Essays on the Performing Arts

Alastair Macaulay 8/2/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/2/24

Paul Taylor’s Esplanade, the dance of all dances

Robert Kleinendorst and Eran Burge in Paul Taylor’s Esplanade. Photograph: Andrea Mohin.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

By Twos: From Privacy to Fusion in a Cunningham Duet

Julie Cunningham (no relation) and Daniel Madoff in the world premiere of Merce Cunningham’s “XOVER”. Photograph: Matthew Lutch.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

Turning 50 With Wit and Youthful Vigor to Spare (So Who Needs Gimmicks?)

Olivier Wevers and Louise Nadeau of Pacific Northwest Ballet in George Balanchine’s Agon. Photograph: Angela Sterling.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

Twyla Tharp Season With a Cast of Three Companies

Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Kronenberg in Miami City Ballet’s production of Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs. Photograph: Joe Gate.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

Looking Behind, and a Little Bit Ahead

David Hallberg and Gillian Murphy in George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina, with American Ballet Theatre. Photograph: Andrea Mohin.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

A Slap Echoing Beyond the Stage

Peter Martins

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

An Ephemeral Portrait of an Artist in a Hall of Mirrors

Benjamin Millepied’s From Here On Out, danced by American Ballet Theatre. Photograph: Andrea Mohin.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

Ordinary People, in the Flesh and on the Screen

Dense Terrain, by Doug Varone. Photograph: Julieta Cervantes.

Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24 Alastair Macaulay 8/1/24

Strike a Pose (There’s Nothing to It), and Dance, Priestesses, Dance

Pilar Rioja in “2 Styles, 1 Passion”. Photograph: Michelle V. Gains.

Alastair Macaulay 7/29/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/29/24

Thomas Allen says farewell from the stage

Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24

This Cinderella Puts Her Own Spin on Kitchen Duty

Julie Kent and Marcelo Gomes as Cinderella and Prince Charming in James Kudelka’s Cinderella. Photograph: Nan Melville.

Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24

Plenty of Flash. But Drama? And Poetry?

Herman Cornejo as Puck in Frederick Ashton’s “The Dream”, American Ballet Theatre. Photograph: Andrea Mohin.

Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24

Steps That Outshine Big City’s Bright Lights

Ashley Bouder and Jonathan Stafford in George Balanchine’s “Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto no 2”. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24

Lively Currents From Balanchine’s River of Ballets

Rachel Rutherford and Wendy Whelan in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/28/24

Two Old Masters, Partnered Perhaps With New Ones

Darci Kistler as the Sleepwalker with Nikolaj Hübbe as the Poet in Balanchine’s “La Sonnambula”. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24

The Bolshoi’s Whiz Kids on Display in London

The Bolshoi female corps de ballet in the Shades scene of La Bayadère. Photograph: Dee Conway.

Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24

Bravura Moves for an Old Crowd Pleaser

Sergei Filin and Nina Ananiashvili in Marius Petipa’s “Don Quixote” pas de deux

Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24

Turning a Danish Prism of Joy

Thomas Lund in August Bournonville’s “Flower Festival at Genzano” pas de deux. @Dansamanie.

Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/27/24

Morris Meets Amadeus: Odd, Elective Affinities

Mark Morris’s Mozart Dances. Photograph: Ken Friedman

Alastair Macaulay 7/26/24 Alastair Macaulay 7/26/24

Mark Morris Descends to the Underworld ...

Mark Morris’s Metropolitan Opera production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Photograph: Sara Krulwich.