A beloved Australian Ballet classic: Maina Gielgud's Giselle

By Chantal Nguyen, 02 May 2019

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“Kondo is one of those ballerinas born to dance Giselle”

Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney on 1 May 2019

Giselle (Marius Petipa, Jean Coralli)

The Australian Ballet

Nicolette Fraillon, Conductor

Ako Kondo, Dancer

Chengwu Guo, Dancer

Nicola Curry, Dancer

Andrew Killian, Dancer

Jill Ogai, Dancer

Marcus Morelli, Dancer

Natasha Kusen, Dancer

Rina Nemoto, Dancer

Orchestra Victoria

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Jonathan Gray, 23rd April

Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote for Birmingham Royal Ballet returned to Sadler's Wells with polished but low-key interpretations across the board.

***11

Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère: a night to remember in Oslo

Vikki Jane Vile, 17th April

Norwegian National Ballet gives a marvellous rendition of Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère. Opening night in Oslo was a strong argument for its place in any season, displaying ballet escapism at its best.

****1

José Martínez unveils his latest Don Quichotte in Palermo

Vito Lentini, 29th March

José Martínez has envisioned a Don Quichotte that recalls the original 19th century choreography while also acknowledging some of the notable 20th century versions and it's splendid looking.

****1

Dutch National Ballet's reimagined La Bayadère triumphs

Mark Vicente, 26th March

Dutch National Ballet's new production of La Bayadère does away with the ballet’s problematic gestures and movements, allowing the choreography to truly shine.

****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

Mejia debuts in a sumptuous Sleeping Beauty at New York City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 12th February

Roman Mejia and a raft of soloist debuts galvanized Peter Martins' Sleeping Beauty. An elegant production with some incidental messiness and the structural liability of a princess' dependence on a kiss.

****1

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Chantal Nguyen

Chantal has a background in ballet and contemporary dance, and was the first Australian to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Higher Level Dance. She has completed violin studies, and plays regularly in Sydney ensembles. She also dabbles in folk songs and subversive musical parody.

A beloved Australian Ballet classic: Maina Gielgud's Giselle returns