National Ballet of Japan kicks off 2022 with stylish New Year Ballet

By Naomi Mori, 21 January 2022

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Reviewed at New National Theatre, Tokyo: Opera House, Tokyo on 14 January 2022

'Still Life' at the Penguin Café (David Bintley)

Theme and Variations (George Balanchine)

National Ballet of Japan

Koen Kessels, Conductor

Ryozo Makino, Set Designer

Masako Ooi, Costume Designer

Mutsumi Isono, Lighting Designer

Tokyo Symphony Orchestra

Yui Yonezawa, Dancer

Kosuke Okumura, Dancer

Risako Ikeda, Dancer

Yudai Fukuoka, Dancer

Aoi Hirose, Dancer

Finnish National Ballet delight in David Bintley’s A Christmas Carol

Maggie Foyer, 30th November

Skilfully drawn characters and excellent dancing make this a great alternative to the plethora of Nutcrackers during the festive season.

****1

David Bintley's Aladdin: a beloved production returns to Tokyo

Naomi Mori, 14th June

National Ballet of Japan has revived Sir David Bintley’s Aladdin for the first time in five years and it shows how the company has developed since the premiere in 2008.

****1

New Year Ballet creates a buzz with “Still Life” at the Penguin Café

Naomi Mori, 11th January

New Year Ballet displayed the versatility of the National Ballet of Japan, from the 19th-century classic Paquita, to three works by Japanese choreographers and David Bintley's “Still Life” at the Penguin Café.

****1

Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker rescued for online audiences

Graham Watts, 21st December

Outstanding performances all-around in this special treat for Christmas

*****

Traditional to the core: BRB's Giselle returns

Graham Watts, 28th September

The welcome return of a thoughtful interpretation of this much-loved ballet

****1

Birmingham Royal Ballet's Beauty and the Beast

Graham Watts, 19th February

A sumptuously designed example of English ballet at its best

****1

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Naomi Mori

Naomi is a blogger living in Tokyo and travels frequently to see ballet. She is a law graduate of Waseda University and a former film publicist, film critic and IT business researcher/strategist. She blogs at La Dolce Vita in Japanese. She tweets about ballet as @naomip_86. and takes ballet class regularly