Jan McNulty

If people have to quarantine for 14 days and then it is ok to go about your lawful business how long does a bubble last? If for example I have a bubble with a friend but then don't see that friend for a month could I form a bubble with another friend? The rules are supposed to be simpler but it just causes even more questions than answers!

I think you can form bubbles. A dog walking chum very kindly formed a bubble with me a couple of months ago to take me to a hospital appointment.

Links - Friday 11 September, 2020 Obituary - Joanne Nisbet, Senior Ballet Mistress & former dancer of National Ballet of Canada: Michael Vincent, Ludwig Van Toronto News - For New York City Ballet, another digital season: Peter Libbey, NY Times David Mead, Seeing Dance News Desk, Broadway World News - Sadler’s Wells digital stage in focus and first live performance: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper David Mead, Seeing Dance Gallery - Bolshoi Ballet, Peer Gynt, Moscow: Oksana Manchuk, Belta Feature - How some National Ballet of Canada dancers have coped with lockdown: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star News - DistDancing, Hoxton’s outdoor ballet, is under threat: Alexandra Sims, Time Out Comment - We mustn’t let the Covid “fear factor” doom Britain’s arts: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Feature - 20/21 Season preview - The in-the-works shows we are looking forward to most: Various staff members, Dance Magazine News - American Ballet Theater promotes dancers despite pandemic slump: Julia Jacobs, NY Times Video Feature - Carlos Gonzalez, American Ballet Theater: Staff, Broadway World News - Fall for Dance North unveils innovative live & digital festival: News Desk, Broadway World Feature - Trading ice for the New York City pavement: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Video News - Cincinnati Ballet reimagines 20/21 season: Fox News - Ballet at the boozer: South London pub to open with resident dancers: Harry Fletcher, Standard News - Ballet West dance school collapse leaves students in limbo: Staff, BBC News Marc Horne, Times News - Berlin’s state ballet school confronts allegations of abuse: Adaptation Cristina M Burack, DW

NY Times article being included in the Links tomorrow.

Such sad news. She can currently be seen as Mrs Pomfrey in the new All Creatures on Ch5. She was a class act till the end. I remember seeing her absolutely riveting performance as Medea at the Liverpool Playhouse many years ago. RIP Diana Rigg. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/10/actor-diana-rigg-dies-aged-82?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR3qHIVQo-V0d9zUAEhTfZy8mfdAL4LGafF_AVl-4oHk_I7QCgkO2pc611Y

Sadler's Wells have announced Birmingham Royal Ballet appearing live at the end of October and a digital season. Details and discussion here:

