Pure Bournonville bounce: Johan Kobborg's La Sylphide in Prague

Alina Nanu as The Sylph in Johan Kobborg's La Sylphide

Paul Irmatov as James in Johan Kobborg's La Sylphide

Matěj Šust as Gurn and Tereza Podařilová as Madge in Johan Kobborg's La Sylphide

Ayaka Fujii as The Sylph in Johan Kobborg's La Sylphide

Ayaka Fujii as The Sylph and Oleg Ligaj as James in Johan Kobborg's La Sylphide

By Deborah Weiss, 15 May 2023

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“his opening jumps propelled him so high into the air, it was as if someone had pressed eject!”

Reviewed at State Opera (Státní opera), Prague on 14 May 2023

La Sylphide (new production) (August Bournonville, Johan Kobborg)

The Czech National Ballet

Piotr Staniszewski, Conductor

Martin Černý, Set Designer

Barbora Maleninská, Costume Designer

Prague National Theatre Orchestra

Alina Nanu, Dancer

Paul Irmatov, Dancer

Kristýna Němečková, Dancer

Matěj Šust, Dancer

Tereza Podařilová, Dancer

Ayaka Fujii, Dancer

Danilo Lo Monaco, Dancer

Irina Burduja, Dancer

Oleg Ligaj, Dancer

Alexandra Pera, Dancer

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Deborah Weiss

Deb joined Bachtrack in 2022 and commissions reviews and writing on ballet and dance. She was Royal Ballet School-trained and is a former principal dancer for companies including London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) and Bayerisches Staatsballett. She has been writing for more than 30 years – publications have included Dancing Times, DanceTabs, Dance for You and Dance Europe. She also interviews for Voices of British Ballet, an oral archive of people who have worked in the industry in the UK. In addition to her writing, since 2016 she has been facilitating programmes that support victims of domestic abuse. Deb is passionate about her rescue dog, Bruce, and daughters (not in that order), swims a mile at least five days a week and is an avid reader.