Ian Macmillan

Sim: I just ran a Test entry on that thread and it worked fine. (Now deleted.)

Jan - you may very well be correct plus, as I recall, I started Links in the last 18 months or so of ballet.co's existence. That was a somewhat more complex task, as it involved keeping the site's Reviews database up to date. All a long time ago ....

Before the season ends, may I just slip in (not for the first time) a mention of Morten Lauridsen's version of "O Magnum Mysterium," heard several times in past days, and which was danced to by the magnificent Zenaida Yanowsky in an Acosta & Friends programme some 10-15 years ago - as a solo with choral backing and, I think, in the Coliseum.

I've been more conscious of "The carol of the bells" than in past years. I understand that it's of Ukrainian origin, and that may have a bearing on it's becoming more prominent.

Links - Saturday 23 December, 2023 The Seasonal stuff: Feature - At City Ballet, history Is made with two black Dewdrops: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature - The beauty and pain of being a Nutcracker ballerina: Christine Lenahan, America Magazine Premiere Reviews - Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker, Chicago: Steven Oxman, Chicago Sun-Times Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Review - Scottish Ballet, Cinders!, Glasgow: Lucy Ribchester, The List Meanwhile elsewhere: Feature - Dancers in Sensor Suits: CGI videos reveal performance meaning: Staff, Loughborough University Review - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Mixed Bill with Premieres, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Review - Isaac Mizrahi, Nico Muhly, and Dance Heginbotham: Third Bird, New York: Cecilia Whalen, Fjord Review Preview - English National Ballet, Carmen, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - State Ballet of Georgia, Swan Lake, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Feature - Australian Ballet ends 2023 with Swan Lake and 14 promotions: Deborah Jones, Follow Spot Feature - 10 top ballet and dance shows to see in 2024: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Feature - American Ballet Theatre’s Michael de la Nuez: Marina Harss, Dance Magazine Feature - Ex principal dancer uses ballet to transform young lives in Leeds: Robyn Vinter, Guardian And to finish: Australian Football - Pies appoint ex-ballet employee Wright as AFLW coach: Justin Chadwick, Northern Daily Leader

Links - Friday 22 December, 2023 Review - Sarasota Ballet, Theme and Variations, In the Upper Room: Sarasota: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Stream Review - La Scala Ballet, Coppélia (Ratmansky), Milan: Jim Pritchard, Seen and Heard Review - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Mixed Bill with Premieres, New York: Caedra Scott-Flaherty, NY Observer Review - Limón Dance Company, Women’s Stories, New York: Karen Hildebrand, Fjord Review Preview - Holiday Season with Ballet Stars, Miami: Orlando Taquechel, Miami Herald Exhibition - Mapping the Lesser-Known Territories of American Modern Dance: Brian Seibert, NY Times Exhibition - Meredith Monk. Calling, Munich: David Mead, SeeingDance News - Francesco Ventriglia to be Alberta Ballet’s new artistic director: Michele Jarvie, Calgary Herald Graham Spicer, Gramilano Feature - Joffrey stage managers make the magic happen: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Feature - Hong Kong Dance Company uses Chinese folk dance to recall the relationship between humans and nature: Ashlyn Chak, SCMP And some seasonal stuff: Feature - Scottish Ballet’s festive family favourite returns to Aberdeen: Staff, Press and Journal Photo Feature - Young Kenyan ballet dancers stage early Christmas performance: Staff, Al Jazeera

Links - Thursday 21 December, 2023 The Seasonal Stuff: Review - Royal Swedish Ballet, The Nutcracker (Isberg), Stockholm: Maggie Foyer, Bachtrack Feature - How The Nutcracker has been reimagined, for better and worse: Hugh Morris, NY Times Video Feature - Tales of the The Nutcracker Kids: Gia Kourlas & Gabriel Blanco, NY Times Stream Review - Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker: Jim Pritchard, Seen and Heard Review - Northern Ballet, The Nutcracker: Laura Rowe & Charlotte Ambrose, York Vision Feature - Mexican dancers take center stage at The Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker: Gisela Orozco, Chicago Sun-Times Review - Oregon Ballet Theatre, The Nutcracker (Balanchine), Portland, OR: Amy Leona Havin, Oregon Artswatch News - Paris Opera dancers to go on strike over Christmas period: Jonny Walfisz, Euronews And elsewhere: Feature - The Ballet Dancers from Dance Magazine’s 2024 “25 to Watch”: Staff, Pointe Magazine Feature - Marrugeku dance group and the racist history of pearl diving in Australia: Kelly Burke, Guardian

