Isadora is a reduced version of Kenneth MacMillan’s 1981 ballet on the life of Isadora Duncan. Then it was a cutting edge piece - now it isn’t. The complex title role demands technical skill and an emotional range, especially in the distinctive duets with the significant men who influenced the free-thinking dancer. Tamara Rojo proved herself to be an exceptional artist in this, with especially good performances from Brian Maloney as Man on Beach and Edward Watson as Edward Gordon Craig, with Ricardo Cevera as Tango Man and Gary Avis as Paris Singer. A lightweight score comes from Richard Rodney Bennett and Nichola McAuliffe’s voice-over speaks selections of Isadora’s writings. Encouraging new choreographic talent rather than changing past, not too well loved works would be a more positive step forward for the company.
Dances at a Gathering is to solo piano works by Chopin, beautifully played by Philip Gammon, which, at more than an hour long, is quite a tour de force. The ten performers explore the potential of dance through shifting relationships that reflect the moods of the music. The individuality of each dancer was at the heart of its creation in 1969 by Jerome Robbins. Some of the new cast of Royal Ballet soloists, though not without virtuoso technique, seem to lack the distinctive personality that singles them out with charismatic star quality. Sergei Polunin looked more accomplished than his years, Samantha Raine has developed into a exciting, joyful performer and Bennett Gartside really came into his own, performing better than ever.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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