Sophoife

Dansesaveclaplume on Twitter posted to which my reply was "Étoile invitée de luxe - oui oui oui !!" 🤣 (emphasis on "de luxe"

Fun fact: Alexander danced three different Cinderella's Princes: Sir David Bintley's with BRB, Alexei Ratmansky's with TAB, and Sir Frederick Ashton's with RB. Is Bintley's Cinderella the one with Elisha Willis as Cinders? If so, I've got it yay!

Links – Saturday, 16 March 2024 Preview – Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, Sadler’s Wells, London England: Teresa Guerreiro, CultureWhisper Review – Boston Ballet, Cinderella, Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston MA: Jeffrey Gantz, Boston Globe Review – Justin Peck, Illinoise, Park Avenue Armory, New York NY: Gia Kourlas, The New York Times Review – Northern Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds England: Yvette Huddleston, The Yorkshire Post Review – Oakland Ballet, Dancing Moons Festival, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, San Francisco CA: Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle Review – Philadelphia Ballet, Dance Masterpieces (Ailey/Forsythe/Tharp), Academy of Music, Philadelphia PA: Ellen Dunkel, The Philadelphia Inquirer Review – Rinde Eckert, Risa Jaroslow, Margaret Jenkins, Jon Kinzel and Vicky Shick, Unstill Life, Arts on Site, New York NY and touring to Oakland CA: Karen Hildebrand, Fjord Review Review – San Francisco Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco CA: Katie Sweeney, The Bold Italic Review – São Paulo Dance Company, Mixed Bill, The Lowry, Manchester England: Amy Evans, Salford Now Review – The Seattle Project and Velocity Dance Center, here because, 12 Avenue Arts, Seattle WA: Rich Smith, The Stranger Review – Vincent Dance Theatre, Play, Corn Exchange, Brighton England: Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian Preview – Alberta Ballet, Hansel and Gretel, Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton AB: Eric Volmers, Edmonton Journal Preview – American Contemporary Ballet, ACB Jazz, Bank of America Plaza, Los Angeles CA: Maria Kyriakos, Flaunt Preview – American Repertory Ballet, Of Swans and Variants, McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton NJ: New Jersey Stage Preview – American Repertory Ballet, Elevate, Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, New York NY: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview – Ballet Manila opens 26th season with ‘Le Corsaire’, Aliw Theater, Manila, Philippines: Marge C. Enriquez, Lifestyle.INQ Preview – Ballet Next, The Best of Sleeping Beauty, accessible performance, Jim Santy Auditorium, Park City, UT: Scott Iwasaki, ParkRecord.com Preview – Dance Now! Miami and Opus Ballet Dance, mixed bill, Miami Theater Center, Miami FL: Artburst Miami, Miami New Times Preview – Georgia Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Marietta GA: Rohit Mehta, Hoodline Preview – Joburg Ballet brings global talent to KKNK stage, Scar/City, Oudtshoorn, South Africa: Bernelee Vollmer, Sunday Tribune Preview – Lafayette Ballet Theatre, Coppélia, Heymann Center, Lafayette LA: Taylor Trache, KADN News 15 Preview – Les Étoiles gala in Rome – the ‘Gala of Inclusivity’ with international stars of dance: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Preview – New York City Ballet, Masters at Work: Balanchine + Robbins, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago IL: Kyle MacMillan, Chicago Sun-Times News – Akram Khan returns to London stage to perform in Sadler’s Wells season: Matthew Hemley, The Stage News – Barry Hughson Will Join American Ballet Theatre: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Staff, En Face Magazine News – Medford native promoted to Soloist at the American Ballet Theatre, Jake Roxander, ABT: KOBI-TV NBC5 via YouTube News – Sewell Ballet to take the stage in Sun Valley for the first time, Sun Valley resident sponsors performance so viewers can attend for free: Raiza Giorgi, Idaho Mountain Express News – Svetlana Zakharova’s performances in Seoul cancelled: Staff, Philippine News Agency Reuters, via devdiscourse Jung Juwoen, Maeil Business Newspaper via papago Park Ga-young, The Korea Herald News – Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition to Return to The Kaye Playhouse: Chloe Rabinowitz, Broadway World Video Feature – Ballet Spartanburg, Suite from Appalachian Spring: Hayley Spitler, FOX Carolina Video Feature – Chicago Repertory Ballet engaging community: WGN News via YouTube Video Feature – Sacramento Ballet, Visions: Good Day Sacramento, CBS News Video Feature – Twin Cities Ballet, The Wall, Fitzgerald Theater, St Paul MN: CBS News Minnesota Video Feature – Youth America Grand Prix preliminary rounds, Carmel IN: WTHR via YouTube John Doran, WTHR Feature – Former Queensland ballet dancer switches career to invest in cattle farming in Noosa, Alison Russell: Robert Burgin, ABC Sunshine Coast Feature – Emma Portner Brings the Work That Kept Her in the Dance World to National Ballet of Canada: Lauren Wingenroth, Dance Magazine Feature – 9 Black women who made history in the world of dance: Kay Wicker, Yahoo! News Feature – Anna Benna Sims: American Ballet Theatre’s first African-American ballerina: Jannette J. Witmyer, AFRO News Feature – Music Puzzles at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Mona Butler, music librarian: Staff, En Face Magazine Feature - Dances with wolves: A Tel Aviv choreographer forces audiences to face Oct. 7’s horrors: Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel Feature – How This New York City It-Girl Ballerina Preps For The Stage [am I allowed an eyeroll on this one – ed], Violetta Komyshan, Connecticut Ballet: Rachel Lapidos, Bustle 2024-2025 Season Announcements BalletMet, Dracula, The Nutcracker, West Side Story, Sleeping Beauty, Black Voices mixed bill: En Face Magazine The Joffrey Ballet, Atonement, The Nutcracker, Golden Hour, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: En Face Magazine Kansas City Ballet, ALICE (in wonderland), Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, mixed bills, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City MO: A.A. Cristi, Broadway World Philadelphia Ballet, Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Boléro with Dance Card and Stanton Welch world première, La Sylphide with Études, 60th Anniversary Fall Gala: En Face Magazine Paywalled (but you might have access) Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, Birmingham Hippodrome and touring: Rupert Christiansen, The Spectator Review – New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, Sadler’s Wells, London England: Rupert Christiansen, The Spectator Preview – Ballet Ireland, Bold Moves 2024: ‘The way dancers come together – it’s all about human connection’, The Irish Times Feelgood Factor Philomath native spreads her love of dance through operation of local studio: Brad Fuqua, Philomath News Cameroonian dancer’s romance with Chinese teacher sparks cultural blending: Arison Tamfu, Wang Ze, Xinhua News Jennifer Garner Shares 34-Year Throwback to When She Was Teen Ballerina: ‘Take a Time Machine’: Tommy McArdle, Yahoo!Movies Senior Center offers members ballet workshops through BalletNext: Park Record Staff, ParkRecord.com When Jackie Kennedy Interviewed My Mom for Her Column, Yvonne Chouteau, Ballets Russes: Sylvie McNamara, Washingtonian

