When discussing British ballet history there is often a focus on the early 20th century, the period when the Ballets Russes took London by storm and Ninette de Valois and Marie Rambert founded ballet companies that would boost the popularity of the art. It is a period rich with cultural records, so it's not surprising … Continue reading Spotlight On: 18th Century Dancers in Britain
London
3 Long-Running Ballets at the Empire Theatre
Previously on the blog I've looked at long-running ballets at the Alhambra Theatre in London. The Alhambra was one of the greatest ballet-producing theatres in London during the late 19th and early 20th century. The other main theatre, was the Empire Theatre. Background The Empire Theatre opened in 1884, and began producing ballets in that … Continue reading 3 Long-Running Ballets at the Empire Theatre
9 Long-Running Ballets at the Alhambra Theatre
Many of the names we associate with the early development of British ballet became well-known in the 1920s. Marie Rambert founded her first group, known as the Marie Rambert Dancers, in 1926, and Ninette de Valois formed the Vic-Wells Ballet in 1931. However, there was still strongholds of ballet in Britain before this period; Rambert … Continue reading 9 Long-Running Ballets at the Alhambra Theatre
Reflections on Sleeping Beauty, The Royal Ballet
Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell as Aurora and Prince Florimund in Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Rachel Hollings. On the 4th March 2023 I visited the Royal Opera House to see the ballet Sleeping Beauty. This was my first time seeing this ballet live, although I had watched multiple videos of it, including some of the … Continue reading Reflections on Sleeping Beauty, The Royal Ballet
Forgotten Ballets: The Dance Dream, 1911
In the early 20th century, before the age of Ballet Rambert and the Vic-Wells Ballet, British ballet was mostly based at two London theatres: the Empire and the Alhambra. These theatres were music halls primarily, but a large portion of an evening's programme would be dedicated to ballet, and both theatres employed a full corps … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: The Dance Dream, 1911
Review: Scènes de Ballet/A Month in the Country/Rhapsody, The Royal Ballet
Marianela Nuñez and Matthew Ball as Natalia and Beliaev in A Month in the Country, 2019. Photo Tristram Kenton/ROH. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Frederick Ashton Foundation, the Royal Ballet have mounted a triple bill comprising of works by their founding choreographer. These works originate from 1948, 1976, and 1980. One earlier masterpiece, … Continue reading Review: Scènes de Ballet/A Month in the Country/Rhapsody, The Royal Ballet
Forgotten Ballets: The Triumph of Neptune, 1926
Choreographer George Balanchine was a genius. There's no denying that. His musicality and neoclassical style have influenced countless other choreographers, and his works are performed all around the globe. But that's not to say all of his ballets are remembered. Balanchine defected from the Soviet Union in 1924 and worked with the Ballet Russes for … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: The Triumph of Neptune, 1926
Madeleine's Stage 