Press Release: Thursday 10 September 2020 SADLER’S WELLS ANNOUNCES A NEW SERIES OF ONLINE COLLABORATIONS: DIGITAL STAGE IN FOCUS; AND THE FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AT SADLER’S WELLS SINCE LOCKDOWN Today Sadler’s Wells announces new activity for autumn, featuring a new digital season and the first live performances at Sadler’s Wells since lockdown: Digital Stage In Focus is a new series featuring Sadler’s Wells in collaboration with three world-renowned dance companies running across the autumn Sadler’s Wells will co-create a suite of digital content with Hofesh Shechter Company, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Candoco Dance Company Live dance returns to Sadler’s Wells Theatre with the first socially distanced public events to take place on its stage, with performances from Birmingham Royal Ballet, in a mixed bill featuring the first commission from new Artistic Director Carlos Acosta: Lazuli Sky Sadler’s Wells’ online autumn season begins with a new series of collaborations, Digital Stage In Focus, created in partnership with three of the UK's most innovative dance companies - Hofesh Shechter Company, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, and Candoco Dance Company. Each company will co-create a takeover of Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage for two-weeks across the autumn, Hofesh Shechter Company in September, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company in October, and Candoco Dance Company in November, with three bespoke programmes inviting audiences to take a deep dive into their work. Digital Stage In Focus will be free for all audiences with content released via the Sadler’s Wells website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Each collaboration will include: A digital screening of a full-length performance made available for a 7-day period on YouTube and Facebook. All text will be subtitled and an audio described version of each screening will also be released A Get Into Dance Workshop - part of new series developed following the success of Sadler’s Wells’ Company of Elders’ workshops, which premiered throughout spring 2020 and received more than 2.8 million views over the summer. Each company will host 30-minute introductory level dance workshop in their distinct dance style, accessible for all ages and designed to improve fitness, physical and mental wellbeing A bespoke piece of digital content devised in collaboration with each company The Digital Stage In Focus series launches with Sadler’s Wells x Hofesh Shechter Company, running from Monday 14 September – Friday 25 September. This collaboration takes a closer look at the visceral, ground-breaking work of Sadler’s Wells associate artist Hofesh Shechter, featuring the critically acclaimed Grand Finale and two company-devised workshops. The centrepiece of this collaboration is an on-demand screening of the critically acclaimed and hugely successful Grand Finale, previously staged at Sadler’s Wells in 2017 as part of a world tour. Performed by a ten-strong tribe of world-class dancers and accompanied by a live band, Grand Finale combines a cinematic score and richly theatrical set and costume design with the anarchic energy of Shechter’s choreography to portray a world in freefall. Shechter has created a new genre: part dance, part gig, part theatre and wholly original. Grand Finale is available on demand via both Sadler’s Wells Facebook Page and YouTube channel from Thursday 17 September at 7:00pm and will remain online for 7 days thereafter. For their Get Into Dance Workshop, the company will give participants the chance to explore the distinctive movement style of Hofesh Shechter. Hosted by the company’s Associate Artistic Director Bruno Guillore, audiences will learn the company’s daily warm-up which will be suitable for all ages and abilities, and available on Facebook and YouTube from Monday 14 September. The final event will be a bespoke opportunity where viewers can delve deeper into the work and choreography of the company. In ‘Moving Through Hofesh Shechter’s Grand Finale’ viewers can access two films to learn the ‘Rave’ and ‘Russian Passion’ sections of the piece using simple reference points to explore in depth this euphoric and tribal-inspired piece of dance. ‘Moving Through Hofesh Shechter’s Grand Finale: Rave’ will be available on Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel from Friday 18 September, and ‘Moving Through Hofesh Shechter’s Grand Finale: Russian Passion’ will be available on Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel from Monday 21 September. During this time, Hofesh Shechter Company also presents new work on its own digital channels. Short film Untitled receives its world premiere for free via Zoom on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September. With choreography, music and direction by Hofesh Shechter, it is a rare opportunity to experience a solo piece from an artist renowned for his award-winning ensemble work. Free for audiences, streamed live, and performed 8 times over 2 days, this 10-minute short will take the viewer beyond the theatrical boundaries and blur the line of audience and performer, bringing a fresh new perspective to the work. The second digital takeover, Sadler’s Wells x ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, takes place from Monday 19 October – Friday 30 October, with ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company’s dance smash-hit Some Like It Hip Hop available to watch for 7 days on Sadler’s Wells Facebook Page and YouTube channel from Thursday 22 October, 7:00pm. This hip hop sensation has continued to thrill audiences and critics alike since its premiere in 2011, through to its recent return to the Peacock Theatre in 2019, prompting five-star reviews and standing ovations. With a nod to Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, it tells a comical tale of love, mistaken identity, crossdressing and revolution, played out in ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company’s trademark style, with choreography from Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince. The final takeover, Sadler’s Wells x Candoco, runs from Monday 23 November – Friday 4 December. The company’s powerful dance work Let's Talk About Dis, will be available to watch for 7 days on Sadler’s Well Facebook Page and YouTube channel from Thursday 26 November, 7:00pm. An exploration of identity and political correctness choreographed by Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Hetain Patel, originally created in 2015 and performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2018, Let’s Talk About Dis exposes hidden prejudices through humorous and intimate choreography. Candoco Dance Company is a company of disabled and non-disabled dancers who create work for audiences and participants that excites, challenges and broadens perceptions of art and ability. ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Candoco will also present a Get Into Dance Workshop as part of their takeover, taking participants through a simple dance fitness and wellbeing session in their movement style. Both companies will also create a piece of bespoke digital content, offering audiences a further opportunity to explore the unique facets of these distinctive dance companies. Details of these bespoke offerings will be made available closer to the start of each takeover. Sadler’s Wells is also delighted to announce full details of the first public performances staged at the theatre since March 2020. These events mark the first time that Sadler’s Wells has welcomed professional artists and audiences in a live capacity since lockdown, with the performances, working practices and visitor experience created in accordance with social distancing and Covid-19 safety measures. As previously announced by Birmingham Royal Ballet, the company will bring its brand-new mixed bill, Lazuli Sky, to Sadler’s Wells for four performances from Thursday 29 October – Saturday 31 October. The Sadler’s Wells dates follow sold-out world-premiere performances at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Thursday 22 October – Saturday 24 October. Tickets for Lazuli Sky at Sadler’s Wells are now available, with priority booking for members open from today and general tickets available by public sale from Monday 14 September. Lazuli Sky includes choreographer Will Tuckett’s new ballet of the same name set to John Adam’s Shaker Loops; alongside Valery Panov’s Liebestod, a powerful, visceral solo for the company’s male principals with music from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde; and Our Waltzes by Venezuelan choreographer Vicente Nebrada, danced to a collection of Latin-infused waltzes which celebrate love, romance and passion. All music will be performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Lazuli Sky is the first one-act ballet to be commissioned and presented by Carlos Acosta as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, a role which he started in January 2020 shortly before the COVID-19 crisis hit. At the beginning of lockdown, Carlos turned to British choreographer Will Tuckett and asked him to create a new work for Birmingham Royal Ballet that is inspired by, and utilises, ‘social distancing’, in response to the evolving way in which dance and live performance can once again be staged. To help artists, audiences and staff members to feel safe and enjoy these performances, Sadler’s Wells has introduced a series of new safety measures and are closely following all UK Government guidance in managing these events. Measures include socially distanced seating, indoor mask wearing, hand sanitising stations, additional cleaning and socially distanced visitor management systems throughout the building. Ticket bookers will be sent full information about all coronavirus safety measures in place in advance of the performance, so that they can plan accordingly and feel as secure as possible during their visit. These guidelines are also available on Sadler’s Wells website via the following link. Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and CEO, Alistair Spalding said: "We are so pleased to be able to present world class dance online and once more on stage this autumn. Audiences across the world will have access to Digital Stage In Focus from their own homes, exploring in-depth the work of a diverse set of internationally acclaimed dance companies, renowned for their unique styles. We are also delighted to be hosting our first socially distant public performances with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Lazuli Sky, featuring Carlos Acosta’s first commission as Director. Having artists back on the Sadler’s Wells stage feels like a monumental achievement, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. We hope these performances are just the first steps on the path of reopening fully and welcoming audiences and artists back to our theatres. We are committed to continue to work with and support artists, companies, freelancers and Sadler’s Wells colleagues so that we can present work both on stage and online, particularly during a time of great uncertainty for the dance sector, and hope to make more announcements about further plans soon." Images can be downloaded via the Sadler’s Wells media library or via this link. You can view or embed the Digital Stage In Focus trailer at this link. - ENDS - NOTES TO EDITORS Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Lazuli Sky Birmingham Royal Ballet presents Lazuli Sky which will premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre prior to performances at Sadler’s Wells. Listings: Birmingham Royal Ballet Lazuli Sky Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN Performances Thu - Sat at 7:30pm, Sat at 2:30pm Tickets: £15-£35 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com Tickets for Lazuli Sky are now available, with priority booking now open, and public booking available from Monday 14 September: Thursday 10 September: booking open for Sadler’s Wells Patrons and Rehearsal Members  Friday 11 September: booking open for Sadler’s Wells and Birmingham Royal Ballet members Monday 14 September: booking open for public sale. Lazuli Sky press night: Thursday 29 October at 7:30pm Lazuli Sky Choreography: Will Tuckett Music: John Adams (Shaker Loops, for small string orchestra) Designs: Samuel Wyer and Nina Dunn Video Designs: Nina Dunn Costume Designs: Samuel Wyer Conductor: Paul Murphy Opening Night Cast: Damen Axtens, Ryan Felix, Haoliang Feng, Tori Forsyth-Hecken, Kit Holder, Yu Kurihara, Gus Payne, Rachele Pizzillo, Emma Price, Tom Rogers, Eilis Small, Yuki Sugiura Our Waltzes Choreography: Vicente Nebrada Music: Teresa Carreño, Salvador Llamozas, Manuel Guadalajara, Isabel de Maury, Sofia