Sophoife

The lead pairs learned their roles in London with ENB which was a great money-saver. The Sydney Opera House Joan Sutherland Theatre is a cramped venue with barely any wings or backstage area. Lucky this production doesn't seem to have major scenery then. Haven't heard much on social media from the dancers, waxing lyrical... We shall see, @alison, we shall see.

I'm heading up to Sydney to see AusBallet's presentation of this production next week. I must say I'm not filled with confidence after having read all the reviews (handy to be helping with the Links!) of ENB's presentation. As always I'll try to make up my own mind, but calling it "Bizet's Carmen " (which AusBallet is doing) and stuffing the music around has already got me a little apprehensive.

POB has a platform they call Paris Opera Play.

Martha Graham and Aaron Copland's collaboration on Appalachian Spring is today's featured article when I open Wikipedia. I won't link it as the featured article changes every day, but here's a picture!

Links – Saturday 6 April 2024 (I promised you a bumper edition) Review – Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, mixed bill including Dying Swan, Go for Barocco, Swan Lake Act II, The Kennedy Center, Washington DC: Carolyn Kelemen, MD Theatre Guide Review – Paris Opera Ballet, Don Quichotte (Nureyev), livestream from the Opera Bastille, Paris: Jim Pritchard, Seen and Heard International Review – San Francisco Ballet, Dos Mujeres, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco CA: Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle Review – Guillaume Côté and Robert Lepage, The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, Elgin Theatre, Toronto ON: Liam Donovan, NEXT Magazine Paula Citron, Ludwig Van Toronto Review – Ayodele Casel, Max Roach 100, Joyce Theater, New York NY: Marina Kennedy, Broadway World Review – Trisha Brown Dance Company, Glacial Decoy / In the Fall / Working Title, Joyce Theater, New York NY: Miranda Stück, Broadway World Review – American Repertory Ballet, Intrare Forma / Sight Line / Wood Work, Kaye Playhouse, New York, NY: Nadia Vostrikov, The Ballet Herald Review – City Ballet of San Diego, Boléro – The Awakening / Morphoses / An American in Paris, Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA: Kyungmin Min, SDNews.com Preview – Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Spring Season 2024, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco CA: James Ambroff-Tahan, San Francisco Examiner Preview – Ballet Hartford, Planets, Hoffman Auditorium, West Hartford CT: Aaron Flaum, Hartford Courant – with 10 photos Preview – Ballet Kelowna, Macbeth, Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna BC: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview – Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, Cinderella, River Center Performing Arts Theatre, Baton Rouge LA: Maggie Heyn-Richardson, inRegister Preview – Boulder Ballet, Les Sylphides / Sun and Steel, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake CO: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview – Cincinnati Ballet, Mercurial Landscapes, Aronoff Center, Cincinnati OH: Amber Jayanth, FOX 19 Preview – Tracy Bonham with Eugene Ballet, Reflections / Slipstream / Tracy Bonham/Suzanne Haag, Midtown Arts Center, Eugene OR: Jean Zondervan, Oregon ArtsWatch Preview – New York City Ballet, 75th Anniversary Spring Season: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Preview – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, When Time Stands Still / Violin Pas de Deux / Petal / Allegro Brillante, Benedum Center, Pittsburgh PA: Naomi Girson, The Duquesne Duke Preview – The Royal Ballet International Draft Works, Linbury Theatre Royal Opera House, London England: Teresa Guerreiro, CultureWhisper Graham Spicer, Gramilano Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview – Western Arkansas Ballet, The Wizard of Oz, ArcBest Performing Arts Center, Fort Smith AR: Monica Hooper, Free Weekly News Louisville Ballet Announces 2024-2025 Season: Aria Baci, Leo Weekly Maggie Menderski, Courier-Journal RAD to support more trainee dance teachers: Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Facing apathy from Hungarian State Opera, Hindus to approach Orbán about dropping “La Bayadère”: Staff, India News Calling Pyongyangites pushed to attend Russian ballet performance last month, Officers were mobilized to ensure nobody slept through performance, a source told Daily NK: Jong So Yang, Daily NK Features Azara Ballet Folds Mental and Physical Well-Being Into the Art of Dance, Founders and dancers Kate Flowers and Martin Roosaare lead with a trauma-informed approach in a world often fraught with unrealistic expectations: Kim Doleatto, Sarasota Magazine This New Dance Craze Mixes Two Unlikely Styles Into Something Amazing: Tanya, Shared.com Ballet from Russia with love, Russian School of Ballet in Johannesburg, South Africa: Ian Hughes, The Citizen The curious, unexpected legal issues of professional ballet rehearsals: Jeremy Reynolds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Video – Arts WACH: The king of rock & roll hits the ballet stage, South Carolina Ballet’s Elvis Ballet (Starrett): Brian Mcconchie, WACH FOX 57 Video – Ukrainian ballet dancers helped 300 people evacuate Ukraine, catch them at the Pablo Center April 7th: Eleanor Bland, WEAU 13 News Interviews Video – Grammy-nominated Tracy Bonham unveils new single, talks collaboration with Eugene Ballet: News Staff, 16KMTR Bobby Carter is On Point with Les Ballets Trockadero, for 30 years [the always-fabulous] Bobby Carter [Yuri Smirnov, Olga Supphozova] has been dancing with the all-male ballet comedy troupe, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Doug Rule, Metro Weekly ‘You have an expiration date’: Guillaume Côté on retiring from the National Ballet of Canada: Tom Power, CBC Arts The Final Bow: Twins Jennifer and Alexandra Gibson to retire after 15 years with Alberta Ballet: Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald Video – Madison Ballet AD Ja’Malik and dancer Lauren Thompson, Hallelujah Junction / Agapé / Giselle Act II, Overture Center, Madison WI: Alyssa Rodriguez and Katie Castellano, WMTV15 News Guitarist Paco Peña on flamenco, avoiding the limelight and Jimi Hendrix: Louise Levene, Financial Times Andrew Skeels creates new work with Bayerisches Staatsballett: Jeannette Andersen, SeeingDance Save the Date 5-6 April: Dance Arts, Snow White: The Ballet, Virginia Theatre, Champaign IL: Karidia Shelby, WCIA 5-6 April: Ohio Performing Arts Institute, Pandora’s Box – An Original Ballet: John Legend Theater, Springfield OH: Brett Turner, Springfield News-Sun 6-7 & 10 April: Golden State Ballet, From New York, With Love, Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA and touring to Orange County: There San Diego 7 April: Midcoast Ballet, Coppélia: Midcoast Strong, Rockland ME: Penobscot Bay Pilot 12 April: Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company, Cinderella, Marietta High School Auditorium, Marietta OH: The Marietta Times 13 April: South Carolina Ballet, Elvis Ballet, Koger Center for the Arts, University of South Carolina, Columbia SC: Columbia Star 13 April: Southwest Virginia Ballet, Romeo & Juliet, Berglund Performing Arts Theatre, Roanoke VA: Kate Capodanno, WDBJ7 13-14 April: Springfield Youth Performance Group Foundation, Cinderella: Sacred Heart Griffin Auditorium, Springfield IL: Angela Bauer, My Journal-Courier 19-20 April: Ballet Folklórico Imperial, Mexican dance: Santa Maria High School, Santa Maria, CA: Ken Allard, KSBY6 20-21 April: Ballet Palm Beach, Peter Pan & Tinker Bell, Rinker Playhouse, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach FL: Site Staff, Palm Beach Illustrated 20-21 April: Nashville Ballet, Romeo & Juliet, TPAC Jackson Hall, Nashville TN: Cass Teague, Pride Publishing Group 26-27 April: Ozark Ballet Theater, Cinderella, Bentonville West High School, Centerton AR: Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette 26-28 April: City Ballet of Boston, Ballet Banquet: Strand Theatre, Dorchester MA: The Bay State Banner 27 April: Dance Prism Ballet, Puss in Boots, Littleton High School, Littleton MA: Patch 27-28 April: Metropolitan School of the Arts, Coppélia, George Washington National Masonic Memorial, Alexandria VA: Patch Paywalled – but you may have access Review – Ayodele Casel, Max Roach 100, Joyce Theater, New York NY: Brian Seibert, The New York Times Review – Doug Varone, To My Arms / Restore, NYU Skirball, New York NY: Karen Hildebrand, Fjord Review Feature – Washington Ballet Studio Company’s Abigail Brent Shares Her Typical Daily Routine: Linnea Swarting, Pointe Magazine Save The Date – 12-13 April: A Very Queer Ballet (not a love story): New Prospect Theatre, Bellingham WA: Cocoa Laney, Cascadia Daily News Position Vacant The Royal Ballet is looking for an Associate Pianist for 9 months, September 2024 to May 2025: Royal Opera House

I was brought up to dress for the theatre, too. However, if I'm sitting in the second back row of the balcony at the State Theatre in Melbourne, I can slip in through the back door (which is at street level, the majority of the theatre is below ground level), watch the performance, and slip back out. Not only will nobody else care what I'm wearing, I won't care what I'm wearing (I hasten to add it's always clean)! Last year as many people know I flew to Denver then London and Paris to watch some ballet, and I managed to be away for a month with only one carry-on. Decent black trousers, acceptable-for-evening black shoes, black T-shirt, my mother's "faux" fur-lined coat (it's not faux), and a necklace (can't remember if it was The Amethysts or The Pearls - @Sim?). I would never wear a knitted jumper with deer or snowmen or anything else on it to the theatre - unless it was a warehouse venue and cold!

