Into the bullring: Carlos Acosta's Carmen

By Margaret Willis, 27 October 2015

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“Acosta's still powerful dancing was imbued with natural heart-rending acting”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 26 October 2015

Viscera (Liam Scarlett)

Afternoon of a Faun (Jerome Robbins)

Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux (George Balanchine)

Carmen (Carlos Acosta)

The Royal Ballet

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Carlos Acosta, Dancer

Marianela Núñez, Dancer

Federico Bonelli, Dancer

Laura Morera, Dancer

Leticia Stock, Dancer

Nehemiah Kish, Dancer

Vadim Muntagirov, Dancer

Sarah Lamb, Dancer

Iana Salenko, Dancer

Steven McRae, Dancer

London City Ballet’s Momentum: a scintillating mix of old and new

Amanda Jennings, 13th September

Christopher Marney has once again brought together a group of outstanding dancers, superb coaches and brilliant choreography to produce an evening of thoroughly absorbing dance.

*****

Scarlett’s Frankenstein returns to the San Francisco Ballet stage

Terez Rose, 20th March

Seeing Frankenstein in its 2025 incarnation feels worthy and redemptive. It’s as vivid and cinematic as ballet gets.

****1

Drawing from tradition but not in thrall to it: London City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 17th September

While most in the audience at New York's Joyce Theater might not have known the original London City Ballet, their affection was palpable at the close of this program.

****1

Swan Lake: double debuts at the Royal Ballet

Amanda Jennings, 11th May

Two very impressive debuts in the lead roles of Liam Scarlett's Swan Lake with The Royal Ballet, bodes well for the futures of Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens.

****1

Queensland Ballet's Dream: pretty fairytale or dark drama?

Ruth Ridgway, 12th April

The music shimmers and the dancers shine in this twisted tale, a comic ballet but with dark undertones.

***11

The Royal Ballet's Swan Lake offers much to admire

Graham Watts, 6th March

Visually splendid, Liam Scarlett's Swan Lake showcases some wonderful dancing, but there is still room for improvement.

****1

More reviews...

Margaret Willis

Margaret studied ballet in Moscow for five years and later was a member of London City Ballet. A reviewer since 1978 for many newspapers and magazines including Dancing Times and Dance Magazine, Margaret is a specialist on Russian Ballet, and has written books on Russian Ballet and Carlos Acosta.

Into the bullring: Carlos Acosta's Carmen for The Royal Ballet