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Sad that ENB loses this popular and talented soloist- and on the day of a train strike (sadly I can't go)! Very, very short notice and quite a shock really. He is dancing Don Jose in his last show with ENB tonight. From English National Ballet's social media (couldn't find anything else on theur website)..... "Tonight we say goodbye to Soloist Fernando Carratalá Coloma, who will give his last performance with us in Johan Inger’s Carmen at Sadler’s Wells. Since joining the company in 2017, Fernando has shone in many productions, including Mats Ek’s The Rite of Spring, William Forsythe’s Playlist (EP), Kenneth MacMillan’s Song of the Earth, Tamara Rojo’s Raymonda and more. Please join us in wishing Fernando the very best in the next chapter of his dancing career!"

Starting this thread for ENB's new acquisition: Johan Inger's version of Carmen (originally created for Compaña Nacional de Danza) set to Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite based on themes by Georges Bizet, with additional music by Marc Álvarez. Costume design is by David Delfin, sets by Curt Allen Wilmer and Leticia Ganan, lighting by Tom Visser. Minju Kang, Emily Suzuki, Erina Takahashi and Ivana Bueno are scheduled to make their debuts as Carmen.

For thoughts and reactions to the 2024 gala in aid of Ukraine organised by Ivan Putrov, this time at the London Palladium.

I was unable to attend this fascinating gala for such a brilliant cause due (very sadly) to circumstances beyond my control. However, I (and others) would be very interested to hear what those who went thought. 😊 💃 🎶

Ballet Nights is Back! We are thrilled to announce that tickets for Ballet Nights 004 -23rd and 24th February 2024 - are now live! As Our Story continues in 2024, we are looking forward to welcoming audiences back to the the Lanterns Studio Theatre for a programme packed with more star performers, modern masterpieces, legacy classics and brand new discoveries made right here at our uniquely compèred evenings of dance. Reserve your seats Stageside today, and celebrate the artists at our uniquely up close presentation. BOOK This is not one to miss…! Programme 004 Highlights YASMINE NAGHDI & REECE CLARKE Principal Stars of The Royal Ballet Company CHLOE KENEALLY Emerging Talent of the English National Ballet YORKE DANCE PROJECT Celebrating The Legacy of Sir Robert Cohan JORDAN JAMES BRIDGE A Ballet Nights Favourite PETT| CLAUSEN-KNIGHT International Movers …Can’t wait until February?! Recap all things Ballet Nights Autumn Season 2023 on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to stay in the loop.

