Rehearsals November 23, 2015

Autumn at the Royal Ballet: a Photo Gallery

Carlos Acosta's farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

The ROH autumn season began on a somewhat bittersweet note, with Carlos Acosta’s farewell during the last performance of his new production of Carmen. Although Carlos is set to perform in Will Tuckett’s Elizabeth at the Linbury Theatre (dancing opposite Zenaida Yanowsky), he has now officially retired from The Royal Ballet after 17 years with the Company.

We hear that Acosta will now focus on contemporary dance and that he is also planning to open a new dance and arts school in his homeland of Cuba. No doubt he will also continue to choreograph ballets here and there, despite the mixed critical reaction to this latest offering. To celebrate this wonderful dancer, here are some pictures of his final bow, which lasted not less than 20 minutes, phew! We also feature below Alice Pennefather’s selection of images from the same mixed bill:

Carlos Acosta's farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta’s farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta's farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta’s farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta's farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta’s farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta's farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta’s farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta's farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Carlos Acosta’s farewell performance. Photo: © The Ballet Bag

Vadim Muntagirov and Sarah Lamb in Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun
Vadim Muntagirov and Sarah Lamb in Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun
Lauren Cuthbertson in Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Laura Morera and Ryo Hirano in Liam Scarlett's Viscera
Meaghan Grace Hinkis and Artists of The Royal Ballet in Liam Scarlett's Viscera
Artists of The Royal Ballet in Viscera
Meaghan Grace Hinkis in Liam Scarlett's Viscera
Lauren Cuthbertson and Matthew Golding in Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Lauren Cuthbertson and Matthew Golding in Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Carlos Acosta's production of Carmen
Marianela Núñez and Artists of The Royal Ballet in Carmen
Federico Bonelli and Artists of The Royal Ballet in Carmen
Marianela Núñez as Carmen and Carlos Acosta as José
Marianela Núñez as Carmen, Federico Bonelli as Escamillo and Carlos Acosta as José
Marianela Núñez as Carmen

Photos: © Alice Pennefather & © The Ballet Bag

Alice’s creative talents lie in image making. After studying photography at Falmouth College of Arts, she spent 6 years travelling and working abroad, focusing on scuba diving and filming underwater. She has recently returned to London and rediscovered her love of everything Ballet. Alice now works as a freelance photographer, and is a regular at the Royal Ballet General Rehearsals – photographing for us here at The Ballet Bag. You can see more of Alice’s work at alicepennefatherdancephotography.wordpress.com

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2 Comments

  • December 25, 2015

    Steve

    I love these. The first one is amazing. Somehow that just spakes to me of who you are as a photographer and well just that she is going to pursue her passions, just like her Mom!

  • November 25, 2015

    Lilyana

    He is such cool dancer! I so like him! I dream to dance like him and work in Royal Ballet!