Keepers of the Ashton flame in the US: Sarasota Ballet at The Joyce

Danielle Brown and Ricardo Rhodes in Varii Capricci

Ricardo Graziano and Macarena Giménez in Birthday Offering

Emelia Perkins in Shades of Spring

By Ivy Lin, 17 August 2022

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“an absolutely delightful evening at the ballet”

Reviewed at Joyce Theater, New York City on 16 August 2022

Birthday Offering (Sir Frederick Ashton)

Shades of Spring (Jessica Lang)

Varii Capricci (Sir Frederick Ashton)

Sarasota Ballet

André Levasseur, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Jessica Lang, Set Designer

Roxanne Revon, Set Designer

Jillian Lewis, Costume Designer

Ossie Clark, Costume Designer

Macarena Giménez, Dancer

Ricardo Graziano, Dancer

Danielle Brown, Dancer

Ricardo Rhodes, Dancer

Emelia Perkins, Dancer

ABT presents the classics with slightly uneven results

Ivy Lin, 25th October

ABT offer some outstanding performances in a classical quadruple bill but there was a lack of confidence and uniformity within the corps de ballet.

***11

National Ballet of Japan revives Ashton's beloved Cinderella

Naomi Mori, 18th October

The National Ballet of Japan gave an excellent rendition of Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, in spite of many new faces and role debuts.

****1

Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée: the most joyous of ballets

Amanda Jennings, 18th October

If you’re in need of a pick-me-up, get thee to the Royal Opera House and see La Fille mal gardée, a gem of a ballet. There’s a long roster of impressive casts to choose from.

****1

The Royal Ballet School: a triumphant display of excellence throughout

Jonathan Gray, 12th July

It was a wonderful, heartening afternoon – it’s no wonder nearly all the 2025 graduates have gained contracts with several major ballet companies.

*****

ABT: Ashton's Sylvia showcases the entire company

Ivy Lin, 10th July

The audience walked out of the theater feeling airborne and filled with the kind of joy you only feel after a truly special performance. Sylvia is an absolute treasure.

*****

Ballet Central at the Linbury: keen to prove its versatility

Deborah Weiss, 17th June

Ballet Central provides an extremely varied programme of new and old, classical and contemporary dance, with plenty of aplomb.

***11

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Ivy Lin

Ivy Lin's love of ballet began in high school when at the school dance she quickly realized she had two left feet. One always admires things one cannot do, and so Ivy began to attend dance performances to marvel at the grace and beauty of bodies in motion. Ivy's day job is a biology teacher and after a long day in the classroom she loves to unwind by watching dance. She also enjoys theater, opera, pop and classical music. Ivy has her own blog (www.humbledandoverwhelmed,blogspot.com)