Okay, hoping this works (to some extent: posts on another thread indicate that the casting links may not be live yet). The thread also indicates some new hirings we may not have been aware of before. We’re excited to announce principal casting for all existing repertoire works returning in the upcoming Season: Akram Khan’s Giselle, Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, Mary Skeaping’s Giselle, and Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round. Casting for each of these productions is detailed below and on each production page on our website. We can’t wait to share these performances with you! Akram Khan's Giselle 19 – 21 Oct 2023, Palace Theatre Manchester 26 – 28 Oct 2023, Bristol Hippodrome Akram Khan's groundbreaking production returns to Manchester and Bristol for the first time since its inaugural tour in 2016, having astounded audiences across the world. The title role of Giselle will be danced by Lead Principals Fernanda Oliveira and Erina Takahashi, and Junior Soloist Emily Suzuki*. Albrecht will be performed by Lead Principal Aitor Arrieta, First Soloist James Streeter, and Junior Soloist Henry Dowden*. The role of Hilarion will be danced by First Soloist Ken Saruhashi, Soloist Erik Woolhouse, and Junior Soloist Victor Prigent*. Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, will be performed by Lead Principal Emma Hawes*, and First Artists Isabelle Brouwers and Angela Wood*. Daily casting can be viewed online via the links below. *debut in role in this production View casting Learn more Nutcracker 29 Nov – 2 Dec 2023, Mayflower Theatre Southampton 14 Dec 2023 – 7 Jan 2024, London Coliseum Wayne Eagling's festive classic will light up the stage again this winter, touring to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton before returning to the London Coliseum. Clara/Sugar Plum will be performed by Lead Principals Emma Hawes, Shiori Kase, Sangeun Lee*, Fernanda Oliveira and Erina Takahashi, Guest Artist Laurretta Summerscales, First Soloists Julia Conway and Katja Khaniukova, Soloist Precious Adams*, and Junior Soloists Ivana Bueno and Francesca Velicu. Nephew/Prince will be danced by Lead Principals Aitor Arrieta and Francesco Gabriele Frola, First Soloists Gareth Haw*, Daniel McCormick and Ken Saruhashi, Soloists Fernando Carratalá Coloma, Skyler Martin*, Lorenzo Trossello and Erik Woolhouse, Junior Soloist Vsevolod Maievskyi*, and First Artist Edvinas Jakonis*. The role of the Nutcracker will be portrayed by First Soloists Daniel McCormick and Junor Souza, Soloist Skyler Martin, Junior Soloists Henry Dowden, Noam Durand*, Rentaro Nakaaki and Victor Prigent*, and First Artists Matthew Astley, Miguel Angel Maidana* and Eric Snyder*. Dr Drosselmeyer will be performed by First Soloists Fabian Reimair, Junor Souza and James Streeter, Junior Soloist Henry Dowden, and First Artist Giorgio Garrett. Daily casting can be viewed online via the links below. *debut in role in this production View casting Learn more Mary Skeaping's Giselle 11 – 21 Jan 2024, London Coliseum Mary Skeaping's heartbreaking Romantic masterpiece will return to the London Coliseum for the first time since 2017. The title role of Giselle will be danced by Lead Principals Emma Hawes*, Shiori Kase*, Sangeun Lee*, Fernanda Oliveira and Erina Takahashi, and First Soloist Katja Khaniukova. Albrecht will be performed by Lead Principals Aitor Arrieta* and Francesco Gabriele Frola*, First Soloists Gareth Haw* and Ken Saruhashi, Soloist Fernando Carratalá Coloma*, and Junior Soloist Vsevolod Maievskyi*. Hilarion will be portrayed by First Soloists Fabian Reimair, Junor Souza* and James Streeter, Soloist Erik Woolhouse*, Junior Soloist Henry Dowden*, and First Artist Giorgio Garrett*. Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, will be danced by First Soloist Alison McWhinney, Soloist Precious Adams*, Junior Soloists Anna Nevzorova* and Emily Suzuki*, and First Artists Jung ah Choi and Angela Wood*. Daily casting can be viewed online via the links below. *debut in role in this production View casting Learn more Swan Lake in-the-round 12 – 23 Jun 2024, Royal Albert Hall Derek Deane's spectacular in-the-round production of the enduring classic returns to the splendour of the Royal Albert Hall in summer 2024. The dual roles of Odette/Odile will be performed by Lead Principals Emma Hawes*, Sangeun Lee* and Fernanda Oliveira, and Guest Artist Laurretta Summerscales. Prince Siegfried will be danced by Lead Principals Aitor Arrieta* and Francesco Gabriele Frola*, First Soloist Gareth Haw*, and Soloist Lorenzo Trossello*. The role of Rothbart will be portrayed by First Soloists Fabian Reimair, Junor Souza and James Streeter. Daily casting can be viewed online via the links below. *debut in role in this production View casting Learn more

As ENB's Our Voices programme opens this week, I thought I would start a thread for people to comment on the performances but also to give some further information on the casting, which Aaron Watkin has agreed I can make public, and I hope it will help those who have yet to buy their tickets to decide which performance/s to see. As always, there is the caveat that casting is subject to change. As well as the principal couples, listed on the website, and the corps de ballet, "Theme and Variations” has four demi-soloist couples. There are three casts for this. As they do not always dance with the same principal couple, I will list them by performance: Bueno, Otani, Adams, Suzuki, Snyder, Woolhouse, Jakonis, Saruhashi (21st, 22nd, 23rd eve, 28th eve, 30th eve) Wood, Kang, Evrard, Nevzorova, Martin, Nakaaki, Souza, Maievskyi (23rd mat, 26th, 28th mat, 30th mat) Velicu, Lizardi, Keneally, Choi, Maidana, Durand, Yeomans, Fuchiyama (27th, 29th). I must confess I have never seen a complete performance of this ballet but I was lucky enough to watch Victoria Simon stage it for Royal Swedish Ballet when I was in Stockholm last October and, of course, I attended her very informative masterclass for ENB recently which really whet my appetite. Having seen the stunning tutus being made in the workshop and had glimpses of them in the trailers released by ENB, I think it really will be a glittering opening to the evening! I have always considered Nijinska's "Le Noces" to be a masterpiece and so it will be interesting to see Andrea Miller's completely different take on the Stravinsky score, linking it to his earlier "Le Sacre du printemps" although not to any particular choreographic version of it. I had the privilege of seeing a model of the set a few months ago, dominated by an extraordinary staircase designed by the late Dame Phyllida Barlow. The ballet has a single cast of eight female and nine male dancers. As well as those listed on the website, this includes Emily Suzuki, Erik Woolhouse and Junor Souza. David Dawson's "Four Last Songs" has two casts of six males and six females, with Erina Takahashi, Ivana Bueno and Lorenzo Trossello appearing in both casts. For anyone who does not know Richard Strauss's song cycle (his last masterpiece, premiered posthumously here in the UK at the Royal Albert Hall in 1950), I would recommend reading a translation of the poems by Eichendorff and Hesse, which can be found at www.lieder.net, to fully appreciate the glorious soundscape Strauss created. As I always say, mixed bills are excellent value for money because they provide a chance to see almost all of a company's leading dancers in one performance, and this is certainly the case with this triple bill, which will also probably be the biggest musical feast since the days of the company’s Ballets Russes programmes. Playing works by three titans of classical music will give the English National Ballet Philharmonic a chance to shine, complementing the starry line-up onstage, and I cannot wait to experience this fascinating programme.

