A.
Alina Cojocaru
Alina won the the National Dance Critic Award this year for outstanding female performance (classical) for her performance in Akram Khan’s Giselle with the English National Ballet. Alina is a very special artist and was particularly sublime in this role
B.
The Ballet Bag
Launched this year with huge success my ballet bag also comes in a rucksack, they tick all the boxes for the ideal dance bag ! Designed by me!
To purchase the ‘it bag‘ of 2018 www.ballet.style/pointe-shoes/ballet-style-ballet-bag
C.
Collections by Claudia
Claudia (an Ex Royal Ballet dancer) has launched an amazing range of leotards that sit alongside her huge success with ‘Claudia Dean Coaching’. The leotards come in beautiful colours and are super soft and comfortable.. bonus! Claudia Dean has nailed it with this collection, you go gurl !
D.
Dance Magazine
The Wonderful World of Dance
A great magazine, it gives you the latest news from the dance world. It has loads of pictures ( which I love ). This recent cover starring Sergi Polunin is pretty incredible.
E.
Edward Watson
This year Ed celebrated 30 years with The Royal Ballet. He launched an incredible limited photographic portfolio with Rick Guest and Olivia Pomp. Dancing with Ed on stage is very special, his energy is infectious and his career keeps going from strength to strength.
F. Short Film
Gender Fluid
I directed my first short movie this year. with music by Accademia Bizantina and choreography by Jonathan Watkins. I was nervous to put myself out there in a different light but as you know... I love a challenge ! I was super proud with the outcome.
G.
Gaynor Minden
As most people know my pointe shoes are specially made by Gaynor Minden and I’m very proud to be a GM Artist for a fourth year running. I gave the GM Scholarship Award to my ( old school teacher ) Nicola Bowden’s student Olivia Apadoo. Wishing her all the success for the future. Congratulations!
Photography- Andrej Uspenski
H.
Haemorrhoid Cream
This wonderous cream, has, ( in my opinion) put shows on ! It helps numb sore toes and is a ‘must have’ if you’ve had a long day of rehearsals and got a show in the evening. A ballet hack that is very popular among ballerinas.
To see the full hacking system ! www.ballet.style/journal
I.
Best Instagram Account
Biscuit Ballerina
Shelby Williams who is a professional ballerina with The Royal Ballet Of Flanders, has a hilarious account, Biscuit Ballerina on Instagram. Showcasing the ‘bad ballet’ (even though she is an incredible dancer) with a whole array of photos and funny clips. It makes ballet a little lighthearted. Her videos are particularly on pointe.. well .. on biscuits.
J.
Jetè
Because everyone loves a picture of a grande jetè... but to do such a beautiful jetè, with a huge king rat heat piece on, is something else. Bravo Nicol Edmonds !!!
k.
Kiehls
Discovered Kiehl’s facial cream this winter ! Keeps dry winter skin at bay !
L.
Frankie Hayward’s collaboration with Lululemon
Frankie Hayward’s collection for Lululemon, was launched this autumn. Some absolutely lovely pieces in muted tones, and the material in particular is luxurious and soft. Frankie’s pictures from the range are also very beautiful !
M.
Best Meme
Another great instagram account is Ballet Moods. I literally laugh out loud when they pop up on my timeline. A meme every dancer can relate to.
N.
Nisian
An amazing ballet photographer, I was very lucky to work with him this year. Other projects are in the pipe-line for another bigger collaboration... watch this space !
O.
Odette /Odile
To all the Swan Queens out there who do Odette/Odile from the ballet giant Swan Lake ... massive respect to them all . An unbelievably hard role technically and emotionally.
Beckanne Sisk from Ballet West as Odette.
P.
Principal Dancer
Matthew Ball
What an amazing year it has been for Matt Ball. He’s had so many principal debuts, Albrecht, Prince Siegfried, Crown Prince Rudolph to name a few. Guested in Mathew Bournes male ‘Swan Lake’ and was promoted to principle with The Royal Ballet. He’s an unbelievable hard worker and I wish him every success.
Q.
Ballet Queen
Misty Copeland
This lady is superstar and I thank her for making ballet mainstream. She starred in the recent blockbuster movie The Nutcracker And The 4 Realms. To be honest I didn’t rate the movie. The only moment I liked was the ‘ballet section’, with it’s choreography and of course Misty dancing beautifully.
Gracing the cover of Elle Magazine.
R.
Royal Opera House
Its taken three years and a fair bit of money but the Royal Opera House has opened up its doors for a brand new front of house design! They have designed it to include daytime cafe, open spaces for free events and transformed its secondary studio, the Linbury, into a new world-class theatre.
S.
The Royal Ballet’s new -
Swan Lake
Liam Scarlett choreographed a brand new production of Swan Lake for The Royal Ballet and what a triumph it was ! We also got to do more shows of it in Madrid, Spain.
The swans......
T.
Tutu
Because everyone loves a tutu !
U.
‘Underneath The Lake’
My behind the curtains blog on the what it takes to put a new production of Swan Lake on stage proved massively popular.
If you didn’t catch it
www.ballet.style/journal/2018/5/24/v9v6k769d9lk5h0gdd8afqrdw5u4gu
Melzie, Nats, Anna and Tierney before a show.
V.
Vegan
In the U.K the number of vegans has increased by 700% in the last 2 years, it’s proven massively popular! Tierney a dancer with The Royal Ballet lives a plant based lifestyle. Check out her blog
W.
World Ballet Day
A whole day spreading the love of ballet around the world !!! Almost as good as Christmas Day ... ( that’s not true, I love Christmas ! )
Sarah and Steven rehearsing Mayerling for World Ballet Day.
Photography - Andrej Uspenski
X.
Xander Parish
Principal dancer with Mariinsky Theatre Company, Xander is an exceptional dancer and his career keeps on blossoming.
To catch my interview with him ..
www.ballet.style/journal/2018/3/31/ballet-style-meets-xander-parish
Y.
Yugen
A new one act ballet created this year on The Royal Ballet, choreographed by Wayne McGregor. It was part of triple bill, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, set to the Chichester Psalms. Designed by Edmund de Waal. It was sublime and I felt incredibly privileged to be involved! I really do hope it comes back in the repertoire soon.
The cast of Yugen with choreographer Wayne McGregor
These boots are from Zara and were only £60 !!