And with apologies to Michelle Potter's '... on dancing' website this morning, this super photo from one of the RB annual programmes of at least 10 years ago is appropriate:

Links - Wednesday 20 December, 2023 The Seasonal stuff: Review - Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, London: Staff, Time Out London Reviews - San Francisco Ballet, The Nutcracker (Tomasson), San Francisco: Jim Munson, BWW SF Richard Bammer, Vacaville Reporter Heather Desaulniers, Critical Dance (incl Berkeley Ballet Theater/Post:Ballet and Smuin Contemporary Ballet shows) Review - Philadelphia Ballet, The Nutcracker: Camille Bacon-Smith, Broad St Review (+ 2 other local shows) Review - Badisches Staatsballett, The Girl & the Nutcracker, Karlsruhe: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Scottish Dance Theatre, Pirates!, London: Financial Times Feature - They danced in The Nutcracker as children. Now they're performing It again as adults: Terry Trucco, Playbill And elsewhere: News - Leanne Benjamin to head Queensland Ballet: Karen Van Ulzen, Dance Australia Nick Dent, The Age Deborah Jones, Follow Spot Jason Blake, Limelight Michelle Potter, ... on dancing. (That outback photo from years ago reappears) Review - Ballet Vlaanderen, Seven Deadly Sins, Petrushka, Ghent: Vikki Jane Vile, Bachtrack Preview - Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Pants, Vancouver: V S Wells, Straight.com 5 Book Reviews - Dance by the book: Moving stories: Martha Ullman West, Oregon Artswatch Video Feature - Anthony Madu, from a viral video to Elmhurst and who knows where: Staff, BBC News News - More dancers allege body-shaming and bullying at UK ballet schools: Mark Daly, BBC News

There's quite a hefty review of this Coppelia for the New York Times in today's Links. You might want to compare what you see with what Ros Sulcas reckons she saw.

Links - Tuesday 19 December, 2023 Obituary - Bill Jack, architect for the ROH redevelopment: Staff, The Times (+ share) The Seasonal stuff: Review - English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Alexander Simpkins, Bachtrack Reviews - Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, London: Helen Hawkins, Arts Desk Lydia Wharf, Gramilano Review - Scottish Dance Theatre, Pirates!, London: Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Tamsin Flower, BTG David Mead, SeeingDance Feature - Nutcracker Nostalgia: Alanna Love, En Face Magazine Feature - How The Nutcracker went from flop to festive fan favourite: Garth Grimball, SF Examiner Review - Australian Ballet, Storytime Ballet: Cinderella, Melbourne: Stephanie Glickman, Australian Stage And elsewhere: Review - La Scala Ballet, Coppélia (Ratmansky), Milan: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times October Review - (LA )HORDE, Room with a view, New York: Ann Binlot, Document Journal Feature - Behind-the-scenes at Australian Ballet’s 2023 season of Swan Lake: Elyssa Kostopoulos, RUSSH Feature - The Best Dance of 2023 in London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Interview - Jane Sanig, ex-dancer and teacher: Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Interview - Choreographer Antoine Hunter: Two Spirits, One Mission: Lou Fancher, SF Classical Voice Review - Hong Kong Dance Company, HerStory, Hong Kong: Natasha Rogai, SCMP

Links - Monday 18 December, 2023 The Seasonal stuff: Review - Scottish Ballet, Cinders!, Glasgow: Emily Moffett, The Student Review - English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Vera Liber, BTG Review - Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, London: Sarah Crompton, The Observer Reviews - Scottish Dance Theatre, Pirates!, London: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - Rome Opera Ballet, The Nutcracker (Chalmer): Graham Spicer, Gramilano Review - John Cranko School & Stuttgart Ballet, Aktion Weinachten - Mixed Bill, Stuttgart: David Mead, SeeingDance And elsewhere: November Review - National Ballet of Canada, Onegin (Cranko), Toronto: Denise Sum, Danceviewtimes October Review - American Ballet Theatre, Single Eye, Depuis le Jour, On the Dnipro, New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Mourad Merzouki/Compagnie Käfig, Zephyr, Ludwigsburg, David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Sydney Dance Company, New Breed 2023 - Quad Bill, Sydney: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing News - Dancers of National Youth Ballet of Germany perform in Beijing: Xinhua Agency, People's Daily Online Footnote: There were two Royal Ballet related items in yesterday's Sunday Times. I can find neither online. (One was a drinks advert.)

