Jan McNulty

Yes, well done Leicester City! It shows there is hope for everyone. I bet there will be a few sore heads in the city tomorrow!

Hello Piepie and welcome to the Forum. I can't add to the debate but I do hope you reach a satisfactory conclusion. Please keep joining in and let us know how you get on.

Links - Monday 02 May, 2016 Reviews - San Francisco Ballet, Onegin, San Francisco: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Janos Gereben, Examiner Review - Royal Danish Ballet, Don Quixote, Copenhagen: Eva Kistrup, Danceview Times Reviews - Australian Ballet, Little Atlas, After the Rain pdd, Scent of Love, Diana & Actaeon, Symphony in C, Sydney: Michelle Potter, DanceTabs Martin Portus, Daily Review Deborah Jones, The Australian Featurette - Diana & Actaeon pdd: Valerie Lawson, Dance Lines News - The unmissable dance shows of Summer 2016: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review - Boston Ballet, Swan Lake, Boston: Karen Campbell, Boston Globe Review - Protein Dance, May Contain Food, London: Luke Jennings, Observer Preview - Northern Ballet, Jane Eyre, Richmond: Emily Chudy, Get West London Review - Korean National Ballet, Serenade, Rite of Spring, Seoul: Julie Jackson, Korea Herald Review - Ezralow Dance, Open & other works, Los Angeles: Laura Bleiberg, LA Times Review - Ballez, Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times And finally… Video Feature - Cavalia, Equestrian Ballet, Beijing: CCTV

The quality of the NDT2 dancers is superb - it is just a joy to watch them.

Casting details are very late this year. I'm going to the Saturday matinee in Cheltenham, but as that is the only performance I can get to there casting is somewhat irrelevant.

Links - Sunday 01 May, 2016 Review - Paris Opera Ballet, Les applaudissements ne se mangent pas, Paris: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Reviews - Australian Ballet, Little Atlas, After the Rain pdd, Scent of Love, Diana & Actaeon, Symphony in C, Sydney: Jill Sykes, Brisbane Times Clive Paget, Limelight Review - Sarasota Ballet, The American, A Wedding Bouquet, Jazz Calendar, Sarasota: Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald Tribune Review - Ballet Central, 2016 Tour, Leeds: Beverley Haigh, The Reviews Hub Review - Pablo Bronstein, Historical Dances in an Antique Setting, London: Laura Cunningham, Observer Review - Rosie Kay Company, Five Soldiers: The Body is the Frontline, Glasgow: Mary Brennan, Herald Scotland Review - Clod Ensemble, An Anatomie in Four Quarters, Salford: Georgina Wells, British Theatre Guide Feature - Irina Kolesnikova warns ballet companies must stop wrecking our bodies: Dalya Alberge, Observer Review - YAGP 2016, New York: Sondra Forsyth, Broadway World Feature - Tulsa Ballet’s tour in Italy: James D Watts Jr, Tulsa World Preview Feature - Los Angeles Ballet, Romeo & Juliet (Ashton), Los Angeles: Christina Campodonico, LA Times News - Orlando Ballet 2016/17 Season: Matthew J Palm, Orlando Sentinel Review - Cincinnati Ballet, Solo in 9 Parts, Habitual, Cylindrical Shadows, Redeem, Cincinnati: David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer News - Royal Winnipeg Ballet Executive Director resigns: Randall King, Winnipeg Free Press Review - Festival Ballet Providence, Swan Lake, Providence: Veronica Bruscini, Broadway World

Good luck with Monday Julie. I'll be thinking of you. Jxx

I will be doing the same DQF! Mind you, with my avatar I don't really need one!

A review from Leeds: http://www.thereviewshub.com/ballet-central-2016-tour-stanley-audrey-burton-theatre-leeds/

I've added an Elmhurst tag to the top of the thread. If you click on that you will get a list of topics that contain references to Elmhurst, including summer school.