English National Ballet have announced that Aaron S. Watkin will become their new Artistic Director. Watkin previously served as Artistic Director of the Semperopera Ballett in Dresden, Germany (since 2006) and has danced with ENB in the past. https://www.ballet.org.uk/blog-detail/aaron-s-watkin-new-artistic-director-english-national-ballet Today, we announce that Aaron S. Watkin has been appointed as our new Artistic Director, taking up the position in August 2023. Aaron comes to English National Ballet from the Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany, where he has served as Artistic Director since 2006. During his tenure, he has built an internationally respected reputation for the company, known for the diversity of its artists and repertoire. He has presented works by some of the world’s most renowned choreographers, from George Balanchine to Pina Bausch, William Forsythe to Martha Graham. Aaron’s appointment as Artistic Director sees him return to English National Ballet having previously danced with the Company thirty years ago. Born in Canada, his stage career also saw him dance with National Ballet of Canada, Dutch National Ballet and Ballett Frankfurt, before becoming a Choreographic Assistant to William Forsythe, staging his works throughout the world.

Please see below. Thrilled about Giselle, but don't think I can take yet another Carmen! Our Voices Balanchine/Dawson/Miller 21 – 30 Sep 2023, Sadler's Wells Opening the season at Sadler’s Wells is a new triple bill, Our Voices, featuring three ballets in three diverse styles: classical ballet, neo-classical ballet and contemporary dance. Our Voices sees the world premiere of a new interpretation of Stravinsky's Les Noces by choreographer Andrea Miller, with artwork by renowned sculptor Dame Phyllida Barlow and on-stage performances by the Chorus from Opera Holland Park. In a second world premiere, David Dawson returns to ENB for the first time in 15 years to present his latest creation: Four Last Songs, set to the final score by Richard Strauss. Completing the programme is the dazzling Theme and Variations by one of the most influential choreographers in ballet: George Balanchine. All three works will be performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic. Carmen Johan Inger 27 Mar – 6 Apr 2024, Sadler's Wells This UK premiere presents Johan Inger's award-winning Carmen, originally created for Spain’s Compañía Nacional de Danza. The two-act ballet is a fresh take on the classic tale of passion and obsession, set to a score by Bizet and Shchedrin with new music from Spanish composer Marc Álvarez. Carmen offers audiences the chance to see a bold reimagining of the famous story from a choreographer whose whose work is rarely seen in the UK. REPERTOIRE FAVOURITES REVIVED Akram Khan's Giselle 19 – 21 OCT 2023, MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE 26 – 28 OCT 2023, BRISTOL HIPPODROME Having astounded audiences across the world, the ground-breaking production returns to Manchester and Bristol for the first time since its inaugural tour in 2016. Nutcracker 30 NOV – 2 DEC 2023, MAYFLOWER THEATRE SOUTHAMPTON 14 DEC 2023 – 7 JAN 2024, LONDON COLISEUM Wayne Eagling's festive favourite returns to delight audiences in Southampton and London. More than 100 dancers and musicians bring the beautiful choreography and sparkling score to life. Mary Skeaping's Giselle 11 – 21 JAN 2024, LONDON COLISEUM Mary Skeaping's celebrated production evokes the sunny optimism of Giselle’s idyllic village life, and the Wilis' moonlit world of mystery and menace. Adolphe Adam's lush score is vividly performed by ENB Philharmonic. My First Ballet: Swan Lake 4 – 14 APRIL 2024, PEACOCK THEATRE, LONDON For the first time since 2019, English National Ballet and English National Ballet School present My First Ballet. This beautifully adapted version is a perfect introduction to the magic of live ballet for children aged 3+. Emerging Dancer Returning in Spring 2024, Emerging Dancer shines a light on talent throughout the Company. This special event sees the finalists showcase their artistry on stage. The People's Choice Award and Corps de Ballet Award will also be announced. Swan Lake in-the-round 12 – 23 JUN 2024, ROYAL ALBERT HALL One of the grandest spectacles in ballet, Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round returns to the Royal Albert Hall in summer 2024. A huge cast of dancers and musicians, including 60 swans, bring the enduring love story to the epic stage.

