This luxurious large scale coffee table book celebrates an icon of British ballet, but within a wider context than life as member of a major company. The young Darcey Bussell shot to stardom at the Royal Ballet when, still a teenager, she was selected by Kenneth MacMillan to create the central role of Princess Rose in his ballet of 1989 The Prince of the Pagodas; after its premiere becoming the company’s youngest principal dancer. Her elegantly long physique and sunny charm coupled with technical clarity, strength and assurance enabled her to shine not only in ballet’s classic 19th century repertoire but also in major works by MacMillan and Ashton, Balanchine and Christopher Wheeldon. She retired from the Royal Ballet at the age of 38 but has managed to make a seamless transition to a wider career as a much loved celebrity, exploring other dance genres in performance and on television, but also as a presenter of dance transmissions and documentaries, and perhaps most famously of late as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. (more…)
April 16, 2019
Darcey Bussell: Evolved – Susie Crow reviews
Posted by susiecrow under reviews | Tags: Annie Leibovitz, Anthony Crickmay, Arthur Elgort, Bill Cooper, Chris Nash, dance photography, Darcey Bussell, Darcey Bussell: Evolved, Hardie Grant Books, Herbie Knott, Janine Limberg, Jason Bell, Jasper Conran, John Swannell, Katherine Jenkins, Kenneth MacMillan, Lord Snowdon, Mario Testino, Reg Wilson, Richard Avedon, Ross MacGibbon, Strictly Come Dancing, The Royal Ballet |1 Comment
April 9, 2019
Darcey Bussell interviewed by Nick Higham, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Literary Festival 30th March 2019 – Maggie Watson reports
Posted by susiecrow under reviews | Tags: Anthony Crickmay, Apollo, Billy Elliot, Carlos Acosta, dance photography, Darcey Bussell, Darcey Bussell: Evolved, Kenneth MacMillan, La Bayadère, Maggie Watson, Manon, Nick Higham, Oxford Literary Festival, Roberto Bolle, Romeo and Juliet, Royal Ballet, Sheldonian Theatre, Strictly Come Dancing, Swan Lake, Sylvia, Viva la Diva |[2] Comments
Nick Higham’s interview with Darcey Bussell in the Sheldonian Theatre was the only dance-related event in this year’s Oxford Literary Festival, and it was sold out. I was sitting right at the top, next to a family with two small girls, who were very anxious about whether they would be able to see. Happily, we turned out to be on the best side of the Gallery, and had a good view of Bussell, who seemed to be channelling her inner Audrey Hepburn, in slacks, pumps and a polka-dot blouse.
Higham opened the discussion by talking about her book Darcey Bussell: Evolved, which is a collection of images of Bussell in locations ranging from the top of the Albert Memorial to the London Eye. Higham asked what it is like to be a photographer’s muse, to which Bussell replied that it is part of the job of promoting her art form. (more…)
October 14, 2018
In Strictest Confidence: Craig Revel Horwood, The Sheldonian Theatre 18th October 2018
Posted by susiecrow under What's happening | Tags: Blackwell's Bookshop, Craig Revel Horwood, dance autobiography, In Strictest Confidence, Sheldonian Theatre, Strictly Come Dancing |Leave a Comment
A treat in store for inveterate fans of Strictly Come Dancing… Blackwell’s Bookshop is delighted to welcome to Oxford Craig Revel Horwood, who will be discussing the third instalment of his frank and funny autobiography, In Strictest Confidence at the Sheldonian Theatre.
