With Alexei Ratmansky’s lush new Sleeping Beauty for ABT, a compelling homage to the works of Virginia Woolf brought by Wayne McGregor to the Royal Ballet, a new Mariinsky DVD release with Vishneva/Skhlyarov (always something we celebrate!), ballet documentaries like Ballet 422, and the BBC’s excellent Nureyev: Dance to Freedom plus a Golden Globe nominated TV series (Flesh and Bone), there were too many favourite dance moments for us and for the dance media to pick in 2015.
Gillian Murphy as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo: © Gene Schiavone.
So it’s over to you:
What was your favourite dance moment of 2015?
Use the comment form below or email us (theballetbag [at] gmail.com). Your answers will be automatically added to our Christmas giveaway, as we are teaming up with the Gaynor Minden crew to give away two pairs of pointe shoes.
Gaynor Minden artist Gillian Murphy – Photo: © Eduardo Patino, courtesy of Gaynor Minden
This promo closes on 7 January 2016. The two lucky winners will be able to place a custom order for their Gaynor Minden ballet shoes.
Entries from all over the globe are welcome.
Good luck and Merry Xmas!
Update: 11 February 2016 – Promo winners are:
Melody, who commented:
“My favourite moment was seeing Michaela DePrince dance the role of Clara, in the Dutch National Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. Not only is she extraordinarily talented, the sheer happiness radiated off of her, making her a perfect Clara. It is inspiring to know that more and more girls of colour are dancing lead roles nowadays. My children will grow up believing that, they too can dance the role of Clara, even if they’re not white.”
Laura, who emailed us:
“I really enjoyed Wayne McGregor’s Raven girl and the World Ballet Day live streams. But I have to say, my favorite was our own Finnish national ballet’s world premiere of Kenneth Greve’s Little mermaid. The costumes and sets were out of this world and there even were 3D effects in use. It really was a pleasure to see.”
Congratulations Melody and Laura! We’ll be in touch by email soon.
If your entry was not picked this time, don’t worry. Keep checking for further promotions soon!
Rachel Ingle
My best Dance moment of 2015 was getting back to pointe after having my second child and being 35 years old. Having my daughter with me, who’s 12 and I have taught since she was 2, and have her be proud of me of how far I’ve come since having a stroke and told I would never dance again. There’s something to be said for determination and passion.
Aubrey Grasz
My favorite dance moment of 2015 was choreographing my own contemporary pointe solo for the first time at the age of 16! I am so excited to continue performing and competing the solo throughout the upcoming year in my wonderful Gaynors! The best part of performing my pointe solo is that I get to share my passion for dance as a gift to the audience. I would love the opportunity to order new Gaynor Minden pointe shoes to perform in!
Melisa
My favourite moment was watching Carlos Acosta’s A Classical Selection at the London Coliseum.
Gabriela
My favourite dance moment was watching World Ballet Day from home with my toddler. He melted my heart by moving his little feet and spinning around after getting inspired the dancers.
Rebecca Morrell
My favorite dance moment of 2015 was dancincg in mountain west ballets annual nuttcracker. I was a demi solosist spanish dancer htis year and i was super excited!
Lee Page
MISTY COPELAND! There have been many milestones in 2015 for Misty Copeland. A Ballerina’s Tale (released October 2015), the documentary about Misty Copeland and her rise to success past barriers like race, body-image issues, and a late start in dance at 13. Misty was named a Principal Dancer with the ABT and landed a Time 100 Cover in April, made her Broadway debut in On the Town in August 2015, and continued to inspire as the face of viral Under Armour campaigns.
Moira Swiatkowski
My favorite dance moment was when my daughter was teaching her younger brother some dance moves and put on a show for her dad and me.
Bella
My favourite dance moment of 2015 was watching Mariinsky’s new DVD release of Cinderella. It was breathtaking and illuminating for me as dancer.
Veronica
The favourite moment of 2015 was Maria Riccetto in Romeo y Julieta in my country Uruguay. All the play was amazing !!!!!!
The points are for my daugther.
Elizabeth nesbitt
My favorite dance moment of 2015 was watching my 3 yr old daughters face at her first performance of nutcracker. Absolutely captivated! Which is not an easy task. Ballet is magical.
Abby Rielly
My favourite ballet moment of 2015 was auditioning for the Associate Programme at Scottish Ballet and getting a place.
Lily
My favorite ballet moments in 2015 are I had my first pair of pointe shoes and watched Sylvie Guillem’s Life in Progress. The performance was totally breathtaking.
Erica
My favorite moment was going to see the nutcracker. It made me feel in love with ballet all over again. It made me want to work harder and got better as a dancer in class and as a person as well. It help me to remember why I wanted to be a dancer in the first place.
Marilia Dagkovanou
Initially Whenever I have rehearsal is my favorite moment . I am in adolescence though I have to say my most favorite moment would say when I was given the opportunity to join the National Opera of Greece, where I spent successfully. Many thanks you and Gaynor Minden. good luck .
Sofia Villalba
My favourite dance moment was going to class. Although it sounds lame, there’s nothing I’d rather spend my time on than discovering myself and pushing my limits
Evie Ananiadou
The happiest moment in 2015 for me was the chance I was given to appear on stage at my dance school end of year performance at the age of 51.
Jessica Vongphachan
My favourite dance moment was taking a road trip to Sydney with a bunch of dance friends to perform at a ‘Don’t Dis my Disability Dance Extravaganza’! It was so much fun, and it was great to see so much talent all dancing for a great cause.