First, we look forward to the New Year wishing all our readers health and happiness and a rich diet of dancing
in all its forms in 2007. Looking back on 2006, we recall (in no particular order) the delights of the Bolshoi Ballet’s season and our first sight of the immensely gifted Natalia Osipova; the huge fun and nostalgia of the Ballets Russes film; The Royal Ballet’s superb account of Stravinsky Violin Concerto and other works by Balanchine; the happy revival of Coppélia, with enchanting Marianela Nuñez, and the success of The Rake’s Progress as part of that company’s birthday celebrations; the laughter and skills provided by the Trocks; and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s fine Firebird, restoration of Pineapple Poll to the repertory, and, above all, the triumph of the Ballet Hoo! project. At Sadler’s Wells, Carlos Acosta and his friends gave much pleasure but also at Sadler’s Wells, alas, there were two major disasters of the year, Rambert’s Lady into Fox, a totally unrepresentative account of Andrée Howard’s ballet, and the artistically disastrous week by Darcey Bussell & Igor Zelensky which played near equal mayhem with Roland Petit’s Le Jeune homme et la mort. Another low point of the year was the Kirov Ballet’s ill-advised programme at the Coliseum. Try and forget all three! And welcome with hope 2007.