A mixed bag for The Royal Ballet's mixed bill

By Graham Watts, 25 March 2022

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“Tupperware ballet... not particularly fresh”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 24 March 2022

The Weathering (World premiere) (Kyle Abraham)

Solo Echo (Crystal Pite)

DGV: Danse à Grand Vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)

The Royal Ballet

Koen Kessels, Conductor

Jay Gower Taylor, Set Designer

Joke Visser, Costume Designer

Tom Visser, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Crystal Pite, Costume Designer

Jean-Marc Puissant, Set Designer

Jennifer Tipton, Lighting Designer

Dan Scully, Lighting Designer

Karen Young, Costume Designer

Joseph Sissens, Dancer

Calvin Richardson, Dancer

William Bracewell, Dancer

Fumi Kaneko, Dancer

Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Dancer

Joshua Junker, Dancer

Gina Storm-Jensen, Dancer

Matthew Ball, Dancer

Pop goes postmodern: Kyle Abraham's Cassette Vol. 1 in New York

Carla Escoda, 16th April

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham with guest artist Taylor Stanley bring a postmodern vibe to an early MTV-era playlist. One of the most bewitching things you're likely to encounter this year.

*****

Falling for Kyle Abraham, again, at New York City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 16th May

When We Fell, Kyle Abraham’s bracing new piece for NYCB, made a minimalist statement on a maximalist quadruple bill, also notable for stunning ensemble work in Alexei Ratmansky's Odesa.

****1

Abraham's 2x4 is a bright spot in an uneven program

Ivy Lin, 22nd April

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham at the Joyce Theater proved to be a mixed offering with his own piece, 2x4, coming off best.

***11

Kyle Abraham’s An Untitled Love: a stunning piece of dance theatre

Amanda Jennings, 29th January

An Untitled Love is a brilliant piece of theatre centred on inventive, creative dance that enthrals and amuses whilst conveying several serious messages.

*****

Encounters: The Royal Ballet at its versatile best

Amanda Jennings, 22nd October

In a quadruple bill of contemporary works, The Royal Ballet's dancers shine in this diverse programme, creating an immersive experience.

****1

American Ballet Theatre: Kyle Abraham's Mercurial Son disappoints

Ivy Lin, 16th October

Bond’s La Boutique was delightful, Abraham’s Mercurial Son, a little disappointing but Lander's Études sent the audience home happy.

****1

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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.