The peregrine eggs have hatched at Norwich Cathedral. I have just watched them being fed via the webcam: http://upp.hawkandowl.org/norwich-peregrines/norwich-cathedral-peregrine-live-web-cam-2016/

Links - Saturday 30 April, 2016 Obituary - David Page, Music Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre: Linda Morris, Sydney Morning Herald Review - Paris Opera Ballet, Les applaudissements ne se mangent pas, Paris: Laura Cappelle, FT Review - Paris Opera Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Paris: Patricia Boccadoro, Culture Kiosque Review - Northern Ballet, Swan Lake, Milton Keynes: Graham Watts, DanceTabs Preview Feature - National Ballet of Canada, Le Petit Prince, Toronto: Penelope Ford, Fjord Review Review - Miami City Ballet, Serenade, Heatscape, Viscera, Bouree Fantasque, New York: Michael Popkin, Danceview Times Review - Pablo Bronstein, Historical Dances in an Antique Setting, London: Josephine Leask, London Dance Review - Dorrance Dance, ETM: Double Down, New York: Marina Harss, DanceTabs Feature - Wendy Whelan returns to Louisville to create new work: Elizabeth Kramer, Louisville Courier-Journal News - Latitude Dance Festival announces dance and theatre lineup: Dance News Desk, Broadway World News - Three of the best new dance performances: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review - Orlando Ballet, Beauty and the Beast, Orlando: Matthew J Palm, Orlando Sentinel Review - Errol White & Davina Givan, Breathe, Glasgow: Mary Brennan, Herald Scotland Preview - West Australian Ballet, Beauty and the Beast, Perth: Tanya MacNaughton, Community News Q&A - Cecilia Lisa Eliceche on her first London performances: Staff, London Dance Review - Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, Rite of Spring, Fort Worth: Mark Lowry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Review - Bountiful: A Teacher’s Experience, New York: Maria Peyramaure, Broadway World Video Featurette - Ballet in Nigeria: BBC

