Oh to travel the world and experience dance in other cultures and historic venues! Part of becoming a well rounded and passionate purveyor of the arts means becoming well-versed in the best places to immerse yourself in moveable storytelling and expression.
Here are the 5 best places in the world to experience dance:
#1 Edinburg, Scotland – The Scottish Ballet & the Edinburgh International Festival
Rooted in the classical technique of ballet, Scotland’s Dance Company was founded by Peter Darrell and Elizabeth West as the Western Theatre Ballet in Bristol in 1957.
Not only does the company perform new variations on the classics like The Nutcracker and Cinderella, the world-renowned creative team takes on productions like Jirí Kylián’s 14´20 performed at the Edinburgh International Festival.
In addition to the Scottish Ballet, every August, Edinburg hosts an impressive performing arts creative festival. Many more events are held throughout the year to celebrate the arts, making Edinburgh, Scotland one of the best places to experience dance in the world.
(Erik Cavallari as Romeo and Sophie Martin as Juliet in Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet, Photo: Andrew Ross)
#2 Russia – Moscow Ballet & the Bolshoi
The visual poetry that comes from the Bolshoi Theatre is historic. Coming to life in the spring of 1776, the Bolshoi Theatre changed hands and locations, but nevertheless grew into the powerful display of visual artistry it is today. The Carmen Suite, Don Quixote, and The Taming of the Shrew name a few of the classics performed in addition to Modern Choreography Night and The Bright Stream, a comic ballet in two acts.
Moscow Ballet
While traveling to Russia would be ideal to see the stunning performance of the Moscow Ballet, this exquisite production travels the world and can be found in Chicago and other states in America quite often.
#3 National Ballet of Canada
The largest ballet troupe in Canada, the National Ballet of Canada is committed to giving families and young people the opportunity to experience ballet and performs at its home venue at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. The 2015/2016 repetoire includes Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Cacti, Le Petit Prince, and Giselle.
(Gif – Guillaume Côté on the National Ballet of Canada site)
#4 Barcelona, Spain
If you are looking for a more casual and friendly immersion into dance, the Catalan Cultural Dance in Barcelona should fit the bill. The Sardana, a circle folk dance deriving from northeast Spain, defines the Catalan spirit which embodies harmony, democracy, and brotherhood.
Often performed in the streets and accompanied by a small band called a cobla, which features small drums and wind instruments, the Sardana is a peppy expression of friendship and happiness and is fairly easy to learn.
#5 Paris
(Myriam Ould-Braham performing Genus with Jrmie Belingard, choreographed by Wayne McGregor, in a scene from Frederick WisemanÕs LA DANSE: THE PARIS OPERA BALLET.Ê Courtesy of Zipporah Films.)
Boasting nothing but beauty and culture, Paris is the mecca for the performing arts. The Paris Opera Ballet quenches your thirst for classic ballet while modern and avant-garde styles can easily be found peppered throughout the city. The Festival d’Automne, a four month celebration of the performing arts, features well-know venues like the Centre Pompidou and more intimate off the path scenes like the Nouveau Théâtre de Montreuil, making France an inspirational scene for everything movement.
Live. Love. Dance.
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