Interview with Xander Parish
Ahead of Bahamas Iconique, we interviewed Covent Garden Dance Company artist, Xander Parish. Discover more about what he will be dancing and lesser known facts!
What you are currently working on aside from preparing for Iconique?
Back in September, I made my acting debut in a new play called "The Gates of Kyiv" based on the life of the Soviet pianist Maria Yudina. It was my first time speaking on stage and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This play had its try out period at the Theatre Royal Windsor and now the producers want to transfer the production to the West End. I'm currently waiting for the dates to be fixed, but this is likely to be my next project.
Can you please tell me how long you have been working with the Covent Garden Dance Company?
That's a great question! I've had the pleasure of knowing Matt for quite a long time now and he's become not just someone I love working with but a great friend too. I think I worked with Covent Garden Dance Company for the first time in early 2018 when Matt put on a fabulous show in Dubai.
What is special about the Covent Garden Dance Company - what makes you return for more?!
Well that's easy - in a word, Matt! He's not just a great person to work with, but always gives the artists a good time. Also, he doesn't just create a good show, he brings together a really nice group of people so it's always fun to be involved in his productions.
Photo credit: Andrej Uspenski
What are you looking forward to most about performing at Iconique for a second time?
To have warmth, sunshine, and the opportunity to dance right next to the beach in March when Europe & the UK are emerging from winter is certainly a plus! Also I'm looking forward to seeing friends I made while there last year.
What will you be performing and with whom?
I will be dancing with the wonderful Lauren Cuthbertson, Principal dancer at the Royal Ballet. We will be dancing two pieces; Moonlight by Florent Melac and the Rose Adagio from Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty.
I will also be dancing with Katya Chebinkaya from the Béjart Ballet. We danced together at Hatch House in 2024 and it will be a real pleasure to dance the iconic Diamonds by George Balanchine again.
Xander & Katya dancing George Balanchine’s Diamonds at Hatch House, 2024
When you’re dancing these works how does it make you feel, what do you hope the audience feels?
One of the best things about performing ballet is dancing to exquisite pieces of music. It was George Balanchine who said, "See the music, hear the dance", and how right he was. It's a wonderful feeling to be on stage wrapped up in the music and the hope is that the audience feels something of that experience too through watching,
Photo credit:Natasha Razina
You will be performing alongside some wonderful artists from all around the world this year, who are you most looking forward to dancing alongside?
I always enjoy seeing Ksenia Ovsyanik and Zdenek Konvalina who I often see and work alongside at Covent Garden Dance productions. I've had the pleasure of dancing several times with Ksenia which is always fun.
Many children will be coming to watch the rehearsal on the 6th March - how important are these opportunities for future generations of dancers?
Some of those children could be the part of the next generation of professional dancers so it is extremely important that they have the opportunity to watch and discover this extraordinary art form at a young age. Even for those who will not go on to be professionals, it will shape their development as they grow and learn so I believe it is very important.
Can you tell us three things people don’t know about you?
I have a great love of photography and especially love using 35mm film. I actually had an exhibition in St Petersburg of backstage photos that I took at the Mariinsky Theatre which was great fun to organise!
I run a website called balletclass.com where my friends and colleagues from around the ballet world teach their own on demand and sometimes live classes. I set it up during the pandemic and it's been a side project ever since from which I've learned many lessons (often difficult ones!) about business and entrepreneurship.
I have a little multipoo dog called Winston. He may be little in size, but he has a big personality so has a big name to match!
A video message from Mickaël Lafon
Watch this video to discover what Étoile, Myriam Ould-Braham and Coryphée, Mickaël (Paris Opéra Ballet) will be dancing at Iconique, Bahamas on 7 & 8 March, 2025.
We cannot wait to welcome back the incredible on-stage and in life partnership of Étoile, Myriam Ould-Braham and Coryphée, Mickaël (Paris Opéra Ballet) to the Covent Garden Dance Company stage.
With only two months to go till Iconique, Bahamas and tickets selling fast, watch their video to discover what this world class couple will be dancing on the 7 & 8 March, 2025 at the Old Fort Bay Club, Nassau.
Ballet in the Bahamas
Fresh from the shores of the stunningly beautiful Nassau Bay, Bahamas, our Director, Matt Brady, shares his thoughts on our first Covent Garden Dance Company performances in the Bahamas.
From the shores of the stunningly beautiful Nassau Bay, Bahamas, Director Matt Brady, shares his thoughts on the first Covent Garden Dance Company performances in the Bahamas.
Xander Parish and Mackenzie Brown perform at Iconique 2024
A Covent Garden Dance dream realised
“It would usually take a year (or more) to develop a new territory or venue as it is complex and often convoluted process. However, after getting so close to launching the production in the Bahamas in February 2019, only to be thwarted by Covid and the pandemic, when the opportunity presented itself again, in the shape of the amazing Anita Wheeler and The Old Fort Bay Club, we decided we the time was now.
In four months and with a huge team effort from both sides of the pond, we managed to launch the inaugural production of 'Iconique' in The Bahamas and what an Iconique cast we collated.”
A Bahamian welcome
“It sounds obvious but one of the key elements for any production is a publicity, as someone once said to me;
‘Doing a production without advertising is like winking at someone in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does.’
We had the great fortune of being introduced to The Tribune Newspaper, the leading national newspaper in The Bahamas, who quickly became our Iconique Media Partner. Their support and advice were invaluable throughout the production and gave us a solid and highly respected channel to convey our message to the incredible nation of The Bahamas.
