by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Dec 18, 2013 | Ballets
The Nutcracker is a ballet for and about children. The heroine of the ballet is a little girl named Clara who receives a magical gift and sets out on a transformational journey. The Houston Ballet Kids Tell The Story of Nutcracker 147 Houston area youth appear in Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. In this video, they share their own charming interpretation of just how the beloved story unfolds. Video courtesy of Houston Ballet channel on YouTube. The Houston Ballet Kids Tell The Story of Nutcracker Houston Ballet’s performances of Ben Stevenson’s spectacular staging of The Nutcrackercontinue through Sunday, December 29 at 2:00 pm at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Save money at discounted performances of The Nutcracker on December 18-19 and Friday, Dec. 27! Click here to purchase your tickets to The Nutcracker! Please visit Houston Ballet’s website here. The Houston Ballet Kids Tell The Story of Nutcracker There you have it. Kids’ perspectives are so much more interesting and exciting than adults’. If you have a child in your family, remember to take him or her to the nearest Nutcracker production in your area. You’ll be giving them the gift of imagination and creativity. Happy Holidays from Classical Ballet News and Romy Macias to you! [jazzyoptin]...
by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Oct 31, 2013 | Ballets
… but beware of Wills! The Willis dance men to their death in “Giselle.” Happy Halloween To Our US Friends! Watch this short video, yet real treat (no ticks), of Giselle with the Paris Opera Ballet. Happy Halloween To Our US Friends! The character of “Giselle” is ballet’s Wonder Woman, the waif transformed into lifesaving hero. She’s innocent and frail to a fault, until she’s pushed. Then she becomes the defender of the endangered, the nemesis of all evildoers. The second act is what makes the piece. Enter the Willis, the spirits of women done wrong who attempt to make Albrecht dance to his own death. Giselle’s forgiveness, and fancy footwork, saves his skin. Read Fine Arts Critic for The Denver Post, Ray Mark Rinaldi‘s full article: “Colorado Ballet’s ‘Giselle’ Review: Angry Women Find Revenge and Romance for more on this wonderful ballet by another ballet company. Thanks to Chaîne de Dianoukaa for sharing this video! Happy Halloween To Our US Friends! If you happen to be in the Bay Area and you’re looking to spend a spooky Halloween while saving big time and supporting the San Francisco Ballet, click on the link below to attend their Giselle performance Halloween night: SCARY GOOD DEAL: 31% off tickets to Giselle, via our mobile site and app today only! Get your promo code before midnight at http://www.sfballetblog.org/scary-good-halloween-deal Like them at their Facebook page here....
by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Oct 30, 2013 | Ballets
Mike and Bill are the “Ballet Boyz” and they’ve left the Royal Ballet to follow their friend and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon on a journey into the “unknown”: to Russia. We are the ballet boyz. We were leading dancers of the Royal Ballet in London for twelve years and have been best friends with Chris ever since he first choreographed on us, when he was fresh out of school. When he told us he’d be the first ever British choreographer to create a ballet for the Bolshoi Theatre, in Moscow, we decided to hang up our dancing shoes, pick up a camera and follow him. Get your popcorn ready! Thursday at The Theater: Strickly Bolshoi with Ballet Boyz An Emmy award winning fly-on-the-wall TV documentary “Strictly Bolshoi” followed Christopher as he became the first Englishman to be invited to create a new work for the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Wheeldon Thursday at The Theater: Strickly Bolshoi with Ballet Boyz Video courtesy of YouTube. Thursday at The Theater: Strickly Bolshoi with Ballet Boyz Did you enjoy this documentary? Please feel free to share with your friends. Here are more great links to Christopher Wheeldon’s work: http://www.roh.org.uk/about/the-royal-ballet/christopher-wheeldon http://bigthink.com/users/christopherwheeldon...
