years after her death.

***11

Tanztheater Wuppertal in Pina Bausch's Vollmond © Martin Argyroglo

Tanztheater Wuppertal inject new life into Pina Bausch's Vollmond

By Graham Watts

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno in La Bayadère © Dubai Opera

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno brings majesty to La Bayadère

By Graham Watts, 16 February 2025

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno, with guest artists, gave outstanding performances of this update of a great 19th century ballet.

*****

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno in La Bayadère © Dubai Opera

Ballet of the National Theatre Brno brings majesty to La Bayadère

By Graham Watts

Reece Clarke as Onegin and Marianela Nuñez as Tatiana in John Cranko's Onegin © Andrej Uspenski

The Royal Ballet in Onegin: supreme performances across the board

By Graham Watts, 22 January 2025

The welcome revival of a borrowed jewel in The Royal Ballet's treasure chest of story ballets.

*****

Reece Clarke as Onegin and Marianela Nuñez as Tatiana in John Cranko's Onegin © Andrej Uspenski

The Royal Ballet in Onegin: supreme performances across the board

By Graham Watts

Francesco Gabriele Frola as Albrecht and Jurgita Dronina as Giselle in Giselle © Martynas Aleksa

Lithuanian National Ballet's Giselle: a memorable send off for a much loved ballerina

By Graham Watts, 11 January 2025

An emotional farewell provides an indelible delight, as Jurgita Dronina retires from the stage to take up the position of artistic director of Lithuanian National Ballet.

*****

Francesco Gabriele Frola as Albrecht and Jurgita Dronina as Giselle in Giselle © Martynas Aleksa

LNOBT's Giselle: a memorable send off for a much loved ballerina

By Graham Watts

Ivana Bueno as Clara and Francesco Gabriele Frola as the Nutcracker Prince in Nutcracker © Johan Persson

ENB's new Nutcracker more than satiates an acute sugar craving

By Graham Watts, 12 December 2024

A long-awaited new production of ENB's perennial seasonal classic is a visual feast.

****1

Ivana Bueno as Clara and Francesco Gabriele Frola as the Nutcracker Prince in Nutcracker © Johan Persson

ENB's new Nutcracker more than satiates an acute sugar craving

By Graham Watts

Romina Contreras as Scheherezade in Mauro Bigonzetti's Scheherazade © Serghei Gherciu

Czech National Ballet's Scheherazade: a fresh take on an old tale

By Graham Watts, 28 November 2024

A modern twist on an ancient tale, Mauro Bigonzetti's new Scheherazade brings challenging and innovative choreography to make this a highly enjoyable production.

****1

Romina Contreras as Scheherezade in Mauro Bigonzetti's Scheherazade © Serghei Gherciu

Czech National Ballet's Scheherazade: a fresh take on an old tale

By Graham Watts

Rosas in Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's Exit Above © Anne Van Aerschot

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's Exit Above: just walking the blues away

By Graham Watts, 12 November 2024

The impressive music, especially in the live singing of Mees, is well worth the sometimes bewildering array of simultaneous activity, the confusions of intent and the occasional periods of inactivity.

***11

Rosas in Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's Exit Above © Anne Van Aerschot

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's Exit Above: just walking the blues away

By Graham Watts

Isabela Coracy and Ballet Black in Sophie Laplane's If At First © Photography by ASH

Ballet Black's HEROES: supremely well danced double bill

By Graham Watts, 07 November 2024

A programme to show that heroism is not just about feats of action and adventure, with Ballet Black's supremely good dancers rising to each challenge.

***11

Isabela Coracy and Ballet Black in Sophie Laplane's If At First © Photography by ASH

Ballet Black's HEROES: supremely well danced double bill

By Graham Watts