Limonta, Ramon Delgado Palacios and Heraclio Fernández Pianist: Jonathan Higgins Opening Night Cast: Yasuo Atsuji, Tzu-Chao Chou, Mathias Dingman, Samara Downs, Momoko Hirata, Miki Mizutani, César Morales, Yaoqian Shang, Tyrone Singleton, Yijing Zhang Liebestod Choreography: Valery Panov Music: Richard Wagner Conductor: Phil Ellis Opening Night Cast: Brandon Lawrence Digital Stage In Focus Digital Stage In Focus is free for all audiences and accessible via Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage. Listings: Sadler’s Wells x Hofesh Shechter Company Monday 14 September – Friday 25 September Get Into Dance Workshop will be available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Monday 14 September Grand Finale available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Thursday 17 September at 7pm and available for 7 days thereafter, with audio described version available. ‘Moving Through Hofesh Shechter’s Grand Finale: Rave’ will be available on the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel from Friday 18 September ‘Moving Through Hofesh Shechter’s Grand Finale: Russian Passion’ will be available on the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel from Monday 21 September. Sadler’s Wells x ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company Monday 19 October – Friday 30 October Some Like It Hip Hop available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Thursday 22 October at 7pm and available for 7 days thereafter, with audio described version available. Sadler’s Wells x Candoco Monday 23 November – Friday 4 December Let’s Talk About Dis’ available on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and YouTube channel from Thursday 26 November at 7pm and available for 7 days thereafter, with audio described version available. Grand Finale is produced by Hofesh Shechter Company and commissioned by Georgia Rosengarten.Our Commissioning partners are Sadler’s Wells, Théâtre de la Ville-Paris / La Villette-Paris and Brighton Dome and Festival. Co-commissioned by Colours International Dance Festival Stuttgart, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Romaeuropa Festival, Theatre Royal Plymouth andMarche Teatro / Inteatro Festivaltogether with Danse Danse Montréal, HELLERAU-European Center for the Arts Dresden, Dansens Hus Oslo, Athens and Epidaurus Festival,HOME Manchesterand Scène Nationale d’Albi.Grand Finale is generously supported by theInternational Music and Arts Foundation. Hofesh Shechter Company is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Hofesh Shechter is an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells and Hofesh Shechter Company is Resident Company at Brighton Dome. Some Like It Hip Hop is a ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Sadler’s Wells production, supported by Arts Council England, with original support from Curve Leicester and Wales Millennium Centre. Let’s Talk About Dis is funded by Cockayne Foundation, Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation and co-commissioned by ArtsDepot. Untitled by Hofesh Shechter Company Hofesh Shechter Company Untitiled Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September 2020 Performance times: 11:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00 BST Free to audiences https://www.hofesh.co.uk/ Sadler’s Wells About Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage Though our theatres remain dark, we will continue to connect with audiences through our Digital Stage. Since 27 March, our online programme of performances and workshops for people to watch at home has been enjoyed by audiences all over the world, with 2.7 million video views globally. All previously released workshops remain available online, including the full Company of Elders series - specially aimed at over 60s though anyone is welcome to join in - and ten themed family workshops for children aged 2 – 6 years old. All workshops are available to follow as playlists on Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel. Other dance films and documentaries featured on Digital Stage are made by Sadler’s Wells in partnership with others including BBC Arts, BBC Films, Academy Films, Artangel, Financial Times, and Clearstory Productions. Details of further new content for Digital Stage audiences will be announced soon with programme updates available on our website and social media channels. About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best domestic and international dance to UK and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding, the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Audiences of over half a million come to Sadler’s Wells’ three London theatres each year, with many more enjoying its touring productions at venues across the UK and around the world and accessing its content through its Digital Stage. Sadler's Wells commissions, produces and presents more dance than any other theatre in the world, embracing the popular and the unknown. Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 180 new dance works to the stage, many of them involving its 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and four Associate Companies – the most exciting talents working in dance today. Sadler’s Wells own productions have toured to some of the most prestigious theatres and festivals around the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival in New York, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. Sadler’s Wells also nurtures the next generation of talent through a range of artist development initiatives including its New Wave Associates programmes, its Wild Card initiative and the National Youth Dance Company. A further 30,000 individuals take part in its learning and engagement programmes each year. During the Covid-19 crisis, Sadler’s Wells has continued to connect with global audiences through its Digital Stage, an online programme of performances and workshops for people to watch at home. Since 27 March 2020, the programme has been enjoyed by audiences all over the world, generating over 2.7 million video views globally. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 10% of its revenue from Arts Council England. www.sadlerswells.com Sadler’s Wells social media handles: Facebook: @SadlersWells Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells Instagram: @sadlers_wells YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre

