Live dance returns to London: ENB's Reunion

By Graham Watts, 27 May 2021

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“making pure dance accessible and enjoyable for all by mixing moods and evoking spontaneity”

Reviewed at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 26 May 2021

Laid in Earth (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui)

Echoes (Russell Maliphant)

Senseless Kindness (Yuri Possokhov)

Take Five Blues (Stina Quagebeur)

Jolly Folly (Arielle Smith)

English National Ballet

Catherine Backhouse, Mezzo-soprano

Katja Khaniukova, Dancer

Jeffrey Cirio, Dancer

Erina Takahashi, Dancer

James Streeter, Dancer

Alison McWhinney, Dancer

Isaac Hernández, Dancer

Fernanda Oliveira, Dancer

Fabian Reimair, Dancer

Bal Impérial & Boléro: multi-layered work challenges in Geneva

Daniel Pratt, 19th November

The premiere of Bal Impérial by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui challenges and interrogates to great effect in Geneva.

****1

Liam Francis Dance Company in Alchemy: an absorbing London debut

Daniel Pratt, 7th November

Liam Francis Dance Company at The Place brings an instinctive and intelligent debut for a choreographer in-step with what it is to be a dance artist now.

*****

Pelléas et Mélisande as a dark, shining fairy tale in Geneva

Elodie Olson-Coons, 26th October

A maximalist production of Pelléas et Mélisande at Geneva's Grand Théâtre shines, but tries a little too hard.

****1

an Accident/a Life: a story of extraordinary resilience

Maggie Foyer, 25th September

At Sadler's Wells East, a profound, moving and extraordinary account of former ballet dancer Marc Brew’s life-changing car accident.

*****

Vlaemsch (chez moi): the revitalisation of culture with new blood

Maggie Foyer, 18th September

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Vlaemsch (chez moi) is an extraordinary piece of dance theatre proving the value of multiculturalism where difference can be absorbed within the search for artistic expression.

****1

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents Idomeneo as a confused ballet in Geneva

Laura Servidei, 2nd March

The Grand Théâtre de Genève presents a new production of Mozart’s opera seria where the focus is all on dancing and rope twirling. Nevertheless, a good cast, led by Federica Lombardi as Elettra, manages to shine through.

**111

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Graham Watts

Graham Watts is a freelance dance writer and critic writing regularly for Dancing Times, Dance Europe, Danza Europa, and many more publications. He regularly writes features for Sadler’s Wells, London Coliseum and La Scala. Chairman of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in the United Kingdom and of the UK National Dance Awards he has interviewed many of the greatest names in dance including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Boris Eifman, Alexei Ratmansky, Andris Liepa, Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley and Dame Gillian Lynne. When not involved in dance Graham is a keen fencer, and has captained the British Sabre team.

Live dance returns to London: English National Ballet's Reunion