New York City Ballet review – iconic company returns to show the shape of modern ballet
NYCB’s first UK visit in 16 years brings a quadruple bill that looks to the past briefly, but mostly presents a very 21st-century vision
May 2023
‘You’re very fat up here’: was dance god George Balanchine a controlling monster?
He was a trail-blazing genius who electrified US ballet. But he was also a dictatorial grudge-bearer who married four of his dancers. How should we remember the Russian-American choreographer?
November 2022
The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration review – pick ’n’ mix gala with some sparkles
A grab-bag of nine pieces, from Wheeldon to Tanowitz, make up a celebratory programme delivered with customary aplomb by the Royal’s dancers
June 2021
The week in dance: Balanchine and Robbins; British Ballet Charity Gala; Dangerous Liaisons – review
Lockdown culture
Royal Ballet: Balanchine and Robbins review – Vadim Muntagirov’s Apollo is simply divine
May 2021
Top 10s
Top 10 books about ballet
New York City Ballet review – Sofia Coppola’s beautiful, intimate portrait
January 2021
Lockdown culture
San Francisco Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream review – two acts of pure dance run smooth
George Balanchine’s take on Shakespearean comedy may be more geometric than romantic, but the most delicate moments of this performance are truly enchanting
November 2018
Royal Ballet: The Unknown Soldier / Infra / Symphony in C review – bittersweet beauty
Alastair Marriott’s evocation of conflict is caught between gracefulness and tragedy while Wayne McGregor and George Balanchine still shine
April 2017
Jewels review – diamonds are for ever
The Royal Ballet’s 50th anniversary revival of Balanchine’s classic sparkles despite the occasional flaw
Balanchine's Jewels: the product-placement ballet that became a masterpiece
With its shameless courting of wealthy New York, George Balanchine’s plot-free ballet Jewels was initially seen as tacky. But its magical synthesis of ballet history means it has endured for 50 years
A Midsummer Night’s Dream review – when Bottom met Christian Lacroix
Paris Opera Ballet deliver a beautifully chic but variable production of Balanchine’s classic
June 2016
LA Dance Project review – Millepied goes for some Balanchine shine
Benjamin Millepied’s young company asserts itself as a future force in dance with this trilogy loosely linked around the theme of precious stones
November 2015
Australian Ballet 20:21 review – electrifying triptych of dance fantasy
Royal Ballet mixed bill review – from the sublime to the downright silly
April 2015
Royal Ballet triple bill review – falling in step with Nigel Farage
The Ukip leader is an unlikely feature of Hofesh Shechter’s new work in an unbalanced Royal Ballet triple bill
March 2015
Royal Ballet mixed programme review – Shechter’s bold departure
Untouchable, a piece about outsiders, starts well but loses its way in a bill that also includes Balanchine’s Four Temperaments and MacMillan’s Song of the Earth
May 2014
Royal Ballet: Sweet Violets/Serenade/ DGV review – from ecstasy to agony
Royal Ballet: Sweet Violets/Serenade/ DGV review – modernist snap and romantic melt
December 2013
Jewels; The Little Match Girl – review
The perfect poise of Marianela Nuñez rounds off a dazzling Jewels. And the Little Match Girl is alive and well in Ipswich, writes Luke Jennings
