Following on the heels of their impressive, much-lauded inaugural Glasgow show last year, Ballet Nights is back in town. Bringing an all-new, finely curated programme of the great and the good of the contemporary ballet world.
Once again hosted by Ballet Nights creator Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, a favourite of his former adopted home town where he spent the lion’s share of his professional career. The evening of dance opens with home-grown talent, the Royal Ballet’s Harris Bell and his wife, fellow Royal Ballet soloist Sae Maeda performing the Moszkowski Waltz to great acclaim.
In this eclectic collection the theme, tone and particularly the artistic style changes with each and every piece. Taking a 90 degree turn, Chrysanthi Nikolaou and Django Bates-Blower tackle the “intense physical interchange” of Atlas, to pounding beats and blood red lighting, the intense work ramps up to a crescendo.
The students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland demonstrate that the future of modern ballet is in safe and sure hands in Horse, a work celebrating the Chinese Year of the Horse.
Delivering the most avant-garde sequence of the night are Taiwanese duo Shu-Han Yen and Meng-Ting Tsai from B.DANCE. Their piece Floating Flowers is in turn, confusing, amusing and compelling.
Despite the intensity of many of the first act pieces it is the PCK Dance’s final duet from IMAGO that leaves the greatest impression. A touching, affecting piece danced to Max Richter’s gorgeous soundtrack, it lingers long in the mind.
Rounding out the first half of the programme are two stars from les Ballets de Monte Carlo: Lou Beyne and Jaat Benoot in Dov’è la Luna. The piece delivers on intensity but it is not exactly enhanced by the poor lighting choice, something that could be said for a considerable number of the performances this evening – consuming many in a murky gloom that fails to showcase these World class dancers.
Raising the roof in the second act is Guy Salim and his New York hoofing style tap number Temperature. The immediacy and accessibility of this percussive piece from former STOMP! member, multi-disciplinary artist Salim is a refreshing palate cleanser.
From the streets of New York we experience the aftermath of a nuclear attack in BREATHE from Liam Woodvine and Taylor Hughes, making their Scottish debut together.
In a heart-felt tribute to Scottish Ballet creator Peter Darrell, Birmingham Royal Ballet stars Ixan Llorca Ferrer and Daria Stanciulesca play out the emotive Pas de Deux from Chéri. The touching tale of a young man and his ageing lover is sensitively danced.
Cornish duo Sarah Jane Taylor and James Wilton, in one of the longest pieces of the programme deliver bristling energy and intensity to Summer from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
The evening ends on its biggest stars Maeda and Bell with the most classic of classical ballet sequences, the Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty. In the grand ceremonial style, the 136 year old work is the perfect display of classical technique and stands in stark juxtaposition to the raft of contemporary pieces in the programme.
As always, Ballet Nights never fails to surprise and delight. Eclectic, energising and inspiring, the future of contemporary dance is assured with programming like this.
Runs until 3 September 2026 | Image: Deborah Jaffe
