Pas de Quatre

Weren't Turning pointe made by Gamba? Dd was given a pair to try in a shop a few years ago. They had been sitting on the shelf for years. She loved them, so we bought them & were only charged a token £5!

Have just watched this live stream and was utterly entranced. I agree with Bruce that there are technically stronger companies, but would they have the same appeal? The children were excellent, presumably from the school. However it was the overall feel of the choreography and production that I particularly liked. Paquita is Spanish of course, but this had a real connection to the 19th Century style of Classical Ballet much influenced by Classical Bolero - so no extreme extensions (waist high generally) and lots of fast foot work and beats. In some ways it also made me think of Bournonville, and also the mime scenes of the Pantomime ballets in The Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.

On their Facebook feed Central said they had three finalists.

In SB the balances are much harder than the fish dives. Compare to riding a bicycle - faster is easier. In fact many of the "showy" moves in ballet are not the most difficult!

But that is the point, if you are anxious about a dancer reaching the end, he or she is not up to the role. They should be so on top of the technique that they make it appear easy and natural.

A couple of years ago RBS ran a series of seminars/masterclasses called Focus on Style where famous teachers from the major schools came to demonstrate, with their pupils. I attended the Vaganova one and was interested to hear that even if the dancer were a Principal, they still had to undergo several years of teacher training at the Vaganova Academy before they were allowed to teach. I believe it is the same at the Bolshoi. This could be one of the reasons why the teaching is so good in Russia!

I wonder whether Mr Powney meant that some students at Vocational school are complacent, that having gained a place there they think they have arrived. Whereas the truth is the opposite, the competition gets even tougher when they graduate and try to find jobs. There are so few openings available compared to the number of Vocational students being trained.

We discussed this performance after one of its previous airings. I am afraid I don't think Cuthbertson should have been cast in this role as she does not have the strength or technique. She is a lovely dancer in roles that suit her better. However, I think RB was desperate for a British female Principal so she was promoted. Not every Principal is suitable for every role and more thought should have gone into the casting.

Happy New Year, and many thanks for making this forum such a success!

Does anyone know the age range? I couldn't see it on the website.

Is it the old film with part of the whole cast at first and then Margot Fonteyn dancing her solo? Looks lovely.

Merry Christmas and a Happy & Successful 2015!

Beautiful - thanks!

Aileen, you are right. Not just huskies, but any working breed dog needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. All dogs are pack animals though, so it is wrong to leave one on its own for any length of time. The RSPCA recomments 4 hours maximum. We have two collie crosses (rescue dogs) who are delightful, but do need lots of walks. At home they play together like puppies. We sometimes cross paths with a group of three huskies and the two sets of dogs, after weeks of initial suspicion, are now good friends. Their owner is very "on the ball" and will put them back on the lead if there are any doubts about a situation. However, there are many, many dogs around who have absolutely no "social skills" with other dogs. They are a nuisance and desperately need dog training/socialisation classes.

This is why I find it weird. If there were a total embargo on revealing results that would be understandable (as discussed above). However many posts by the schools reveal who is dancing in so the BBC might as well publish a comprehensive list.

I don't think you can generalise about possibilities of auditions whilst you are under contract,there are too many variables. Overall, I think the dance world is getting more like the acting world, contracts are for specific productions or projects of variable length. There are only a few full time "repertory" companies.

Another cost to think about is post-graduate training. Just as in the non dance world, fewer graduates go straight into paid employment, many have to continue with unpaid internships etc. or pay for a course. Last year, for example, Northern ballet took dancers into the company from Norther Ballet Academy's post-graduate training year. Some of these dancers had previously graduated from ENBS but they still had to do another year's training.

Could this be a factor in the current fashion for bare legs with pointe shoes? Look - my instep is all my own!!!

http://pointeperfect.com/learn-your-foot-type-pointe-fitting/#prettyPhoto This is an article that gives great insight into pointe shoe fitting.

In the past ENB, Elmhurst, Central and Tring have entered candidates, some were accepted and some not. So unless anyone has first hand knowledge, you can't be sure whether schools applied, or just didn't get any candidates accepted. Good luck to this year's candidates!

No, but that is the way it works. As both ROH and BBC are mainly funded by taxpayers, you would think they should have some sort of special relationship, but they don't seem to.

Because like sports fixtures, coverage is sold to the highest bidder.

IN those days, when these young dancers of 14 & 15 became professional dancers, the school leaving age was 14, so most 14 year olds left school for full time employment. However as these dancers were so young, they still needed chaperones and many mothers accompanied their daughters. This is where the "dance mothers" originated!

No, it is not impro, it is unset enchainments. The examiner reads out a sequence of steps and the candidate has to put it together correctly. Usually they mark through a few times, mark to the music and then dance in full.

DD has very thick curly hair and usually has it halfway down her back. She finds it goes up into a bun easily, but for normal classes uses thicker "sleep" nets rather than fine ones. However, it wouldn't go easily into a French roll, even when straightened. So perhaps this is the problem - by its very nature a French roll is not symmetrical. Perhaps there is too much hair on one side which makes your DD hold her head oddly to compensate, tutucute.