In Strictest Confidence takes the reader through the highs and lows of the Strictly Come Dancing star’s ‘fab-u-lous’ life. The aussie-born judge shares his famously forthright views on the changes in Strictly Come Dancing‘s line up – from Bruce Forsyth and Len Goodman’s departures to the arrival of Claudia Winkleman and Shirley Ballas – as well as the dancers and the stars. (more…)
June 15, 2014
FLASHMOB at New Theatre Oxford 13th June 2014 – Susie Crow reviews
Posted by susiecrow under reviews | Tags: Alleviate, Britain’s Got Talent, Brosena, FLASHMOB, Flawless, Got to Dance, Karen Hauer, Kevin Clifton, New Theatre Oxford, Nick Winston, So You Think You Can Dance, Strictly Come Dancing, Tommy Franzen |Leave a Comment
A welcome alternative to football presented itself on Friday night with the appearance of FLASHMOB – Where Dance Worlds Collide at Oxford’s New Theatre. Fresh from an opening season at London’s Peacock Theatre, and at the start of an intensive nationwide tour of mainly one night stands, this dance show brings together a range of popular dancers known from TV shows: headlined by Kevin “from Grimsby” Clifton and Karen Hauer from BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, with Irish dancing duo Brosena and lyrical duo Alleviate from Sky’s Got to Dance, versatile street dancer Tommy Franzen (Runner-up in BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance 2010), and last but not least, street dance ensemble Flawless who came to fame in Britain’s Got Talent 2009.
Choreographer Nick Winston directs, providing ensembles and a narrative thread to frame numbers in a range of dance genres arranged by the featured artists themselves which allow their particular and often spectacular skills to shine. (more…)
June 10, 2014
FLASHMOB, New Theatre Friday June 13th 2014
Posted by susiecrow under What's happening | Tags: Alleviate, Brosena, Flash Mob, Flawless, Karen Hauer, Kevin Clifton, New Theatre Oxford, So You Think You Can Dance, Strictly Come Dancing, Tommy Franzen |Leave a Comment
TV STARS JOIN TOGETHER FOR THE MOST EXCITING DANCE SHOW OF THE YEAR ……
If you love dance, then Flash Mob is a show you cannot miss. See the stars of TV dance shows headlined by the spectacular Kevin Clifton (Kevin from Grimsby) and Karen Hauer, from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, World Street Dance champions Flawless from Britain’s Got Talent, as well as Olivier nominated Tommy Franzen (BBC1 So You Think You Can Dance) contemporary duo Alleviate and Irish fusion duo Brosena from Sky 1’s Got To Dance. This show for every member of the family offers you the chance to immerse yourself in the joy of dance. Flash Mob provides a spectacular gourmet menu of many different dance genres, stripping away the need to focus on any one dance style and allowing you to just enjoy the wonder of movement to music. From Latin to Locking, from Celtic to contemporary and from jazz to jump jive, you will laugh, cry and be on your feet for this dynamic production that celebrates the powerful emotions that dance can bring to an audience. (more…)
February 8, 2014
Brendan Cole in License to Thrill, new Theatre Oxford, Friday 14th February 2014
Posted by susiecrow under What's happening | Tags: ballroom dancing, Brendan Cole, License to Thrill, New Theatre Oxford, Strictly Come Dancing |Leave a Comment
June 14, 2013
Strictly Confidential at New Theatre Oxford 18th-19th June 2013
Posted by susiecrow under What's happening | Tags: Artem Chigvintsev, Craig Revel Horwood, Ian Waite, Lisa Riley, Natalie Lowe, New Theatre Oxford, Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Confidential |Leave a Comment
For those of you that have been missing that weekly dance fix… the live show, coming next week to Oxford’s own New Theatre. Told through the eyes of the hugely popular Lisa Riley, under the direction of TV’s most notorious judge, Craig Revel Horwood, Strictly Confidential is a dance and music extravaganza, complete with sequins, spray tans and behind-the-scenes action from the BBC One Saturday night entertainment series.
Much-loved professionals Artem Chigvintsev, Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite will take your breath away with their exquisite performances of all your favourite ballroom and Latin routines, as well as their insider knowledge of the world of Strictly…. (more…)
February 10, 2013
Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the New Theatre Oxford 25th February to 2nd March
Posted by susiecrow under What's happening | Tags: Jason Donovan, New Theatre Oxford, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Strictly Come Dancing |1 Comment
For Strictly fans, a chance to see Jason Donovan in the musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert, direct from the West End at Oxford’s New Theatre. Winner of 4 WhatsOnStage.com awards, including Best New Musical, and based on the smash-hit movie, Priscilla is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they had ever dreamed of. Jason Donovan stars as Tick, the role he originated in the West End production. (more…)