The Sarasota Ballet, Ashton Celebrated, ROH
The Sarasota Ballet joins the massive Ashton Worldwide Festival, celebrating the legacy of the prolific Royal Ballet founder choreographer
The Sarasota Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton's Sinfonietta. Photo: Frank Atura
Sir Frederick Ashton (1904-1988) is a towering figure in British ballet, but more than that, his work has gained international recognition and is performed all over the world.
Among the international companies with an extensive Ashton repertoire is The Sarasota Ballet. A relatively young middle-size company, it was founded in 1987 in the eponymous Florida city, where it quickly grew and gained root. But it was the appointment as artistic director of the former Royal Ballet dancer Iain Webb in 2007 that pushed the company onto its current path, and brought about the acquisition of many Ashton works.
It is, therefore, only natural that The Sarasota Ballet should play a key role in the massive Ashton Worldwide 2024-2028 festival, organised by the Ashton Foundation to celebrate the choreographer's work and legacy.
The Sarasota Ballet will stage seven performances in the Royal Opera House intimate Linbury Theatre, 4 - 9 June, with a selection of short Ashton works, some of which we haven't seen for quite a while, which show the choreographer's range from lyrical to avant garde, with satire alternating with intense darkness.
Among the latter is his Dante Sonata, which will be performed on 4, 5 and 8 June. A dark, multi-layered war ballet, it is set to music by Liszt and premiered in 1940.
Jennifer Hackbarth & Luke Schaufuss in Sir Frederick Ashton's Dante Sonata. Photo: Frank Atura
Facade, set to the music of William Walton, is a one-act ballet in seven scenes, intended as a satire on popular dance forms, and its avant garde language disconcerted audiences when it premiered in 1931. It's since been re-evaluated and is now staged all over the world. The Sarasota Ballet perform it on 6, 7, 8 and 9 June.
Gabriella Schultz & The Sarasota Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton's Facade. Photo: Frank Atura
Sinfonietta (pictured top), a fast moving, fiendishly difficult work to music by Malcolm Williamson, will be performed on 4, 5 and June.
A personal favourite is Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, set to Ravel's piece of the same name. A work for ten dancers costumed in strong colours, it takes place in the anteroom to a ballroom, and is choreographed for a waltzing ensemble and a trio of soloists: one woman and two men. It features in every performance.
Danielle Brown, Daniel Pratt, and Ricardo Rhodes in Sir Frederick Ashton's Valses Nobles et Sentimentales - Photo: Frank Atura
As well, some of the programmes will include a selection of divertissements.
The 8 June performance is a special gala where The Sarasota Ballet will be joined by The Royal Ballet. Vadim Muntagirov will perform the limpid Dance of the Blessed Spirits, while Lauren Cuthbertson, Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Gary Avis will join Sarasota Ballet in Facade. The programme will also include Varii Capricci. Here's a taster.
Running in parallel, The Royal Ballet presents its own homage to Ashton in programmes running on the main stage 6 - 22 June.
Among the international companies with an extensive Ashton repertoire is The Sarasota Ballet. A relatively young middle-size company, it was founded in 1987 in the eponymous Florida city, where it quickly grew and gained root. But it was the appointment as artistic director of the former Royal Ballet dancer Iain Webb in 2007 that pushed the company onto its current path, and brought about the acquisition of many Ashton works.
It is, therefore, only natural that The Sarasota Ballet should play a key role in the massive Ashton Worldwide 2024-2028 festival, organised by the Ashton Foundation to celebrate the choreographer's work and legacy.
The Sarasota Ballet will stage seven performances in the Royal Opera House intimate Linbury Theatre, 4 - 9 June, with a selection of short Ashton works, some of which we haven't seen for quite a while, which show the choreographer's range from lyrical to avant garde, with satire alternating with intense darkness.
Among the latter is his Dante Sonata, which will be performed on 4, 5 and 8 June. A dark, multi-layered war ballet, it is set to music by Liszt and premiered in 1940.
Jennifer Hackbarth & Luke Schaufuss in Sir Frederick Ashton's Dante Sonata. Photo: Frank Atura
Facade, set to the music of William Walton, is a one-act ballet in seven scenes, intended as a satire on popular dance forms, and its avant garde language disconcerted audiences when it premiered in 1931. It's since been re-evaluated and is now staged all over the world. The Sarasota Ballet perform it on 6, 7, 8 and 9 June.
Gabriella Schultz & The Sarasota Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton's Facade. Photo: Frank Atura
Sinfonietta (pictured top), a fast moving, fiendishly difficult work to music by Malcolm Williamson, will be performed on 4, 5 and June.
A personal favourite is Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, set to Ravel's piece of the same name. A work for ten dancers costumed in strong colours, it takes place in the anteroom to a ballroom, and is choreographed for a waltzing ensemble and a trio of soloists: one woman and two men. It features in every performance.
Danielle Brown, Daniel Pratt, and Ricardo Rhodes in Sir Frederick Ashton's Valses Nobles et Sentimentales - Photo: Frank Atura
As well, some of the programmes will include a selection of divertissements.
The 8 June performance is a special gala where The Sarasota Ballet will be joined by The Royal Ballet. Vadim Muntagirov will perform the limpid Dance of the Blessed Spirits, while Lauren Cuthbertson, Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Gary Avis will join Sarasota Ballet in Facade. The programme will also include Varii Capricci. Here's a taster.
Running in parallel, The Royal Ballet presents its own homage to Ashton in programmes running on the main stage 6 - 22 June.
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| What | The Sarasota Ballet, Ashton Celebrated, ROH |
| Where | Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Covent Garden (underground) |
| When |
04 Jun 24 – 09 Jun 24, 19:45 Dur.: TBC |
| Price | £RETURNS ONLY |
| Website | https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/the-sarasota-ballet-2024-dates |