It's also worth checking the links to see what may be coming up around the world:

Is Sadler's Well's opening specially for these performances? I was under the impression the theatre was closed until the new year.

Thanks for the report Oberon.

Links - Thursday 10 September, 2020 News - Royal Opera House Autumn/Winter cinema broadcasts: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Feature - Rambert embrace a different kind of dance: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Feature - The Table of Silence Project 9/11 - Reimagined: Thea Singer, Arts Fuse Audio Feature - Heather Baxter, Administrative Director, Royal Ballet: Oliver Rowe, Financial Management Magazine Streaming News - New English Ballet Theatre to premiere Wayne Eagling’s Remembrance: News Desk, Broadway World David Dawson, 7 Portraits of Solitude: Mihaela, Dance for You Magazine Hudson Valley Dance Festival goes online for 2020 edition: News Desk, Broadway World News - Pennsylvania Ballet announces new dancers and promotions: News Desk, Broadway World Feature - Putting The Marvelous Mrs Maisel in motion: Gia Kourlas, NY Times

RAMBERT presents DRAW FROM WITHIN a world premiere from Belgian choreographer WIM VANDEKEYBUS streaming in real-time to online audiences live from Rambert’s studios 24 - 26 September 2020 Rambert announces the forthcoming real-time, live-stream world premiere performances of Wim Vandekeybus’s Draw From Within. The newly commissioned production is currently underway at Rambert’s Southbank studios and is being created whilst adhering to the latest health guidelines to ensure the company’s safety. Using all of the company’s spaces from the loading bay to the studios via the corridors and even the roof, Draw From Within will be performed live in the Rambert building and streamed in real time to ticketed audiences around the world. Draw From Within will be broadcast to UK and European audiences via Rambert’s new cross-platform web application Rambert Home Studio at 8pm GMT on 25 September 2020. A further two live performances will be streamed for audiences in Seoul (24 Sept) and New York (26 Sept). Tickets are on sale now for a fixed £10 per household. For details on how to book please visit: rambert.org.uk Internationally renowned Belgian choreographer and filmmaker Wim Vandekeybus is taking full advantage of Rambert’s state-of-the art studios on London’s Southbank, transforming the building into a fantastical world, and bringing the company back to life after lockdown. Taking audiences on a surreal and exhilarating odyssey, the experience will be an assault on the senses akin to being within the piece itself. Set to a heady and eclectic soundtrack and featuring Rambert’s awe-inspiring company of dancers, Draw From Within promises to make an explosively impactful mark on the fast-developing digitally driven cultural landscape. Vandekeybus says of his new production: “Draw From Within is surreal, unrealistic, nightmarish but there's light in the darkness. It's about threat but also about liberation, about death but also about birth. There's an elemental, primal vitality to my work; I like to return to the ritualistic aspects of life, the ritualistic aspects of dance as a form of expression. I like to go under the skin and draw upon our innate human qualities: the human heart beat that unites us, the arc of a human life, the blood which courses through our veins.” Capitalising on Vandekeybus’s extensive experience as a filmmaker, the new work has been specifically created from the outset to be viewed digitally, allowing an international audience a uniquely immersive perspective. Audiences will feel like invisible participants with cameras positioned inside the dancers’ performance space to capture a virtual reality-style viewpoint. As a choreographer who has long been known for his fascination with how man responds to extreme situations, Vandekeybus has been amazed by the way in which the company have adapted to new ways of working during the pandemic. Originally commissioned by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer to create new work for the company’s 2020 touring season, Vandekeybus’s experience as a filmmaker and choreographer has been integral to the development of this new digital premiere for Rambert. He is also responsible for designing the environment for the production. Benoit Swan says of the new commission: “I’ve been an admirer of Wim’s for a long time. With the combination of physicality and theatricality in his work along with his skills as a cinematographer, I knew he would challenge my dancers and bring something new out of the company.” Rambert’s dancers returned to their Southbank studios on 13 July with rehearsals for Vandekeybus’ commission commencing on 20 July. Before the creation process for Draw From Within began, the entire Rambert company, artists, production and technical teams were tested for COVID. Having been given the all-clear, dancers were allocated to bubbles (some already share a household) and all guidelines have been followed in order to make sure the team is kept safe and well. Keeping to an adapted schedule so as to avoid the rush hour, all staff and dancers enter the building via the loading bay and have their temperatures checked upon arrival. The dancers have been divided into six bubbles of four. Each bubble has their own area in the building to use and the dancers stay in their bubbles at all times. Two bubbles are positioned in the Rambert studio, one in the Linden studio and one in the Mercury studio. The dancers rehearse and train in their bubbles with the cameras live streaming everything to each studio so the dancers and creative team can see one another. The bubbles also allow for short duet sequences in the piece to be performed safely. Benoit Swan comments on