Links – Friday 5 April 2024 With a huge apology for the lateness! I promise Saturday’s will be a bumper list to make up! Reviews – Rupert Christiansen, The Spectator English National Ballet, Carmen (Inger), Sadler’s Wells Mark Bruce Company, Frankenstein, The Place Review – Scottish Ballet, Swan Lake (Dawson), Theatre Royal, Glasgow Scotland: Mary Brennan, The Herald Lauren Humphreys, The Reviews Hub Review – San Francisco Ballet, NEXT@90, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco CA: Jim Munson, Broadway World Review – Nederlands Dans Theater, N.N.N.N. / The Point Being / Jakie, New York City Center, NY: Gia Kourlas, The New York Times Review – Milwaukee Ballet, Cinderella (Pink), Uihlein Hall, Milwaukee WI: Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (with bonus 24-25 programming) and photos Preview – Korean National Ballet, The Little Mermaid (Neumeier), Seoul Arts Center, S Korea: Hwang Dong-hee, The Korea Herald Preview – Texas Ballet Theater, Beauty and the Beast (Christensen), Dallas and Fort Worth, TX: Stephi Wild, Broadway World News – S.F. Ballet to make Madrid debut this fall: Zara Irshad, San Francisco Chronicle News – There Are So Many Swan Lakes Coming To London This Summer: Lydia Manch, Londonist Feature – Nina Ananiashvili – Her Experiences, and How She Kept Her Georgian Roots as a Bolshoi Ballerina: Shelbi Ankiewicz, Georgia Today Feature – Gagik Tadevosyan: A Grand Pas from Parpi to LA: Artsvi Bakhchinyan, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Feature – Solo ballet dancer Kuu Sakuragi plumbs emotional depths through dance: Roxanne Ray, International Examiner Feature – Gabriela Hearst Designs Costumes for Arielle Smith’s “Carmen” at the San Francisco Ballet: Ryan Williams with photos by Katie Thompson, Women’s Wear Daily via MSN Video Feature – Austrian ballet dancer enjoys sharing experience with students in China, Vladimir Malakhov appointed director of the Ballet Department of the Beijing Dance Academy: Xinhua (which clearly doesn’t care that Ukraine is not Austria) It's a ballet recording, so... Review – BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Bartók: The Wooden Prince: Andrew Clements, The Guardian

Absolutely! I despise people who talk after the lights have gone down (unless of course it's a genuine emergency), explain every step or plot point to the child/ren with them, discuss every plot point with their theatre-going companion, can't remember despite reminders to turn off their phone, allow a younger person with them to bounce around and/or kick the seat in front of them, insist on either crunching away on a noisy food (crisps etc) or continually dipping into noisy packaging, sit leaning forward in their seat for a better view and block the view of the person behind them, lean their head on their partner's shoulder thereby blocking the view of several people behind them, constantly slurp on a drink (I'm not talking about those who take a discreet sip of water here), light up half the auditorium by looking at their phone, decide to film as much of the performance as possible on their phone, or worst of all get physically violent or verbally abusive toward a patron who might, despite trepidation, politely request them to cease any of the above. Signed, Curmudgeonly.

Oh well, at least one thing of which I'm not guilty! Anyone here who wants to find me on any of the socials I use can do so with ease, as I use the same avatar and handle everywhere. Seriously though @zxDaveM the Mods do a terrific job and here's a 🤗 and some👏🏻 for all!

@Amelie-DALP mentioned on Twitter "Noureeveries" which I advised her I would steal (for those who may not know, the French spell "Nureyev" as "Noureev"). I think it's the perfect word for what you just said! AusBallet's Don Quixote is also, as I'm sure many people here already know, a Nureyev production.

