Online magic is possible. Audiences wear online Christmas gala of the Dutch National Ballet on their hands

I want snow, or glitter, swirling down from the stage tower onto the dancers. A winter landscape where dancers with white tutus make dazzling patterns, presents under a giant, illuminated Christmas tree; something to cherish a sparkling Christmas feeling in these dark days.

I got something better in its place.

Like the gala says: Christmas is not at all about frills and external trappings. It's about something inside. A longing for something more enduring, pure and untouchable. Let me put it another way: for love. The true power of this gala lies in the duets, the dialogue between people, man and woman, who speak to each other and express something, seek rapprochement, want to complement each other.

Duet

This was most notable in Duet by Christopher Wheeldon, one of three British choreographers tonight, danced by Anna Tsygankova and Costa Allen. A wealth of experience, and a resignation reflected in the dance with a mature perception of each other. Beautiful piano playing also by Olga Khoziainova (Ravels Piano concerto in G major).

Ballet in all its purity is seen in the masterful Metamorphosis 1, a new duet by the other Brit David Dawson, danced by Anna Ol and James Stout. From the first sound, again Olga Khoziainova, you immediately know it's going to be good. A duet on a magnified and bare stage, she on pointe (it is Dawson, after all) and hair loosely in a ponytail, he beautifully running, opening a circle with his arms.

Dawson himself: 'The work has to radiate love, for each other and for our audience. It's about unity, solidarity - how each of us helps the other through this dark and difficult time.' Saying nothing more about it. Silent admiration is appropriate here.

Echoes of Tomorrow

Also premiering was Echoes of Tomorrow to music by Valentin Silvestrov, by Dutch Wubkje Kuindersma (interview in New York For Culture Press here), one of the company's three new Young Creative Associates. A lyrical pas de deux, breathy in movement and silky smoothly danced by Salome Leverashvili and Timothy van Poucke. The few close-ups even more beautiful than the overall picture, and there is a point to be made here about charisma and acting qualities getting extra or different emphasis when recorded online.

Further highlights? The duet from Who Cares? between Jessica Xuan and the relaxed Martin ten Kortenaar; the angular and sinuous pas de deux from Chroma by Brit Wayne McGregor (lithe Maia Makhateli and Vito Mazzeo); for those who like top-notch romance, an emotional and assiduously dancing Qian Liu and Semyon Velichko in the pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet (Rudi van Dantzig could be proud) and the dramatic pas de deux from Onegin by that other great storyteller John Cranko (a very believable Anna Ol and Jozef Varga).

Is online magic possible?

Can you experience magic at home the way the Dutch National Ballet promises with its online stream of the Christmas Gala? If the comments during the stream are to be believed: yes. Everyone claps their 'hands together' with yellow emoji hands at home, or stands cheering with admiration. Because applause in the hall is sadly absent and feels like a commemoration on the dam without an audience. For those who expect that every 'live' stream can be sent to a TV screen via smartphone or tablet without any problems, the Online Team of the Dutch National Opera & Ballet is working overtime to get the images into the living rooms properly.

This year, I will have to make do without live skating dancers, swirling snowflakes or Nutcracker packages. After all, a certain sobriety is in order. Everything is different by now.

Wishing you a warm Christmas.

Read more about the Christmas Gala programme including a clever petit allegro by Nina Tonoli, Ted Brandsen's men's battalion, the many classical highlights, parts from Nutcracker & Mouse King and much more.