PORTRAITS OF ACTORS AND OPERA SINGERS BY ZOE JAMES-WILLIAMS

PORTRAITS OF ACTORS AND OPERA SINGERS BY ZOE JAMES-WILLIAMS

WATERCOLOUR

Odette in the Wings. Ballet Painting by Zoe James-Willialms

Odette in the Wings. Ballet Painting by Zoe James-Williams

www.zoejameswilliams.com

Painting of Mara Galeazzi, Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina in The Royal Opera House

Watercolour painting of Mara Galeazzi and Antoine Vereecken in the Macmillan studio, Royal Opera House taking a break from rehearsal for Wayne McGregor choreography. Wanted to capture and paint them both against the London skyline as they were working together on the dance. 

My continuing series of paintings of ballerinas.

Paintings of Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina Mara Galeazzi

FIrst two paintings of Royal Ballet Principal Mara Galeazzi in Alta Stare, choreographed by Tim Podesta. Mixed Media

Carlos Acosta Paintings and Prints

Original paintings and prints now available of Royal Ballet Dance Legend Carlos Acosta. Either contact me direct on info@zoejameswilliams.com  for more info regarding the originals or/and if you wish to purchase prints please go to my online gallery on  http://www.saatchiart.com/zoejw_

These images are copyright of Zoe James-Williams 2015

www.zoejameswilliams.com

At The Royal Opera House with Royal Ballet Guest Principal Mara Galeazzi

Mara Galeazzi, AMAZING Ballerina and former Prima Ballerina with The Royal Ballet invited me to The Royal Opera House to paint her whilst rehearsing for two dances. One new beautiful PDD Alta Stare choreographed by Tim Podesta and a Wayne McGregor piece taught by Alistair Vareecken for Hatch House with the " Covent Garden Dance Company" on the 17-18 July. I love this part of my work when I get to see such beauty in motion. Only by seeing a dancer perform in person can you truly capture their essence on paper. A real privilege, Thankyou Mara xx

Me and Mara

Covent Garden

Mara Galeazzi  and Alistair Vareecken

view from the Macmillan studio, Royal Opera House

Inside The Macmillan Studio, Royal Opera House

Going into the Macmillan Studio. His portrait is on the left. Great Photo

The Royal Ballet Relaxation Space. Has all these amazing black and white photos of Ballet Legends on the wall including Fonteyn and Nureyev

Royal Opera House Exhibition

Royal Opera House Exhibition

Royal Opera House

Carlos Acosta, Behind The Scenes At The On Before Tour

I was absolutely thrilled to be invited to the dress rehearsal of the show On Before starring the legendary ballet dancer Carlos Acosta so that I may capture him for my paintings.  A mix of contemporary dance that perfectly showed off his dancing prowess, the show was an inspiration and I am looking forward to creating a series of striking paintings capturing him in motion. 

Carlos Acosta is principal dancer and choreographer with The Royal Ballet and has been a guest dancer all over the world including with The Bolshoi. He is the true Renaissance Man, ballet dancer, choreographer, actor and best selling writer. His biography, No Way Home is his extraordinary journey growing up in Cuba to becoming an international ballet star. Its a must read. 


While watching him in the empty auditorium as he and his partner Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina Zenaida Yanowsky went through their steps I knew there is nothing like see the live performance, the sweat and the work that goes into each dance and also the relaxed moments that the audience does not get to see. This privileged position enables me to capture the ballet dancer in their true essence. 

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

Watercolour Portrait of Mariinksy Ballet Dancer Xander Parish

Watercolour Portrait of Xander Parish, This is from when I attended dress rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet at The Royal Opera House. I wanted to paint a traditional portrait with a twist. For Xander's cloak I used vintage pages of William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet to symbolise how he superbly encapsulated the role. Xander Parish just received a Britain's National Dance Award for"Outstanding Male Performance". Congratulation Xander smile emoticon
www.zoejameswilliams.com

World Ballet Day: The Bolshoi, Royal Ballet, Australian, San Francisco and Canada

 October 1st was the first official World Ballet Day. 24 hours of ballet behind the scenes from five of the leading ballet companies, Australian, Bolshoi, Royal Ballet, Canada and San Francisco. Below is a link to the full four hours of the Bolshoi segment. Absolutely fascinating and a real privilege to have this sort of access. A huge success and wonderful to make ballet so much more accessible to everyone. Bravo!

Full class from Royal Ballet. A pity they didn't allow the full four hours to be repeated but still fascinating.

San Francisco , the full 4 hours. This was fascinating I especially enjoyed the rehearsal of Raku, which I have never seen before and thought was beautiful.

Highlights from Australia Ballet

Australian Ballet Link to World Ballet Day

Sorry I couldn't find Canada but will add if they upload highlights. Enjoy!!

Xander Parish, Starlit Lovers Series 1

 Xander Parish performing in Romeo and Juliet in The Royal Opera House
This is first of a series and I wanted to capture Xander and Viktoria's beautiful chemisty as they first fall in love as Romeo and Juliet. I used a limited palette to create the twilight effect with a blush for the skin tones.

