Performer: Nehemiah Kish

A memorable and important event in the history of British ballet, sensitively and sentimentally performed. 

Many ballet fans do not find galas particularly enjoyable. We can admire our favourite dancers performing acrobatic solos, numerous fouettés and famous variations, but little space is left for the dancers to lose themselves in the roles they are playing, not to mention the limitations in terms of scenography and lighting.'Carlos Acosta – A Classical Selection' is a nice exception.

Carlos Acosta's Carmen premieres at the Royal Ballet, alongside Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun, Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Scarlett’s Viscera.

This charismatic Cuban is probably the only big dance name who could compete successfully with the Bolshoi Ballet now here in London. But then, for many years, Carlos Acosta has continuously shown persuasive pluck and daredevil tactics to his devoted audiences, many of whom are supporting him in his latest summer season programme at the Coliseum this week.

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.

Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 invited artists from different disciplines, mainly the visual arts, dance and music, to respond to Titian's three magnifient paintings of the Diana and Actaeon myth. The results are displayed in an exhibition at the National Gallery (alongside Titian's originals), and in an triple bill of new ballets at the Royal Opera House.