The company now known as the Royal Ballet gave its first performance on 5th May 1931, presenting a mixed bill of short works. Among those works was a new ballet by Ninette de Valois, technically the first ever ballet premiered by the Royal Ballet, and it is this ballet I will be examining today. Humble … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: The Jackdaw and the Pigeons, 1931
The Royal Ballet
La Dame aux Camélias: The Ballets
French author Alexandre Dumas fils (1924-1895) enjoyed a career that spanned decades, publishing many successful books and plays. One of his most notable works is the 1848 novel La Dame aux Camélias. Inspired by his relationship with courtesan Marie Duplessis, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 23, Dumas fils created the characters of … Continue reading La Dame aux Camélias: The Ballets
Spotlight On: Beatrice Appleyard
In the late 1920s Ninette de Valois founded a School of Dancing in London. Her ultimate aim was to form a British Ballet company. Around the same time, de Valois was hired by Lilian Baylis, owner of the Old-Vic, to train her drama students in movement. Baylis also owned the Sadler's Wells Theatre, and despite … Continue reading Spotlight On: Beatrice Appleyard
20th February 1946: The Premiere of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
In the last months of the Second World War, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and Arts were discussing what to do with a London theatre that was currently in use as a dance hall. Led partially by John Maynard Keynes, negotiations took place for music publisher Boosey & Hawkes to become the theatre's … Continue reading 20th February 1946: The Premiere of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
Review: Òran na h-Eala
Steve Exeter's short film Òran na h-Eala (The Song of the Swan) is inspired by the Scottish ballerina Moira Shearer, and her decision to star in the 1948 Powell and Pressburger film The Red Shoes. Starring Shannon Davidson as Shearer, Alastair Thomson Mills as Michael Powell, Alec Westwood as Emeric Pressburger and Nicole Nelrose as … Continue reading Review: Òran na h-Eala
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
The Sadler’s Wells Ballet and the Phoney War
On the 3rd September 1939, the United Kingdom and France officially declared war on Nazi Germany. Two days earlier, Nazi Germany had invaded Poland. This would begin the start of the Second World War, the deadliest military conflict in history. 900 miles away from Warsaw, a ballet company was disembarking from a train, which had … Continue reading The Sadler’s Wells Ballet and the Phoney War
Three Forgotten Dancers of the Ballet Russes
The Ballet Russes became a sensation in the 1910s. Their first Paris season of 1909 led to further seasons in the city, along with engagements in London, Monte Carlo, and further beyond. Under the leadership of Serge Diaghilev top artists came together to produce some of the most interesting ballets of all time. Some of … Continue reading Three Forgotten Dancers of the Ballet Russes
A Homage to the Queen
In 1953, the British Empire was preparing for the coronation of their new Queen, Elizabeth II. And the Royal Ballet was no different. Frederick Ashton's ballet Homage to the Queen united the top dancers of the company in a marvellous pièce d'occasion. The ballet premiered on the 2nd June 1953, the same day as Elizabeth … Continue reading A Homage to the Queen
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
Spotlight On: Dauberval + La fille mal gardée
If you're familiar with ballet, you might know a ballet called La fille mal gardée. This ballet (the name translating to The Poorly Guarded Girl) is one of the oldest surviving ones, although not with it's original choreography, or music. What we know as La fille mal gardée can be traced back to other choreographers: … Continue reading Spotlight On: Dauberval + La fille mal gardée
Madeleine's Stage 