Film: courtesy Baryshnikov Arts Center
Issue 6 – February 2023
British royalty met ballet royalty at the end of last year, as Mikhail Baryshnikov received the RAD’s highest honour at Buckingham Palace. The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award is for those making a game-changing contribution to dance: Camilla, the Queen Consort, presented it to one of the 20th century’s defining classical dancers who continues to push the boundaries of performance in the 21st century.
British royalty met ballet royalty at the end of last year, as Mikhail Baryshnikov received the RAD’s highest honour at Buckingham Palace. The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award is for those making a game-changing contribution to dance: Camilla, the Queen Consort, presented it to one of the 20th century’s defining classical dancers who continues to push the boundaries of performance in the 21st century.
After the ceremony, Baryshnikov came to the RAD’s new global headquarters, where an enthusiastic audience heard memories of his first visit to London with the then Kirov Ballet. Notably, he recalled an exuberant Antoinette Sibley arriving at his hotel room to invite him to the Royal Ballet’s studios. Taking the tube to Baron’s Court – he made it sound like the most exotic expedition – he sat on the floor as she rehearsed Romeo and Juliet. Over 50 years on, he still sounded entranced – especially as Dame Antoinette, later the RAD’s President, was listening. The audience, as so often, was in the palm of his hand.
This special issue of Dance Gazette pays tribute to Baryshnikov: exquisite in ballet, experimenting on stage and screen. The dancer who defected from Soviet Russia has been a clarion voice against the invasion of Ukraine, and we examine the turbulent recent history of Russia’s flagship Bolshoi Ballet. Closer to home, we explore the RAD’s pioneering safeguarding work, and hear how the Academy supports international dancing lives of all ages.
As Baryshnikov’s QEII acceptance speech noted, dance can open a window on the world. ‘From very early years,’ he said, ‘dance has been my mentor, my teacher and my best friend. It has been an unspoken conversation with the world and I feel lucky to have found it.’
David Jays
Editor
Meet Mr Baryshnikov
The RAD has given Mikhail Baryshnikov its highest honour, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, in recognition of his outstanding career. This remarkable dancer looks back at his life in dance and explains what the QEII award means to him.
Bullet at the ballet
One critic described Mikhail Baryshnikov as ‘a shining golden bullet’ on the ballet stage. Jonathan Gray looks back on his miraculous classical career.
Misha and me
Even as his ballet career drew to a close, Mikhail Baryshnikov embraced modern dance, screen acting and experimental theatre. Artists including Mark Morris, Robert Wilson and Willem Dafoe tell Sarah Crompton about working with Baryshnikov.
Protection programme
Dance organisations at last accept that safeguarding and child protection should be central to their work. Sally Howard reports on how the RAD is at the forefront of a slow revolution.
Golden thread
From students to teachers, from adults taking up ballet in later life or using their dance training to pivot into a new career – the RAD forms a supportive thread through many dancing lives. We follow varied RAD stories from Brazil, Greece, Australia and the UK.
Curtains for the Bolshoi?
One year on from the invasion of Ukraine, Russian ballet is isolated from the wider world. Simon Morrison traces the recent history of the Bolshoi, Russia’s iconic ballet company.
SHORT READS Issue 6 – February 2023
In Fonteyn’s footsteps
As the RAD’s flagship competition returns in person, Gerard Charles, the RAD’s Artistic Director, looks forward to The Fonteyn 2023.
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Dame Beryl Grey
The great British ballerina, RAD Vice President – and Dance Gazette agony aunt.
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Prize performances
The Bedells Bursary was held at the RAD’s new headquarters for the first time.
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Marie-Astrid Mence
Trust your instincts, stay inspired. Advice from the French ballerina dancing in the West End’s electrifying new Oklahoma!
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Monica Mason
The RAD Vice President recalls travelling the world through ballet.
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Aaron Bloomfield
Aaron Bloomfield is the RAD’s new National Director Australia. How does a background in gymnastics prepare him for the dance world?
Read more
MORE ISSUES
WHEN CÉLINE MET STEVEN
Issue 5 – October 2022
The RAD has been a thread through the dancing lives of principal dancers Céline Gittens and Steven McRae. Now both RAD Ambassadors, they share hopes and experiences.
HOME
Issue 4 – June 2022
Celebrating the official opening of the RAD’s new London home, we mark this landmark by asking: what makes dance feel like home?
CLASSIC CARLOS
Issue 3 – February 2022
Few dancers delight a theatre audience like Carlos Acosta. The Cuban star is a classical artist and an undoubted charismatic – and although nudging 50, he continues to test himself and to give a frisson to challenging new work.
FACE ON
Issue 2 – October 2021
An issue all about the face we present to the world. Discover portraits, old masters, puppets, an RAD founder and the surprising history of ballet make-up.
FRESH START
Issue 1 – June 2021
The very first fully digital issue of Dance Gazette is all about embracing change. We explore impactful change: on stage, in sustainability, for young dancers entering the profession. Plus, breakdance!