At NYCB, Fairchild bids adieu in her final performances of Coppélia

Megan Fairchild as Swanilda and Robert La Fosse as Dr Coppélius in Balanchine’s Coppélia

Joseph Gordon as Frantz and Megan Fairchild as Swanilda in Balanchine’s Coppélia

Megan Fairchild as Swanilda in Balanchine’s Coppélia

By Leigh Donlan, 24 May 2026

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“he is delightfully unkempt, easily distracted and arguably redolent of mothballs and turpentine”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: David H Koch Theater, New York City on 22 May 2026

Coppélia (George Balanchine)

New York City Ballet

Rouben Ter-Arutunian, Set Designer

Barbara Karinska, Costume Designer

Mark Stanley, Lighting Designer

New York City Ballet Orchestra

Megan Fairchild, Dancer

Joseph Gordon, Dancer

Robert La Fosse, Dancer

Royal Ballet School, School of American Ballet: the future is bright

Amanda Jennings, 18th June

An evening of outstanding dancing from the Royal Ballet School and the School of American Ballet. It was a case of spotting tomorrow’s stars in a beautifully balanced programme.

*****

Good vibrations: Robbins, Balanchine and Bach at New York City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 13th May

Concerto Barocco and The Goldberg Variations make an unbeatable, timeless pairing at New York City Ballet.

*****

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.

*****

Ballet for cowboys and soldiers at Kansas City Ballet

Hilary Stroh, 20th March

Kansas City Ballet celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary with three American ballets. Balanchine's Stars and Stripes, de Mille's Rodeo and a new work by Caili Quan, A Home Away.

****1

American Ballet Theatre's double bill is short and sweet in New York

Ivy Lin, 15th March

American Ballet Theatre presents Balanchine's Raymonda: Grand Pas Hongrois and Ratmansky's Firebird which showcases the company well and provides a strong contrast.

****1

A spectacular triple bill lifts ABT’s spring season in New York

Leigh Donlan, 13th March

A finely curated triple bill from American Ballet Theatre included works from Balanchine, Jiří Kylián and Alexei Ratmansky.

****1

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Leigh Donlan

Former ballerina Leigh Donlan trained in Russian technique and a variety of folk and modern dance techniques, was Children’s Ballet Mistress at the Washington School of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Director of the Athenaeum School of Ballet in Alexandria, Virginia, and studied English at the University of Oregon and Public Relations at Georgetown University. She has been writing for Ballet to the People since 2014, and is currently on the faculty at Princeton Ballet School.