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Find articles | Cristina de Lucas

Cristina de Lucas
Cristina de Lucas
After a career in the legal field where she combined her job as an Attorney at Law with collaborative roles in various local and international cultural enterprises, Cristina de Lucas turned to dance research and criticism in 2009, when she moved to London. She obtained her doctorate from the Department of Dance at the University of Roehampton (London). Her fully-funded thesis focused on the confluence between dance and narrative in the repertory of the British choreographer Kenneth MacMillan. Her research has received several awards, such a full Vice-Chancellor scholarship and the 2014 SDHS Graduate Student Travel Grant. She also reviews dance and cinema, contributing regularly to several publications in Spain and UK.
Author:Cristina de Lucas
Showing 46 of 46 articles
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Madrid

BNE’s compelling Afanador: a dazzling, surreal view of Andalusia

By Cristina de Lucas, 09 February 2024
BNE premieres Marcos Morau's Afanador at Madrid’s Teatro Real. Inspiration is derived from Ruven Afanador’s renowned series of photographs on flamenco dancers, Ángel Gitano and 1000 Kisses.
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Madrid
09 Feb 2024
BNE’s compelling Afanador: a dazzling, surreal view of Andalusia
By Cristina de Lucas
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Madrid

Teaċ Daṁsa’s MÁM in Madrid: Michael Keegan-Dolan at his best

By Cristina de Lucas, 09 December 2021
An unforgettable evening of contemporary dance with Keegan-Dolan’s Mám in Madrid, with excellent performances from Cormac Begley, s t a r g a z e and Teaċ Daṁsa company.
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Madrid
09 Dec 2021
Teaċ Daṁsa’s MÁM in Madrid: Michael Keegan-Dolan at his best
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Acosta Danza thrills Madrid in “Evolution”

By Cristina de Lucas, 22 October 2021
The spirit of Cuba visits Madrid as Carlos Acosta's dance troupe performs a mixed at the Teatro Real, including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Mermaid. 
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Madrid
22 Oct 2021
Acosta Danza thrills Madrid in “Evolution”
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Antonio Ruz’s Electra a sophisticated and poignant tragedy in Madrid

By Cristina de Lucas, 28 December 2019
Ballet Nacional de España restages Antonio Ruz’s Electra for its Christmas season at Madrid’s Teatro Real. The splendid production is greeted with widespread audience acclaim.
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Madrid
28 Dec 2019
Antonio Ruz’s Electra a sophisticated and poignant tragedy in Madrid
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Olga Pericet’s Un cuerpo infinito: a fascinating exploration of Carmen Amaya’s universe

By Cristina de Lucas, 26 May 2019
Olga Pericet's choreography grasps the essence of of the exceptional flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya.
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Madrid
26 May 2019
Un cuerpo infinito: a fascinating exploration of Carmen Amaya’s life
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Ballet Nacional de España presents a vibrant 40th anniversary gala

By Cristina de Lucas, 08 December 2018
Ballet National de España (BNE) celebrates its 40th anniversary with a vibrant gala that brings together old and new landmarks of its repertory. Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela hosts the event.
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Madrid
08 Dec 2018
Ballet Nacional de España presents a vibrant 40th anniversary gala
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Flamenco Reimagined: Olga Pericet’s punchy, elegant satire on flamenco clichés

By Cristina de Lucas, 03 June 2018
In a production that proposes a revision of flamenco from its roots, stripping it of all the clichés and stereotypes that are currently weakening its essence, Fernandez’s mighty dancing and Pericet’s farsighted crafting and superb performance are extraordinary examples of the best artistic proposals that flamenco dancing can produce nowadays.
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Madrid
03 Jun 2018
Olga Pericet: Flamenco Reimagined
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Cherkaoui and Pite in Royal Ballet of Flanders’ attractive triple bill in Madrid