by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Aug 15, 2013 | Ballets
Tonight’s Thursday at the Theater presents the full-length ballet, A Midsummer Nights Dream with Alessandra Ferri in the leading role of Titania, Roberto Bolle as Oberon, Massimo Murru as Titani’s Cavalier, Riccardo Massimi as Puck, the court jester. Deborah Gismondi dances as Hermia; the role of Helena is played by Gilda Gelati, Vittorio D’ Amato plays Demetrius, Gianni Ghisleni dances in the role of Lysander and Sabrina Brazzo dances as the Amazon queen, Hippolyta. Theseus of Athens is danced by Matteo Buongiorno and Camillo di Pompo dances as Buttom. A Midsummer Nights Dream Full-length Ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a two-act ballet choreographed by George Balanchine to Felix Mendelssohn’s incidental music for Shakespeare’s play of the same name. In addition to the incidental music, Balanchine incorporated other Mendelssohn works into the ballet including Overtures to Athalie, Son and Stranger, and The Fair Melusine, Symphony No. 9 for Strings and The First Walpurgis Night. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Balanchine’s first completely original full-length ballet, and premiered at New York City Ballet on January 17, 1962 with Edward Villella in the role of Oberon, Melissa Hayden in the role of Titiana, and Arthur Mitchell in the role of Puck. The ballet employs a large children’s corps de ballet. Act I tells Shakespeare’s familiar story of lovers and fairies while Act II presents a strictly classical dance wedding celebration. The ballet dispenses with Shakespeare’s play-within-a-play finale. A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened The New York City Ballet’s first season at the New York State Theater in April, 1964. For full synopsis, please visit wikipedia.org. A Midsummer Nights Dream Full-length Ballet It...
by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | May 7, 2013 | Ballets
Lewis Carroll never imagined his story would be danced by accomplished ballerinas and danseuses years after he completed his book. The Royal Ballet of London has taken on the task of taking Carroll’s beloved children’s book to the stage. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Steven McRae, Lauren Cuthbertson, Edward Watson, Zenaida Yanowsky and Barry Wordsworth tell us about Christopher Wheeldon’s unmissable ballet. Find out more at http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/ali… Alice encounters a cast of extraordinary characters down the rabbit hole: from the highly-strung Queen of Hearts, who performs a hilarious rendition of the famous Rose Adagio from The Sleeping Beauty; to dancing playing cards; a sinuous caterpillar and a tap-dancing Mad Hatter. There is a love narrative for Alice and the Knave of Hearts, and they dance a tender pas de deux at the close of Act II. But the ballet does not avoid the darker undercurrents of Lewis Carroll’s story — a nightmarish kitchen, an eerily disembodied Cheshire Cat and an unhinged tea party are all created in vivid detail. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland The New York Times Dance Review wrote: It’s a dazzling array of melodies and shimmering percussion, usefully atmospheric and dancey, yet sophisticated enough to feel like more than a mere support. It’s one of the many things that makes “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” watchable and enjoyable. Read Roslyn Sulcas’ full review here. Thanks to Royal Opera House for sharing this video. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Audiences who attended this last March performance raved: 17 March 2013 My sister-in-law and I were completely captivated by this ballet. Even quite short appearances like the caterpillar were stunning. We can’t...
by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Apr 19, 2013 | Ballets
In the mood for romance, eternal love and betrayal? I first posted this ballet back in February, on Valentine’s Day, to be precise with the National Opera of Paris. This time I want to share with you this amazing version with Teatro all Scalla, with Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle. Minkus’ music is regal and Svetlana’s performance bewitching. I expect you will agree with me. Thursday At The Theater La Bayadère La Bayadère is a ballet in four acts and seven scenes, choreographed by Marius Petipa. It was first performed by the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg in 1877. The great Rudolf Nureyev also made several restylings and contributions to the choreography. La Bayadère takes place in the Royal India. The ballet is about the drama of a temple dancer (bayadère), Nikiya, who is loved by Solor, a noble warrior. She is also loved by the High Brahmin, but she does not love him in return, because she loves Solor. Act I, Scene I: Outside a Temple in the Sacred Forest, during the celebrations of the Indian Ritual of Fire Nikiya, the most beautiful of the bayadères, will be elected the lead temple dancer. The High Brahmin declares his love for Nikiya, but is rejected by her. Later in that evening Nikiya meets secretly with Solor. They dance together and promise eternal love to each other over the Sacred Fire. The jealous High Brahmin who discovers them vows to kill Solor. Act I, Scene II: A Room in the Palace The Rajah has decided to reward Solor’s valor and decrees that he will marry his daughter, Gamzatti. Gamzatti too...
