Monotones Ballet – Another Ashton Masterpiece!

monotones ballet

Well there were actually two Monotones Ballets. Monotones Ballet I was a ballet done in one act. It was choreographed by Frederick Ashton and the music was Satie Trois Gnossiennes by Lanchbery. It was first performed by the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden on the 25th of April 1966. The dancers were Antoinette Sibley, Geogina … Read more

What Is Locking In Hip Hop Dancing?

locking in hip hop dancing

Locking in hip-hop dancing was originally called Campbelllocking. Locking is a style of funk dance, which is also associated with hip-hop.  The name Locking is based on the concept of locking movements, which basically means freezing from a fast movement and ‘locking’ in a certain position or pose, holding that position for a short while … Read more

Dame Beryl Grey Ballerina ‘Of Note’

beryl grey ballerina

There was absolutely nothing grey about Beryl Grey Ballerina of yesteryear as she has made such an impact on British Ballet over the years. She was born in 1927 and apparently still had her ebony hair well into her old age. She was elegant and had the most beautiful lines when she danced. She died … Read more

The Two Pigeons Ballet

two pigeons ballet

The Two Pigeons Ballet is an Allegory in two acts and it was choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton. The music was done by Messager and the decor for the first production was designed by Jacques Dupont. History Of The Two Pigeons Ballet This ballet was first performed by the Royal Ballet Touring Section at Covent … Read more

The Dream Ballet

the dream ballet

Let’s look at a ballet called The Dream. It is a ballet done in one act adapted from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare. Ashton did the choreography and the music was by Mendelssohn arranged by Lanchbery. The decor was Henrey Barden and the costumes by David Walker. The Dream was first performed by the … Read more

Cecchetti Ballet Technique – How Did It All Start

cicchetti ballet technique

If you are training in ballet, you most probably know that the two largest training organizations in the world are the Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti Ballet Technique. I have done an entire article that you can read here on the Royal Academy, as I teach this method. However, the Cecchetti ballet technique is … Read more

Ballet Costumes History Snippets

ballet costumes history

I have always found ballet costumes history quite interesting. When you think of ballet costumes, tutus, leotards and pink tights normally come to mind, but it wasn’t always so simple. Here are some interesting snippets on some ballet costumes history for you. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I will get a … Read more