#Starcrossedlovers series no.1 #romeoandjuliet #ballet #xanderparish #ViktoriaTereshkina #Mariinsky #Watercolor #pastels #charcoal #drawing #thebigdraw
Copyright Zoe James-Williams
Check out Xander Parish Website for up to date information on his dancing schedule. Also you can read a great interview in The Telegraph  Xander gave about becoming the the first British Dancer to be invited to enjoy The Mariinsky Ballet Company in St Petersburg.  
You can also follow him on twitter @xanderparish

At The Mariinsky's Romeo and Juliet Rehearsal with Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina at The Royal Opera House

I was very privileged to be allowed into the Mariinsky Rehearsal at The Royal Opera House for Romeo and Juliet with Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina. Huge thanks to Xander Parish for organising it so that I may paint him in the role. It is a spellbinding performance. Tender, moving and heartbreakingly romantic. There won't be a dry eye in the House tonight. Xander is the first and only British dancer in The Mariinsky, an enormous and well deserved achievement and I am really looking forward to painting and drawing him. 

Going to Stage Door at The Royal Opera House to collect my pass into the Mariinsky Rehearsal

My official pass

Beginning to sketch the rehearsal

My first selfie!! in the auditorium of The Royal Opera House

Raven Girl Ballet Costumes in the foyer. Really Beautiful

couldn't resist this fan. It was so pretty.

Great portrait of Simon Weston at The National Portrait Gallery

BP Portrait Award Exhibition. One of the best in recent years. 

Not sure I liked it but the technique was really amazing. Very striking indeed.

The lace on the skirt for this was beautiful even though you can't really see it here.

Some dainty choux buns from Paul's,  I thought they would make it back in the heat!

Some more interesting links about Xander Parish

BBC interview with Xander Parish

www.xanderparish.com

 Official photos from Romeo and Juliet, The Mariinsky with Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina

Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Manon

New Watercolour of Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg reprising their famous partnership in Manon

Title Harmony

Mara Galeazzi in pastel

New painting of Mara Galeazzi, principal of The Royal Ballet in her dress rehearsal for Pierrot Lunaire. I like the dramatic simplicity and strength that came through the pose, but at the same time a vulnerability.
This week I also went down to Swansea Grand Theatre to capture Alice in Wonderland with the The Harry Secombe Trust. The children were very cute and very talented. Great costumes, a lot of work has gone into it and I'm sure everyone who goes will have a great night out.

Mara Galeazzi in Pierrot Lunaire

Mara Galeazzi in costume rehearsal for Pierrot Lunaire. I loved her strong stance and the combination of the red

dress with the white hat. She is an amazingly strong and versatile dancer and I thought this captured her well. She was dancing with Edward Watson and Ivan Putrov who were equally wonderful to watch. This was a piece made famous by Nureyev. It is a great showcase for the dancers, as the choreography is wonderful and the costumes inspiring. The music however, is a little challenging for those who haven't seen it yet, but well worth it!!!!!

Don Quixote performed by The Mariinsky at The Royal Opera House, London

The Mariinsky Ballet ,formerly known as the Kirov came to the Royal Opera House to celebrate their 50th Anniversary marking their first performance in Covent Garden. We went to see Don Quixote with the sublime Denis and Anastasia Matvienko. Very excited we were all in the mood for this wonderful treat after a lovely meal on the terrace and a glass of champagne in the champagne bar. Taking our seats we were treated to breathtaking dancing in a wonderfully entertaining and amusing ballet. I can truthfully say I have never seen spins the like of Matvienko's. A sublime evening was had by all and it was a fitting end to be able to congratulate Denis Matvienko and his wife on their electryfing perfromance. BRAVO!!!

 

Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg paintings

These are the first of a series of paintings from rehearsal with Royal Ballet principals Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg at The
Royal Opera House. I hope I captured something of these extraordinary ballet dancers. It was a really magical experience:)
More from the series can be seen on my Facebook page on the link below
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoe-James-Williams/162461306404?ref=ts&fref=ts


This particular painting is from their rehearsal In The Night. It is pastel

Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru are partners on and off stage. They met while principals at the Royal Ballet and started their famous partnership in their first ballet together, Romeo and Juliet. Alina is now principal with the English National Ballet and Johan is freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher.

Official website of Alina
http://www.alinacojocaru.com/

Official website of Johan
http://www.kobb.org.uk/

Bolshoi Rehearsal of Jewels and visit to Laduree

Had a great time at the Bolshoi Rehearsal of Jewels in September while they were performing at The Royal Opera House. Inspiring and magical and had a great time with friends and fellow ballet fans!

 

Also made time to visit the Laura Knight exhibitions at The National Gallery. A wonderful collection of her work from ballet to the circus to her work as a war artist. A truelly varied and interesting career and someone up until now a little overlooked. So it was really great to see such an indepth coverage of her work.