Fast Forward: Hamburg Ballet’s mixed bill proves a mixed success

Hamburg Ballet ensemble in Xie Xin’s The Moon in the Ocean

Futaba Ishizaki and ensemble in Balanchine’s Serenade

Daniele Bonelli, Charlotte Larzelere and Louis Musin in Marcos Morau’s Totentanz

Charlotte Kragh and Selina Appenzeller in Angelin Preljocaj’s Annonciation

Florian Pohl and Xue Lin in Xie Xin’s The Moon in the Ocean

By Vikki Jane Vile, 24 February 2026

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“a handsomely designed piece from Xie Xin”

Reviewed at Hamburgische Staatsoper: Main Hall, Hamburg on 22 February 2026

Serenade (George Balanchine)

Annonciation (Angelin Preljocaj)

Totentanz (World premiere) (Marcos Morau)

The Moon in the Ocean (World premiere) (Xie Xin)

Hamburg Ballet

Katharina Müllner, Conductor

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg

Ballet for cowboys and soldiers at Kansas City Ballet

Hilary Stroh, 20th March

Kansas City Ballet celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary with three American ballets. Balanchine's Stars and Stripes, de Mille's Rodeo and a new work by Caili Quan, A Home Away.

****1

American Ballet Theatre's double bill is short and sweet in New York

Ivy Lin, 15th March

American Ballet Theatre presents Balanchine's Raymonda: Grand Pas Hongrois and Ratmansky's Firebird which showcases the company well and provides a strong contrast.

****1

A spectacular triple bill lifts ABT’s spring season in New York

Leigh Donlan, 13th March

A finely curated triple bill from American Ballet Theatre included works from Balanchine, Jiří Kylián and Alexei Ratmansky.

****1

Understatement and spectacle at New York City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 26th February

Jerome Robbins' Dances at a Gathering and George Balanchine's Diamonds make a study in contrasts. With lots of debuts in the former and seasoned leads in the latter.

*****

Study in Scarlet: Rubies crown Balanchine’s Jewels in Vienna

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With a trio of excellent performances, Balanchine's sassy Rubies proves the hit as Jewels – a relatively recent acquisition – returns to the Wiener Staatsballett.

****1

NBJ's Ballet Coffret is a feast of modern classics

Naomi Mori, 5th February

National Ballet of Japan's Ballet Coffret showcased the versatility of the company with modern classical works including Dawson's A Million Kisses to my Skin, van Manen's 5 Tangos and Balanchine's Theme and Variations.

****1

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Vikki Jane Vile

Vikki Jane Vile has been reviewing dance for over ten years, specialising in Ballroom and Ballet. In 2018, she became a member of the Critics' Circle for Dance. Vikki writes for BroadwayWorld and previously Dancing Times, LondonDance.com and CultureWhisper. She also prides herself on being a Strictly Come Dancing connoisseur since its inception and has appeared on BBC radio and several podcasts as an expert on all things Strictly. Having lived in London for ten years, she is now based in Germany and adapting to the Berlin dance scene.