Naomi M

National Ballet of Japan was considering to bring their Raymonda (by Asami Maki, basically a traditional Raymonda) for their tour next summer. However, Miyako Yoshida said in the press conference that it is quite difficult to perform a classic Raymonda in the UK these days, and she decided to bring their Giselle (Yoshida/Alistair Marriott) for the tour.

The NYT article says, “Paquita” that incorporates the “Minkus Pas de Trois,” Balanchine’s restaging of the ballet’s pas de trois.

As a subscriber, I can share the full NYT full article here. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/15/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-2024-25-season.html?ugrp=c&unlocked_article_code=1.k00.fSRR.j2sSLceBQT0S&smid=url-share The new Ratmansky is a suite of dances from Paquita. Andrew Veyette is retiring.

Which is Wayne Eagling's version that many (including the Japanese audience who has to see the same one every year) loathe...

Myriam Ould Braham said in a Japanese interview that she will not dance after her retirement, only a few summer galas that had already been scheduled https://madamefigaro.jp/series/ballet/240203-myriam-ould-braham.html

Yuhui Choe has posted on instagram that she is out from MacMillan and the rest of season as she is expecting her second child. https://www.instagram.com/p/C4voIA2IJ8j/?igsh=MWd2dWF5ZTBlcDA1ZQ==

https://www.operadeparis.fr/saison-23-24/ballet/la-fille-mal-gardee#artists Marcelino Sambe will appear at POB Fille on March 24,26 and 31 opposite Bleuenn Battistoni

Taiga Kodama Pomfret is half Japanese. He does seem to be short but from his videos on instagram he does seem to have quite breathtaking technique. Another news from Russia is that Renata Shakirova has beet promoted to principal at last. Congratulations! https://www.instagram.com/p/C4OdmbNNGJn/?igsh=MXd6aThvMDBlaHI4YQ==

And I saw that very rare Nutcracker Prince at Noriko Kobayashi Ballet Theatre Tokyo, where Watson was a totally fine, beautiful Prince. He also danced Des Grieux in Manon there, before debuting in that role at RB. (btw Noriko Kobayashi Ballet does a fairly amount of MacMillan, Ashton and De Valois works, they have done The Invitation, Gloria, Anastasia, The Two Pigeons, The Rake’s Progress and Checkmate.)

Yoshida said so. They are paying for the venue, but they also receive the revenue from the ticket sales.

The name of the theatre is New National Theatre but the ballet company's name is National Ballet of Japan, so I think the title should be changed to National Ballet of Japan to perform at Royal Opera House. https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/ballet-dance/ ”The resident company of the theatre is the National Ballet of Japan”

I was at the press conference today at the National Ballet of Japan. This tour to the Royal Opera House is not as a guest of the ROH, the company is responsible for the tour. But of course this came possible as Miyako Yoshida was former principal at the Royal Ballet and also partnered Kevin O'Hare at BRB, this relationship helped to make this tour happen. Here is a clip from the 1st act Giselle solo by Ayako Ono, one of their best ballerinas. (another great ballerina who should be doing Giselle is Yui Yonezawa) https://youtu.be/enZHFYf0qGI?si=scguws561xwEm0F1 The designs by Dick Bird are also very impressive, quite a beautiful one especially at the second act. Another news clip https://youtu.be/rmbQm7P-JCw?si=6bjIYwJ-2oRFTrt0 My review on Bachtrack. https://bachtrack.com/review-giselle-marriott-ono-okumura-national-ballet-japan-tokyo-october-2022

Fumi Kaneko said in a Japanese interview that she is 1.67m. (which seems shorter than she looks)

Here are experts from the full length ballet "Asuka". This is a footage taken when Svetlana Lunkina and Ruslan Skvolzov guested at Asami Maki Ballet. This is a ballet based on an ancient Japanese myth, with a girl who is betrothed to a dragon god but cannot forget her childhood sweetheart. Asami Maki was an important figure of ballet in the Japanese ballet scene, she studied from Alexandra Danilova and not only formed her company but also formed ballet schools, and was artistic director of National Ballet of Japan. She passed away on 2021.

Just in case, here is the official announcement from Queensland Ballet. Such wonderful news! https://www.queenslandballet.com.au/news/queensland-ballet-announces-new-artistic-director Queensland Ballet has announced Leanne Benjamin AM OBE as its new Artistic Director. Named Australian of the Year in the UK 2023, this is a homecoming for Ms Benjamin, a Queenslander who has been a vibrant voice in ballet, vocational development, advocacy, and governance on the world stage for many years. Ms Benjamin will be the sixth Artistic Director to take the helm at Queensland Ballet and the first female to assume the role. In a natural balance to her international accomplishments, she started life in Rockhampton, so Queensland runs through her, strong and vibrant. it says that Kevin O'Hare was on the selection committee.