Dance of perfection (Royal Opera House, October 2021)

Two ballet dancers - former Ballerina Alessandra Ferri and (now) former Principal Edward Watson have given their master performances this month in Royal Opera House.

Alessandra Ferri, who celebrated the 40th anniversary of her association with The Royal Ballet, captured an intimate portrait of an ageing ballerina remembering her younger years, in L'Heure Exquise , the piece of a French choreographer Maurice Béjart. Accompanied by a former Hamburg Ballet dancer Carsten Jung, she partly acts, partly narrates and partly dances the role of "She" (the ballerina) who graciously navigates throughout her memories, her dream-like thoughts and her philosophy ("I can’t complain, I mustn’t complain”) on a stage with the pyramid of ballerina shoes. Her artistic persona has still the captivating presence on stage and her technical virtuosity hasn't lost its lust. The performance was played at Royal opera House's Linbury Theatre.

Edward Watson's last stage performances were dedicated to The Dante Project, a new Wayne McGregor's master piece, that we could see in Royal Opera House from the 14th till 30th of October 2021. Watson, capable of bending in a very unusual way and always searching the depth of the characters he portrays, has been an enormous inspiration to the two Royal Ballet's choreographers: Christopher Wheeldon and Wayne McGregor. His physical presence, technique and thoughtful, dramatic interpretations, destined him to dance the most daring and experimental roles, setting a new tone of the ballet principals.

Watson will be dearly missed as a dancer. Luckily, the Royal ballet hasn't lost him altogether, as he's now started a new chapter in his career - as a ballet's coach.