The Dress Rehearsal by Zoe James-Williams

The Dress Rehearsal by Zoe James-Williams

Pastel painting

www.zoejameswilliams.com

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

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

www.zoejameswilliams.com

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

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. 

Opening Night at The Summer Show of The Albany Gallery

Lovely evening at the opening of The Summer Exhibition at 

The Albany Gallery, Albany Rd, Cardiff

.#BallerinaPaintings #IanaSalenko #AlbanyGallery #WelshArt#FigurativeArt #PrimaBallerina

Iana Salenko, I gave her tutu a 3D effect!!

Iana Salenko, Prima Ballerina, Mixed Media

With Legendary Art Gallery Owner, Mary Yapp, Albany Gallery

New Painting of Iana Salenko, Prima Ballerina

Iana Salenko, Prima Ballerina in rehearsal. This was just before she started to rehearse for La Grand Pas Classique. Brought the house down on the night! I used pastel and washi paper ( for an extra fluffy tutu!) on midnight blue paper.

Watercolour of Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina, Mariinsky

New watercolour of Xander Parish and Viktoria Tereshkina, Mariinsky Ballet, while performing Romeo and Juliet at The Royal Opera House. From the Star Crossed Lovers Series

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

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

Carmen Painting performed by Maria Alexandrova

Carmen

Carmen was performed by Bolshoi Prima Ballerina Maria Alexandrova.

It is mixed media on purple Ingres Paper

I really wanted to capture the fire and passion of the performance. it was Amazing!

Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Manon

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

Title Harmony

Darcey Bussell on Life

Darcey Bussell talking about her life and career as a Prima Ballerina on BBC

Link to the BBC Documentary

Darcey Bussell Documentary on BBC I Player

Darcey Bussell Ballet Heroines

Don't forget to watch Darcey Bussell's Ballet Heroines tonight

 BBC 2 at 8.15pm

It marks the start of the BBC Ballet Season on BBC 2 and BBC 4
Darcey Bussell Ballet Heroines BBC Link

New Watercolour Painting of Alina Cojocaru in Rushes-Fragments of a Lost Story

 

The Beautiful And Enigmatic Alina Cojocaru.

New painting of Alina Cojocaru performing in Rushes-Fragments of a Lost Story
A Ballet about unrequited Love.
The painting is in watercolour including gold watercolour so that Alina shimmers!!

Its beauty, the power and vunerability combined. The flowing line.


The painting is about unrequited love and I came across some beautiful quotes which I have added below.

 Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.
Washington Irving


You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. ~ Anonymous

Only three things are infinite: the sky in its stars, the sea in its drops of water, and the heart in its tears. ~ Gustave Flaubert (to Louise Colet)

I know I am but summer to your heart,
And not the full four seasons of the year. ~ Edna St. Vincent Millay

You can close your eyes to the things you do not want to see, but you cannot close your heart to the things you do not want to feel. ~ Anonymous

 A final comfort that is small, but not cold: The heart is the only broken instrument that works. ~ T. E. Kalem

Links
www.alinacojocaru.com Alina Cojocaru Prima Ballerina
Twitter: @DancingAlina
http://kimbrandstrup.org/ Choreographer of Rushes
Twitter @ZoeArtist
www.zoejameswilliams.com

Books for Ballet Lovers Part 1 Non Fiction

Waiting To Dance, pastel by Zoe James-Williams www.zoejameswilliams.com

Books for Ballet Lovers

Being a ballet fan I have read and have been given all types of ballet books so I thought I would make a categorised list from my bookshelf and wish list. Please feel free to add suggestions that I can add to the list.

 

Ballet Biographies

No Way Home by Carlos Acosta

Superb rags-to-riches story of one of the world’s greatest dancers, from his difficult beginnings living in poverty in the backstreets of Cuba to his astronomical rise to international stardom.

Harper Perennial ISBN 978-0007250783

 

Rudolf Nureyev, The Life by Judith Kavanagh

A fascinating biography of one of the worlds most famous ballet dancers. It covers his highs and lows and you will laugh and cry. A real work of love. 