Links – Tuesday 2 April 2024 We’ve had a long, long weekend, so here’s a nice long collection of (mostly) bite-size pieces Obituary – Lorraine Graves, principal dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem: Stacy Jackson, Black Enterprise Brian Reese, WRIC ABC 8News Review – Ballet Philippines, Limang Daan, The Theatre at Solaire, Manila, Philippines: Franz Sorilla IV, Tatler Asia Review – Boston Ballet, Cinderella (Ashton), Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston MA: Kinnereth S Din, The Harvard Crimson Review – Justin Peck, Illinoise, Park Avenue Armory, New York NY: Apollinaire Scherr, Fjord Review Review – Opera Australia, West Side Story, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Sydney NSW: Dr Diana Carroll, ArtsHub Preview – Ballet Arizona, All Balanchine (La Valse / Prodigal Son / Square Dance), Symphony Hall, Phoenix AZ: Staff, Daily Independent Preview - Ballet Hispánico, Mixed programmes selected from Recuerdo de Campo Amor, Con Brazos Abiertos (excerpts), Doña Perón (excerpt), Pas de O’ Farrill duet, Buscando a Juan, House of Mad’moiselle, 18+1, Danse Creole (excerpt), Sombrerisimo, Club Havana (excerpt), New York City Center, New York NY: Staff, Martin Cid Magazine Preview – Colorado Ballet, Ballet MasterWorks 2024: Three Views of a Mountain / Rubies / Boléro (Arai), Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver CO: Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post Preview – Queensland Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scarlett), QPAC, Brisbane QLD: Staff, Australian Arts Review Preview – San Francisco Ballet, Dos Mujeres – Carmen (Smith) and Broken Wings (Ochoa), War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco CA: Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News Preview – Sarasota Ballet, Inspirations (The American / Lyric Pieces / Sinfonietta (Ashton): Sarasota Magazine Preview – Ashland Youth Ballet, Peter and the Wolf / The Tale of the Mandarin Duck / Toy Symphony, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland KY: Lee Ward, The Daily Independent via AOL Preview – Ballet Theatre Company, Snow White, Belding Theater, Hartford CT: We-Ha.com Preview – Ballet Victoria, Swan Lake, Royal Theatre, Victoria BC: Sam Duerksen, Monday Magazine Preview – New Jersey Ballet, Works and Process – discussion and demonstrations with Harrison Ball, Lauren Lovette, and Maria Kowroski (new AD), Guggenheim’s Peter B Lewis Theater, New York NY: Chloe Rabinowitz, Broadway World Preview – New Mexico Ballet Company, The Wizard of Oz, Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque NM: Kathaleen Roberts, Albuquerque Journal via AOL Preview – Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet, The Hair Journey, (beauty, self-love and identity through the lens of Black hair), UNC Greensboro Auditorium, Greensboro NC: Chelsea Floyd, Spectrum News 1 Preview – University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Pickle Pas de Deux, Agnes de Mille Theatre, Winston-Salem NC: UNCSA Preview – Vail Youth Ballet, Spring Showcase, Battle Mountain High School Auditorium, Edwards CO: Staff, Vail Daily News – News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in March 2024, roundup of promotions, appointments, departures, and awards in March 2024: Courtney Escoyne, Dance Magazine Video News – Madison Ballet set to return to Overture Center for season finale: Channel 3000 / News 3 Now via YouTube Video News – Swift Current Ballet Dancer wins national award, Brianna Dash: CTV News Regina Feature – The Artistry of SF Ballet’s ‘Dos Mujeres’ Begins at the Curtain, scenic art and a new curtain for a mixed bill at SF Ballet: Sarah Hotchkiss, KQED Feature – Seeking the light inside, Deborah Brown of Bangarra Dance Theatre: Staff, Dance Australia Feature – In conversation: Gail Mabo on curating and legacy, Dancer cum choreographer cum artist, Gail Mabo turns her hand to curating as a way to share culture: Gina Fairley, ArtsHub Feature – Disrupting Harm in Dance: Candice Thompson, Fjord Review Feature – Exit interview: Tim Newth AM, Tracks Dance Company, From active listening to rethinking what it means to be an Australian artist, Tim Newth reflects on a 35-year practice in the Northern Territory: Richard Watts, ArtsHub Feature – Disney+’s Madu Follows Young Ballet Dancer’s Journey From Nigeria to England: Thomas Ford for Dance Spirit, Pointe Magazine Feature – Asha Ama Bias-Daniels crafts costumes for Cincinnati Ballet’s ‘Mercurial Landscapes’, UC DAAP alumna brings a unique blend of artistry, innovation and cultural heritage to the stage: Samantha Norton, University of Cincinnati Video Feature – Viral ballet dancer Anthony Madu shares unexpected journey in new documentary: Phil Lipof, ABC News via YouTube Video Feature – North Dakota Today – FM Ballet – Alice in Wonderland: Valley News Live via YouTube Book Review – Pilobolus: A Story of Dance and Life, Robert Pranzatelli: Robert Steven Mack, The Arts Fuse Paywalled, but you may have access Review – LA Dance Project, Triade / Moving Parts / Me.You.We.They, Philharmonie, Paris France: Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times Feature – For 50 Years Ailey II Has Been a Proving Ground, Not Just for Dance: Brian Seibert, The New York Times And…?? ‘Black Swan’ Ending Explained: The Price of Perfection: Ricky Ruszin, Collider