Post deleted as the Press Release has arrived with Jan and will be a more complete source of info.

Hi Everybody, I can't say how excited I am to soon finally be announcing the winter season of BALLET NIGHTS 2023 ! -- "BALLET NIGHTS presents compèred evenings of Classical Ballet, Neo-Classical & Contemporary Dance, Up Close and Without Compromise." Concept Launch October 2021 -- After all of the support from the forum members on here giving feedback, suggesting dates, requesting acts and letting me and my team know what they are looking for in our uniquely up-close Ballet experience with the stars, I am thrilled to exclusively release an early access mailing list sign up below, with an invite-only offer to follow shortly after. EXCLUSIVE ACCESS LINK I look forward to revealing our new website soon, our upcoming event schedule, our backstage access and our exciting run of never-before-seen content over the coming months, and thank you once again to all who have supported our journey. For now.... here is an exclusive sneak peek at our logo: Jamiel Devernay-Laurence Artistic Director

Literally hot off the press: "The role of Cinderella will be performed by Lead Principals Shiori Kase and Erina Takahashi, Principal Emma Hawes, and Soloist Precious Adams. Prince Guillaume will be danced by Lead Principal Francesco Gabriele Frola, Principal Aitor Arrieta, First Soloist Daniel McCormick, and Junior Soloist Lorenzo Trossello. These performances will mark a debut in the respective roles for Precious Adams, Daniel McCormick and Lorenzo Trossello. The run will also mark the in-the-round debut performances for Shiori Kase and Aitor Arrieta, who previously danced the roles of Cinderella and Prince Guillaume in the proscenium production." Not sure I can actually access the full blurb where I am at present.

This started last night, so I'm starting a thread in case anyone's been to see it.

English National Ballet Creature by Akram Khan Sadler’s Wells, London 23 March – 1 April 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/creature ★★★★★ “Superb… a tight-wound drama that never lets up. [Khan] piles up themes and imagery into a monumental whole, with terrific performances from his cast.” The Independent This spring, English National Ballet presents the return of Akram Khan’s powerful ballet Creature at Sadler’s Wells from the 23 March – 1 April 2023, following performances in London and Chicago. Set in a dilapidated former Artic research station, the Creature has been conscripted by a military brigade to a bold new experimental programme. Here he is tested for his mental and physical ability to adapt to extreme environments, isolation and homesickness; vital qualities in mankind’s proposed colonisation of the ‘final frontiers’ on earth and beyond. Creature is an unearthly tale of exploitation and humanity, inspired by Georg Büchner’s expressionist classic Woyzeck, with shadows of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Drawing on themes of abandonment, loneliness and the fragility of the mind, Creature tells the story of an outsider and the search for belonging. For Creature, Guest Artist and former Lead Principal of English National Ballet, Jeffrey Cirio returns in the title role, a performance which saw him win the Critics Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Classical Performance and included as one of Pointe Magazine’s standout performances of 2022. Following the pivotal impact of Dust and Giselle, Creature is Akram Khan’s third collaboration with English National Ballet and sees him reunited with his renowned creative team including Academy Award-winning designer Tim Yip, lighting designer Michael Hulls, Composer Vincenzo Lamanga and dramaturg Ruth Little. Ahead of its performances at Sadler’s Wells, a filmed adaptation of Creature directed by Academy Award-winner Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy, The Warrior), opens in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from the 24 February. For further information see www.ballet.org.uk/creature-film. Of Creature Akram Khan said: “I am excited to bring Creature back to Sadler’s Wells this spring. To have many of the original cast members return to perform this work only deepens the experience for both the performer and audience. I’m equally thrilled to collaborate with director Asif Kapadia on making a feature film of Creature, which has been an incredible experience, not just for me, but also for all those involved with the production and will give audiences across the country the opportunity to see the work on the big screen.” Notes to Editors A Co-Production between English National Ballet and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (OBV) Co-Producer: Sadler’s Wells, London Production Partner: The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater Production Sponsor: Cunard English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Ballymore is Principal Building Partner of English National Ballet. About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; its digital platforms Ballet on Demand and BalletActive; being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as Dance for Parkinson’s; and through talent development initiatives including Ballet Futures which looks to create a more diverse and inclusive future for the artform. English National Ballet continues to add ground-breaking new works to its repertoire whilst celebrating the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw the Company enter a new chapter in its history with a move to a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in east London, allowing a renewed commitment to creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before.