In response to someone above, yes, Alex was under-used. One of the reasons his retirement followed so speedily on the heels of the announcement of his appointment to the RAD job is that he wasn't cast in Swan Lake or in The Winter's Tale. The only role in which he was cast apart from Des Grieux and Lescaut in the Manon run that ended on Friday was Different Drummer, which he did not feel appropriate as a retirement role. Yes, he had sidelines but if one looks at his actual dancing with the RB one will see how much time he had to pursue those sidelines due to not being cast in roles he should have been dancing. He was never given a chance as Rudolf or Leontes, for example.

I'm cutting onions over here.

Exactly what Gil Boggs did with Colorado Ballet last year: Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto which was pretty costumes, pretty dancing, and very pretty music, Balanchine's Prodigal Son, and Kylián's Sinfonietta to finish with that beautiful sunrise-y feeling.

A lovely memory indeed @RHowarth. I can share (again) another lovely memory: after seeing him dance the Prince in Ratmansky's Cinderella in Sydney, myself and the late @jmb met at stage door, and walked back along the waterfront promenade to the car park. Preceded by Alex and his family. No, we're not stalking you! We waited a bit at the entrance to the car park, then walked on in towards the lift. There they were again. Still not stalking. We hung back and said, no, no, it's fine, we'll wait. Alex said not to be silly, held the lift door open for us, and cheerfully answered Jean's questions. A joyful memory of Jean for me (she was so excited), and a lovely memory of Alex.

I'm so lucky, she danced Odette-Odile in the 2017 Berlin performance I saw, and was kind enough to sign my programme at the stage door! I had to quickly stow my delicious pretzel in my handbag when I saw her coming out. She is TINY.