the creation of Vandekeybus’s new work: “There are many risks that we have taken on in the making of this piece and to see the tenacity of the dancers and the way the whole company has risen to this challenge has been incredibly moving. One of the things I want most for the company is for it to be relevant - to be responsive to the world of which we are a part. And to be able to do that now - we had to change the way we work completely. With limitations comes the opportunity to innovate and these kind of challenges can trigger creativity. We’re tried to use the medium of film to our advantage and give the audience an experience that they cannot get in a theatre, they’ll be closer to the dancers than ever. The challenges are big but I think more than ever the arts are essential, we need to keep entertaining, keep sharing our work and keep giving people a dream.” Since taking on his role as Rambert’s new Artistic Director in December 2018, Benoit Swan Pouffer has been energised by a dynamic vision to turbo-charge Rambert’s presence on the world stage. He is committed to safeguarding the company’s impressive legacy of masterpieces as well as guiding it into the future with commissions that embrace established names such as Vandekeybus, Wayne McGregor and Hofesh Shechter as well as introducing exciting new choreographic and artistic talent from all over the globe. Benoit Swan is ambitious for Rambert’s Allies and Morrison-designed headquarters on London’s Southbank to develop into a recognisable dance destination. The company are due to launch their new web platform Rambert Home Studio on 27 August. Rambert Home Studio will host an impressive array of live content including a range of online dance classes taught by Rambert’s dancers and teachers and catering for all standards and interest levels, from recreational dance fan to dance professionals and dance newcomers. The new platform will also offer plenty of opportunities to engage with the company’s dancers including live streamed performances, dancer interviews, behind the scenes and creation videos, podcasts and dancer-curated playlists. rambert.org.uk/homestudio In a move to support the performing arts economy at large, Rambert is partnering with venues around the world, encouraging audiences to support regional theatres across the UK and beyond through their ticket purchase for Draw From Within. Tickets are on sale now for a fixed £10 per household. For details on how to book please visit: rambert.org.uk -ends- Editors’ Notes Benoit Swan Pouffer is an internationally-renowned dance artist and company leader. Born and trained in Paris, he moved to New York where he spent seven years as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He is probably best known for his time as Artistic Director of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, a post he held from 2004. His 10 years at the helm of the company were described by the New York Times as “a New York success story”, gaining wide acclaim for introducing a new generation of international choreographers to US audiences and commissioning work from artists including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Alexander Ekman, Crystal Pite and Hofesh Shechter. As a choreographer Benoit Swan has made dance for feature films and Broadway, as well as creating for companies around the world including Alvin Ailey’s Ailey II. www.benoitswan.com Rambert We believe that to give brilliant and daring people the chance to inspire others is to give them the power to change the world for the better. As one of the world’s most diverse company of dancers we transform everyday spaces by making dance that is awe-inspiring, adventurous, dynamic and relevant, and taking it to our neighbourhood, the nation and the world. We want to hear the most exciting and radical ideas wherever they may come from and connect with brilliant and daring audiences and participants from all backgrounds. Through performances; dance and wellness classes and courses for people of all ages and abilities we want to ensure we are inspiring, engaging and relevant to everyone. Wim Vandekeybus (1963) is a choreographer, dancer, filmmaker and photographer. He founded his dance company Ultima Vez in the mid-eighties. He made a remarkable artistic debut with his first performance What the body does not remember (1986). The performance won a Bessie, an award granted for groundbreaking work. His second performance Les porteuses de mauvaises nouvelles (1989) was also honoured with this award. In his unique style, Vandekeybus has created milestones in the development of modern dance with his performances over the last few decades, at home and abroad. Vandekeybus has created a language of movement wherein he juxtaposes intuition, impulse and instinct with energy, risk and danger, which exemplifies a dramatic Weltanschauung, full of dynamics and conflict. A central focus in his work is the irreconcilable conflict between body and mind, feeling and intellect, illusion and reality. Vandekeybus’ work is characterised by almost obsessive reiterations of one single concern: how man responds to extreme situations. In this context, he attaches special importance to what he refers to as ‘the moment of catastrophe’ - which ironically does not preclude his inclusion of humour, playfulness and even a certain jocular lightheartedness in his work. Vandekeybus’ performances take the form of associative montages with a penchant for crisscrossing borderlines between disciplines. Live music, video/film are not only integral to his mode of theatrical expression, but more often than not, are actually the prime movers underlying the performances. Website rambert.org.uk Twitter @Rambertdance Instagram @Rambertdance Facebook @Rambertdance Rambert Home Studio rambert.org.uk/homestudio

