Twice-Born: Scottish Ballet opens the season in bold, balanced style

Scottish Ballet in Cayetano Soto's Schachmatt

First Artist Rishan Benjamin in Dickson Mbi's Twice-Born

Principal Marge Hendrick (centre) in Dickson Mbi's Twice-Born

First Artist Rishan Benjamin in Dickson Mbi's Twice-Born

By Kathy Elgin, 25 September 2023

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“It was all as puzzling and provocative, and as compelling, as any ancient myth”

Reviewed at Theatre Royal, Glasgow on 21 September 2023

Twice-born (Dickson Mbi)

Schachmatt (Cayetano Soto)

Scottish Ballet

Christopher Hampson, Director

Ruby Law, Set Designer

Debbie Duru, Costume Designer

Jessica Hung Han Yun, Lighting Designer

Marge Hendrick, Dancer

Evan Loudon, Dancer

Jerome Anthony Barnes, Dancer

Rishan Benjamin, Dancer

Twice-Born: Scottish Ballet punches well above its weight

Graham Watts, 6th March

A film and two live performances prove to be an excellent demonstration of Scottish Ballet's diverse talents.

****1

Scottish Ballet excels in a diverse, quirky quadruple bill

Kathy Elgin, 16th October

By the time a rain of multicoloured paper hands floated down from above, a bizarre figure in orange strolled onstage, ignored by everybody, the audience was in love with the whole thing.

****1

From Ballet in Black to Pointed Parody

Sarah Batschelet, 11th February

Made up of aspiring professional dancers from eight different nations, the Junior Ballett Zürich performs a programme of internationally renowned choreographers every two years.

***11

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet: a Gem

Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn, 26th April

Catch this company wherever and whenever you can.

****1

Ballet BC's signature physicality

Pia Lo, 5th November

A highly visceral experience: Ballet BC opens its new season with three works by Cayetano Soto, Stijn Celis and Crystal Pite.

****1

Klasse zeigen: Gauthier Dances Classy Classics

Katja Vaghi, 15th January

Bei ihrem dritten Gastspiel in Berlin zeigt die Stuttgarter Gauthier Dance ihre Klassiker im Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

****1

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Kathy Elgin

After a career in publishing, Kathy Elgin turned her enthusiasm for dance into a real job by joining the late, great John Percival, Dance Critic of The Times, in his re-launch of Dance and Dancers magazine in 1981. She was later delighted to join its rival, The Dancing Times, as Scottish correspondent until the magazine’s sad demise in 2022. She lives in Edinburgh.