Nina G.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yasmine-naghdi-interview-the-british-ballerina-on-her-stellar-rise-at-the-royal-ballet-hpbhmlqmt?shareToken=7045bb496c5cf9ecedb4badfbbcbd577

Thank you for the alert re. Sunday Times interview with Yasmine Naghdi (needless to say I dashed out to get my ST copy . Such a lovely and excellent interview by Sarah Crompton. There are several angles in the interview where we get to know Naghdi from a different perspective... not in the least Crompton's suggestion that Naghdi's diplomatic skills will lead her into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as her next career...

Wishing Marcelino Sambe a speedy recovery (I think he's been injured since the start of this Season (?)) but I am SO thrilled that Alexander Campbell will be dancing Albrecht! I have a "Giselle" Naghdi/Ball ticket but now thinking of getting a ticket to see his show too.

I love opera but ballet on Christmas Day is SO much more festive! What a shame. Why a repeat? As if they don't have anything else to show us...

Another review https://www.culturewhisper.com/r/dance/project_polunin_two_coliseum/9925

Such a shame the price for a Live Relay cinema ticket (my local is the Vue cinema) has gone up so much! As a Senior it'll cost me £20.99. A Standard ticket is now £22.99 (for 19 years plus): which youngster/student will fork out £22.99? and Pensioners £20.99?

I don't cry all that often at the ballet but I do get goosebumps. However, I easily shed a few tears when the music is too beautiful for words combined with watching a dancer who has the ability to touch my heart and visually moves me through her/his physicality and beautiful line (I am really not asking for much ) I am really restricted now to seeing the RB only ( occasionally ENB and BRB when in London) but I am sure there must be other dancers out there who would move me too. Lauren Cuthbertson made me shed tears with her silent cry in "Infra", and the music gave me goosebumps. Yasmine Naghdi made my tears roll several times during her performance as "Juliet", as well as when she danced the Girl in "The Invitation" (oh that moment when she "cried" it out after being raped). I always loved Lauren Cuthbertson's Juliet (I still do) but Yasmine Naghdi's "Juliet" was so very different and Matthew Ball as Romeo made me very emotional too. Leanne Benjamin in "Requiem" made me cry. Alina Cojocaru in Giselle, Alina in anything really. Loved her. Francesca Hayward as Clara gave me goosebumps during the pas de deux, and she also moved me in Rhapsody. and yes, as above, Rojo simply sitting still on the bed, my tears rolled and rolled. Vadim Muntagirov in Symphonic Variations (and goosebumps in most of his performances) Marianella Nunez in Concerto and Diamonds. I am sure there are a few more but that's what I remember right now.

Naghdi, Calvert and Stix-Brunell were unfairly and unjustifiably left out in that 2016 documentary (many have remarked upon) as it was also their debut.

The ROH has not yet put the full Cast list on its cinema advertising website so yes fingers crossed we get Yasmine Naghdi as Rose Fairy in the cinema relay. Also looking forward to seeing Sarah Lamb as Sugar Plum!

"Yes - and the part re Francesca Hayward's rise feeds what is largely a ballet myth, i.e. that really talented dancers go into companies and within a year are 'stars'. Which happens very rarely and does a disservice to all the dancers who develop into stars by years of hard work, development, learning, and increasing artistry. " Indeed this myth should not be fed to young dancers or ballet students. It took time for both Yasmine Naghdi and Francesca Hayward (albeit relatively fast). Francesca Hayward did not dance any full length classical (tutu) role (Aurora) until she was a Principal, Yasmine Naghdi danced her first full length classical role (also Aurora) when she was still a First Soloist. Same goes for both dancing Sugar Plum. (but Naghdi danced Rose Fairy in previous seasons leading up to Aurora). Naghdi danced her first Juliet as a Soloist whilst Hayward was just appointed First Soloist (I think).They both danced several featured roles on their way up to Principal rank: Naghdi danced Olga in "Onegin" when still a corps de ballet member and if my memory serves me right she was still only a First Artist when dancing "Symphonic Variations" alongside Marianella and Vadim (amongst many other roles). Hayward got Clara, followed by Alice, Rhapsody and Manon (amongst other roles). No one gets to the top without putting in the hard work, without talent, without the greatest of determination,...

and Hayward's Juliet debut was in 2015, Lise in October 2016. If I remember correctly she danced Clara two years after she joined the Company, and Alice in her 3rd Season. None of the roles Emma Byrnes mentioned in her article came within a year

To me a ballerina (or a dancer) is great when not only she possesses an impeccable and strong classical technic but is also able to move me (to tears sometimes) and able to correctly interpret choreographic steps. A ballerina (or a dancer) is great when she possesses great artistry, has the ability to communicate with her audience, and is able to dance consistently at the highest classical level. Greatness is subjective in any art form. Some people said Fonteyn was great others felt she was not so great and that there were other principals who were greater. PS. I wish the Press for once would learn that a dancer is not a ballerina until she has attained Principal status (how often do we not read in the press about a 15 or 12 or 5 year old ballerina )

Thank you for posting the link Geoff. I very much enjoyed reading the article. We rarely hear the dancers speak so it was really fascinating to read what (especially) the two newest and youngest Royal Ballet Principals had to say. I believe Naghdi and Hayward are the same age; they were in the same class at The Royal Ballet School. I knew of first soloist Melissa Hamilton's story from previous interviews. I am really looking forward to Naghdi's and Hayward's "Giselle" debut but first we'll be treated to their Sugar Plum Fairy!

