A feast of outdoor dance: Derby Festé 2023
It was a very impressive two days programming. Noise, colour and community. Innovation and creativity.
UK
Dance up close. Ballet Nights launches in London’s Docklands
A new season mixing classical, neoclassical and contemporary dance, well-known works and new choreography gets off to a fine start
Keeping the flag flying: Kyiv City Ballet
Most interesting of the fifteen excerpts and pieces danced, were the unknown. The undoubted highlight was Servant of the Muse by Volha Kastsel
Solène Weinachter: After All
An exploration of mortality and how we say goodbye, it is very poignant and thoughtful at times, but there’s also a lot of fun along the way.
Ballet rocks! Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Black Sabbath
I don’t recall a Birmingham ballet evening like it. An evening of surprises. A real celebration of the band and its music. And of dance.
Stephanie Mohr’s The Yellow Wallpaper
Although the scenario is rich with possibilities, director Stephane Mohr fails to exploit them. With Aurélia Thiérrée and Fukiko Takase
Akeim Toussiant Buck and Crystal Zillwood: Souls and Cells
The couple created an intimate relationship. One sequence of coming together and drawing apart… was surprisingly compelling.
English National Ballet: Our Voices
Hopes were up. ENB have been riding high of late, with particularly strong dancing from the men and exciting choices of programme.
Eun Me Ahn Company: Dragons
Seventy minutes of colour: in light, costume and video design, and movement… The dancers are superb, individually and collectively.
Finding our individual beat: Ambiguous Dance Company in Rhythm of Human
The hip hop dance sections are terrific. Tightly choreographed, tightly danced, they bristle with energy and togetherness.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: 21st Century Creations
Another show and more last-minute programme and cast changes with no apology given. But at least it meant we got to see Dancing Spirit again