cavycapers

Brandon Lawrence adorable (and extremely patient!) today Sunday 17th June on Channel 4's 'Sunday Brunch'

Oh, no one really. I think I was musing to myself!

But given the fact that the decision was made to make sure that one of each couple was an experienced hand, wisely in my opinion, who would you have partnered him with? Kish may not have blown me away, but I understood how important his steady partnering was with Nagdhi.

If I were LS and discovered that the main thing that bothered most people was the colour of Siegfried 's tights and Benno's over prominence, I'd be cheering to the skies!

well that's me told then.....

Wouldn't it be lovely if this first run is treated as an opportunity to make minor tweaks to the things we have all identified as problematic? (Seigfrieds dark costume for example, especially in act 4. My friend and I thought he reminded us of those occasions in the theatre when a stage hand comes on all in black to move scenery etc unobtrusively, not that Marianela is scenery 😁 ...) alas, I think it probably won't happen, and we will be stuck with the things that are already annoying us for the next twenty years 😟

It's a funny thing with Nela, watching her rehearse Act 4 pdd with Vadim moved me to tears, as did the broadcast of her Diamonds rehearsal with Thiago, and yet I wasn't so moved by the actual performances. Maybe it's because her personality and her humility show through more when they break during the rehearsals (she laughs at herself so readily, walks on her heels and constantly fiddles with the waistband of her tutu, so adorable) , and during performances I see a consummate professional. Maybe (shock horror) she's too good!

oh thank you Alice, you did make me laugh 😂

Act Three of the new RB Swan Lake. At the start of the ball scene, some of the invited ladies are wearing black and gold bodices and black skirts with long black gloves that are breathtaking. I WANT ONE! But I would also settle for the act one girls' dresses in cream with the power net sleeves and the striped bodices and skirts with the big bustles!

This is to do with the aspect ratio in which the broadcast is being protected, not with how it was shot. I have, in the past, gone to the projection box of my local cinema, and they have adjusted the ratio, et viola! Normal sized dancers!

Saw Yasmine last night and Nela tonight. Now Nela is my favourite ballerina ever, but I preferred Yasmine's Odette. Whilst Nela's experience showed in her better balances and fouetes etc, I thought Yasmine's youth and inexperience gave her Odette a really touching air of vulnerability. When Von Rothbart lifted her in Act 4 I wanted to shout, Get your filthy hands off her! If only she had been with Vadim, but I suspect we will see that combo in SL one day. I adored the new designs and costumes. However, why is Sigfried dressed in such a dark colour? When he lifted Odette in Act 4, he disappeared altogether. The costuming of the rest of the cast must have denuded every haberdasher in the UK of crystals, and yet he had non. As John M has been designing this for years, I can only think he had a reason.... The national costumes were stunning. The tacking of the four princesses' tutus to within an inch of their life so that they were totally stiff made them look very unapproachable, and S couldn't have got near them even if he had wanted to! The only thing I didn't like was the Spanish dress. There was far too much material in the skirt, so that the dancers seemed to be fighting with it to complete the steps. And whilst the men wore lovely deep black (velvet?) trousers (gorgeous 😚) the lady's dress looked grey in comparison.

Thanks Jan

I can't even see anywhere what 'in the square' is or any kind of seating plan. Does anyone else have any information? Is it an outdoors thing? It would be lovely to see some ballet in July.

I am finding it quite hard to reconcile myself with the idea of supporting a company whose management style I have had concerns with for a while now. Yet I have been a huge fan of the ENB for so long now, and am excited by some of the casting for SB: Alina is back! Aaron Robison was exciting in everything I have seen him in. Cesar Corrales has a performance before he goes off to partner Osipova in the Autumn! Ultimately though, I suppose it is the dancers who will suffer if those of us who feel like this stop buying tickets. One thing is certain though, I won't be watching Mr. Hernandez despite the fact that he is dancing with the exquisite Jurgita Dronina.....

I suppose I am trying to find out if the recommendations for adults taking the exams now are more relaxed than for the children. We have all ages and sizes in our class, and some of the requirements for children are going to look pretty silly on adults of 60 and a size 16! So I was hoping to hear from adults who have done the lower grade exams what they were allowed to wear. As the grades used to be very fixed for different ages, the styles and colours became more grown up the higher you got. But if an adult class wanted to start at grade 2, for instance, they would look ridiculous in pale pink leotards similar to those normally worn for that grade by 6 or 7 year olds.

Mathilde Kschessinska tutu from Anastasia

Thank you both. I'm not sure what the man in his 40s will think about the short white socks 😄

My adult ballet class, both men and women, are going to try RAD Grade 3 ballet exams. Does anyone know what the requirements are for uniform for adults, I'm guessing it's not the same as for children, but can't see any information about it?

The Dying Swan programme needed to be a full hour. Felt like an unsatisfactory snack at half an hour.

Hi, CM, private message me your address, I will post them to you, then you can pay me with bank txfer or cheque. Cc

Hi coffeemum, I have only two available now, D80 and E79, one behind the other.

Manon 3 May 2018, 7.30pm | Main Stage TICKETS: Amphitheatre Right, G-71 | Full Price E-TICKET For sale £25

Hi, I'm so sorry, I saw this too late! What a shame....

Nay probs 😊

Hi John, Not a standing ticket, but at standing ticket price. I completely mucked up my Man on bookings, so you can have this £25 ticket for £15 if you would like. Manon 3 May 2018, 7.30pm | Main Stage TICKETS Amphitheatre Right, G-71 | Full Price E-TICKET