By Cristina de Lucas, 19 May 2018
The Royal Ballet of Flanders presents in Madrid's Teatros del Canal an attractive triple bill with works by its Artistic Director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Firebird and Faun) and the Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite (Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue)
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Madrid
19 May 2018
Cherkaoui and Pite
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Ballet Nacional de España’s Sorolla: a disapointing collage of Spanish dances

By Cristina de Lucas, 12 November 2017
Antonio Najarro’s attempt to produce a dance piece inspired by Joaquín Sorolla’s paintings for the Ballet National de España’s production Sorolla fails to grasp the essence of the rich diversity of Spanish dance
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Madrid
12 Nov 2017
A disapointing Sorolla
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Victor Ullate’s Carmen seduces Madrid

By Cristina de Lucas, 30 August 2017
Victor Ullate premieres his version of Carmen in Madrid’s Teatros del Canal. Mallarme’s story and Bizet’s score are updated in a sophisticated balletic rendering of the myth.
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Madrid
30 Aug 2017
Ullate's Carmen seduces Madrid
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Death not passion at the heart of Johan Inger’s Carmen

By Cristina de Lucas, 15 June 2017
Johan Inger’s Carmen is back on stage in Madrid, seducing CND's audience once again.
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Madrid
15 Jun 2017
Johan Inger's Carmen for CND
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Les Ballets de Monte Carlo’s Romeo and Juliet: fate and grace.

By Cristina de Lucas, 10 February 2017
Les Ballets de Monte Carlo present Jean-Christophe Maillot’s elegant version of Romeo and Juliet in Madrid.
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Madrid
10 Feb 2017
Les Ballets de Monte Carlo seduce Madrid
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Powerful performances in Kenneth MacMillan’s The Invitation at the Royal Ballet

By Cristina de Lucas, 31 May 2016
The Royal Ballet revives Kenneth MacMillan’s The Invitation, to great public acclaim and with excellent performances in the main roles. The programme also features McGregor's new Obsidian Tear and Wheeldon's Within the Golden Hour.
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London
31 May 2016
Obsidian Tear / The Invitation / Within the Golden Hour
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Akram Khan’s Kaash Revisited

By Cristina de Lucas, 03 March 2016
Akram Khan revives his first full evening work, Kaash (2002) at London’s Sadler’s Wells.  
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London
03 Mar 2016
Khan's Kash
By Cristina de Lucas
London

A very physical yet enigmatic and vague Sacre

By Cristina de Lucas, 11 November 2015
Sasha Waltz & Guests reimagine L’après-midi d’un faune, Scène d’amour (from Roméo et Juliette) and Le sacre du printemps at London’s Sadler’s Wells.
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London
11 Nov 2015
Sasha Waltz's enigmatic Sacre
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Variations Triple Bill at Sadler’s Wells

By Cristina de Lucas, 16 October 2015
Birmingham Royal Ballet presents its Variations Triple Bill at Sadler’s Wells, with works by George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton and David Bintley
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London
16 Oct 2015
Bintley's The King Dances graces Sadler's Wells' stage
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Bournonville via Australia: Queensland Ballet brings Schaufuss' La Sylphide to London

By Cristina de Lucas, 05 August 2015
Queensland Ballet presents Peter Schaufuss’s La Sylphide at London Coliseum, with Luke Schaufuss guesting from Birmingham Royal Ballet, in the lead role of James.
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London
05 Aug 2015
Queensland Ballet revives Schaufuss' La Sylphide
By Cristina de Lucas
London

ENB at Sadler’s Wells: Modern Masters for a new partnership

By Cristina de Lucas, 10 March 2015
English National Ballet inaugurates its association with Sadler’s Wells with Modern Masters, a triple bill of works by Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe and John Neumeier
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London
10 Mar 2015
ENB tackles Modern Masters
By Cristina de Lucas
London

The Associates at Sadler’s Wells: new horizons

By Cristina de Lucas, 06 February 2015
New works by Kate Prince, Crystal Pite and Hofesh Shechter make up the stimulating The Associates programme at Sadler’s Wells. 
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London
06 Feb 2015
Sadler's Wells Associates
By Cristina de Lucas
London

English National Ballet’s Nutcracker: nearly there.