Links - Monday 1 April 2024 Reviews – Sarah Crompton, Observer English National Ballet, Carmen (Inger), Sadler’s Wells, London Yorke Dance Project, California Connections, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London Review – Mark Bruce Company, Frankenstein, The Place, London: Nicola Claire, SeeingDance Review – American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Diana and Acteon / The seasons (extract) / Young and Beautiful / Brief Fling / Flight of the Bumblebee / Rose Adage / Within the Sunset, Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe NM: Michael Wade Simpson, CultureVulture Review – New York City Ballet, Stars and Stripes / Tarantella / Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux / Carnival of the Animals, Lincoln Center, New York NY: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review – Rome Opera Ballet, Women / Windgames / Playlist (Track 1,2), Costanzi Theatre, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Rome: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Review – Opera Australia, West Side Story, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Sydney NSW: Deborah Jones, FollowSpot Review – Hong Kong Ballet, Serenade / In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated / Strangelove, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong: Natasha Rogai, South China Morning Post Preview – Roberto Bolle and Friends, Arena di Verona, Italy: Marcadoc – The hills of Venice Preview – Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, To the Point(e), Grimaldi Forum Monaco: Hello Monaco Preview – KVN Dance Company, Coppélia, Towngate Theatre, Basildon and touring, England: YA Reporter, Yellow Advertiser Preview – Nancy Lee, OSMOSi: 422 Unprocessable Entity, Annex, Vancouver BC: Emily Lyth, Stir Preview – Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, Words for a Resonant Space, Kalita Humphreys Theater, Dallas TX: Staff, CultureMap Dallas News – Kozlova Int’l Ballet Competition to Be Held at Kaye Playhouse in April, Charles Jude, former étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet, returns as OPresident of both the classical ballet and contemporary dance juries: Blair Ingenthron, Broadway World Feature – World Ballet Pianist’s Day: Staff, Dance Australia Feature – Lessons in resilience, Steven McRae film ‘A Resilient Man’ aka ‘Dancing into the Light’: Susan Bendall, Dance Australia Paywalled (but you may have access) Obituary – Lorraine Graves, Dance Theater of Harlem principal: Alex Williams, The New York Times Preview – Golden State Ballet, From New York, with Love, Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA: Marcia Luttrell, The San Diego Union-Tribune

I'd forgotten that! Thanks for providing the correct info.

I wrote this comment about entry to POB back in 2018. It's definitely an advantage at the concours externe to have competition experience, e.g. Prix de Lausanne or YAGP. For promotion, each class (quadrille, coryphée, sujet) is divided into male and female. It is announced how many positions at each level (coryphée, sujet, premier(e) danseur/se) for each gender are available, e.g. two female and one male coryphée, two female and two male sujets, one each for PD. Each class is given a compulsory solo, plus a list from which to choose a second solo. Each entrant at each level must dance both solos in front of an invited audience and judges. Each class is ranked by consensus, with only the top six (or less, some years - Bianca Scudamore was promoted sujet and was the only one "classified" that year!) listed as "classified". The top one or two or very occasionally three are the ones promoted. Nomination as étoile is by recommendation of the Director of Dance to the Director of the Opera - not considered a promotion but a naming. It is possible to zoom up from quadrille to PD in three years, Sae-Eun Park and Hannah O'Neill being prime examples. Germain Louvet had passed for premier danseur, contract to take effect from January 1 2015, so technically nominated étoile from sujet on December 28 2014. Guillaume Diop had already danced Romeo, Basilio, Solor and Albrecht before being nominated, as a six-month-old sujet, to étoile. Both Diop and Louvet were 23 at the time.

Links – Sunday 31 March 2024 Review – Focus Dance Company, Mixed bill, Festival Theater, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan: David Mead, SeeingDance Review – ODC/Dance, Program A, Blue Shield of California Theater, San Francisco CA: Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle Review – Punyah Dance Company, Sanjeevini, Apollo Amphitheatre, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad India: Anna Rao Gangavalli, The Hans India Preview – Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida, Spring Ballet Gala, Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, Aventura FL: The Miami Times Preview – Ballet Mississippi, 60th Anniversary Spring Festival, Thalia Mara Hall, Jackson MS: Jennifer Thomas, The Northside Sun Preview – Ballet West, Love and War, Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City UT: ParkRecord.com Preview – BalletX, Mixed bill (Tiler Peck/Justin Peck/Roberts/Archibald), Dennis C Moss Cultural Arts Center, Miami FL: Miami’s Community News Preview – Golden State Ballet, From New York, With Love (mixed bill): Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA: San Diego Reader Preview – Louisville Ballet, Triple Take (mixed bill): Breya Jones, Louisville Public Media Preview – Madison Ballet, Timeless, Capitol Theater, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison WI : Akhilesh Peddi, The Badger Herald Preview – Universal Ballet, Romeo and Juliet (MacMillan) featuring See Heo and Daniel Camargo of ABT, Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater, Seoul South Korea. New Adventures, Romeo and Juliet (Bourne), LG Arts Center, Seoul South Korea. Hwang Dong-hee, The Korea Herald News – Anastasis Ballet Company Auditions for 2024-2025 Season, 29 April 2024, Dublin CA: Patch.com Feature – Tiler Peck: where are all the female ballet choreographers?: Rachel Nouchi, British Theatre Guide Feature – Wayne McGregor presents Venice’s Biennale Danza 2024 – We Humans: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Feature – Researchers in Fort Worth are studying female ballet dancer health: Noelle Walker, 5NBC Dallas via MSN.com Feature – Tauranga ballerina’s legacy, 78yo taking ballet lessons in memory of her late daughter: Georgia Minkhorst, Sun Live Feature – Allison Baden-Clay’s daughters honour mum in first public appearance, scholarship to Queensland Ballet Dance Academy in memory of mother: Yahoo7News Feature – Building interracial bridges through dance, Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company: Meredith Moss, Dayton Daily News Feature – Midland Festival Ballet unveils iconic costumes: Staff, Midland Reporter-Telegram Feature – Nigerian ballet dancer Anthony Madu went viral for dancing in the rain. What came next was a story of resilience: Liz Calvario, TODAY.com Feature – Quintet of local dancers to represent England in global dance competition, girls from the Isle of Wight to Global Dance Open Finals: James Rann, Island Echo Video Feature – Nevada Dance Company, Artistry in Motion: 2 News Nevada

