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Vikki Jane Vile

Vikki Jane Vile

Vikki Jane Vile has been reviewing dance for twelve years, specialising in classical dance and Ballroom, with a specific passion for Strictly. In 2018, she became a member of the Critics' Circle for Dance.

Vikki also wrote for Dancing Times from 2010 until the magazine's closure in 2022, as well as CultureWhisper and LondonDance.com. She currently also regularly reviews for Bachtrack.com and Dance for You magazine.

She is currently based in Germany, but that doesn't stop her making frequent flying visits to London for "essential" performances. 






MOST POPULAR ARTICLES


Review: SWAN LAKE IN-THE-ROUND, Royal Albert Hall
Review: SWAN LAKE IN-THE-ROUND, Royal Albert Hall
June 14, 2024

Derek Deane’s Swan Lake has quite the reputation. First premiered in 1997 it became known for its corps de ballet of 60 swans (with freelancers hired to beef up ENB’s ranks) and then in 2010, a BBC documentary tracked its rehearsals and opening night, not always depicting everyone in the most flattering light, but the spectacle of all those white tutus made it an audience favourite. Now it’s back to conclude the first season under new Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin. 

Review: ROMEO AND JULIET, Sadler's Wells
Review: ROMEO AND JULIET, Sadler's Wells
May 30, 2024

Leeds based Northern Ballet always pack a punch when they visit London every May, and this time was no different, with Massimo Moricone’s slick and captivating Romeo and Juliet. This year’s touring production held extra poignancy, with the costumes and set requiring full restoration and repair from a devastating warehouse flood in 2015.

Review: EMERGING DANCER 2024, Sadler's Wells
Review: EMERGING DANCER 2024, Sadler's Wells
May 25, 2024

English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer award returned to Sadler’s Wells after a two year absence, with a unique opportunity for the most junior members of the company to shine. With his feet now firmly under the desk, Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin hosted the evening, the first of his tenure, with six Artists of the company performing a classical and contemporary pas de deux in three assigned pairs. 

Review: NEW YORK CITY BALLET: MIXED BILL, Sadler's Wells
Review: NEW YORK CITY BALLET: MIXED BILL, Sadler's Wells
March 9, 2024

New York City Ballet are at Sadler’s Wells for the very first time, and returning to London for the first time since 2008 in a rare event for dance fans in the capital. Now under the direction of Jonathan Stafford, they arrive with a diverse quadruple bill, presumably designed to offer something for everyone. NYCB boasts some of the finest dancers in the world, they are precise technicians who have honed their craft and have a unique identity but the overall effect lacks the punch audiences will be craving after such a long absence.

Review: SWAN LAKE, Royal Opera House
Review: SWAN LAKE, Royal Opera House
March 8, 2024

If you came for anything other than wall-to-wall superlatives for the Royal Ballet’s A-team and Liam Scarlett’s superior production of Swan Lake then you’ll be disappointed with this review, because yet again, for the fourth time in six years, ballet heaven is delivered with a side of perfection. It may be programmed regularly but on this showing it’s little wonder why. 

Review: GISELLE, London Coliseum
Review: GISELLE, London Coliseum
January 13, 2024

Fresh from no fewer than 40 performances of Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker (a production which now seems to thankfully be going into retirement) English National Ballet, are back less than a week later to round off their Coliseum season, this time it’s Mary Skeaping’s Giselle which they last performed seven years ago. 

Review: CINDERELLA, Royal Albert Hall
Review: CINDERELLA, Royal Albert Hall
June 17, 2023

It’s exactly four years since English National Ballet brought Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella to the Royal Albert Hall. It sat happily in my memory, from 2019, as a visual spectacle; the opulent ball scene, those slapstick sisters and Julian Crouch’s fantastical designs. Now it returns, these elements still intact however the central choreography still feels weak, meaning the Principals do not dazzle as they always should, however the immersive experience of the Albert Hall and the charm of the corps still hold vast appeal. 

Review: UNTITLED, 2023/CORYBANTIC GAMES/ANASTASIA ACT III, Royal Opera House
Review: UNTITLED, 2023/CORYBANTIC GAMES/ANASTASIA ACT III, Royal Opera House
June 11, 2023

Perhaps it’s already clear, but this is a rather subdued triple bill to bring the 22/23 season to a close. Earnest in tone and at times devastating in appeal. 

Review: BALLET BLACK: PIONEERS, Theatre Royal, Stratford East
Review: BALLET BLACK: PIONEERS, Theatre Royal, Stratford East
May 19, 2023

Ballet Black is now in its 21st season, Cassa Pancho’s company entering somewhat of a new era after the retirement of company favourite, Cira Robinson and the addition of some junior members to its ranks.

