Ballet Icons 20th anniversary gala offered a roster of star dancers

Vadim Muntagirov and Fumi Kaneko in Black Swan pas de deux

Margarita Fernandes and António Casalinho in Tchaikovsky pas de deux

Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko in Nutcracker duet

Sae Maeda and Marcelino Sambé in Chroma

Anna Rose O'Sullivan and Reece Clarke in Spring Waters

Lucía Lacarra and Matthew Golding in Finding Light

Elenora Abbagnato and Paul Marque in the duet from Le Parc

By Amanda Jennings, 16 February 2026

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“stunning in the quality of interpretation, both technically and artistically”

Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 15 February 2026

Ballet Icons Gala 2026

Maria Seletskaja, Conductor

English National Ballet Philharmonic

Eleonora Abbagnato, Dancer

Sarah Chun, Dancer

Travis Clausen-Knight, Dancer

Matthew Golding, Dancer

Fumi Kaneko, Dancer

Lucía Lacarra, Dancer

Nicoletta Manni, Dancer

Vadim Muntagirov, Dancer

James Pett, Dancer

Marcelino Sambé, Dancer

Edward Watson, Dancer

Timofej Andrijashenko, Dancer

António Casalinho, Dancer

Reece Clarke, Dancer

Margarita Fernandes, Dancer

Paul Marque, Dancer

Marianela Núñez, Dancer

Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Dancer

Patricio Revé, Dancer

Iana Salenko, Dancer

Daniil Simkin, Dancer

Francesco Gabriele Frola, Dancer

Madeline Woo, Dancer

The Dutch National Ballet’s Hans van Manen in Carré

Mark Vicente, 30th April

Dutch National Ballet give an exemplary account of a quadruple bill comprised of the late Hans van Manen’s works. It’s a wonderful tribute to the great master choreographer.

*****

A triumphant Romeo and Juliet from Philadelphia Ballet

Leigh Donlan, 30th April

Juliano Nunes’ Romeo and Juliet for Philadelphia Ballet works on all fronts: as a visual spectacle with highly original choreography and as a vehicle for cultivating memorable performances.

****1

Ballet Nights 011 – Convergence a winning formula at Cadogan Hall

Deborah Weiss, 29th April

Another tick for the Ballet Nights team, the audience at Cadogan Hall enjoying a varied and exceptional programme of new and legacy works.

****1

Mira Nadon’s sparkling debut in Firebird with New York City Ballet

Ivy Lin, 25th April

A triple bill comprising Balanchine's Symphony in C, Agon and Firebird could not have been more inspiringly danced by New York City Ballet.

*****

National Ballet of Japan’s Raymonda is a feast of excellent dancing

Naomi Mori, 25th April

National Ballet of Japan’s Raymonda is a gem in the repertoire, despite shortcomings in the plot. Lavish production designs, stunning classical choreography and excellent dancers makes this a ballet lover's heaven.

*****

The Australian Ballet does Romeo and Juliet: precision over passion

Katie Lawrence, 24th April

This revival of Romeo and Juliet combines vivid staging and technical leads, but the lover's careful partnership lacks the volatility that makes young love convincing and tragedy believable.

***11

More reviews...

Amanda Jennings

Amanda wrote for Dance Europe for twelve years and has also written for Dance Australia and Dance International. She trained at Arts Educational and with David Howard, Melissa Hayden, Patricia Wilde and Valentina Pereyaslavec in New York. She danced for two years with New Jersey Ballet, and in the UK with Vienna Festival Ballet and Vyvyan Lorrayne’s London’s Imperial Ballet. Her freelance career included work with the Royal Opera, ENO, film, television and modelling. She was in the original cast of On Your Toes with Natalia Makarova. Amanda also taught extensively and holds the diploma of the PDTC at the RAD with Distinction.

Ballet Icons 20th anniversary gala offered a roster of international stars