Jonathan Gray journeyed to Tbilisi in Georgia, to see the celebrations marking Nina Ananiashvili’s 30 years on stage. Here, he offers a personal tribute to a great ballerina

Not so very long ago, it was not unusual for a ballerina’s career to last well into her forties and beyond – just think of some of the great names from the past, like Anna Pavlova, Galina Ulanova, Margot Fonteyn, Maya Plisetskaya, Antoinette Sibley or Lynn Seymour.

Weather and Wimbledon caught dance twitterers’ attention this week.

The newly-formed Sarasota International Dance Festival in Florida, US has launched the Carreño Dance Festival, named for the American Ballet Theatre star Jose Manuel Carreño, who will lead the team of guest artists.