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Geoff

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  1. Geoff
    Many thanks Jan. That’s a useful clip in other ways as well. At least he (just about) taps in time, which some recent widows did not manage. That throws off the main idea of the piece, the clog beats being part of the music. But, goodness, the mugging and the uncontrolled flapping about in his “comedic” performance. This seems sadly to be the modern style (like many sisters in Cinderella). Perhaps today’s performers have little experience of how carefully husbanded economy of gesture, pointing and timing can get real laughs. Ashton, who of course knew the music hall with its famously tough audiences, was a brilliantly delicate performer and filled this number with a generous helping of “bits”, all of which need to be set up and delivered exactly if they are to work as he intended. Panicky gurning and hasty uncontrolled gestures are what a performer resorts to when they don’t know how to get laughs any other way. i was once present at a rehearsal when Sir Fred, by then an older gentleman, demonstrated a section of this dance. No unnecessary movements and brilliantly funny.
  2. Geoff
    Refresh? The new Swan Lake sets are stupendous. But the sooner this awful production gets - what’s the polite word in the circumstances - reviewed, the better for ballet. I went to nearly every performance in the first run (those were the days when such commitment was affordable) and ended up hating just about every one of its dull innovations. Just because the man responsible subsequently died tragically is surely no reason to hold on to what doesn’t work. People will always book for Swan Lake but that’s no reason to be complacent.
  3. Geoff
    Thank you for an interesting post. Just on this point though, am I the only person who misses the preBrexit time when it was easier (and cheaper) to bring in occasional stars from overseas?
  4. Geoff
    And now, en pointe on a tightrope: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C10VbthC9MK/
  5. Geoff
    Wonderful posts Roberta, thank you. Here is what I wrote about Corrales in 2017:- Those entrechats: of course there is the question of authenticity, if only to the intentions of this production. But if you do them as well as Corrales delivered last night, I found that they actually make some kind of narrative sense (ie not showing off but somehow expressive of the dance-till-you-die, what-am-I-going-to-do-I-love-her-but-shes-dead, they-all-want-to-kill-me crisis Albrecht is in at the end) Never felt that before, so perhaps this is an example of the power of dance. Imho.
  6. Geoff
    Well, first, this may be his sincerely held opinion (rather than just bias) and, just possibly, he could also be objectively right in what he writes. Not all that the RB does with the classics these days is as good as it could be. And if critics do not point out what they observe to be wrong, this risks contributing to standards slipping further. Then again he could just be prejudiced.
  7. Geoff
    Here is his (broadly positive) review of last night: https://slippedisc.com/2024/01/alastair-macaulay-why-does-giselle-think-shes-english/
  8. Geoff
    This is interesting. Can you give some more clues? I’ve tried to find the post you describe, on Instagram and Instagram stories, also Twitter/X, but don’t see it, Have they taken it down or am I looking in the wrong place?
  9. Geoff
    Rather odd that you single out Corrales as a Peasant when he has danced Albrecht in this production: https://www.balletcoforum.com/topic/14339-english-national-ballet-mary-skeapings-giselle-london-coliseum-2017/page/6/#comment-198120
  10. Geoff
    In the ‘disappeared’ thread about the recent person who has just announced they are stepping down from this post, there was some discussion about his twin role. For some ten years he has been the RBS AD but for the last year or so he has also held the title of CEO. It will be interesting to see the job description when it is advertised. Will the board retain this twin function as the job they seek to fill, or will they make more than one appointment?
  11. Geoff
    Um, a film star tap dancing en pointe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C12OmRoJS5p/
  12. Geoff
    For many years the house was run as the London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC), which often mounted dance related events. A few years ago the LJCC - somewhat controversially - moved to a purpose built complex on the Finchley Road, no idea if ballet still features among their events. Since then, as you say, the house and grounds have been in the hands of a company providing private primary education.
  13. Geoff
    Thank you Blossom, thank you Candleque. I would urge as many as possible to write in, but remember not just to write to KevinOH but copy his bosses (Alex B and the board), who may be of the view that KOH is an impresario of genius and that all is well. Middle-aged arts administrators have a depressing habit of assuming their tired enthusiasm for last century’s avant garde is still exciting. There is so much astonishing creativity in the world today (I recommend Instagram Reels as sources of inspiration to aspiring choreographers) that it is miserable we have to be fed so much McGregor at Covent Garden.
  14. Geoff
    As we go into Russian Christmas, here is a gosh-well-really variation (from, I understand, the young Sizova’s graduation performance):-
  15. Geoff
    And as a PS, what about bullfighting?
  16. Geoff
    May I ask a point of information? The RBS website says: >>Christopher returned to The Royal Ballet School and took up the post of Artistic Director in September 2014. In 2022 he was made Artistic Director & CEO. So the “decade” in post has been as AD but he has only been CEO for a year. What are the distinct functions of the CEO role at the RBS and what is it about them that might make someone not want to continue after such a short time?
  17. Geoff
    A lovely backstage moment from Swan Lake has just been put on Instagram by David Hallberg: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1JHXxVpAXa/
  18. Geoff
    With regard to episode 1, the distinguished writer and critic Graham Watts OBE has tweeted (or whatever one says in X world now) the following comment: >>Nureyev partnering Lynn Seymour in the Sleeping Beauty grand pas de deux, which was fascinating if not only for the sheer speed of it - I’m guessing it was 30 seconds faster than the norm now Given the number of discussions on this Forum about the Royal Ballet slowing down over the decades, perhaps this is another reason to watch this fascinating series.
  19. Geoff
    DQ rehearsal clips from 2011: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0CCAygITSt/
  20. Geoff
    Given that it’s Christmas, here is a funny Nutcracker moment: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0R8sh6IJOz/
  21. Geoff
    At the time the programme was transmitted I - in a different thread - offered some other examples as food for thought. Perhaps it’s ok to repeat them here in case this could be useful: https://www.balletcoforum.com/topic/28150-should-we-stop-supporting-ballet-after-panorama/?do=findComment&comment=415228
  22. Geoff
    This would seem a simple enough fix (but of course I don‘t have the skills or experience of the wonderful ROH website team). Perhaps anyone who experiences this issue could drop a line to the (I hope still functioning) email address: customerservices@roh.org.uk
  23. Geoff
    Curiouser and curiouser. An intermittent glitch? Any system analyst would say that spotting the causes of intermittent issues can be very hard. That is no reason for the ROH web elves not to try harder to fix it though. After all, we simply want a website that works, reliably and efficiently, without the random eccentricities we are still having to put up with.
  24. Geoff
    Very pleased for Dawnstar that she has a ticket (and hope you can use it!) But not so pleased to hear about what is clearly a serious glitch in the system. I wonder if we have all been too sanguine about the mystery of the jumping around queuing times (which I have experienced several times over the last months) It seems there may be yet another issue with the website that is not being attended to.
  25. Geoff
    I think you mean your post not tweet, but thank you, there is indeed (though not very well signposted) a button inside the poster link which leads to UK info. My reading of what’s there is live on Jan 21st, encore (where available) on Feb 1. Don’t bother with the website for Pathe Live (supposedly a partner) This has nothing about the show.
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