David Bintley's Aladdin: a beloved production returns to Tokyo

National Ballet of Japan in the Cave of Riches in David Bintley's Aladdin

Takafumi Watanabe as the Djinn of the Lamp in David Bintley's Aladdin

Yudai Fukuoka as Aladdin in David Bintley's Aladdin

National Ballet of Japan in Act 3 of David Bintley's Aladdin

Yudai Fukuoka as Aladdin and Ayako Ono as Princess Badr al-Budur in Aladdin

By Naomi Mori, 19 June 2024

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“The Djinn of the Lamp is attractively depicted with several bravura solos, almost stealing the show”

Reviewed at New National Theatre, Tokyo: Opera House, Tokyo on 14 June 2024

Aladdin (David Bintley)

National Ballet of Japan

Paul Murphy, Conductor

Misato Tomita, Conductor

Dick Bird, Set Designer

Sue Blane, Costume Designer

Mark Jonathan, Lighting Designer

Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Yudai Fukuoka, Dancer

Ayako Ono, Dancer

Takafumi Watanabe, Dancer

Shun Izawa, Dancer

Yuri Kimura, Dancer

Risako Ikeda, Dancer

Kasumi Okuda, Dancer

Finnish National Ballet delight in David Bintley’s A Christmas Carol

Maggie Foyer, 30th November

Skilfully drawn characters and excellent dancing make this a great alternative to the plethora of Nutcrackers during the festive season.

****1

National Ballet of Japan kicks off 2022 with stylish New Year Ballet

Naomi Mori, 14th January

National Ballet of Japan successfully performs two very different pieces, George Balanchine's Theme and Variations and David Bintley's Still Life at the Penguin Café, amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

****1

New Year Ballet creates a buzz with “Still Life” at the Penguin Café

Naomi Mori, 11th January

New Year Ballet displayed the versatility of the National Ballet of Japan, from the 19th-century classic Paquita, to three works by Japanese choreographers and David Bintley's “Still Life” at the Penguin Café.

****1

Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker rescued for online audiences

Graham Watts, 21st December

Outstanding performances all-around in this special treat for Christmas

*****

Traditional to the core: BRB's Giselle returns

Graham Watts, 28th September

The welcome return of a thoughtful interpretation of this much-loved ballet

****1

Birmingham Royal Ballet's Beauty and the Beast

Graham Watts, 19th February

A sumptuously designed example of English ballet at its best

****1

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Naomi Mori

Naomi is a blogger living in Tokyo and travels frequently to see ballet. She is a law graduate of Waseda University and a former film publicist, film critic and IT business researcher/strategist. She blogs at La Dolce Vita in Japanese. She tweets about ballet as @naomip_86. and takes ballet class regularly