World Premiere announced for Asif Kapadia’s Creature, based on an original concept by Akram Khan English National Ballet is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Creature at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. Based on the original concept and choreography by Akram Khan, Creature is the latest film from Academy Award winning director Asif Kapadia, and will premiere at 3.30pm Saturday 15 October in NFT1 at BFI Southbank. Following BFI Distribution’s acquisition of the UK & Ireland theatrical rights to the film, Creature will then receive its cinema release from Friday 24 February 2023. Based on English National Ballet’s 2021 stage production, Creature is a groundbreaking collaboration between Asif Kapadia, Olivier Award winning choreographer Akram Khan and English National Ballet, produced by Uzma Hasan of Little House Productions. An intense, visceral and haunting film, Creature is a tragic tale of an outsider’s search for belonging, the insatiable desires of the powerful, and the enduring hope found in human connection and compassion. Inspired by Georg Büchner’s seminal play Woyzeck, this vivid cinematic experience sees Jeffrey Cirio, Erina Takahashi and Stina Quagebeur perform in the Principal roles. Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, said; “At English National Ballet we aim to make ballet accessible to the widest possible audience, and so I am very proud to be partnering with the BFI on the release of Creature. Working with a fantastic creative team under the direction of Asif was a wonderful opportunity for the Company and we are incredibly excited that people across the country will have the opportunity to see this vital and important work.” Creature is Akram Khan’s third work for English National Ballet, following Dust and his reimagined version of Giselle. It returns to the stage this spring, at Sadler’s Wells, London from Thursday 23 March – Saturday 1 April 2023. Academy Award winning director Asif Kapadia is best known for his trilogy of films exploring the price of fame, Amy, Senna, and Diego Maradona. His debut fiction feature, The Warrior won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year. He directed episodes of the Netflix series Mindhunter and the critically acclaimed music series 1971: The Year Music Changed Everything. He also co-directed and exec produced the mental health series The Me You Can’t See, starring Oprah, Prince Harry and Lady Gaga. In 2022 he will create a new four-part series about Camden’s musical history for Disney+. -ENDS- English National Ballet is grateful for the generous grant it has been awarded through the Government's Culture Recovery Fund, which allows it to continue to create, perform and serve its audiences. Notes to Editors English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Ballymore is Principal Building Partner of English National Ballet BFI London Film Festival is held in partnership with American Express. About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet's growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world-class ballet to the widest possible audience through live performances across the UK and on eminent international stages; its digital platforms Ballet on Demand and BalletActive; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet's Dance for Parkinson's. Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company's repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history when it moved into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in east London, Mulryan Centre for Dance, bringing a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before. www.ballet.org.uk About Arts Council England Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let's Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of several bodies administering the Government's Culture Recovery Fund and unprecedented support package of £1.57 billion for the culture and heritage sector. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

I was at a performance of ENB Swan Lake last night as it starts its autumn tour of Swan Lake in Liverpool (Empire Theatre). The second evening after opening night. Fernanda Oliveira and Ken Saruhashi were the leads. It's the first return of ENB to theatres in North England since the pandemic and I think the last time they were here was Nutctracker in 2019. I've lost track over the pandemic but this might be their first touring location since the pandemic hit us? I've loved seeing ENB in Manchester and Liverpool over the years and was so good to see them again. I think the last time I saw them live was Swan Lake at the Liverpool Empire in late 2018. It was a really fine performance which was extremely satisfying. I had not seen Oliveira dance before and she embodied Odile/Odette so classically, brilliantly and convincingly. Such elegance in all her movement. I particularly enjoyed her Black Swan solo variation which she made simultaneously elegant and bravura. I am really glad to have seen her dance. And the elegance and grace of Saruhashi is so well matched to Oliveira. The Swan ensemble in this production has such exquisite quality and synchronisation, which I remembered striking me in 2018, and struck me again last night, they move with speed, grace, and accuracy, as one intense force of nature. One other highlight which struck me was the vivacity of Haruhi Otani in the Act I Pas De Trois. I'm starting to notch up quite a few Swan Lakes over the years and if I am honest it does get harder to recapture that first fresh impact/wonder/thrall that I first experienced. And also if I am honest when I saw both ENB and Birmingham Royal Ballet announcing Swan lake for their touring 2022/2023 to Manchester/Liverpool I was a little disappointed and a feeling of "not Swan Lake again". But I do know very well, especially since the pandemic, how luck we really are to have the chance to see it. I have to keep reminding myself of the joy/privilege of being able to go to a fabulous live ballet in an evening in a great city. It does feel like there's been a lot of complacent return to normality and a forgetting the long dark months of the pandemic, endlessly waiting for things to improve. And the masterpiece of Swan Lake and ENB's production which has such intense layers of spectacle to it from the gothic Act III, to the ethereal white acts, the glowing peasant scenes of Act I, and through it all the quality of dancing from ENB. I may well go and see another performance in Manchester next week. Look forward to hearing other peoples thoughts who have been to see this.

