Nina G.

I have tickets for 7th November Triple Bill. Would love to know who are the TBA's in Infra (my favourite McGregor). Anyone in the know out there please let us know!

On ROH website: Lamb/Naghdi/Hristov/Kish cast: Hristov as Eugene Onegin and Kish as Lensky

Wonderful photos Dave. Thank you for sharing with us. I can't afford to go and watch all these wonderful Ballets so it's lovely to see at least your photos!

I switched TV off, found it seriously irritating to say the least!

Dave, surely Freed still sells Dancing Times. At least, they used to a few years back!

Some foreign Companies call RB "First Artists" "demi-Soloists" I think. I have always been under the impression that RB "First Artists" are "upper" Corps members being considered for a possible Soloist position.

Alison, thank you for making clear that the quote was taken from a reported speech, approved by the interviewee, and published by the BA: http://www.balletassociation.co.uk/Reports/2012/Calvert12.html

Quoting Aileen:".... in that certain people are favoured by management, whether justified or not, and overtake other more senior people..." I have often wondered during the past Season how the senior dancers must have taken to this. Claire Calvert spoke about it at the Ballet Association meeting: ".......The Company is changing, as in the past you had to wait for roles whereas now there is a group who are doing them straight away. So it seems it is more of a struggle for more experienced dancers to get on and do things and you sometimes feel you’ve missed the boat. With some people the Company take more risks. Claire doesn’t feel she has been pushed within the Company, but rather she’s pushed herself for what she’s achieved.....". MacMillan had his favourite (Bussell) and, clearly, so has Wheeldon... In her recent interview with Alan Titmarsch, Dame Monica did say how she admires the Japanese (and Chinese) for their attention to detail (I was surprised she didn't mention the RBS at all). Is this why Mr Jennings pointed out the USA/Japanese preference within the Company leaving the RBS/UK trained dancers "stranded" for years if not forever . Is there a similar situation at the BRB? Ok, recent Promotions did include several RBS trained dancers (but only 3 out of 10 are fully RBS trained). It must be hard to get it all right but too obvious favouritism can't make for a happy and "healthy" company of dancers I think. I'd like to make clear that I am not criticising here, only making a few observations.

Quote Don Q Fan: "I am a little bored with RB - their dancers = same old same old nobody really coming through from the ranks - Davvid Tresensimiech(sp?) and Valentino Zucchetti perhaps". I got the same feeling mid-Season...same old same old.... The Company is (was, thanks to the recent promotions) very bottom heavy. Great that eight very talented Corps dancers were moved up recently (3 to First Artist and 5 to Soloist). Yes I am a fan of RB but I also like BRB (and they are doing great!). I have a feeling (correct me if wrong) BRB is better at nurturing their younger dancers. Some of the RB Principals and Soloists I have now seen over and over and over (Leanne B. is one of them) and I don't find them exciting anymore. What I find exciting - looking at the recently announced Winter debuts - is to watch the new talent coming through. At the POB Principals have to retire by the age of 42. Good or bad? At least they make room for others to move up. RB needs fresh blood at Soloist/1st Soloist level, they have an annual intake of a few new Artists but not much has happened over the past years at 1st Soloist/Soloist level (Melissa, Emma, Akane,Mendizabal), not even at Principal level: McRae (2009), Polunin (2010) and Kish (2010) were fairly recent additions (and one has left as we all know, well two really - Rojo), no female addition(s) - last one was Lauren (2008). I hope next Season will bring me some much needed excitement. Last Season, the New Works made it exciting, RB now needs (IMO) excitement by showing us a new generation of dancers (with all my greatest respect to the "older" dancers).

The NK/BSB pdd (lovely choreography) was unnecessary and meaningless in the overall choreography of Trespass. To me it felt like Wheeldon just "threw in" that extra pdd. The Lamb pdd and Melissa in the "bathing" scene by itself would have created a better effect.

I fully agree with the comment above. Sarah Lamb's Manon was beautiful. I did not take to her easily in the past but she's changed my mind after I'd seen her dance as Manon. She took my breath away, honestly. I'll certainly be going to see her cast (Lamb/Hristov/Naghdi/Kish).

It was! I was rather shocked when I read it.

I'd like to add... I am really pleased to see other young dancers are being nurtured too, and given opportunities Kevin O'Hare feels they deserve. Imagine RB had only nurtured Polunin when he and fellow dancers joined the company

She'll surely be busy working with Wheeldon on his new ballet Also, she's done a lot over the past six months..."burn-out" prevention maybe (?) Too much too soon isn't always to the advantage of such young dancers, they also have to cope with huge mental and physical pressures, and as the audience we sometimes forget this (IMHO).

This is the casting announcement for all the Principal roles Dave. She'll be doing her soloist roles I assume.

Surely it is Rojo who convinced him to dance with her...(after all, Polunin has stated in an interview that Rojo was the only RB ballerina he enjoyed dancing with - so he wouldn't say no to her I assume).

But we are in for some great treats next Season! Kevin O'Hare's 2012-2013 programming looks very exciting to me, with lots of new work (can't wait for the new Ratmansky) and several Ballets I have never seen before. Looking at the debuts coming up (just announced on Balletnews) it promises to be a wonderful Season (IMO).

I question if Mr Crisp really meant what he has said/written...so NOT Crisp!

Couldn't agree more with you Aileen!

Thank you Bluebird. My question re.WL trained Graduates follows after having read Mr Jennings article not so long ago.

Out of the six RBS Graduates joining the Royal Companies only one trained at White Lodge&Upper School (?) Well done to Laura Day. Success at BRB! Does anyone know which companies the other White Lodge trained dancers will be joining? In fact, how many White Lodge trained dancers are graduating at the RBS - out of the whole lot of Graduates?

Also a Japanese student (sorry but I don't have her name) from RBS Thrid Year. She already joined in December, before Laura Day did. That makes 6 Three RBS Graduates go to the RB and three to BRB (of which 2 joined earlier)

The Company is (was ) very bottom heavy and thinning out towards 1st Soloist level. It makes good sense they are promoting the most talented younger ones faster (instead of keeping them for several years at the same level as they use to) so these dancers can gradually start filling up the 1st Soloist/Soloist ranks. The salary of one Principal perhaps pays for 2 if not 3 First Soloists/Soloists. Anyhow that's my view on things and all the current Promotions are well deserved as all these dancers did stand out during the past Season.

Aaron Smyth only joined a few months ago. Leaving?

Congratulations to all dancers promoted this Season but especially to the ex-White Lodgers James Hay, Yasmine Naghdi and Claire Calvert. Really so well deserved!!! Very pleased for them (Janet, I am afraid I am biased as well - but love Campbell too!)