Opus Arte

This autumn, the Royal Academy of Arts stages a new exhibition focusing on Edgar Degas’s preoccupation with movement as an artist of dance and ballet subjects. ‘Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement’ traces the development of the artist's ballet imagery throughout his career,

Ballet captures the public imagination in a way unlike other art forms. The analogy of the swan – furious activity belied by poise and insouciant beauty – is implicit to ballet, and is equally analogous of life. Perhaps this is why film makers and the movie going public are as fascinated with ballet as dance aficionados themselves.

Photo © Johann Persson

The Nutcracker has become one of the most revered ballets of all time. Tchaikovsky’s delightful score woven around ETA Hoffman’s magical fairytale is a firm family favourite and especially synonymous with Christmas time – filled, as it is, with glistening snowflakes and enchanted toys.

The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the principal dance companies of Russia and one of the most famous ballet companies in the world. The company is making a highly anticipated visit to London this summer to appear at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Ivan Vasiliev in Spartacus. Photo © Damir Yusupov, Bolshoi Theatre

Tonight is the second date of the BP Summer Screen season, showing the Royal Ballet’s triple bill Chroma, Tryst and Symphony in C, on a big screen in Trafalgar Square, London.