By Cristina de Lucas, 11 December 2014
English National Ballet’s Nutcracker: a subdued but promising opening of the Christmas season, at the London Coliseum. 
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London
11 Dec 2014
ENB's Nutcracker : nearly there.
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Dance Dialogues with Thomas Adès

By Cristina de Lucas, 31 October 2014
Wayne McGregor, Karole Armitage, Alexander Whitley and Crystal Pite offer four stimulating choreographic readings of Thomas Adès’s music, in 'Thomas Adès : See the Music, Hear the Dance'  at Sadler’s Wells
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London
31 Oct 2014
Dance Dialogues with Thomas Adès
By Cristina de Lucas
London

NEBT at Peacock Theatre: The future is here

By Cristina de Lucas, 02 July 2014
NEBT presents a very well drafted and delivered programme of new choreography at Peacock Theatre
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London
02 Jul 2014
NEBT at Peacock Theatre: The future is here
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Outstanding performances in ENB’s Romeo & Juliet in-the-round

By Cristina de Lucas, 11 June 2014
English National Ballet at Royal Albert Hall: Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta give outstanding performances in Derek Deane’s Romeo & Juliet
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London
11 Jun 2014
Star-crossed lovers dazzle with ENB
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Scottish Ballet in Pastor's Romeo & Juliet: A tragedy of eternal rivalry

By Cristina de Lucas, 14 May 2014
Scottish Ballet presents Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo & Juliet (2008), an innovative presentation of the story through several different time settings, at Sadler’s Wells.
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London
14 May 2014
Scottish Ballet in Pastor's Romeo & Juliet
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Miguel Poveda brings warmth and depth to the Flamenco Festival

By Cristina de Lucas, 04 March 2014
Miguel Poveda gives a powerful performance at London Flamenco Festival at Salder’s Wells.
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London
04 Mar 2014
Miguel Poveda at the Flamenco Festival, London
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Arthur Pita creates a small gem for Ballet Black in London

By Cristina de Lucas, 27 February 2014
In its annual visit to Linbury Studio, Ballet Black presents Arthur Pita’s brilliant A Dream Within a Midsummer Night’s Dream together with new works by Martin Lawrence, Christopher Marney.
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London
27 Feb 2014
Ballet Black Triple Bill, London
By Cristina de Lucas
London

London International Mime Festival: Compagnie 111's What's Become of You?

By Cristina de Lucas, 30 January 2014
Aurélien Bory’s production What’s Become of You? (questcequetudeviens?), danced and choreographed by flamenco dancer Stéphanie Fuster, presented to great acclaim at the Mime Festival
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London
30 Jan 2014
London International Mime Festival: What's Become of You?
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Mark Morris’ Festival Dance dazzles Sadler’s Wells

By Cristina de Lucas, 28 November 2013
Mark Morris Dance Group present an excellent Programme B (with the dazzling Festival Dances) at London Sadler’s Wells. 
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London
28 Nov 2013
Mark Morris Dance Group: Programme B
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Stuttgart Ballet’s Made in Germany: A showcase of repertory

By Cristina de Lucas, 18 November 2013
Stuttgart Ballet has a long tradition of promoting new choreography, and in this spirit the first programme for its visit to Sadler’s Wells included thirteen brief choreographies, all specially made for the company.
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London
18 Nov 2013
Stuttgart Ballet at Sadler's
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Embracing Tango: Cherkaoui’s exploratory journey in M¡longa

By Cristina de Lucas, 08 November 2013
As he has done before with other dance forms alien to his background (flamenco, kathak or Shaolin rites, for instance), the prolific choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has plunged into Tango with an avid curiosity and sensitive perception. His new work M¡longa, a Sadler’s Wells production that premièred in Mézières, Switzerland, earlier this year, reflects his learning journey.
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London
08 Nov 2013
Embracing Tango: Cherkaoui’s exploratory journey in M¡longa
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Unsettling darkness in Hofesh Shechter’s new production Sun

