Need a helping hand deciding what to get your balletomane friends or family members this festive season? Here we highlight five recent releases that will make great ballet Christmas gifts (do feel free to add more ideas in the comment form!):
Xander Parish – Russian Prince
Mike Dixon charts Xander’s inspirational story, from corps de ballet at the Royal Ballet to Mariinsky danseur with an ever-increasing repertory that includes such leading roles as Siegfried, Albrecht, Apollo, and Romeo. The book is illustrated with stunning photos of Xander in these and other important roles, as taken by Dance Europe’s Emma Kauldhar.
Available from the Dance Europe Shop.
Michaela De Prince: Taking Flight
Another incredibly inspirational and moving story, fans of the documentary First Position will love to track down the progress of this favorite dancer, now at the Dutch National Ballet junior company. More details available from the publishers, Random House.
Read the book, wear the t-shirt: we’re definitely putting in an order for this very cool Michaela tee from DNB.
Mariinsky R&J
Simply epic! After a great line-up for its Jewels DVD, the Mariinsky have managed to field an even more impressive cast for Romeo & Juliet. Vladimir Shklyarov and Diana Vishneva tackle Lavrovsky’s classic with MacMillanesque passion. Alexander Sergeyev and Yuri Smekalov shine as Mercutio and Paris. A DVD that should be in every ballet lover’s collection. Track it down on Amazon.
The Russian Ballet Collection
This beautifully packaged collection features five historically important Bolshoi Ballet recordings, showcasing such ballet legends as: Maya Plisetskaya (Odette/Odile in Swan Lake), Vladimir Vasiliev (Spartacus), Ekaterina Maximova (Masha in The Nutcracker), plus Nina Ananiashvili in one of her signature roles, Giselle. More details from Russian Ballet Collection’s Website.
ENB’s Le Corsaire
We’ve already covered the reasons why this production should be seen, and this particular cast is awesome: Vadim Muntagirov, Alina Cojocaru and Junor Souza. Currently available to rent or download, with a Blu-Ray also in the making. Watch on demand or download at Digital Theatre.com
Alyssa
Here are some other DVDs being released:
The Bolshoi in Marco Spada/The Bandit’s Daughter (can be found on Amazon)
Swan Lake and The Nutcracker (both Nureyev versions), released by the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) Ballet (can be found on Amazon)
The Winter’s Tale by the Royal Ballet (can be found on Amazon)
Question: Is Le Corsaire and the Russian Ballet Collection DVDs going to be available in America? I also saw that Mariinsky’s Cinderella has been released on DVD, just in Japan so far.
Emilia
Thanks Katherine, these look very cool!
Dance writer Luke Jennings also posted a great book suggestion on Twitter -> https://twitter.com/LukeJennings1/status/544247620710182914
Katherine Barber
These are also cool, bags made from ballet posters and photos:
http://www.totembags.ca/the-national-ballet-of-canada/?sort=newest
and
http://www.totembags.ca/signature-series-tarzan-dan-tdfoto-ca/?sort=newest