Review: THE GREAT GATSBY, Sadler's Wells
Review: THE GREAT GATSBY, Sadler's Wells
May 18, 2023

A visit from Leeds-based Northern Ballet every Spring at Sadler’s Wells is always a highlight of the dance calendar, and never more so when at their glittering best with their unique dance interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

Review: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, Royal Opera House
Review: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, Royal Opera House
January 18, 2023

After a long, hard run of Nutcracker, both London’s premier ballet companies are providing somewhat of a Tchiakovsky exhibition with English National Ballet offering Swan Lake and now the Royal Ballet giving one of their signature works, The Sleeping Beauty, an extended run until June.

Review: NUTCRACKER, London Coliseum
Review: NUTCRACKER, London Coliseum
December 17, 2022

There’s not much to say about Wayne Ealing’s 2010 Nutcracker from English National Ballet that has not already been said. It’s left to the dancers to keep the production a lively Christmas treat, and fresh from Tamara Rojo’s departure as Artistic Director, how are the company shaping up? It’s all looking rather promising, actually … 

Review: EK/FORSYTHE/QUAGEBEUR, Sadler's Wells
Review: EK/FORSYTHE/QUAGEBEUR, Sadler's Wells
November 12, 2022

Time for the annual treat that is an ENB mixed bill at Sadler’s Wells, on this occasion featuring a couple of lockdown greatest hits, and a bold new production of The Rite of Spring. 

Review: MEN IN MOTION, London Coliseum
Review: MEN IN MOTION, London Coliseum
November 9, 2022

Ivan Putrov’s annual celebration of the male dancer returns to the Coliseum with a diverse programme of work, old and new. “Ballet conjures up an image of tutus and pointe shoes,” he says, keen to showcase what else the art form can offer since 2012.

Review: ZOONATION: MIXTAPE, Sadler's Wells
Review: ZOONATION: MIXTAPE, Sadler's Wells
October 10, 2022

A celebration of ZooNation and their greatest hits from the last 20 years was always going to pack a punch, but Kate Prince’s Company of charismatic hip-hop dancers can do wit, comedy, pathos and poignancy too.

Review: UNITED UKRAINIAN BALLET'S GISELLE, London Coliseum
Review: UNITED UKRAINIAN BALLET'S GISELLE, London Coliseum
September 16, 2022

Comprising over fifty Ukrainian refugee dancers, the United Ukrainian Ballet’s debut in London was always going to be a moving and courageous showing.

BWW Review: WILD TANGO at Peacock Theatre
BWW Review: WILD TANGO at Peacock Theatre
May 17, 2022

Save for COVID, German Cornejo and his company of Tango dancers have thrilled audiences with their sultry, authentic displays of the much loved Ballroom dance for countless seasons in London. It may have been predictable but it was enjoyable and well executed. Now for their return post-pandemic, they are trying something new, but unfortunately it’s a much poorer vehicle for displaying the talents of highly skilled dancers.

BWW Review: BALLET BLACK at Theatre Royal, Stratford East
BWW Review: BALLET BLACK at Theatre Royal, Stratford East
May 16, 2022

Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black turned 20 last year and to mark this milestone they celebrated with a double bill of two works seen at the Barbican earlier this year and now touring; one an out and proud affirmation on their journey as a company and the second a tribute to their ancestry and heritage.

BWW Review: CASANOVA at Sadler's Wells
BWW Review: CASANOVA at Sadler's Wells
May 12, 2022

Five years since its premiere, Kenneth Tindall’s Casanova remains a distinctive and highly engaging addition to Northern Ballet’s repertoire. It’s danced with confident storytelling by its cast and Christopher Oram’s set design is glossy and slick and of course, it’s pretty hot, this is all about seduction not smut. It’s only foible remains the heft of the narrative.

BWW Review: JEWELS at Staatsoper Unter Den Linden
BWW Review: JEWELS at Staatsoper Unter Den Linden
April 22, 2022

With the closing months of Staatsballett Berlin’s 21/22 season turning its attention to some full length classics including Sleeping Beauty and Onegin, an alternative is offered in the form of George Balachine’s plotless ballet, Jewels. It’s a celebrated neo-classical work which can be seen in the repertoire of companies across the world. With its dazzling costumes and featuring music from Stravinsky and Tchiakovsky, both traditionalists and contemporary fans can find something to enjoy in its beauty.






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