The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Natalia Osipova – Pure Dance at Sadler’s Wells

Natalia Osipova – Pure Dance at Sadler’s Wells | Theatre review
14 September 2018
Catherine Sedgwick
Avatar
Catherine Sedgwick
14 September 2018

An intriguing, eclectic series of dance vignettes, Natalia Osipova – Pure Dance at Saddler’s Wells Theatre showcases the artist’s brilliant form and technique in both traditional and contemporary ballet.

Of the six performances, four are premiere showings that have been recently created and commissioned. Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading, written in 1975, is a delicate, melancholic pas de deux – featuring Osipova with long-term dance partner David Hallberg – about the passage of time and former love. In contrast, Ivan Perez’s new work Flutter (Osipova, Jonathan Goddard) portrays daring exploration, an expressive, dynamic venturing into the unknown.

Pondering the relationship between past and present, Amir Kliger’s Six Years Later (2011), with Osipova and Jason Kittelberger, is a compelling exposé of modern ballet. An exquisite new short piece danced to the music of Jean Sibelius, the notable Alexei Ratmansky’s Valse Triste (Osipova, Hallberg) moves and inspires. Two premiering solos artfully complete the programme: the stirring In Absentia by Kim Brandstrup, danced by Hallberg, and Yuka Oishi’s innovative Ava Maria as a finale with Osipova.

As a dancer, the star is charismatic, technically exceptional and courageous, with a passion, flexibility and buoyancy of movement – possibly influenced by her training as a gymnast combined with an interest in the cutting edge – that deliver a special grace, energy and boldness of spirit to every role.

Choreography by Kim Brandstrup is superb, realised via top-notch performances. Together, Osipova and David Hallberg have a special chemistry and work beautifully in duet. The latter’s remarkable, athletic and flawless execution dazzles, and the two in unison form an impressive synergy. Jonathan Goddard is incandescent; that he is also a choreographer may explain his seamless exactitude of movement, and Jason Kittelberger’s powerful dancing brings an effective tension to his duo with the prima ballerina.

Varied and evocative costuming complements a simple stage set in which magnificent lighting dominates. The sound is diverse and excellent, including chamber music, vibrant contemporary compositions, a Beethoven sonata, a waltz and a rendition of Ava Maria.

A charming, ingenious, well-coordinated production with star performers and tremendous appeal for both classical and modern ballet aficionados, Pure Dance is thought-provoking and compelling in its originality and a joy to watch.

★★★★★

Catherine Sedgwick
Photo: Johan Persson

Natalia Osipova – Pure Dance is at Sadler’s Wells from 12th September until 16th September 2018. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for Natalia Osipova – Pure Dance here:

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Typical at Soho Theatre

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild

Michael Higgs
Read More

Living Record Festival: Ain’t No Female Romeo

★★★★★
Brooke Snowe
Read More

West End Musical Drive In Online

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

Hymn at the Almeida Theatre Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Songs for a New World

★★★★★
Sophia Moss
Read More

Night Tree at Pavilion Dance South West Online

★★★★★
Alexandra Fletcher
Read More

The Color Purple – At Home at Curve Theatre Online

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Catherine Sedgwick

Natalia Osipova - Pure Dance

★★★★★

Dates

12th September - 16th September 2018

Price

£12-£60

Links & directions

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Creation Stories
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Smith & Burrows – Only Smith & Burrows Is Good Enough
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild
    Theatre
  • Wrong Turn
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Jumbo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Da Capo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • My Wonderful Wanda
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Foster Boy
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Your Honor
    ★★★★★
    other
  • Da Capo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • My Favourite War
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Typical at Soho Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Minari
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Heathers: The Musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket | Theatre review
Skate Kitchen premiere: On the red carpet with director Crystal Moselle, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, Kabrina Adams and Ardelia Lovelace