Links – Saturday 9 March 2024 Review – Ballet BC, NOW, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver BC: Sara Harowitz, The Straight Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, The Lowry, Salford, Manchester England: David Cunningham, British Theatre Guide Helen Jones, The Reviews Hub Review – London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dance Reimagined, Royal Festival Hall, London England: Clive Paget, The Guardian Review – Philadelphia Ballet, Giselle, Academy of Music, Philadelphia PA: Sigrid Payne DaVeiga, CriticalDance Review – Pontus Lidberg, On the Nature of Rabbits, Joyce Theater, New York NY: Joel Benjamin, TheaterScene.net Review – The Royal Ballet, Swan Lake, Royal Opera House, London England: Jenny Gilbert, The Arts Desk Vikki Jane Vile, Broadway World Louise Levene, Financial Times Jonathan Gray, Gramilano Joy Sable, The Jewish Chronicle Review – New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London England: Louise Levene, Financial Times Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian Zoe Anderson, The Independent Joy Sable, The Jewish Chronicle Chris Lilly, The Reviews Hub Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Marianka Swain, The Telegraph Debra Craine, The Times (share token) Review – New York City Ballet, Winter Season, New York NY: Gia Kourlas, The New York Times Preview – Ballet Austin, POE / A Tale of Madness, Long Center, Austin TX: London Gibson, ATX Today Preview – GISELLE: REMIX, Pleasance Theatre, London England: Staff Writer, Theatre Weekly Preview – Los Gatos Ballet, Coppélia, Mayer Theatre at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara CA: Patch Preview – Mark Morris Dance Group, The Look of Love, Meany Hall at the University of Washington, Seattle WA: Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times Preview – Northern Ballet, The Tortoise and the Hare, Mansfield Palace Theatre, Mansfield, Notts, England: Steve Eyley, Chad Preview – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Spring Mix, Benedum Center, Pittsburgh PA: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview – Richmond Ballet, New Works Festival, Studio Theatre at Richmond Ballet, Richmond VA: Robin Schwartzkopf, RicToday Preview – Rosin Box Project, Empower, Light Box Theater, San Diego CA : Jeff Zevely, CBS8 Preview – World Ballet Series/Grand Kyiv Ballet, Swan Lake and Giselle, UIS Performing Arts Center, Springfield IL: Ben Machi, WAND-TV News – Mission Dance Company red carpet gala featuring Evelyn Hart, Kelowna, Canada: Kelowna Daily Courier News – Your March Roster Roundup: Dancers and Directors on the Move, Alexander Campbell, Jasmine Jimison and more: Kyra Laubacher, Pointe Magazine News – Performance of Swan Lake Will Be Dedicated to the March 8 Holiday in the Capital, International Women’s Day at Astana Opera, Kazakhstan: Staff, EL.KZ News – Week in Lithuania | Liepa, a ballet dancer, loses Lithuanian citizenship: Staff, Baltic News Network Feature – The Lyric Feature, Building a Ballet: The untold tale of the National Ballet Company, Patricia Ryan and Ireland’s National Ballet School and Company: Joanna Marsden, RTÉ Video Feature – Lavender’s Dance | Kenyan Ballerina Prepares for Audition to the Royal Ballet Academy [sic]: Voice of America via YouTube Video Feature – Ballet Spartanburg, Suite from Appalachian Spring: WSPA 7News, YouTube People – Meet Houston Ballet Soloist Eric Best: Nancy Wozny, Dance Magazine People – Calzedonia Launches ‘Create Your Own Stage’ Campaign Starring Ballerina Isabella Boylston: Hanna Flanagan, Yahoo!Movies People - Jessica Fyfe appointed Principal at Scottish Ballet, Jessica Fyfe, Guest Principal, has accepted a permanent principal contract: Scottish Ballet via Instagram ...and on the other side... People – Scottish ballet dancer finds a place to call home in Wellington, Shaun Kelly, dancer with RNZB: Sharon Stephenson, The Post People – Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied are divorced: Canadian Press, The Chronicle Journal News Editor 2, Indo & NY News & Announces Madhurima Haque, Stuff.co.NZ Associated Press, The Washington Post (paywalled) …and finally, time for the tissues, folks… Alexander Campbell retirement curtain calls and speeches: @lady emily, YouTube

Well, I'd agree all three are world-renowned, at least to ballet fans. I first saw Daniel Camargo dance in 2012 and wow!

Thanks to all who have posted, in text, photo and video, sharing the night with people like me who absolutely could not attend (couldn't fit in his dad's luggage in my case). I'm so grateful for this forum.