By Cristina de Lucas, 30 October 2013
Hofesh Shechter is a choreographer known for creating potent dance works, which reflect on the nature of power and its impact over the individual. Following the line of his previous Uprising (2006) and Political Mother (2010), Sun (2013) is a complex, dark and pessimistic meditation on evil and its shattering effects.
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London
30 Oct 2013
Unsettling darkness in Hofesh Shechter’s new production Sun
By Cristina de Lucas
London

The Americans have arrived! Boston Ballet at the London Coliseum

By Cristina de Lucas, 03 July 2013
Thirty years after its last visit to London, Boston Ballet has returned to the British capital in a celebratory mood. With the company opening its 50th season, the London tour has been planned both to launch the anniversary and to strengthen the growing international reputation of the company.
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London
03 Jul 2013
The Americans have arrived! Boston Ballet at the London Coliseum
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Laments and combats: Deep emotions in Monteverdi Ballets at Spitalfields

By Cristina de Lucas, 17 June 2013
Under the title “Monteverdi Ballets”, Spitalfields Music Summer Festival presented a joint collaboration between the Early Opera Company and Avant Garde Dance. The challenge was to merge music and dance coming from two different artistic projects into a single unified product.
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London
17 Jun 2013
Laments and combats: Deep emotions in Monteverdi Ballets at Spitalfields
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Unrest and rancour in Hofesh Shechter's double bill at Sadler's Wells

By Cristina de Lucas, 27 April 2013
Hofesh Shechter is a choreographer who uses dance to make powerful statements in quite an oblique way. He does not define a storyline or delineate strong characters that can catch the audience’s sympathy. Rather, he combines the theatrical elements to suggest ideas and create moods, presenting them in disjointed fragments that the audience must put together after reflection.
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London
27 Apr 2013
Unrest and rancour in Hofesh Shechter's double bill at Sadler's Wells
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Ecstasy and Death: An excellent triple bill by English National Ballet

By Cristina de Lucas, 18 April 2013
For their second show in the London Coliseum this year, English National Ballet has presented the first programme entirely designed by its new artistic director Tamara Rojo. In the line of her vision of enriching the company’s repertory with new works, while at the same time honouring the classics, the triple bill built for the occasion is a fascinating combination of old and recent masterpieces.
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London
18 Apr 2013
Ecstasy and Death: An excellent triple bill by English National Ballet
By Cristina de Lucas
London

National Ballet of Canada at Sadler's Wells: Light tragedy in Alexei Ratmansky's Romeo and Juliet

By Cristina de Lucas, 17 April 2013
On its return to London after 26 years of absence, the National Ballet of Canada has presented its brand new version of the much-loved tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The company having performed John Cranko’s interpretation since 1964, an entirely new production was commissioned to acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky to mark the 60th anniversary of the company in 2011.
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London
17 Apr 2013
National Ballet of Canada at Sadler's Wells: Light tragedy in Alexei Ratmansky's Romeo and Juliet
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Dancing Bach: The Mikhailovsky Ballet's powerful contemporary face in London

By Cristina de Lucas, 05 April 2013
The short but intense visit the Mikhailovsky Ballet is paying to London this Easter is showing the high standards the company can reach in both classical and contemporary ballet. In addition to splendid versions of Giselle, Don Quixote and Laurencia, the St Petersburg-based ballet company has also offered two bills with works by its acclaimed artistic director Nacho Duato.
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London
05 Apr 2013
Dancing Bach: The Mikhailovsky Ballet's powerful contemporary face in London
By Cristina de Lucas
London

High-powered, avant-garde flamenco: Romances at London Flamenco Festival

By Cristina de Lucas, 22 March 2013
It is certainly fortunate that this year London Flamenco Festival, which is proudly celebrating its tenth anniversary, has a small section in the programme entitled Beyond Flamenco. Comprising productions and events that offer a less orthodox look at this style of Spanish gypsy-rooted dancing, it complements the all-star programme in the Sadler’s Wells main auditorium.
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London
22 Mar 2013
High-powered, avant-garde flamenco: Romances at London Flamenco Festival
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Israel Galván presents his experimental La Curva at London Flamenco Festival

