Northern Ballet in Three Short Ballets: a compelling programme

Sarah Chun and Jonathan Hanks in Rudi van Dantzig's Four Last Songs

Northern Ballet dancers in Rudi van Dantzig's Four Last Songs

Kevin Poeung, Joseph Powell-Main and Yu Wakizuka in Kristen McNally's Victory Dance

Yu Wakizuka, Joseph Powell-Main and Kevin Poeung in Kristin McNally's Victory Dance

Antoni Cañellas Artigues as the brother in Mthuthuzeli November's Fools

Harris Beattie and Sarah Chun in Mthuthuzeli November's Fools

By Deborah Weiss, 29 January 2025

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“they seemed to inject a palpable emotional connection into the movements”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House: Linbury Theatre, London on 28 January 2025

Fools (Mthuthuzeli November)

Four Last Songs (Rudi van Dantzig)

Victory Dance (Kristen McNally)

Northern Ballet

Joseph Powell-Main, Dancer

Sarah Chun, Dancer

Harris Beattie, Dancer

Jonathan Hanks, Dancer

Archie Sherman, Dancer

Yu Wakizuka, Dancer

Antoni Cañellas Artigues, Dancer

Saeka Shirai, Dancer

Ballet Black at 25: irrepressible talent

Maggie Foyer, 4th March

Ballet Black presents a double bill at the Linbury that showcases the strengths of its very fine dancers as well as the depth of choreographic innovation in its vast repertoire.

****1

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

Dutch National Ballet's Program B is the A+ Program in New York

Ivy Lin, 21st November

Dutch National Ballet's second mixed bill at New York City Center ticked all the right boxes, showcasing the depth of talent across the whole company.

*****

TanzLuzern in HOPE: outstanding double bill of new works

Graham Watts, 8th November

Two complementary new works for TanzLuzern, Mthuthuzeli November's Oh Deer and Phoebe Jewitt's White Rabbit, are striking and memorable additions to the repertoire.

*****

Exciting new talents at Ballett am Rhein in a versatile new programme

Vikki Jane Vile, 23rd March

After a more traditional direction from the new leadership of Ballett am Rhein in their season opener, new programme Kaleidoskop is a mixed selection that sees a fusion of contemporary and neoclassical choreography.

****1

Ballet Black's HEROES: supremely well danced double bill

Graham Watts, 7th November

A programme to show that heroism is not just about feats of action and adventure, with Ballet Black's supremely good dancers rising to each challenge.

***11

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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.