Astana Ballet cramped in a mixed programme at the Linbury

By Graham Watts, 17 September 2019

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“Aizhan Mukatova proved adept in her sinuous, lascivious interpretation of the title role”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House: Linbury Theatre, London on 12 September 2019

Heritage of the Great Steppe

Love Fear Loss (Ricardo Amarante)

A fuego lento (Ricardo Amarante)

Salomé (Mukaram Avakhri)

Astana Ballet

Aizhan Mukatova, Dancer

Kazbek Akhmedyarov, Dancer

Dilara Shomayeva, Dancer

David Jonathan, Dancer

Darina Kairasheva, Dancer

Anai Baltenova, Dancer

Ainur Abilgazina, Dancer

Sundet Sultanov, Dancer

Baikadam Tungatarov, Dancer

Contemporary Voices in San Francisco

Terez Rose, 9th March

Set to Frank Moon’s moody, thematic score, the curtain rises on a foggy night scene as a shiny black stretch limousine glides onstage—the real deal, dazzling to behold, like a noir film come to life.

****1

Two funerals and a bedding at the Linbury Theatre

Eleanor Knight, 1st May

Tales of love and loss as operas by Elena Langer, Charlotte Bray and Elizabeth Maconchy form a varied triple bill in this showcase for The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists.

****1

International Draft Works at the Linbury brought much to delight

Amanda Jennings, 16th April

The Royal Ballet's International Draft Works proved to be an excellent opportunity to see dancers and budding choreographers from around the world.

****1

The Turn of the Screw at RBO Linbury: Darkness and denial

Eleanor Knight, 26th March

Natalie Abrahami’s mesmerising new production of Britten’s ghostly tale of sexual abuse is very dark indeed.

*****

Ballet Black at 25: irrepressible talent

Maggie Foyer, 4th March

Ballet Black presents a double bill at the Linbury that showcases the strengths of its very fine dancers as well as the depth of choreographic innovation in its vast repertoire.

****1

An alternative Royal Ballet cast of Pierrot Lunaire proves compelling

Deborah Weiss, 11th February

Another cast debuts in Glen Tetley's Pierrot Lunaire and shows us that, more than 60 years on, it's every bit as watchable as when it premiered.

****1

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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.