Czardas with Steven McRae and Vasko Vassilev

Brilliant tap dancing from Steven Mcrae, principal with the Royal Ballet. Loved it!

NEW! - Bolshoi Ballet 2015-16 Cinema Season Teaser

Love the trailer from the Bolshoi for their new cinema season.

Margot Fonteyn's Birthday

Today is Margot Fonteyn's Birthday
Born on this day May 18th 1919

Biography

Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina Assoluta Margot Fonteyn (1919–91) was an iconic figure in British ballet. With Ninette de Valois and Frederick Ashton she was instrumental in shaping the Company, and was particularly renowned for her performances in the classics and as a muse for Ashton. Her dance partnership with Rudolf Nureyev towards the end of her career won them both worldwide fame.

Fonteyn was born Margaret Hookham in Reigate. She started ballet lessons aged four in Ealing. In 1928 her family moved to China, where she studied in Shanghai under George Goncharov. She returned to England in 1933 to study under Serfina Astafieva and in 1934 joined Sadler's Wells School. While a student she made her debut with Vic-Wells Ballet and made her solo debut that year as Young Tregennis (De Valois' The Haunted Ballroom). When Alicia Markova left the Company in 1935 Fonteyn took over many of her roles and went on to develop a great partnership with Robert Helpmann in the classical ballets. She was reaching the end of her career when she first performed with Nureyev in Giselle in February 1962. Through Nureyev Fonteyn discovered new resources, and their partnership became one of the most famed in ballet's history.

Fonteyn's dancing was distinguished by its perfect line and exquisite lyricism, qualities evident in the roles created on her by Ashton. These include Ondine, Cinderella, Chloë, Marguerite and roles in Symphonic Variations and Homage to The Queen.

Margot Fonteyn dancing in Romeo and Juliet

Art Class Landscape Painting with Pastels and Watercolours

Get ready to teach landscapes in my art class on Wednesday. Pastels and watercolor. Thought I would paint something very bright and bold!! These are on green Ingres Paper using both pastel and watercolour. 

Watercolour Wednesday Life in the wings of the theatre.

Two of my watercolours from behind the scenes in Swansea Grand Theatre. I wanted to capture the twighlight world of behind the scenes. 

Life in the Wings. 

Waiting to go on. 

Or just waiting

Artist Tips, Practice Still Life

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Always practice something from life, just a little watercolour study every day. Like a pianist practising their scales. I love picking things from the kitchen like onions, tomatoes, whatever is around!!

Harmony in White, Ballerina Painting by Zoe James-Williams

New painting of a ballerina called Harmony in White. Recently on Twitter The National Gallery started a tag #PaintedDancers to ask followers what dance paintings were their favourite or were there any dance artists out there! Well it would have been rude not to partake in a conversation about #PaintedDancers. This and an Iana Salenko painting were added by me and it was lovely to get such a great response. 

My twitter account is @zoeartist

This was painted using mixed media including pastels. Unfortunately this is on nutmeg #MuranoPastel paper which #DalerRowney discontinued. I had to buy my local art shop Harrisons Stationers in the Uplands what was left of their supply. It's dwindling fast but I was pleased with the way this came out especially the skirt as I 've never painted one this big before!!