English National Ballet Emerging Dancer Tuesday 22 September 2020, 7.30pm Live-streamed performance Digital Tickets: £5 www.ballet.org.uk/emerging Photo caption: Emerging Dancer finalists 2020 © Laurent Liotardo and post-production by Nik Pate On Tuesday 22 September 2020, English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer competition will be broadcast live from the Production Studio at the Company’s East London home for the first time. The annual event, now in its 11th year, celebrates the bright future of ballet and the excellence of the Company’s young talent. This year’s event will be live streamed and available to watch online for just £5. Selected by their peers, six of the company's most promising dancers will take part in this year’s competition and have been paired up to perform a classical pas de deux and contemporary piece before a panel of esteemed judges. The winners of the Emerging Dancer and People’s Choice awards will be chosen on the night. The performances will be accompanied by live music performed by members of the English National Ballet Philharmonic. This year will see Ivana Bueno and William Yamada perform a pas de deux from Talisman, Emily Suzuki and Victor Prigent perform a pas de deux from Satanella and Carolyne Galvao and Angel Maidana perform a piece from Diana and Acteon. The contemporary section will see the couples perform three brand-new original works, created especially for the event. Ballet Black dancer and choreographer Mthuthuzeli November has created a piece for Ivana and William, ENB First Artist and Associate Choreographer Stina Quagebeur is creating for Emily and Victor and ENB Lead Principal Jeffrey Cirio is choreographing for Carolyne and Angel. As is tradition, the six finalists are being mentored by their peers in the Company throughout the process in preparation for the event. Ivana and William are being mentored by Junior Soloist Senri Kou, Emily and Victor are working with First Artist Sarah Kundi and Artist of the Company Pedro Lapetra is mentoring Carolyne and Angel. Joining Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, on the judging panel this year is Sarasota Ballet Choreographer and former Royal Ballet and Rambert dancer Matthew Hart, leading multidisciplinary dance artist and director of Kerry Nicholls Dance, Kerry Nicholls, The Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova, Northern Ballet's Artistic Director of Digital and Choreographer in Residence Kenneth Tindall and The Royal Ballet principal, Edward Watson For the first time the live viewing audience will be able to vote for their People’s Choice Award winner on the night, by using a new text-to-vote system. Viewers will also enjoy backstage access to the event throughout the broadcast with interviews and much more. Also revealed on the night will be the recipient of the Corps de Ballet Award, acknowledging the work on and off stage of a member of the company’s Corps de Ballet chosen by the ENB artistic team. The event will also see a special solo performance from last year’s Emerging Dancer Award winner Julia Conway and the People’s Choice Award winner Rhys Antoni Yeomans, who will be dancing a new creation by Arielle Smith. This year’s event is produced by First Soloist James Streeter as part of ENB’s new dancer development programme, Dance Leaders of the Future. The whole event and performances will align with Covid regulations. To buy digital tickets, visit www.ballet.org.uk/emerging -ENDS- English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Notes to Editors The 2020 Emerging Dancer finalists: Ivana Bueno Bueno joined the Company after graduating from the Princess Grace Academy, Monaco, in 2018 following her training at Fomento Artístico Cordobés in her home country of Mexico. During her time at English National Ballet she has enjoyed dancing the Spanish dance in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker. Carolyne Galvao Originally from Brazil where she trained at the Bale do Teatro Escola Basileu França, Galvao joined English National Ballet in 2018. Some of her career highlights so far include being a prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne 2018 and winning Silver Medal at the Jackson Ballet Competition 2018. Notable roles with the Company include the Chinese and Spanish dances in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker and Jewels in The Sleeping Beauty at ENB’s 70th Anniversary Gala. Miguel Angel Maidana Maidana began his dance training in his home country of Paraguay at Escuela de Danza Mainumby before moving to Argentina to study at Academia de Ballet de Moscù followed by Belgium to attend Brussels International Ballet School. He joined English National Ballet as an Artist of the Company in 2018 and notable roles in his time with the company have included Freddie and Spanish dance in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, Birbanto in Le Corsaire and Playlist (Track 2) and Swansong as part of ENB’s 70th Anniversary Gala. Victor Prigent French dancer Prigent trained in French Guiana, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco and danced with San Francisco Ballet and Atlanta Ballet for a season each before coming to the UK to join English National Ballet as Artist of the Company in 2017. Highlight roles of his time at ENB so far include Freddie and Chinese dance in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, the Beggar Chief in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Neapolitan in Derek Deane’s Swan Lake and Swansong and Playlist (Track 2) at ENB’s 70th Anniversary Gala. Emily Suzuki Suzuki has been an Artist of the Company since 2016 having trained in her native Japan at the Acri Horimoto Ballet Academy before moving to the UK to study at English National Ballet School. In 2017 and 2019 she danced the role of the Chosen One in Pina Bausch’s Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring). William Yamada Yamada has been in the Company since 2015. He originally trained with his mother followed by the Young Dancer’s Academy, London, and the Royal Ballet School. As part of English National Ballet’s 70th Anniversary Gala in January he debuted in Playlist (Track 2) by William Forsythe and he has also danced the role of Freddie in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker during his time in the Company. About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages including The Bolshoi Theatre and Palais Garnier; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s. Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company’s repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history with a move into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in East London which brings a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before. www.ballet.org.uk About Arts Council England Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Links - Wednesday 09 September, 2020 Obituary - Cliff Keuter, choreographer: Dance Magazine Covid-19 related news about theatre reopening: News - Lloyd Webber issues plea for date to open venues fully as evidence is given to MPs: BBC Georgia Snow, Stage Zoe Paskett, Standard News - Chancellor urged to extend furlough and save theatres and galleries from closure: Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Mail And in a similar vein - New York City can’t rebound without Broadway: Peter Marks, Washington Post Feature - David Gordon digs into his archives for a dance that matters: Gia Kourlas, NY Times And related - The Grand Union: Accidental Anarchists of Downtown Dance: Aileen Dowling, Brooklyn Rail Streaming News - Miami International Dance Festival online: Orlando Taquechel, Miami Herald Live Review - Alexa West, Triple Expo, New York: Tiffany Jaeyeon Shin, Brooklyn Rail Feature - Black Dance Stories: Gillian Jakab, Brooklyn Rail Film with movement/dance review - Us (Jordan Peele): Luke Williams, Brooklyn Rail News of live performance - West Australian Ballet, Dracula, Perth: News Desk, Broadway World News - Major exhibition on Michael Clark coming to V&A Dundee in late 2021: Victoria Brennan, Herald Scotland News - Houston Ballet’s planned performance of La Bayadere comes under fire: Margaret Downing, Houston Press

