| January |
The Gold Medal at the Prix de Lausanne was won by Acosta Carlos Jnr, described as 'oustandingly elegant'.
Peggy van Praagh, first Director of Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet and of the Australian Ballet, and creator of roles in Tudor's 'Lilac Garden' and 'Dark Elegies', died aged 79. |
February |
Christopher Gable's new production of 'Giselle' for NBT had its first performance.
At the Royal Ballet, Viviana Durante received the Evening Standard ballet award for the year, and Darcey Bussell made her debut in 'Swan Lake' - to reviews which balanced comments like 'enormous potential' with 'needs a lot more work' and 'a long way to go'.
The Dancing Times reported the first prize in the White Lodge Senior Choreographic Competition at the Royal Ballet School being won by 'a very talented and musical little choreographer, Thomas Sapsford'.
Margaret Craske, one of England's greatest teachers and a pupil of Cecchetti, died aged 97. |
March |
English National Ballet held their 40th Anniversary Gala at the Royal Albert Hall - alternate rows of seats were removed from the stalls so that dinner could be served to patrons in the intervals. |
April |
London Contemporary Dance Company won the Olivier Award for Dance with their performance in Kim Branstrup's 'Orfeo'.
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May |
The Royal Ballet gave a gala performance of 'Romeo and Juliet' in honour of Margot Fonteyn. Guillem and Cope danced the leads, Nureyev was Mercutio, and Anthony Dowell danced his first Tybalt.
Ashley Lawrence, the RB's Musical Director from 1973 to 1987, died aged 55.
The Kirov were in Dublin prior to their London visit, and Dance and Dancers spotted rising star Zelensky in class; 'a near-Irishman with his sandy hair and tall pale body encased in an emerald leotard'. |
June |
The Kirov arrived at the London Coliseum. Highlights of the season were Pankova's Giselle and Aurora, and performances by Andris Liepa, Lunyov and Zelensky.
The Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet gave its last performance under that name before the move to Birmingham. |
July |
American Ballet Theatre followed the Kirov into the Coliseum for a rather disappointing season. Twyla Tharp's 'In the Upper Room' was admired, as were Mark Morris's 'Drink to me Only' and Tudor's 'Pillar of Fire', but some of the performances failed to impress. Interest in dancers focussed on Alessandra Ferri in her first return to London since leaving the RB, and Farouk Ruzimatov, who at the time had deserted the Kirov to join ABT.
(He didn't stay long.)
The RBS annual performance featured de Valois' 'The Rake's Progress' with Sarah Wildor and Matthew Hart; also in the programme were dances from 'Napoli' with a cast including Christophers Wheeldon and Hampson.
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August |
The RB had an extra London season because a projected tour of the USA had been cancelled due to lack of sponsorship. Michael Coleman, Maria Almeida and Jonathan Cope left the company at the end of the season.
The première of David Bintley's 'The Planets' was ruined when the complex moving set broke down - it was a very hot night and Jeremy Isaacs offered free drinks all round to the audience.
Mukhamedov made his first appearance with the RB, dancing with Darcey Bussell in what was then called the 'Farewell' pas de deux by Macmillan, which later became the heart of his ballet 'Winter Dreams'.
Northern Ballet Theatre moved their headquarters from Manchester to Halifax.
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September |
Gailene Stock - who has just been announced as the new head of the RBS - was appointed Director of the Australian Ballet School.
At the Jackson International Ballet Competition, the Grand Prix went to Jose Manuel Carreno, while Edur and Malakhov only won bronze medals (Malakov is said to have wept on hearing the result!), and Tomas Solymosi didn't even get that far, having to be content with a 'special award of encouragement'.. The best senior couple were Toomas Edur and Age Oks, who also announced their engagement.
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October |
Bradford scooped the rest of the country by engaging Alvin Ailey's company for their first British visit in 17 years.
The Birmingham Royal Ballet began its new existence with a gala consisting of Balanchine's 'Theme and Variations', Ashton's 'Jazz Calendar' and a new piece by David Bintley. |
November |
Carlos Acosta won the Grand Prix at the City of Paris International Ballet competition. |
December |
Darcey Bussell was Dance and Dancers readers' choice as Dancer of the Year.
The RB's Wayne Eagling waas appointed Director of the Dutch National Ballet
Peter Wright's new production of 'Nutcracker', widely regarded as the best we have, had its first performance. It was a 'gift for Birmingham' to thank the city for what it had given to BRB, and was not presented anywhere else for several seasons.
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