Jan McNulty

Hello @Dawnsiwr and welcome to the Forum!

Links - Monday 01 January, 2024 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS! Roundups - A Year in Dance - 12 of the best in 2023: Graham Watts, Gramilano Best of 2023: Dance, London: Jenny Gilbert, Arts Desk Dance Diary for December 2023, Australia: Michelle Potter, ... on dancing Stand-out moments, Vancouver: Various, Stir (dance mentions throughout) Feature - Julie Felix MBE, dancer & dance educator: Lisa Letcher, Cornwall Live

Or come up to Birmingham and see their production!

Yes, on the same thread! I haven't had it again though and touch wood it stays that way.

Mostly southern dates Tony now that Sunderland and Salford only get one visit each a year but I agree they have expanded the touring rep to regular gigs in Southampton and Bristol. BRB tour to Salford not Manchester (thank goodness - as The Lowry is much easier to get to for me!).

Well @Peony has just taken the words right out of my mouth! ENB dropped the Spring tour pre-pandemic and this year didn't even bother to include Liverpool in the Autumn tour. I think their mixed programmes look interesting but haven't made it to London to see them since pre-pandemic. I'm looking forward to see how Aaron S Watkin takes the company forward. While BRB still comes to The Lowry and Sunderland in the Spring the company no longer comes to The Lowry or Sunderland in the Autumn and in 2024 we don't even have a Birmingham season in June to look forward to. I'm waiting to see what Autumn holds for BRB. The variety of the rep presented each year has been tailing off. In Birmingham in the Spring we used to get a mixed programme and a full length, often a mixed in June, a mixed and full length in the Autumn as well as the Nutcracker at the end of the year. I am not filled with enthusiasm for the way the company is going at the moment but I am holding judgement until the Autumn is announced. Northern Ballet is in financial difficulties and the tours have been shorter than usual but hopefully Romeo and Juliet will help redeem the company fortunes. I can't wait to hear what we can look forward to in the Autumn ... with an orchestra I hope!!! I'm out of touch with Scottish Ballet but want to get back in touch. The rep looks interesting and just that bit different. I love Ballet Black full stop. I believe Cassa commissions more new productions than most other companies. I can't wait to see where Chris Marney takes London City Ballet both in terms of venues and rep going forward. The Royal Ballet (and BRB) are the keepers of the heritage of ballet in Britain and, IMO, are between a rock and a hard place for both preserving the heritage and moving forward. I think those of us north of Birmingham lose out on a lot of ballet opportunities so thank goodness for Northern Ballet!

I've just had it too!

As she is known professionally as Ashley Dean, I suspect she won't rename the dance account.

BRB's Arabian dance this year was a woman and 3 men so business as usual. I've always taken it - because of the way she is carried - that she was the queen and they her eunuchs.

Links - Sunday 31 December, 2023 Review - Queensland Ballet, Love & Legacy Gala, Brisbane: Madelyn Coupe, Fjord Review Review - San Francisco Ballet, The Nutcracker, San Francisco: Rachel Howard, Fjord Review Preview - January Dance Watch, Portland: Jamuna Chiarini, Oregon Arts Watch Preview - Looking ahead - 5 dance shows, San Diego: Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union Tribune Roundup - Farewell to a round of dance, 2023, New Zealand: Jennifer Shennan, ... on dancing Film Review - loosely dance related - Tchaikovsky’s Wife: Helen Tope, Reviews Hub

Another BEM: Norah Button

I've just seen the very sad news that actor Tom Wilkinson has passed away at the age of 75. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/30/full-monty-actor-tom-wilkinson-dies-aged-75

I love this production of Edward Scissorhands. I saw it during its 1st run with my niece who was mad on the film. We enjoyed it so much when we saw it at The Lowry that we went to Bradford to see it a couple of weeks later! I would describe it as more movement-based than danced but it is a wonderful production.

Nearly 4400 - I wasn't a member of the Links team when it started - I got co-opted a couple of months later. Including me there were 4 members of the links team in 2012 with Bruce Marriott, to whom we owe so much, leaving Links not too long after I joined. We lost John Mallinson when he passed away and since then it has just been Ian and myself. So I would guess that Ian has probably contributed at least 1500 days of links. Now it's just me!! If anyone thinks they may like to get involved in Links please let me know!