Links - Sunday 17 December, 2023 The Seasonal stuff: Reviews - Scottish Ballet, Cinders!, Glasgow: Allan Radcliffe, The Times (+ share) Mary Brennan, The Herald Graeme Strachan, BTG Review - English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: John O'Dwyer, Seen and Heard Reviews - Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, London: Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Nicola Claire, SeeingDance Feature - Eugene Ballet, The Nutcracker, Anchorage, Eugene,OR: Jean Zondervan, Oregon Artswatch Review - Chris Davis, One Man Nutcracker, Philadelphia: An Nichols, Broad Street Review Feature - Houston Ballet's Danbi Kim and The Nutcracker: Margaret Downing, Houston Press Meanwhile, elsewhere: Late Tour Review - Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Romeo and Juliet, Wolverhampton: Georgia Brooks, Redbrick Review - RAWdance: Loving Still, San Francisco: Rachel Howard, Fjord Review Review - Tiffany Mills Company & Ensemble Ipse, Triple Bill, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Review - Lisa Schlesinger & Hussein Smko, Iphigenia Point Blank, New York: Karen Hildebrand, Fjord Review Photo Preview - La Scala Ballet, Coppélia (Ratmansky), Milan: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Preview - Restless Dance Theatre, Private View, Adelaide: Steve Dow, Limelight 2023 Roundups: London: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Chicago: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune

Thanks - I probably beat you to it by about 5 minutes.

Thread title duly altered.

Links - Sunday 10 December, 2023 Feature - Sweating through creativity- how Twyla Tharp created In the Upper Room: Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Review - École des Sables/Pina Bausch Foundation, The Rite of Spring, common ground[s], New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Preview - RAWdance, Loving Still, San Francisco: Garth Grimball, SF Examiner 'Tis the Season ...... Feature - In search of the real Nutcracker: a tale of sickness, psychosis and suicide: Victoria Smith, Telegraph Review - National Ballet of Canada, The Nutcracker (Kudelka), Toronto: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Review - Hollywood Ballet, The Nutcracker, Los Angeles: Jillian Verzwyvelt, Ballet Herald Review - Philadelphia Ballet, The Nutcracker, Philadelphia: Peter Dobrin & Ellen Dunkel, Philadelphia Inquirer

Butting in to say it was just the TV at Uncle Roderick's house, where we went for the day!

Links - Saturday 9 December, 2023 Obituaries: Janet Panetta, Dancer, Choreographer and Teacher: Claudia Bauer, NY Times Sir John Trimmer, KNZM, MBE, dancer: Staff, The Times (+ share) Interview - Alina Cojocaru: ‘When people tell me I’m a natural, I just want to scream’: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Feature - They’re ready to revamp L.A.’s ballet scene — after falling madly in love on and off stage: Steven Vargas, LA Times Preview - Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Nelken, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Review - Lucy Guerin Inc, Pieces - Triple Bill, Melbourne: Gracia Haby, Fjord Review Catchup Review - Paris Opera Ballet, Robbins Programme - En Sol, In the Night, The Concert, Paris: Eva S. Chou, Fjord Review Review - Continuum Dance Project, Not Eye, Us, Cambridge, MA: Thea Singer, Arts Fuse Documentary - Call Me Dancer - Manish Chauhan’s unlikely path to the professional stage: Kyra Laubacher, Pointe Magazine 'Tis the Season ...... Review - Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker (Wright), London: Jonathan Gray, Gramilano Review (of sorts) - Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Orion Scott, Hello! Fashion Review - Boston Ballet, The Nutcracker (Nissinen), Boston: Caitlin Beal, Daily Free Press Tour Review - The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Chicago: Jerald Pierce, Chicago Tribune Picture Essay - Dance Centre Kenya’s Nutcracker: Luis Tato, Guardian Video Feature - Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker is jam-packed with state-of-the-art technology: Don Shipman, Atlanta News First

https://slippedisc.com/2023/12/northern-ballet-sinfonia-are-told-to-play-their-own-funeral/

Links - Friday 8 December, 2023 'Tis the Season ...... Reviews - Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker (Wright), London: Maggie Foyer, Bachtrack Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Louise Levene, Financial Times Mark Monahan, Telegraph Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Review - New York City Ballet, The Nutcracker (Balanchine), New York: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Review - Alberta Ballet, The Nutcracker, Edmonton: Angela Johnston, Edmonton Journal Feature - How Houston Ballet brings 1,750 Nutcracker costumes to life: Molly Glentzer, Texas Monthly Feature - Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker features up-and-coming BC dancers: Sara Harowitz, Straight.com News - Finnish National Ballet, A Christmas Carol (Bintley), Helsinki: Staff, Ballet Herald Film Feature - The Red Shoes (1948) review — a perfect work of art about the price of success: Kevin Maher, The Times (+ share) Online Review - Pacific Northwest Ballet, Love and Loss Triple Bill, Seattle: Graham Watts, Gramilano Review - Dancing With Glass, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Review - Bayerisches Staatsballett: Silent Screen, Schmetterling, Munich: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot, Assembly Hall, Toronto: Martha Schabas, Globe and Mail. Also, Lydia Perovic, Globe and Mail Review - Alessandro Marzotto Levy, Irene, Florence: Veronica Posth, SeeingDance