The show was presented over two performances with the first on Valentine’s eve (Wednesday the 14th of February) and finale on Friday the 17th of February. With the challenges of schools’ half term falling on the week of the production (when half the island leaves for Europe / the mountains), we needed to work twice as hard to ensure we got the message out far and wide. We were told on many occasions, usually over a drink and usually by people who were yet to book, that;
"Everyone books last minute on the island. Don't worry."
It was hard not to, but they were right. Ten days before the opening night…. the blue touch paper was lit!”
Covent Garden Dance Co. Partnerships
“With the official launch date set in mid-November, it was important to ensure we had the fundamentals and key elements in place (which changed; twice). We were extraordinarily lucky to have such an incredible venue partner in the Old Fort Bay Club, and without the relentless driving force and guidance of Anita, Jacob Le Blanc and team, there is no doubt in my mind we would not have succeeded in overcoming all the challenges that we faced in bringing the production to fruition.
There is a list as long as my arm of supporters who should be acknowledged for their role in making this production such a success. However, two I would like to highlight are firstly our ongoing partner, Harlequin Dance Floors, who have been incredible in getting a world class floor out to our stage once again. Without this key element and their unique expertise, we would simply not be able to present such a world class production with some of the greatest and most renowned dancers from the most revered companies.
The second, is our Event and Staging Partner, Wildflowers, who did not stop with their support and re-assurances. With every new territory comes unexpected challenges and without Wildflowers’ support, which started from the first minute we sat down and explained the dream, to the day of departure post show, we would not have had the success we had.
Avis and their MD, Cindy Newell, were also vital to the logistical success of our Bahamian adventure and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
Ballet on the shore
“When the stage was set and with the dancers warming up at sunset on the beach just before dress rehearsal, I looked up and saw the 'Cheshire Cat Smile' moon. Somehow I knew it was a sign we were going to be ok and that we maybe the angels were watching over us. I was not wrong.
We were just shy of being sold out on the opening night, and not far behind that on the Friday night which ensured that we had the all important atmosphere to make both nights, nights to remember.”
An ‘Iconique’ cast of ballet dancers
“The Iconique programme was created to ensure that the performances would not only surprise and engage the new audience (many of whom had never been to see any ballet or dance before), but also impress and entertain all those who had seen everything dance related. The standing ovation on both nights confirmed we had got it right.
The intimate evening of Classical, Neo-Classical and Contemporary performances featured ballet dancers from some of the world’s most revered ballet companies. Elegance, precision, and emotion crackled in the air as our two royal Danish principles, Holly Dorger and Jón Axel Fransson took to the stage for the opening piece."
World famous British dancer Xander Parish, Stutgartt Ballet’s, Mackenzie Brown (youngest dancer ever to be promoted to Principal), internationally acclaimed Lucia Lacarra and Prix de Lausanne winner Matthew Golding left no emotion untapped and the haunting choreography of Mara Galeazzi, partnered by Jason Kittleberger ensured that there was not a dry eye in the house.
The cast, all of whom are very much iconic in their own way to so many (myself included), will always have our undying gratitude for bringing everything to those two performances. I have rarely seen an audience so enraptured and entranced from the first moment to the final bow as we saw on those two nights.
When the stars align in this way, in that location, with that backdrop; it is nothing short of perfection. The Nassau community welcomed us with open arms; the warmth and generosity, their reaction to the production left the cast and myself feeling genuinely moved.”
A unique audience
“Being under the patronage of the First Lady of the Bahamas was a huge privilege and we hope this will continue. The First Lady attended for the closing night and had by, all accounts, a fabulous time. She kindly took time to come and meet the dancers post show back stage who were thrilled at how much she seemed to enjoy the show.
The First Lady of The Bahamas Mrs Anne Marie Davis posing with the technicians post show.
British High Commissioner, Tom Hartley was instrumental in the performance coming to The Bahamas and said he was left extremely proud.
“None of us could really believe this night would be as special as it was. It was beyond expectations, I think, for anyone. However much you love ballet, I think tonight was a special night. I’m so proud. The Bahamas is a very special place and you have to bring something special to really add value to The Bahamas. And I’m proud that Matt has already committed to doing it another year, next year, and I feel this really adds value to the rich culture already in The Bahamas. The British High Commission played a tiny part in that and I’m really proud to be a part of it.”
Wendy Mills, an ardent lover of ballet, spent her Valentine’s evening enjoying the performances:
“I am an avid ballet watcher. I’ve attended many ballet shows and performances all over the world. The performance was as exquisite as you can imagine. I love that it’s here at home in The Bahamas.”
From internationally renowned Golfer and Olympian Gold Medallist Justin Rose, to fans of Xander Parish, who travelled from Germany and Denmark, we were delighted by the international interest in our ‘Iconique’ performances.”
Inspiring a new generation of ballet dancers
“Covent Garden Dance Company has a ‘tradition’ of always opening up our dress rehearsals to children and students. We were not going to make an exception in The Bahamas. We were delighted to have 50 local young dancers and students from over 12 dance schools attend (a very windy) dress rehearsal. The cast were delighted to meet with the new generation of Bahamian ballet dancers and be featured on the local television news.” We can’t wait to invite more next year!
Back to the Bahamas in 2025
“We are delighted to say that Iconique 2025 Nassau has already had 55% of its tables rebooked for the 7th & 8th March. Not bad for an island who always books last minute. We are also hoping to work with a non-profit organisation to bring the show to Freeport too.