All dancers of the Paris Opéra can retire at the age of 40 (legal retirement age) or at 42 (with full pension without reduction), because of the "hardship" of the profession, the risks of injury and the level of skill required to dance the great ballets. For singers, the eligibility ages are 57 and 60. For orchestra members it's 60 and 62. For stagehands 53 and 55. I believe similar provisions apply at the other state ballet companies (opéra national) in France.

On the Opera de Paris Twitter feed, they describe him simply as "the dancer"

Links – Saturday 30 March, 2024 Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Tchaikovsky Classics, Symphony Hall, Birmingham England: Maria Cusine, Express & Star.com Review – English National Ballet, Carmen (Inger), Sadler’s Wells, London England: Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Matthew Paluch, Broadway World Jess Gonzalez, Everything Theatre Guillermo Nazara, First Night Magazine Charlotte Kasner, SeeingDance Review – Mark Bruce Company, Liberation Day / Frankenstein, The Place, London England: Tamsin Flower, British Theatre Guide John O’Dwyer, Seen and Heard International Review – Pacific Northwest Ballet, Bacchus / One Thousand Pieces, digital stream: Cherilyn J. Lee, Ballet Herald Review – Royal Danish Ballet, Giant Steps (Balanchine/Elo/Lander), Royal Theater Old Stage, Copenhagen Denmark: Eva Kistrup, DanceviewTimes Review – Opera Australia, West Side Story, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, NSW: Chantal Nguyen, The Saturday Paper Preview – Ballet West, Beauty and the Beast, Eccles Center, Park City UT: Scott Iwasaki, Park Record Preview – Grand Kyiv Ballet, Swan Lake, Newmark Theatre, Portland OR: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview – Sarasota Ballet, Emeralds / Who Cares? / Las Hermanas, Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota FL: Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Preview – Moveius Contemporary Ballet, Glacier: A Climate Change Ballet, Kogod Courtyard, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution Preview – The top 10 ballet and dance shows to book tickets for in spring 2024, New Adventures, Elixir Festival, Hofesh Shechter, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal Ballet x 2, Breakin’ Convention, Scottish Ballet, Northern Ballet, English National Ballet: Mark Monahan, The Telegraph Preview – Five things to do in Scotland this week: from Swan Lake to Lulu: Ashley Davies, The Times Video Preview – Fort Wayne Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Auer Center for Arts and Culture, Fort Wayne, IN: Mariah Edmonds, 21AliveNews Video Preview – Louisville Ballet, 502, WHAS11 ABC News/Obituary – Imogen Kinchin, New Adventures executive director: Theo Bosanquet, WhatsOnStage News – Mwldan Theatre to screen Kenneth MacMillan’s Royal Ballet: Elizabeth Birt, Tivy-Side Advertiser News/Feature – Anthony Madu, Nigerian ballet student and subject of Disney+ documentary, now at Elmhurst Ballet School Debbie Elliott, NPR via WSHU Leslie Fauvel, KULR8 among many, many other links to the same story Amber Gibson, List23.com Kriti Mehrotra, TheCinemaholic Feature – Dance History Presentation: Ashton, de Mille, and Tudor – Oh My: Jerry Hochman, CriticalDance Feature – Turning Hamlet into Dance Theatre – An Interview with Guillaume Côté: Paula Citron, LudwigVan Toronto Feature – Finding a new balance in Vienna: Alessandra Ferri: Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Feature – Chrissa Keramidas, the Greek-born girl who made history at the Australian Ballet: Zoe Thomaidou, Neos Kosmos Feature - Choreographers Sophie Dow And Malgorzata Nowacka-May Talk About Chimera Project Dance Theatre’s Unclearing Double Bill: Anya Wassenberg, LudwigVan Toronto Feature – Seattle dance group launches new international exchange program: Gemma Alexander, The Seattle Times Feature – The ballet by Ensor: ‘La Gamme d’Amour’: Guillaume De Grieve, Bozar Feature – What Does “Broadway Choreography” Mean Today?: Jennifer Heimlich, Dance Magazine Feature – ‘Project Runway’ designer brings vibrant couture to Cincinnati Ballet: Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Business Courier via Local12 Feature – American Ballet Theatre’s Virginia Lensi Shares Her Allergy-Friendly Oat Pancakes: Chava Pearl Lansky, Dance Magazine Paywalled, but you may have access Review – San Francisco Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco CA: Rachel Howard, Fjord Review Review – Lacina Coulibaly, Until the Lion Tells the Story, New York Live Arts, New York NY: Siobhan Burke, The New York Times Review – Baye & Asa, 4|2|3, Jerome Robbins Theater, Baryshnikov Arts Center, New York NY: Brian Seibert, The New York Times News/Feature – Anthony Madu, Nigerian ballet student and subject of Disney+ documentary, now at Elmhurst Ballet School The Rogersville Review Watauga Democrat News/Obituary – Imogen Kinchin, New Adventures executive director: Matthew Hemley, The Stage And finally, awww… Dad and daughter take dance class together in sweet video: Shafiq Najib/Evan Wyno, Good Morning America