Thanks @alison. I think it should happen more often. Never seen an AusBallet dancer given a microphone.

Thank you so so much @lady emilyfor the comprehensive video 😢😢😢 How lovely so many other company principals came out - and Vadream's huge hug!! I don't think I've seen a retiring dancer handed a microphone on stage before - happy to be corrected - and the speech was brilliant. He's a very special person and I hope the RAD job is all that he wants it to be. Yes @ChrisGI actually have a recording of that TMS chat.

NSW convict records have largely been destroyed, but the Tasmanian ones are still available. Women were transported to Van Diemen's Land and, originally, largely sent straight out as domestic workers. Rape and assault was part of the deal - the ratio of men to women was about 9:1. If a woman stayed on the right side of authority she got a ticket of leave (more freedom) after about half her sentence time. Over time, policies changed, and this is a great quick summary of how it all worked. The Female Factory mentioned is about ten minutes' stroll from my parents' home.

Yes, that was another thing my mother took me to before we departed for distant shores aka went home to Australia. I remembered for years the lovely light and bouncy dancing.

Yet another instance of the ROH performance database being incomplete then...it lists five performances in March, all Sibley and Dowell, and only one in July (Park and Nureyev) which TBH I've always thought was odd - one performance only, in the middle of summer? Same database shows Jennifer Penney not dancing the role at the ROH until March 1978, with Dowell; her first performance with Eagling was in November of that year. I'm adding the caveat "at the ROH" because I have no clue to elsewhere.

Thank you! I absolutely hate the online cast lists we get these days - no souvenirs! Back in 1974 as you can see, the cast list was actually stapled in to the programme and printed on glossy paper. The first five performances at the ROH of Manon were in March 1974, and all were Sibley and Dowell. According to the ROH database which we take with a pinch of salt, there was then the July performance I saw, followed the same year by three November performances (one Sibley and Dowell, the other two Park and Nureyev). In 1975 Natalia Makarova became the third person to dance the title role at the ROH. The Gaoler's Mistress appeared as a named role in just those first six performances. By November she and her scene had disappeared, never to return.

I know it's not Manon and I also know the quality isn't exactly great, but here are Laura Morera and Alexander on the occasion of his Oberon début in June 2017.

Gaoler's Mistress, not wife. I still have my programme from a July 1974 performance with Merle Park, Rudolf Nureyev, Desmond Kelly, and, as you cite, Drew and Parkinson.

Gary Avis was one of those who left the RB with Tetsuya Kumakawa in 1999 to co-found K-Ballet in Japan. The documentary series BalletBoyz had an episode dealing with this very upsetting (for the dancers) time. The documentary makers Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt (whose son Elijah, a graduate of RBS, is a member of AusBallet's corps) were also co-founders of K-Ballet. When Avis returned to the UK he danced with ENB for a couple of years before rejoining the RB in 2004. He was appointed Principal Character Artist in 2005. This 4-5 year break would seem to account for his not having performed the Gaoler until 2005.

So I learned when trying to look up some "stats" a few weeks ago!! 😳

On the subject of Miyako Yoshida, I saw her dance Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly in Sydney and she broke my heart. So Clement Crisp can get in a box, so there!

I'll start. He guested with AusBallet in Ratmansky's Cinderella, with the original Cinders, Leanne Stojmenov, in her retirement season. The role was made on Daniel Gaudiello, who with his wife Lana Jones was sitting next to me. Dan said at interval that Alexander was the only person besides himself to have danced every step Ratmansky gave the role. He was wonderful in the role, a real Prince with a heart and mind as well as beautiful dancing and (according to Leanne) partnering. Incidentally he did three Cinders' Princes: Bintley at BRB, Ratmansky with TAB, and Ashton at RB.

Miwako Kubota!!! Danced every single principal role that came along with AusBallet but never promoted from senior artist. The ballerina of my heart.

Uhh...literally every company shares their performance venue with at least one other company, be that opera or plays or both. Stuttgart, Paris, Berlin, Mariinsky, Bolshoi, ABT/NYCB/Met Opera, San Francisco, Australian Opera and Ballet - neither of which have a proper home theatre anyway... It would be enormously economically unsound to have a venue of the size the Royal Ballet needs for its existing productions and company size dedicated solely to the Royal Ballet. To keep running costs covered, they'd have to be performing six to eight shows a week, for at least 42 weeks a year. Imagine the number of over-use injuries!! A long (30-odd shows) run of Nutcracker alone ends up with all sorts of casting changes due to illness and injury.