Drawing from tradition but not in thrall to it: London City Ballet

Miranda Silveira and Álvaro Madrigal in Ashley Page's Larina Waltz

Ellie Young and Joseph Taylor in Arielle Smith's Five Dances

Arthur Wille in Arielle Smith's Five Dances

Cira Robinson and Álvaro Madrigal in Christopher Marney's Eve

London City Ballet in Christopher Marney's Eve

By Carla Escoda, 19 September 2024

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“Wille in flaming red being the exception: he’s like a creature possessed, with a need for speed”

Reviewed at Joyce Theater, New York City on 17 September 2024

Consolations and Liebestraum (Liam Scarlett)

Larina Waltz (Ashley Page)

Five Dances (Arielle Smith)

Eve (Christopher Marney)

London City Ballet

Christopher Marney, Director

Joseph Taylor, Dancer

Cira Robinson, Dancer

Dutch National's Junior Company sets ballet to new rhythms

Mark Vicente, 23rd January

The Dutch National's Junior company dazzled in three new works and a Balanchine classic, showcasing the stars of tomorrow.

****1

Candy-crazed: ENB’s sweet-toothed Nutcracker returns

Mark Pullinger, 11th December

Returning for its first anniversary, Arielle Smith and Aaron S Watkin’s Nutcracker for English National Ballet remains a feast for hungry eyes, despite its flaws.

***11

The Royal Ballet School: a triumphant display of excellence throughout

Jonathan Gray, 12th July

It was a wonderful, heartening afternoon – it’s no wonder nearly all the 2025 graduates have gained contracts with several major ballet companies.

*****

Royal Ballet School, Next Generation: championing young choreographers

Amanda Jennings, 24th June

Overall, The Royal Ballet School delivers much to admire, but reminiscent of a multiple-course banquet that still leaves you reaching for the cheese and biscuits when you get home.

***11

ENB's new Nutcracker more than satiates an acute sugar craving

Graham Watts, 12th December

A long-awaited new production of ENB's perennial seasonal classic is a visual feast.

****1

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Luna: uneven, but with high points

Deborah Weiss, 23rd October

Visually pleasing, superbly danced and musically rousing, yet Luna doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle.

***11

More reviews...

Carla Escoda

Born in the Philippines, Carla trained as a ballet and modern dancer with the Alice Reyes Dance Company in Manila. She has lived and worked in Asia and the U.S. and has written about the arts for Bachtrack, KQED (the northern California public media broadcaster), Dance International, dance journal/hk, the Huffington Post, Dance Europe and ballettothepeople.

Drawing from tradition but not in thrall to it: London City Ballet in New York