Candleque

The Lucia emails I received say: "*offer is only available on the top two price bands and does not apply to boxes" (Not wanting to post the code here for fear of breaking a forum rule, I would suggest that a phone call to the box office asking about the offer would probably result in them giving it to that customer. My opinion.)

Too bad they aren't listening. This to me is another indicative factor as to why so much ROH marketing seems illogical. They seem caught up in their own self image as 'The House' and ignore that the main brand to ticket buyers is either the Royal Ballet or the Royal Opera. Yes some people like both, but they are different art forms with content that should not be treated the same. Ballet is HUGE on Instagram, but the Royal Ballet doesn't even have their own account. What a miss. As someone who works in marketing, I am forever amazed at how little they care about the needs of their different audiences or understand how digital platforms actually work.

Technically this should be under "how NOT to promote ballet" or "how to promote opera" but I thought it was interesting that the Royal Opera House has sent me three marketing emails with a whopping 40% off Lucia di Lammermoor offer. I am a lapsed Friend+ who has never bought a ticket for an opera at the ROH. So they are clearly barking up the wrong tree. As you might guess, the ROH has never ever sent me an offer for ballet. Do you think the opera fans are getting similar offers for the Winter's Tale, which also has lots of unsold seats??

Would love to see Ryoichi win for this. He's amazing as Espada

Great to see Yasmine in this feature article. Thank you for the share token 🙏

Fyi, I have just sent this 15 March Swan Lake Upper Amphitheatre ticket back to ROH

Putting this out there just in case. Am looking to swap a seat for Swan Lake at the ROH on Friday 15 March (Fumi/Will). Ideally want to trade for their matinee on April 1st. (Or will consider swap for any Fumi or Marianela date prior to 15 April.) My ticket is in the Upper Amphitheatre, Row S Seat 54 (No Armrests), £ 35.00. Will pay the difference if yours is a better seat. Or can just purchase, if you have a spare ticket for 1st April matinee with a good view for a short person. Thanks.

Congratulations to Northern Ballet 👏

Love this description. Like many I am in mourning over losing my platonic ballet crush. Alex as a dancer somehow made me feel like I knew him personally and that he was just the best kind of bloke to have as a friend. Having treated myself to a posh seat for this last performance in the same row as Mr. O'Hare, it took all of my strength and manners instilled as child not to grab him and ask this question.

This

I am NOT saying she shouldn't be a principal (she should) but I loved Francesca Hayward as Clara way more than Sugar Plum. Same with Anna Rose O'Sullivan. It is always interesting to ponder casting traditions. Why can a dancer be Juliet at any age but not Clara? Yes, I know this role is a big chance for the lower ranked dancers to shine. And Sugar Plum is the technically challenging role. But three out of four Perditas are principals, which is awesome but doesn't follow the same logic imo. Agree with all above who think the RB principals do not dance enough (at the ROH). Maybe we need more galas or ensemble works. How I wish I could see Alexander Campbell in Dances at a Gathering (live) again.

100% this

Agree this is amazing news. Well done Tamara and unknown (probably tech mogul) SF balletomane. If I was a development director for a ballet company, I would be using this as a prompt for motivating my own circle of donors 🤣 What is also great about this for the ballet world in general is that the donation is mainstream news. The $60 million makes a juicy headline and means ballet is showing up in general news feeds.

This ⬆️. ps: Thrilled to see Arielle Smith have a whack at a new Nutcracker. Can't wait 🎄

Well it will be interesting to see — once they hire this person — how it works with existing artist/brand deals. Or if it is just for pursuing new opportunities. Not a lawyer but I doubt the RB could take a cut of any paid sponsorships already in place. Maybe they will also look at some team sponsorship models for the company as a whole, which are so common in sports. Nike logos on tutus, Mulberry ballet bags. Just kidding. I think 🤣