 Penguin ISBN- 978-0141029696

Daria Klimentova, The Agony and Ectasy by Daria Klimentova and Graham Watts

Autobiography of Daria Klimentova Senior Principal at English National Ballet.  Daria had forged a remarkable partnership with the young Russian Principal, Vadim Muntagirov,

 Metro BooksISBN 978-1857828832

 Margot Fonteyn by Meredith Daneman

The extraordinary life of one of Britains most loved prima ballerina's.

 Penguin ISBN 978-0140165302

Dancer in Wartime by Gillian Lynne

Biography of a young dancer working her way through the ranks in WW2 alonside such names as Fonteyn and Moira Shearer. I thought this was a delight. Very insightful and fascinating.

Vintage ISBN 978-0099555773

Bloomsbury Ballerina by Judith Mackrell

The extraordinary story of Russian ballerina  Lydia Lopokova who lived a long and remarkable life.

 Orion ISBN- 978-0753825785

Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

Told in his own distinctive voice, this is Li's inspirational story of how he came to be Mao's last dancer, and one of the world's greatest ballet dancers.

Penguin ISBN: 978-0141040226

The Royal Ballet 75 Years by Zoe Anderson

In 1931, Ninette de Valois started a ballet company with just six dancers. Within twenty years, the Royal Ballet was established as one of the world's great companies. This book presents a critical account of its first 75 years, tracing the company's growth, and its great cultural importance.
Faber and Faber ISBN 978-0571227969

Ballet in Coffee Table Books/ Photography Books

Pas de deux, The Royal Ballet in Pictures

I love this book, its got some gorgeous photos off and on stage of principal Royal Ballet dancers.
 

Invitation Sylvie Guillem

Photographs of the ballet phenomenon that is Mademoiselle Non!

 ISBN-13: 978-2702207000

 

Darcy Bussell by Darcy Bussell

This book of stunning images chronicles Darcey Bussell's amazing career on the stage.

Ballet Russe

Dancers Behind The Scenes by Andrei Uspenki

Royal Ballet dancer Andrej Uspenski has a unique perspective on photographic composition of dance imagery, as well as unrivalled access not only to the Royal Ballet's productions, but also to the dancers who perform in them. This gives the reader an exclusive insight in to the Royal Ballet's work. DANCERS includes exclusive, backstage photographs, as well as a number of breathtaking images taken from the wings during live stage performances, making this a unique photographic record, perfect for all ballet fans. Some amazing photos.

Oberon Books ISBN  978-1849433884

 

Natalia Osipova, Becoming a Swan By Andrei Uspenski

Haven't seen this yet but I am sure it a beautiful book and a must for fans of Osipova

ISBN 978-1783190225

Diaghilev and The Golden Age of Ballet Russes by Jane Pritchard

A sumptous book charting the rise and fall of Diaghilev and his legendary ballet company Ballet Russes 

V&A Publishing  ISBN 978-1851776139

Ballet in Art Books

 

Laura Knight at the Theatre by Timothy Wilcox

 Wonderful book of the first femail RA and her passion for ballet and theatre

 Unicorn Press Ltc ISBN-13: 978-1906509798

Degas and The Ballet: Picturing Movement by Richard Kendall

Gorgeous book to go with a past exhibition at the RA. Quite a tombe but well worth the read and some wonderful paintings and drawings included

 ISBN-13: 978-1905711680

Degas Drawings

 Lovely PB book for those who admired Degas drawings of ballet dancers

Dover Publications, ISBN:9780486406985

Sir William Russell Flint by Ralph Lewis (Out of Print)

Features his paintings of ballet dancers and Moira Shearer who stared in the Red Shoes

 

Reference Books for Ballet

 The Ballet Companion: A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions and Joys of Ballet by Eliza Gaynor Mindon

A great reference book that covers all aspects of ballet
Simon and Schuster ISBN 978-0743264075