By Cristina de Lucas, 24 March 2013
Israel Galván is nowadays a renowned and acclaimed flamenco artist. After years of consolidating good fame as a fine dancer, he started to create his own choreographies in 1998. From his first work, Mira!, he revealed a distinctive style installed in the most innovative and daring side of the flamenco panorama.
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London
24 Mar 2013
Israel Galván presents his experimental La Curva at London Flamenco Festival
By Cristina de Lucas
London

An evening of novelty with Ballet Black's annual visit to the Linbury Studio

By Cristina de Lucas, 05 March 2013
Just a few weeks after being awarded the prestigious 2012 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for Best Independent Company, Ballet Black has paid its annual visit to the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio, presenting four new ballets that confirm the strong commitment of the company to original works.
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London
05 Mar 2013
An evening of novelty with Ballet Black's annual visit to the Linbury Studio
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Two new works in an inspiring triple bill from The Royal Ballet

By Cristina de Lucas, 22 February 2013
Last Friday, The Royal Ballet presented an exciting bill composed of George Balanchine’s iconic Apollo (1928) and two new ballets by acclaimed choreographers Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon. The programme was cleverly designed, since Ratmansky and Wheeldon are renowned explorers of the neoclassical style inaugurated by Balanchine.
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London
22 Feb 2013
Two new works in an inspiring triple bill from The Royal Ballet
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Argentinian company Tango Fire sets Peacock Theatre alight with Flames of Desire

By Cristina de Lucas, 30 January 2013
On Wednesday 30 January, Argentinian company Tango Fire presented its latest production to a delighted audience packing London’s Peacock Theatre. With superb choreography by the young, talented Germán Cornejo, also a remarkably fine dancer in the show, Flames of Desire offered two hours of sheer and intense entertainment.
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London
30 Jan 2013
Argentinian company Tango Fire sets Peacock Theatre alight with Flames of Desire
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Mark Morris Dance Group presents Mozart Dances in Madrid

By Cristina de Lucas, 30 December 2012
The Teatro Real de Madrid has finished 2012 and welcomed 2013 with an excellent dance company. Mark Morris Dance Group has come to the Spanish capital to offer only six performances of its internationally acclaimed Mozart Dances.
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Madrid
30 Dec 2012
Mark Morris Dance Group presents Mozart Dances in Madrid
By Cristina de Lucas
London

An enchanting wonderland: Panorama by Philippe Decouflé

By Cristina de Lucas, 02 November 2012
French artist Philippe Decouflé presented his most recent show, Panorama, at Sadler’s Wells this weekend. Made of fragments of old favourites and rare works from his repertory, the piece mesmerized the audience. For those new to Decouflé’s inventive genius, Panorama allowed the discovery of his funny, tender and miscellaneous magical world.
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London
02 Nov 2012
An enchanting wonderland: Panorama by Philippe Decouflé
By Cristina de Lucas
London

Labyrinth of Love: Rambert Dance Company at Sadler's Wells

By Cristina de Lucas, 16 October 2012
In the opening night of its short Autumn season at Sadler’s Wells, Rambert Dance Company presented a mixed bill that comprised four attractive works. Introducing a brand new piece by Irish choreographer Marguerite Donlon, the programme also included three revivals from acclaimed choreographers Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham and Richard Alston.
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London
16 Oct 2012
Labyrinth of Love: Rambert Dance Company at Sadler's Wells
By Cristina de Lucas
Madrid

Virtuosity without drama in the Cuban Giselle

By Cristina de Lucas, 10 May 2017
Anette Delgado and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba’s corps de ballet boost Giselle in Madrid.
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Madrid
10 May 2017
Virtuosity in the Cuban Giselle
By Cristina de Lucas