La Valse/ Invitus Invitam/ Winter Dreams/ Theme & Variations, Royal Ballet

Alicia Alonso turns up for a night of febrile dancing and unrequited passion

by Ismene BrownFriday, 15 October 2010

Rojo in 'Theme and Variations': 'The diamond beauty of Balanchine’s ballet language at its most classical'© Johan Persson/ROH

The ballet world knows uniquely well how to stage gracious gestures to one of its own - dance history is close-knit and last night the Royal Ballet’s first mixed bill of the season turned into a surprising celebration of the Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso in her 90th year. Even more of a stunner to see Alonso herself sitting in the Royal Box, and coming on stage at the end to a standing ovation, tiny, chalk-white, red-lipped, with black glasses over her blind eyes, giving a remarkably deep curtsey for someone of 89.

It’s like a Powell and Pressburger movie fantasy, and the curtain falls on them because they simply can’t stop dancing

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