Ballet Black: Pioneers, a double bill with bold drama and pure dance

Isabela Coracy in Nina: By Whatever Means

Isabela Coracy and Alexander Fadayiro in Nina: By Whatever Means

Isabela Coracy in Nina: By Whatever Means

Ballet Black in Then and Now

Sayaka Ichikawa in Then and Now

By Graham Watts, 11 March 2023

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“a labour of love, it carries both the benefits and the drawbacks of such devotion”

Reviewed at Barbican Theatre, London on 8 March 2023

Then Or Now (Will Tuckett)

By Whatever Means (Mthuthuzeli November)

Ballet Black

Yukiko Tsukamoto, Costume Designer

David Plater, Lighting Designer

Jessica Cabassa, Costume Designer

Daniel Pioro, Violin

Isabela Coracy, Dancer

José Alves, Dancer

Sayaka Ichikawa, Dancer

Cira Robinson, Dancer

Mthuthuzeli November, Dancer

Murderous madrigalist: Death of Gesualdo a treat for eyes and ears

Mark Pullinger, 16th January

Agony, ecstasy and a double murder: Bill Barclay and The Gesualdo Six combine for a theatrical concert celebrating the life – and death – of the Renaissance composer.

****1

Will Tuckett's Nutcracker for National Ballet of Japan is delightful

Naomi Mori, 19th December

National Ballet of Japan premiered production of Nutcracker choreographed by Will Tuckett, that features a stylish and dramatic Act 1 and a hilarious, colourful and unique Act 2.

****1

Carlos Acosta: On Before inspires rapturous standing ovations

Kathy Elgin, 16th February

Carlos Acosta can still draw in the crowds and this carefully chosen programme is well worth watching.

***11

National Ballet of Japan thrills in Tuckett's The Tragedy of Macbeth

Naomi Mori, 29th April

Two adaptations of well-known Shakespeare plays make wonderful additions to the repertoire of the National Ballet of Japan.

****1

A delicious Nutcracker to launch The Royal Ballet’s Christmas season

Mark Pullinger, 23rd November

Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov still reign over The Kingdom of Sweet as The Nutcracker returns to Covent Garden for a marathon run of performances over the Christmas season.

****1

Double success: Ballet Black's Then or Now and The Waiting Game

Graham Watts, 3rd November

Two excellent new works given flow and flair by seven superb dancers in the Linbury Theatre.

****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.