Giselle: Patrice Bart. Pierre Lacotte's Paquita is fairly classical. Their Sylvia is by Manuel Legris. Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Serenade, Le Palais de Cristal aka Symphony in C. I'd include Onegin as one of the ballets RB and POB have in common, as I would the current production of Fille.

Bleuenn Battistoni, who will dance the opening night as her full rôle début, has beaten speculation to it 😉 She danced most of act II in 2022 when Alice Renavand, in her retirement performance, was injured and unable to continue. Battistoni had learned the rôle as a cover, and was dancing in the corps de ballet that night, so was the most available in terms of warmed up, costume, makeup etc. As it was a retirement there were of course other étoiles in attendance but not ready to go on.

...with photos like this. Lifar and Spessivtseva...

My friend had supported Hannah through ABS, and was so thrilled she'd finally been nominated étoile, and wanted to send a more personal bouquet than just ordering one online. I got to go and check out a bunch of florists in the Place de la Madeleine on a beautiful day and then have young women asking to photograph the bouquet as I (carefully) walked it round to the Garnier. Bouquet was florist's makeup, the brief was €150 and pretty. I think she did a great job.

Yes he is tall. When I acted as courier for a Melbourne friend with a ginormous (seriously, Bouquet Walking) spring bouquet for Hannah O'Neill last May, he was coming out of the Garnier stage door and held the door for me. I'm 5'3". He is tall.

Mlle Battistoni, performing for the second time as Lise, was named étoile at the curtain call after dancing La Fille Mal Gardée with Marcelino Sambé on Tuesday 26 March 2024. It may be remembered that in 2022 she stepped in for the injured Alice Renavand as Giselle in what had been supposed to be the latter's farewell performance. She will get to dance the full rôle, starting on opening night, 29 April. Paris Opéra Ballet announcement The actual on-stage announcement Backstage after the announcement