For immediate release: Wednesday 29 June 2022 English National Ballet Spring - Summer 2023 Season Update www.ballet.org.uk English National Ballet today announces further plans for spring - summer 2023, completing its 2022 - 2023 Season. From 15 - 25 June 2023, Royal Albert Hall and English National Ballet will present Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderellain-the-round. First performed in 2019 by English National Ballet, this grand-scale restaging of the magical production features over 90 dancers and combines magnificent sets and costumes, theatrical surprises, and lively choreography set to Prokofiev’s famous score performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic. Following its recent premiere in London and a UK tour in autumn 2022, English National Ballet presents Raymonda by Tamara Rojo internationally for the first time with performances at the Teatro Real, Madrid, 10 – 13 May 2023. Updating the ballet’s setting to the Crimean war and drawing inspiration from the groundbreaking spirit and work of the women supporting the war effort, including Florence Nightingale, Raymonda is recast as a young woman with a calling to become a nurse. Starring a huge cast of dancers, this critically acclaimed adaptation keeps the best of the 19th-century original including Alexander Glazunov’s score, adapted and edited by Gavin Sutherland and Lars Payne. English National Ballet’s annual celebration of rising talent within the Company, Emerging Dancer, returns to a live theatre audience on 30 May 2023 at Sadler’s Wells, London. The event, which will also be live streamed, sees six selected finalists mentored by their peers perform in front of a panel of eminent judges. The winner of Emerging Dancer is announced alongside the People’s Choice Award and the Corps de Ballet Award, introduced to recognise the hard work and dedication of an exceptional member of the corps. As previously announced, Creature by Akram Khan returns to Sadler’s Wells, London with performances from 22 March – 01 April 2023. -ENDS- English National Ballet is grateful for the generous grant it has been awarded through the Government's Culture Recovery Fund, which allows it to continue to create, perform and serve its audiences. Notes to Editors English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Ballymore is Principal Building Partner of English National Ballet. English National Ballet is an Associate Company of Sadler’s Wells. Raymonda by Tamara Rojo, after Marius Petipa A Co-Production between English National Ballet and Finnish National Ballet Production Partner: Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Lead supporters of Raymonda: Doug and Ceri King, Sir Damon and Lady Buffini, Manuel and Amparo Falcó Creature by Akram Khan A Co-Production between English National Ballet and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (OBV) Co-Producer: Sadler’s Wells, London. Production Partner: The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater Production Sponsor: Cunard Lead Supporter of Creature: Valentina Kislaya On-Sale Information: Priority booking for Cinderella in-the-round opens on Thursday 30 June with general booking opening on Friday 1 July. Booking for Creature and Emerging Dancer will open in autumn 2022. Become a Friend today to enjoy priority booking, access to exclusive events throughout the Season, and great discounts. Sign up to our e-newsletter to find out when booking is announced. Performance details are subject to change. Please see www.ballet.org.uk for the latest information. English National Ballet’s 2022-2023 Listings: Swan Lake Liverpool Empire Wednesday 28 September – Saturday 01 October 2022 www.ballet.org.uk/swan-lake Swan Lake Manchester Palace Theatre Wednesday 05 – Saturday 08 October 2022 www.ballet.org.uk/swan-lake Akram Khan’s Giselle Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris Wednesday 12 – Saturday 15 October 2022 www.ballet.org.uk/akram-khan-giselle Ek/ Forsythe/ Quagebeur Sadler’s Wells, London Wednesday 09 – Saturday 12 November 2022 www.ballet.org.uk/ek-forsythe-quagebeur Raymonda Bristol Hippodrome Wednesday 23 – Saturday 26 November 2022 www.ballet.org.uk/raymonda Raymonda Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Wednesday 30 November – Saturday 03 December 2022 www.ballet.org.uk/raymonda Nutcracker London Coliseum Thursday 15 December 2022 – Saturday 07 January 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/nutcracker Swan Lake London Coliseum Thursday 12 – Sunday 22 January 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/swan-lake Akram Khan’s Giselle Festspielhaus St. Pölten, Austria Friday 24 & Saturday 25 February 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/akram-khan-giselle Creature by Akram Khan Sadler’s Wells, London 22 March – 01 April 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/creature Raymonda Teatro Real, Madrid 10 – 13 May 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/raymonda Emerging Dancer Sadler’s Wells, London 23 May 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/emerging Cinderella in-the-round Royal Albert Hall 15 - 25 June 2023 www.ballet.org.uk/cinderella-intheround About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet's growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world-class ballet to the widest possible audience through live performances across the UK and on eminent international stages; its digital platforms Ballet on Demand and BalletActive; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet's Dance for Parkinson's. Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company's repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history when it moved into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in east London, Mulryan Centre for Dance, bringing a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before. www.ballet.org.uk About Arts Council England Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let's Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. 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We are also working in partnership with Diageo and CIE to design and deliver mixed-use developments at the Guinness brewery and Connolly Station in Dublin.

