Ballet companies have their ups and downs, just like the rest of us. Robert Gottlieb balletcompanydown Change image and share on social
'Black Swan' does what Hollywood movies have always done - it spends its energies on getting some surface things right while getting everything important wrong. Darren Aronofsky, the director, applies the same techniques and the same sensibility here as he did with 'The Wrestler,' only with a prettier protagonist. Robert Gottlieb applyaronofskyblack share on social
You can approach 'The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death' in a variety or combination of ways: as a startlingly eccentric hobby; as a series of unresolved murder mysteries; as the manifestation of one woman's peculiar psychic life; as a lesson in forensics; as a metaphor for the fate of women; as a photographic study. Robert Gottlieb approachcombinationdeath share on social
I hated Matthew Bourne's 'Swan Lake' when it first turned up, and then when it was televised, and then when it returned. Robert Gottlieb bournehatelake Change image and share on social
The Kirov is a great ballet company because it has so many terrific dancers, but it doesn't always know what to do with them. Robert Gottlieb balletcompanydancer Change image and share on social
'The Leaves Are Fading' had something of a vogue when Antony Tudor made it in 1975, largely because of Gelsey Kirkland's ravishing performance. Robert Gottlieb antonyfadegelsey Change image and share on social
Ballet Hispanico is far from Irish, and, though it has strong dancers, its Spanishness has always left me unconvinced. Robert Gottlieb balletdancerhispanico Change image and share on social
Increasingly, editing means going to lunch. It means editing with a credit card, not with a pencil. Robert Gottlieb cardcreditedit Change image and share on social
Classics are constantly being re-imagined and transformed, and the originals are none the worse for it; they endure. Robert Gottlieb badlyclassicconstantly Change image and share on social
Tolstoy may be right about happy and unhappy families, but in ballet, it works the opposite way: All good ballets are different from each other and all bad ones are alike, at least in one crucial respect - they're all empty. Robert Gottlieb alikebadballet share on social