I think it is down to the individual as to whether they think the career they can have is worth it for them as a person. I remember what were, to me, really awful comments on Doing Dance about 6 or 7 years ago when a dancer was leaving BRB after about 6 years to train as a midwife. Some people's attitude was that her parents had wasted an awful lot of money on her for her to retire after such a short career. My response was that if I had been her parent then my heart would have been bursting with pride that she had achieved her dream to dance professionally and now had another dream to fulfil on a completely different but utterly wonderful path.

I've had a similarly positive experience from Northern Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Links - Tuesday 08 September, 2020 Live Review - Dancers from the Royal Ballet, gala programme, Dorset: Siobhan Murphy, Times Feature - Side hustle essential: how Covid brought dancers to their knees: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Feature - London will feel like a morgue until theatres re-open: Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph Covid-19 News - Colorado Ballet has furloughed all its dancers: Maggie Donahue, Denverite Feature - Why do these ballet dancers dance when there’s no audience?: Petula Dvorak, Washington Post Live Review - Drive-In Theater: Stage West & Prism Movement Theatre, Everything will be fine, Fort Worth: Jan Farrington, Theater Jones

Hello Nadine and welcome to the Forum!

That is good news but it will be interesting to see how, in the nearer future, the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi get on with their re-openings. I know that there are some live shows in New Zealand but RNZB have taken the decision to cancel their upcoming tour as the number of C-19 cases is rising.

I spoke to a member of the ranger service who said they have no powers to enforce clearing up. I only had my phone with me and by the time I pulled it out they were too far away for a photo to be any good. It seems to me that this has become much more of an issue since lockdown started for some unknown reason. And why people hang used bags up is absolutely beyond me. They would have been better off letting the poo lie.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T PICK UP THEIR DOG POO!!! I was on the beach this morning when a couple with a GSD-type dog on a lead just walked off when their dog had finished its elephant-sized poo. I called after them and, of course, they ignored me. I can understand people not chasing after their dog's poo when it is in a wild area that is very unlikely to be trodden on ... but on the beach where people walk, play, dig sandcastles etc.

Links - Monday 07 September, 2020 News Feature - Bolshoi prepares for grand reopening in Moscow: Theo Merz, Telegraph Streaming News - Rambert/Vandekeybus, Draw from within: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper DVD/Blu-Ray Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Romeo + Juliet: Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide News - Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes in cinemas: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Book Feature - Arthur Elgort (photographer), Ballet: Lucy Davies, Telegraph Feature - Indian gypsy dancers from Rajasthan take their art online: South China Morning Post via AFP

Hello Joanna and welcome out of the lurking shadows! Thanks for sharing your DD’s experience.

You can register and read a couple of articles a month. That's how we can keep including Telegraph articles in Links. That is also the case with The Stage, The Times and the FT as well as some American papers.

And here's another one asking for ongoing support from the government. The more the merrier. https://www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/support-the-arts-in-every-community/