I'm ridiculously over-excited about Northern Ballet's revival of the Gable/Morricone Romeo and Juliet. It is my favourite production of R&J. I know I will enjoy BRB's performances of SPW's Sleeping Beauty. I adore the opulence of this production. I can't wait to see Aakash Odedra's Mehek when it gets to The Lowry in April.

Hello @Tattin and a belated welcome to the Forum!

I came across this feature this morning while I was doing the links: https://enfacemagazine.com/blog/2023/12/26/once-upon-a-dance/ You seem to be able to buy the books from Amazon.

Links - Saturday 30 December, 2023 Review - National Ballet of Japan, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, Tokyo: Naomi Mori, Bachtrack Review - Stara Zagora, The Nutcracker, Bonn: Vikki Jane Vile, Bachtrack Review - MOMIX, mixed programme, New York: Joel Benjamin, Theater Scene Review - Graham Cole, Origami Night, Portland: Lindsay Dreyer, Oregon Arts Watch 2023 Roundups: Portland: Jamuna Chiarini, Oregon Arts Watch Standout Performances of 2023: Readers’ Choice: Pointe Magazine Feature - What to consider before relocating for your career: Kyra Launcher, Dance Magazine Feature - Russian dance in 2023: Back to the Soviet model of isolated development: Staff, Moscow Times Video Report - Ballet for Veterans program used to treat PTSD: Peter Quattrocelli, ABC TV Preview - Les Étoiles Gala compilation: Graham Spicer, Gramilano The King’s New Year Honours List 2024

The List has been announced. Here it is in full. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/658daadd80a3bb000d9d05bd/NY24_-_GOV.UK_New_Year_Honours_List_2024.pdf Slim pickings for dance this year. Congratulations to them: OBE: Morag Deyes Betsy Gregory Solange Urdang MBE: Chitraleka Bolar Julie Felix Carolene Hinds BEM: Moira Brock Shendi Russell Pamela Wingfield Pamela Scull News Items: Julie Felix Moira Brock Solange Urdang Pamela Scull If I've missed anyone please add in comments. Thanks

It was!

Links - Friday 29 December, 2023 Review - Royal Swedish Ballet, The Nutcracker, Stockholm: Maggie Foyer, Bachtrack Review - Brecon Festival Ballet, The Nutcracker, Brecon: Glenn Davis, Brecon & Radnor Express Review - MOMIX, mixed programme, New York: Ivy Lin, Bachtrack Roundup - Best of dance 2023, Los Angeles & Orange County: Tom Teicholz, Forbes Preview - Royal Danish Ballet, Cinderella (Dean), Copenhagen: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Preview - New Movement Collective, Les Noces - The Departure, London: Staff, Russian Art and Culture Preview - Holiday Season with Ballet Stars featuring Ludmila Pagliero of POB: Staff, Miami New Times Preview - Ballet Jörgen, Anne of Green Gables, Guelph: Staff, Guelph Today Feature - Alina Cojocaru talks about 7 works that have significance for her: David Mead, Seeing Dance Feature - Yuri Ng, Hong Kong choreographer: Kate Whitehead, South China Morning Post Feature - What do Atlanta Ballet dancers eat?: Henna Bash, Atlanta Magazine

Hello @RiaandB and welcome to the Forum!

Hello @Richard C and welcome to the Forum! @Angela , @Sabine and @Vanartus may be able to offer some advice.

Welcome out of the lurking shadows @MantaRay

Links - Thursday 28 December, 2023 Preview - The best dance shows of 2024, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Review - Opéra National de Bordeaux, Giselle, Bordeaux: Robert Tanitch, British Theatre Guide November Review - New Chamber Ballet, Well, New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Book Review - Marina Harss, The Boy from Kyiv: Debra Cash, Arts Fuse News - Ballerinas of colour renew the call for pointe shoes in every shade: Kaitlyn Schwanemann, CNN Feature - Gavin McCaig talks about his transition from dancer to Director of Business Operations at LVBS: Staff, Pivot Pointe Features - Dancers’ social media use…: Matthew Paluch, Gramilano Feature - John Lam, Boston Ballet: Blog, Dance Magazine Feature - The 75yo HK ballet school that nurtured some of the city’s best dancers: Chuqin Jiang, South China Morning Post Feature - Carolyn Stuart, dance teacher in Portland: Hannah Krafcik, Oregon Arts Watch