Understatement and spectacle at New York City Ballet

David Gabriel in Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering

Adrian Danchig-Waring and Mira Nadon in Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering

Emma Von Enck in Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering

Sara Mearns in George Balanchine's Diamonds

By Carla Escoda, 03 March 2026

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“she radiated delight, her legs inscribing bold arcs as he piloted her through the air”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: David H Koch Theater, New York City on 26 February 2026

Dances at a Gathering (Jerome Robbins)

Diamonds (George Balanchine)

New York City Ballet

Joe Eula, Costume Designer

Jennifer Tipton, Lighting Designer

New York City Ballet Orchestra

Barbara Karinska, Costume Designer

Mark Stanley, Lighting Designer

Ryan Tomash, Dancer

Tiler Peck, Dancer

Mira Nadon, Dancer

Adrian Danchig-Waring, Dancer

Emma Von Enck, Dancer

David Gabriel, Dancer

Davide Riccardo, Dancer

Ashley Hod, Dancer

Roman Mejia, Dancer

Megan Fairchild, Dancer

Sara Mearns, Dancer

Tyler Angle, Dancer

Good vibrations: Robbins, Balanchine and Bach at New York City Ballet

Carla Escoda, 13th May

Concerto Barocco and The Goldberg Variations make an unbeatable, timeless pairing at New York City Ballet.

*****

Tiler Peck’s Symphonie Espagnole for NYCB is sprawling and ambitious

Ivy Lin, 9th May

A triple bill including Tiler Peck’s newest ballet for NYCB, does not entirely work. Too much blue light and sadness for one program.

***11

Irresistible: Justin Peck’s The Wind-Up premieres at NYCB

Carla Escoda, 29th January

Never has Justin Peck seemed more compositionally assured, and paradoxically freer, than in his latest ballet, breaking the mold of past work that mostly celebrated the camaraderie of his generation.

****1

Dutch National Ballet's opener in New York: meandering and unfocused

Ivy Lin, 20th November

Dutch National Ballet returning to New York after more than 40 years should have been thrilling. The opening program, whilst beautifully danced, was somewhat muted.

***11

London City Ballet at the Linbury: joy and sorrow at its best

Deborah Weiss, 19th November

London City Ballet move into a new venue with absolute confidence and gravitas in a quadruple bill that says everything about their future and success.

*****

The Australian Ballet in Melbourne: three prismatic worlds

Ruth Ridgway, 4th October

In its triple bill Prism, The Australian Ballet gives the audience three different dance and sound worlds as well as showcasing fleet, athletic and precise dancing.

****1

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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.