I have looked on their website and the Coli's website and although we can buy tickets, I can't find a cast list anywhere. On the ENB site it says 'click for cast and creative team' and all I get is the creative team! Am I just being stoooopid, or is it not publicly available yet? Or have I missed something? Thanks!

Sim kindly suggested that I post clearer links to four hour-long filmed interviews I made recently with Adam Cooper, Tory Dobrin, Matz Skoog and Sarah Wildor, which are now on Youtube. The interviews include film clips and numerous photographs charting their impressive lives, aimed to enlighten dance students at the Vyne Dance Academy Berkhamsted about the wide range of possibilities and directions they took, as well as demonstrating attitudes and decision-making required to reach the heights. Technical quality is rookie, as these were filmed live. Although they were referenced briefly as a group in Links last week, this post makes them easier to find individually. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuahG7FpjL8 Adam Cooper, legendary as the Swan in Matthew Bourne’s world hit Swan Lake. Topics include his seven years at the Royal Ballet and partnerships with Darcey Bussell, Sylvie Guillem and wife Sarah Wildor, the transition to Bourne’s Adventures in Motion Pictures to star in Swan Lake and other works, self-development as a choreographer-performer in Singin’ in the Rain and Liaisons Dangereuses, and his approach to risk-taking. Includes Billy Elliot clip (of course). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJCXQKNsOqQ Sarah Wildor, the exquisite “English” ballerina of the 1990s Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, and the Broadway hit show Contact. Topics include the Royal Ballet School, the power of the corps de ballet, her approach to comedy and tragedy, Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan’s ballerina roles, friendship with Anthony Dowell and marriage to Adam Cooper, her resignation from the Royal Ballet, performing with Matthew Bourne and Susan Stroman, professional versatility and ballet artistry. Clips include A Month in the Country and Symphonic Variations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVMHNNrnnqk Ex-ENB artistic director Matz Skoog. Topics include his childhood training and quick rise in Royal Swedish Ballet, his performing career in London Festival Ballet/English National Ballet, the originating of Christopher Bruce's celebrated Swansong, the turbulent years of directorship at ENB, his eclectic outlook on ballet as an art, and insights about confidence and self-development in his new capacity as a professional life coach. Includes Swansong clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GQpcfR3n_c Trocks artistic director Tory Dobrin discusses his 40+ years with the legendary male ballerina comedy troupe, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, including his early years in LA, the Trocks' birth in the US Aids crisis, male pointe work, drag styles, gender politics, 19th-century Russian ballet, diva legends, Anna Pavlova, Japanese kabuki, and the occasional reluctance of choreographers to be parodied by the Trocks. Includes performance and documentary clips.