Links – Saturday 23 March 2024 Review – Australasian Dance Collective, THREE, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Queensland: Deborah Jones, FollowSpot Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, Theatre Royal, Plymouth England: Cathryn Macey, Plymouth Herald Review – Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young / Kidd Pivot, Assembly Hall, Sadler’s Wells, London England: Debra Craine, The Times Teresa Guerreiro, CultureWhisper David Jays, The Standard Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Review – National Ballet of Canada, UtopiVerse/islands/Suite en Blanc, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto ON: Rebecca Ritzel, The Globe and Mail Paula Citron, Ludwig Van Review – New York City Ballet, Serenade/In the Night/The Four Temperaments, Harris Theater, Chicago IL: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Review – The Royal Ballet, Danses Concertantes/Different Drummer/Requiem, Royal Opera House, London England: Jonathan Gray, Gramilano Review – Yorke Dance Project, California Connections: Three Pioneering Women, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London England: Jonathan Gray, Gramilano Matthew Paluch, Broadway World Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian Review – Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dichotomy of a Journey/Nevermore/Dear Frankie, and Coltrane’s Favorite Things/Aguas Que Van, Quieren Volver/return to patience, The Joyce Theater, New York NY: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Review – Opera Australia/Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, West Side Story (Jerome Robbins choreography), Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Sydney NSW: Jo Litson, Limelight Cassie Tongue, The Guardian Photo Review – Columbia City Ballet, Snow White, Cole Auditorium, Hamlet NC: Betty Gallo McIntyre, The Richmond Observer Preview – Ballet Austin, POE, A Tale of Madness, The Long Center, Austin TX: Caitlin Sims, Dance Magazine Preview – Ballet Spartanburg/Martha Graham Dance Company, Suite from Appalachian Spring, Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg SC: Mark Poff, ABC 13 News Preview – Ballet Tucson, Spring Concert, Leo Rich Theater, Tucson AZ: Frances Hildegarde LaBianca, Arizona Sonoran News via Tucson.com Preview – Charleston Ballet, Homegrown, Charleston Coliseum Theater, Charleston WVA: Kennie Bass, WCHS Preview – Dance Theatre of Harlem, 55th Anniversary Season: A Celebration of Artistry and Innovation: Harlem World Magazine Preview – Grand Rapids Ballet, Jumpstart 2024, Peter Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids MI: Grand Haven Tribune Preview – Harlow Ballet, Coppélia, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow England: YourHarlow.com Preview – Lake Area Ballet Theatre, Alice in Wonderland, Lake Charles Event Center Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles LA: Rita Lebleu, American Press Preview – National Ballet of Cuba, Giselle, Sala Avellaneda, National Theater, Havana Cuba: Radio Cadena Agramonte Preview – Youth America Grand Prix Gala, Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow: Best of 25 Years, David H Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, New York NY: City Guide New York News – Israeli choreographer expresses sadness over Ballet Ireland axing, Ohad Naharin says cancellation ‘does nothing to help reduce the suffering of people in our region’: Conor Pope, The Irish Times News – Bomb shelter doubles as ballet studio in Ukraine during war: Hurriyet Daily News and others News – Fairy-Tale Ballet Honors Young Dancer’s Life: ‘Beauty Will Save the World’, ballet honouring Rafaella Stroik to premiere: Alyssa Murphy, National Catholic Register News – Italy welcomes important figures of Cuban ballet, Viengsay Valdes and Anyelo Montero to perform in a gala: Beatriz Montes de Oca, Radio Habana Cuba News – Misty Copeland Recalls Working with ‘Down to Earth’ Taylor Swift: ‘Incredible’: Ingrid Vasquez, Yahoo!Lifestyle News – Dancing twins heading to Prague with Team Canada, Ten-year-old twins heading for Czechia: Brian Thompson, The Brantford Expositor News – UA Sophomore advances in television dance competition, Sophomore at University of Arizona makes it past audition round to compete in Fox’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Alex Dowd, KGUN 9 Tucson Feature – Why we’re all dancing to Carmen’s tune, You can’t get away from Carmen this year – and now Bizet’s heroine is conquering the dance stage too. Carlos Acosta and Johan Inger talk to Debra Craine about their new takes on the gypsy libertine: Debra Craine, The Times Feature – Mark Morris with Caedra Scott-Flaherty, Ten dancers, five chairs, five pillows, and seven musicians: a conversation on the choreographer's latest work: Caedra Scott-Flaherty, The Brooklyn Rail Feature – What it takes to go from tin shed dance classes to performing for 3,000 people, Opera Australia’s West Side Story, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Chantal Nguyen, The Age Feature – How Artists are Keeping Mountains of Dead Pointe Shoes Out of Landfill: Haley Hilton, Pointe Magazine Feature – Some arts nonprofits look to expand their real estate footprint: Trina Mannino, Marketplace Video Feature – Grand Kyiv Ballet dancers discuss war in Ukraine ahead of Grand Ole Opry performance: NewsChannel 5 via YouTube Video Feature – Mobile Ballet under the Civic Center spotlights one last time, Mobile Civic Center to be demolished: WKRG via YouTube Ashlyn Mitchell, Fox 10 News Paywalled (but you may have access) Review – Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young / Kidd Pivot, Assembly Hall, Sadler’s Wells, London England: Zoe Anderson, The Independent Review – Mark Morris Group, The Look of Love, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York NY: Gia Kourlas, The New York Times News – Female Choreographers take center stage at Dallas’ Avant Chamber Ballet: Manuel Mendoza, The Dallas Morning News News – Andrea Stock’s decision to swap ballet for rugby is paying off: Sean Holland, The Southern Star Feature – ‘I Love to Be a Beginner’: Emma Portner’s Busy Ballet Era: Margaret Fuhrer, The New York Times And in the social pages... SF Ballet Auxiliary Provisional Luncheon Highlights Women’s History Month: Drew Altizer, Nob Hill Gazette