It is rare to have a newly formed Ballet Company who are part of a wonderful tradition.
By Angie Millard
London City Ballet were formed by Harold King in 1978, they gained the patronage of Princess Diana and toured until 1996 when they closed owing to financial pressure. Now, this company who were famous for high production standards and a diverse repertoire are back under the Artistic direction of Christopher Marney, and their programme couldn’t be more exciting.
Marney uses an International Company of dancers and tours worldwide with a mixture of classic and modern pieces. He states: ‘the world has changed since [the company’s] closure in1996, and I am committed to creating diverse and progressive dancers that speak to a new generation.’
The programme I saw began with the monochrome Larina Walze created by Ashley Paye, a playful presentation of ballerinas in white tutus and muscular male dancers in black presenting the audience with a glimpse of traditional ballet. This was followed by the rarely seen Ballade, choreographed fifty years ago by Kenneth MacMillan. Set in a totally white room, this depicts the changing and volatile relationship with his wife. As the programme progresses, colour is added by the flame, androgynous costumes of Arielle Smith’s new piece, Five Dances filling the stage with angular, acrobatic movement.
After the interval, there was an exquisite pas de deux: Concerto (Second Movement) choreographed by MacMillan, and the evening concluded with Marney’s own Eve, an ensemble piece. This is a vibrant retelling of the story in Genesis danced superbly by Kate Lyon as Eve and Alvaro Madrigal as the sensuous serpent.
I was left with the feeling that I had experienced a beautifully balanced offering of dance, a varied menu put together like a well chosen meal to give fulfilment and yet offering surprising tastes to the diner.
If you feel dance or ballet is not for you, I suggest a visit to London City Ballet. It may just change your mind.
London City Ballet performed at York Theatre Royal on 6 September 2024. The Company were: Isadora Bless, Jimin Kim, Alvaro Madrigal, Nicholas Mahlar, Cira Robinson, Miranda Silvera, Joseph Taylor, Nicholas Vavrecka, Barbara Verdasco, Alejandro Virelles, Arthur Wille, and Effie Young