Amid all the (real) snowflakes, cold snaps, strikes and various dramas last week, English National Ballet’s annual season of Nutcracker and a winter full length ballet (Swan Lake this year) began at the London Coliseum on 15 December with debuts in the production by new soloist Lorenzo Trossello (Nephew), and debuts in lead roles by Ivana Bueno (Clara), Fernando Carratalá Coloma (Nephew), Erik Woolhouse (Nephew). Looking forward to reading forum members’ reviews, impressions and thoughts on the various performances before and after we catch our show. For those who enjoy checking out company dancer and photographer Amber Hunt’s Pointe Shoe Christmas Tree in its different colours and themes every year, this year’s theme is a green tree (of green shoes), with purple shoe ribbon swags and “bows” of purple shoes, and a silvery pointe shoe “star” on top. It reminds me of Cinderella’s ball dress in the Cinderella films, and might be a nod to their upcoming June performances of Cinderella at the Royal Albert Hall? 👠👑💃 For those who need a dose of comedy and a smile during bleak times, the company have followed their Mouse King, aka company artist William Simmons, on various “escapades” around the theatre, resulting in some funny videos on social media (you can see the Facebook ones without requiring an account). The Mouse King seems to be a dab hand at using computers and the internet! 💻😂

Looking forward to members’ reviews of ENB’s newish full length production of Raymonda by Tamara Rojo which premiered this January and tours to Bristol and Southampton, beginning tomorrow night. NB Erina Takahashi is no longer dancing Raymonda at the Thursday 24 Nov matinee and Saturday 26 Nov evening performance. Raymonda will be danced by soloist Julia Conway, who had been a memorable Henriette in the January run (a shortened and delayed run due to Omicron variant Covid sweeping the casts and crews of theatres and concert halls nationwide). Lorenzo Trossello and Daniel McCormick are still scheduled to dance John (Trossello’s debut in the role) and Abdur respectively at the Thursday matinee and Saturday evening show. (I can attest that McCormick is excellent as Abdur!) Takahashi is still (currently) listed to dance Raymonda in Southampton next week. Toi toi toi to all!

Casting for Bristol and Southampton appears to be up (though you might have trouble getting the page to load correctly, as I did). https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/raymonda/#cast-section

Odd not to have seen any postings yet on tonight's premiere: presumably somebody went? I know ENB first nights do have a tendency to overrun, but ...

This evening I saw Tamara Rojo’s last performance. It was in Akram Khan’s Giselle, in Paris, at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, the theatre where Stravinsky’s and Nijinsky’s Rite of Spring caused a riot at the premiere, over 100 years ago. Partnering her was her life partner, Isaac Hernandez, guesting from their new company, San Francisco Ballet. The other main roles were taken by Ken Saruhashi and Stina Quagebeur, in the Myrthe type role she created in Khan’s version. The theatre was unbearably hot, which affected one’s concentration, and the stage was even darker than ever- I couldn’t clearly see Tamara’s face, even though I had an excellent seat, and even when I tried my opera glasses. Watching a dancer’s expression is important in a dramatic piece, no matter how expressive their dancing. Despite these minor reservations the performance was a triumph. The pas de deux in the second act was performed with special tenderness by Tamara and Isaac and the entire cast gave an inspired performance. The audience had watched in quiet concentration throughout and erupted with wild applause at the end, especially for Tamara and Stina, presumably it was her last performance too. There was a show of flowers, not I think a flower throw, as they seemed to come from above the stage. And it was moving when Isaac brought their toddler on to the stage, who loved running to the front of the stage to join his mum and applauded enthusiastically. Who knows what his future might be!

E-mail from ENB - not going to cut/paste the whole thing as takes up far too much space but you get the idea.... Mods...I couldn't find this anywhere else but please move if appropriate ENB at Home: Ballet on Demand and BalletActive Classic titles available to rent and view on demand + online dance and fitness class subscriptions Throughout 2020, we have connected with hundreds of thousands of dance lovers all over the world via our ENB at Home programme of online classes and ballet streams. We are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new ENB at Home online platform, which will allow us to engage further with our global community and reach new ballet fans everywhere. With Ballet on Demand, you can now rent some of our best-loved titles, including Akram Khan's Giselle, La Sylphide, Dust, and Le Corsaire, and watch them from home! (Rent for three days from £4.99 – no subscription needed ) Ballet on Demand will also host our digital season of short films commissioned specifically for the camera, with choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Yuri Possokhov, Stina Quagebeur and Arielle Smith. These unique dance-film collaborations are unlike anything we've previously done and will premiere throughout November and December. BalletActive takes our online classes to an entirely new level! Subscribe today to take ballet, contemporary and yoga classes with an exciting team of instructors, including Company ballet masters and mistresses. Designed for at-home participation, this is a fitness subscription you'll look forward to using!