Dutch National Ballet: Cinderella, London
Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet score has been choreographed dozens of times since it was composed in 1935. In this version, created for Dutch National Ballet in 2012, Christopher Wheeldon has put his mark on the classic by adding dramatic flesh to the Prince character. Symbolically given an actual name – Guillaume – rather than reduced to his usual charming cipher, this Prince is a young man who feels stifled by privilege and struggles with the demands of palace protocol. In this witty, romantic fairytale, Cinderella comes to the Prince’s rescue as much as he comes to hers.
London Coliseum, WC2, Wed to 11 Jul
Whelan/Watson: Other Stories, London
Former New York City Ballet star Wendy Whelan and Royal Ballet principal Edward Watson have each come to exemplify key elements of their respective company’s style: Whelan a pure-bred Balanchine dancer, fast, light and lean; Watson outstanding in the dramatic roles of Macmillan or the hyperkinetic extremes of McGregor. In this new programme of specially commissioned duets and solos, the chemistry between the two dancers promises to spark with five different choreographers, including Arthur Pita, Javier de Frutos and Danièle Desnoyers, each drawing out different aspects of the dancers’ performing personalities.
Linbury Studio Theatre, WC2, Thu to 12 Jul