Congratulations to all nominees in the various categories, a well balanced choice this year by the Critics'Circle. Great to see Kristin McNally's performance in "Flight Pattern" was nominated too, and I am absolutely thrilled Yasmine Naghdi has been nominated for the "Best Female Dancer" Award. There are not many dancers in the other categories I have had the opportunity to see but I am sure they are all great in their own right. The judges have also included the internationally renowned Flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena (whom I have seen performing) but how will they "measure" a Flamenco dancer against a classical ballet dancer? Two classical dance forms yes but each a very different style of dancing.

...and why did Twyla Tharp select a Principal ballerina... only for her to end up in the sextet corps doing very little? It really felt as if Tharp needed some quick "glue" to bond the two sections together but she did not use the selected dancers to their full potential. Lamb danced beautifully. A mixed emotions Triple Bill for me, and yes I did miss Matthew Ball too in Untouchable.

Is this the short film you are referring to Floss? Five very young RBS pupils, filmed in 2006, Darcey Bussell coaching them. Two of those five girls are future Principals and they are standing right next to one another. It's hard to tell from this short clip if it was evident they were each destined to become a Principal at The Royal Ballet.

A beautiful book to give children is http://dancetabs.com/2014/10/book-ballet-spectacular-a-childrens-guide-to-ballet-and-an-insight-into-a-magical-world/

I have become much more knowledgable thanks to Floss's very informative posts and I love reading them.

Oh what a night! To see RB,BRB, ENB, SB and NB dancers celebrating all together Kenneth MacMillan was amazing to witness. I could see the joy in the eyes of the BRB,ENB,SB and NB dancers, relishing the rare opportunity to dance on our beautiful ROH stage. I have always loved "Concerto" and Jenna Roberts partnered by Tyrone Singleton in the 2nd Movement were both outstanding. The BRB dancers gave it their all. Well done to all the dancers. Scottish Ballet treated us to "Le Baiser de la fee". Constance Devernay as Fairy, a technically strong dancer impressed, as well as Bethany Kingsley-Garner as Fiancee. I have never seen the SB and I am glad I have had the opportunity to see these two fine dancers. "Elite Syncopations" brought together all five companies with RB principals Yasmine Naghdi and Ryoichi Hirano dancing the lead roles "Stop Time Rag" and "Bethena Waltz". Yuhui Choe stood out in "The Cascades". A dancer from the ENB, Precious Adams, performed "Calliope Rag" with confidence and good technic. Well done to her. Marge Hendrick and Constant Vigier (SB) were hilarious in the "Alaskan Rag". Loved it. Having booked my ticket a while ago it was a most lovely surprise to see Yasmine Naghdi dancing the title role. Not only was this her first performance as a Principal on the Covent Garden stage, she also danced her role debut, and this on Opening Night (no pressure there!). As Capybara said "What a moment, what an impact!", you'd never guessed this was her debut, she's so confident and a pure joy to watch. Partnered by Ryoichi Hirano (who is fabulous in this role) she had in him an experienced partner who did her real justice. They were both fabulous! The audience clearly loved "Elite Syncopations" and it was the absolute highlight of the evening. Thank you to all the dancers for bringing such great joy to the audience. I left the ROH on a real high (not for the first time :).

The Spring Insights page now also shows (amongst others): 6th March http://www.roh.org.uk/insights/insights-in-conversation-with-yasmine-naghdi 8th March http://www.roh.org.uk/insights/insights-manon

Literally, as I don't see Salenko listed as guest principal anymore. http://www.roh.org.uk/about/the-royal-ballet/dancers She is a lovely dancer but with young Principals Takada, Naghdi, Hayward needing to be given roles alongside the already established principals it doesn't make much sense for the RB to hire a guest principal.

Fingers crossed for Swan Lake! There are 8 Manon casts, it would have been a bit of a squeeze to get Naghdi/Ball in there too. At least we get to see her as Mistress in the Osipova/Hallberg cast

I didn't manage to get a copy of the Standard, so thank you very much Jan McNulty for posting the link on the Forum. It is a very interesting interview by Lyndsey Winship in which she portrays one of my most favourite RB dancers in a new light, revealing details of Yasmine Naghdi's climb to the top of her profession. Thank goodness she didn't give up dancing when she was 16! We would have missed having her as a Principal at the RB. She talks about having suffered a lot when "a detrimental teacher got under her skin" telling her every day she was rubbish, about her loneliness when classmates turned their backs on her when she was fast tracked through the School into the Company: "It was a time when I was very much alone..." Very moving also to read her anecdote about an elderly woman who came up to her sobbing, after her Juliet performance, and how she thanked Yasmine for giving her three hours to forget the pain she was in. The power ballet has on many of us!

Floss, "Of the current sixteen Principal dancers as opposed to guest Principals five attended both White Lodge and the Upper School...". Who is the fifth Royal Ballet Principal besides Edward Watson, Lauren Cuthbertson, Yasmine Naghdi and Francesca Hayward who attended both White Lodge and the Upper School? Laura Morera?

The Yorkshire Post photos http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/stunning-pics-of-ballet-stars-ahead-of-tonight-s-gala-in-hull-1-8757215