On April 3-6, 2023, the stage of London’s Linbury Theatre (Royal Opera House) hosted another edition of the International Draft Works program, which featured a presentation of Anna Hop’s choreographic miniature La Gazza Ladra by the Polish National Ballet. The event showcased a number of ballet companies from a number of countries.
About La Gazza Ladra by Anna Hop:
La Gazza Ladra, choreographed by Anna Hop and set to music by Gioacchino Rossini, is a choreographic miniature developed as part of the 15th choreographic workshop Creations. It premiered on January 12, 14 and 15, 2023 at the Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw. During this year’s International Draft Works at London’s Royal Opera House, La Gazza Ladra was performed by Polish National Ballet artists Yume Okano, Marco Esposito, Marko Juusela and Diogo de Oliveira.
About International Draft Works:
This April, The Royal Ballet celebrates the return of International Draft Works, a pioneering choreographic showcase for international ballet companies to present work from new voices in the intimacy of the Linbury Theatre. Encouraging new ideas and giving exposure to rising talent, this program brings together performances of new works that explore movement and new directions in classical ballet.
Among others, this year’s edition of the program featured presentations from ensembles based in Denmark, Norway, the RSA, and Scotland, including The Royal Danish Ballet, Joburg Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Polish National Ballet, Scottish Ballet and The Royal Ballet, who showcased pieces by rising talents at the forefront of dance, exploring the artistic potential of movement and new ideas.
The Polish National Ballet present La Gazza Ladra by Anna Hop; The Silence of Birds was the new piece by the Royal Danish Ballet’s Eukene Sagues. The Norwegian National Ballet presented the premiere of A part apart, a new work by Cina Espejord. The Joburg Ballet took to the stage with Resilio by Mario Gaglione, while the Scottish Ballet presented the premiere of Trifecta, a new work from Nicholas Shoesmith. The Royal Ballet showcased a new piece by the Royal Ballet Resident Emerging Choreographer Joseph Toonga. On top of those, the Royal Ballet Soloist Ashley Dean performed Embers, which debuted in 2022; the piece was inspired by the music of the same name by Max Richter.
On the photo: Polish National Ballet, La Gazza Ladra, choreographed by Anna Hop. Creations 15, January 12, 14 and 15, 2023, Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw. Photo by Ewa Krasucka