A masterclass in building humour through movement. The Royal Ballet in La Fille mal gardée
A masterclass in building humour through movement… Sunny, innocent, orderly, and just absurd enough to keep it from becoming sentimental.
La Fille mal gardée
Estonian National Ballet: La Fille mal gardée
Estonian National Opera, TallinnMay 9, 2026 La Fille mal gardée is just too good a story not to be reused. Apparently, Jean Dauberval, who created the original version of the ballet in Bordeaux in 1789, was inspired by an engraving at a printing house. It showed a fierce mother scolding her tearful daughter while a … Read more
La Fille mal gardée: Frederick Ashton’s sunshine ballet
When Marianela Nuñez stepped on stage, it was instantly clear that she was not pretending to be Lise, she was Lise.
New works and popular revivals: The Royal Ballet 2025-26
World premieres by Wayne McGregor, Cathy Marston, Akram Khan, León-Lightfoot, and a first Royal Ballet presentation by NYCB’s Justin Peck
A sunny evening with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s La Fille mal gardée
Fine, bright, happy dancing, great characterisations, Osbert Lancaster’s brilliantly sunny designs. Even a super-cute pony. A real heart-warming evening.
Paris Opera Ballet: La Fille mal gardée
Hortense Millet-Maurin, a tiny spitfire of a dancer who has a deft touch with comedy and big eloquent eyes, was a witty Lise.
The Dance Locker: Tzu-chao Chou
For the second in our occasional series, the Birmingham Royal Ballet principal dancer chooses his seven works that have particular significance, saying a few words about each. Born in Yilan in the north-east of Taiwan, Tzu-chao Chou (周子超) was very active as a child. When he was nine, his parents thought that dance lessons would … Read more
Birmingham Royal Ballet 2024-25 Season
Premiering in Birmingham (October 3-5, 2024) before moving to Sadler’s Wells (October 22-23), Luna is a two-act abstract ballet in six movements
Moving to pastures new: a conversation with Brandon Lawrence
“The worst thing is regret. And it’s an opportunity I can’t ignore. I don’t want to be wondering, ‘What if?’”
Sunshine and love: Birmingham Royal Ballet in La Fille mal gardée
Momoko Hirata and Mathias Dingman in Ashton’s English classic
Looking back, looking forwards with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Chi Cao
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s recently retired principal dancer in conversation