Links - Thursday 7 December, 2023 Feature - Best New York Dance Performances of 2023: Gia Kourlas & Brian Seibert, NY Times Review - Houston Ballet, Jubilee of Dance, Boston: Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle Feature - National Ballet of Canada's Nutcracker cast look ahead to what brings them joy: Duane Cole, Globe and Mail Feature - Ballet West Academy elevating Salt Lake City as an international ballet training ground: Jacqueline Mumford, Utah Business Feature - La Probabilité du Néant uses hip-hop to preach the importance of getting involved: Mike Usinger, Straight.com News/Video - Northern Ballet releases first Inclusive dance film, Every little thing is a change: Staff, BWW UK News - Ballet teacher cleared of student assault charges: Staff, BBC News (+ elsewhere) TV News - BBC Four, New Year's Day: Rambert, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - Cast set for La Strada, the first full length ballet presented by Alina Cojocaru OBE: Stephi Wild, BWW UK Film News - Dutch National Ballet's Giselle coming to a cinema near you: Staff, Ballet Herald

Links - Wednesday 6 December, 2023 Feature - Amy Hall Garner readying a new work Century for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Brian Seibert, NY Times Preview - Limón Dance Company, Women's Stories 4-Bill, New York: Caedra Scott-Flaherty, NY Observer Review - Dancing With Glass, New York: Robert Greskovic, Wall St Journal News - State Ballet of Georgia to bring Swan Lake to London Coliseum: Staff, Theatre Weekly 'Tis indeed The Season .... Review - Northern Ballet, The Nutcracker, Leeds: Geoffrey Mogridge, Ilkley Gazette Review - Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater, The Polar Express, New Jersey: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance News - Ballet dancers help Heathrow prepare for second-busiest December: Neil Lancefield, Independent (+ elsewhere) News - It takes a team to present Mother Ginger character in Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker: Libby Smith, CBS News

Indeed, top of this morning's Links.

Links - Tuesday 5 December, 2023 Obituary - Marion Cito, ingenious costume designer to Pina Bausch: Chris Wiegand, Guardian Review - NZ School of Dance, Performance Season 2023, Wellington: Deirdre Tarrant, Theatreview Denise Richardson, Dance Australia Jennifer Shennan, ... on dancing Interview - Stanton Welch: Reflecting on 20 Years at the helm of Houston Ballet: Alanna Love, En Face Magazine Feature - Tell, Black and white dancers hold space for racial healing: Aimée Ts'ao, SF Classical Voice 'Tis indeed The Season .... Review - English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, Southampton: Poppy Lindsey, SW Londoner Review - Queensland Ballet, The Nutcracker (Stevenson), Brisbane: Denise Richardson, Dance Australia Review - Boston Ballet, The Nutcracker (Nissinen), Boston: Millie May Healy, The Harvard Crimson Review - Smuin Contemporary Ballet, The Christmas Ballet, Walnut Creek: James Ambroff-Tahan, SF Examiner Review - Aljaž and Janette, Dancing in a Winter Wonderland, Southend: Jim Pritchard, Seen and Heard

Links - Monday 4 December, 2023 Feature - Concours: healthy competition at the Paris Opera Ballet? Matthew Paluch, Gramilano Feature - Valery Gergiev to direct both The Bolshoi & Mariinsky – The political, cultural and repertoire implications: Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Russia Briefing Feature - Kilometre house: how dance pioneer Rudolf Laban dreamed of staging performances in a gigantic dome: Dalya Alberge, The Observer Feature - San Diego’s ballet dancers kept on their toes with work visa requirements: Marcia Luttrell, SD Union-Tribune Review - Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble, Tambourines, Paris: Sarah Crompton, The Observer Review - Bayerisches Staatsballett, Le Parc, Munich: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Lunar Halo, London: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Preview - Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot, Assembly Hall, Toronto: MIchael Crabb, Toronto Star 'Tis indeed The Season .... Reviews - Joffrey Ballet, The Nutcracker (Wheeldon), Chicago: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Candace Jordan, Chicago Star Reviews - Queensland Ballet, The Nutcracker (Stevenson), Brisbane: Ruth Ridgway, Bachtrack Olivia Stewart, Limelight Review - Kansas City Ballet, The Nutcracker, Kansas City: Hilary Stroh, Bachtrack