SADLER’S WELLS SUMMER FESTIVALS PROGRAMME Sadler’s Wells, the UK’s leading dance house, returns to the Waterfront Stage at Latitude Festival for a ninth year to present a diverse programme of world-class dance in all its forms, Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 July 2016. Since 2008 Sadler’s Wells has presented dance to audiences in excess of 58,000 people across the years. This year’s highlight is an excerpt from !Vamos Cuba! (Let’s Go Cuba!). Choreographed by Nilda Guerra, !Vamos Cuba! is a spectacular new Sadler’s Wells Production created by the team behind the smash-hit dance show Havana Rakatan, which has been seen by more than 200,000 people worldwide and has enjoyed six seasons at The Peacock, Sadler’s Wells’ West End venue. Set in the chaos of Havana airport, where families are parted, lovers reunited and time flies when you’re having fun, !Vamos Cuba! evokes the joys and vibrancy of Cuban life with all the passion and humour that embodies the Cuban spirit. Nilda Guerra began her professional career in 1993 as a dancer at Havana’s Teatro Lírico. In 2001 she founded Ballet Rakatan, one of Cuba’s most prestigious dance companies, performing on world renowned stages including Sydney Opera House, New York City Center, Le Carre Theatre, Tokyo City Hall and Oslo Opera House among others. The high-energy production includes salsa, mambo, rumba, cha-cha-cha and reggaeton. Performed to music by bandleader Julito Padron, widely recognized in Havana as one of the most promising jazz musicians coming out of Cuba, he is a member of Irakere the Cuban jazz band led by Chucho Valdés. Following the Latitude performance; !Vamos Cuba! will be performing at Sadler’s Wells from Tuesday 26 July – Sunday 21 August 2016. Opening the programme on Thursday evening will be Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Hofesh Shechter’s company, one of the world’s leading dance companies. The company will perform tHE bAD the middle section from Shechter’s most recent work, a trilogy called barbarians, a Sadler’s Wells co-commission. Created during night-time rehearsals, this piece for five dancers is accompanied by a multi-layered score – a volatile explosion of dubstep grooves alongside Shechter’s trademark percussive electronics. The movement, at once joyous and trance-like, takes the audience on a high-octane, adrenaline-fused journey from the low groove of underground clubbing to the frenetic energy of late-night MTV. tHE bAD shows Shechter’s choreography at its most energetic. Also performing on the Waterfront Stage is an artist who was mentored by Hofesh Shechter; rising hip hop dancer and choreographer Botis Seva and his company Far From The Norm. A Londoner born and bred, Seva has made performance pieces across theatre and film since 2009 and has performed at various national and international showcases including Sadler’s Wells’ critically acclaimed annual hip hop Festival Breakin’ Convention and San Francisco’s International Hip Hop Dance Festival. Seva received his mentorship with Hofesh Shechter through the Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund, Marion North Mentoring Award, 2015. For Latitude, Seva presents H.O.H. Combining hip hop, physical theatre and contemporary dance the work centres on the nation’s favourite sport, football. Seva explores the relationship between multi-cultural British people and football, as well as the social and political issues surrounding the sport. Returning to Latitude for the third year is the National Youth Dance Company (NYDC), the country’s flagship organisation for young dancers, which is run by Sadler’s Wells. They perform a new creation by the company’s Guest Artistic Director Michael Keegan-Dolan, an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells. The work, entitled In – Nocentes is set to Max Richter’s re-composition of The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and is a ritualistic piece with which Keegan-Dolan celebrates the natural and instinctive way in which young people can move and behave. Now in its fourth year, NYDC has established a reputation for innovative, challenging and influential work, and producing open-minded, curious and brave dancers. The company brings together the brightest talent from across England, immersing the members fully in the process of creating, performing and touring new work, giving them a unique insight into the dance profession. For more information on NYDC and the national tour visit www.nydc.org.uk The line-up includes work from other leading figures in contemporary dance, including one of the founding fathers of contemporary dance in the UK, Richard Alston, considered to be one of the world’s most musical choreographers. The Richard Alston Dance Company presents a double bill of work for Latitude, including extracts from Sadler’s Wells commission Nomadic, danced to Shukar Collective’s fusion of gypsy and electronic music. The bill will also show Stronghold II, choreographed by the company’s Associate Choreographer, Martin Lawrance. Set to a score by Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Wolfe this fiercely intense work reflects the turbulent character of the music, richly scored for eight double basses. Completing the Sadler’s Wells line up in a collaboration between music and dance entitled Veils. Cutting-edge Manchester acoustic-electronica trio GoGo Penguin collaborated with choreographer Lynne Page to create a contemporary response to 80s underground club culture. Inspired by mirrors and palindromes, the work is an epic piece of music with dance that becomes the absolute visual representation of the composition. The piece was first performed at the EFG London Jazz Festival 2015. Over the weekend, Sadler’s Wells will also be providing workshop and classes on the Waterfront Stage, details to be confirmed. Sadler’s Wells’ Chief Executive & Artistic Director Alistair Spalding says: “I am delighted Sadler’s Wells will be returning to the beautiful setting of the Waterfront Stage this summer. Latitude continues to provide us with a great platform to present dance to new audiences, many of whom are seeing the art form for the first time. We look forward to inspiring them with the varied line-up we have in store for them this year, including In-Nocentes, an uplifting performance by our National Youth Dance Company created by our Associate Artist Michael Keegan-Dolan, and H.O.H., a new work by talented emerging choreographer Botis Seva.” Adding to the Sadler’s Wells festival portfolio, this year it presents work for the first time at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire. A four day festival combining live music, contemporary arts and an array of theatre, craftsmanship and dining experiences. Programme to be announced. LISTINGS: Latitude Festival Henham Park, Suffolk Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 July 2016 Tickets: www.latitudefestival.co.uk Sadler’s Wells at Latitude Waterfront StageThursday 14 – Sunday 17 July 2016 Wilderness Festival Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire Thursday 4 – Sunday 7 August 2016 Tickets: www.wildernessfestival.com Sadler’s Wells at Wilderness Festival The Atrium Friday 5 August 2016 Notes to Editor: About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance house, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best international and UK dance to London 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. Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 100 new dance works to the stage and its award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour internationally. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies, an Associate Company and two International Associate Companies. It also nurtures the next generation of talent through its New Wave Associates and Summer University programmes, its Wild Card initiative and hosting of the National Youth Dance Company. Located in Islington, north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 10% of its revenue from Arts Council England. About Latitude Festival The UK’s finest multi-arts festival returns for its eleventh edition, taking place from Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 July 2015 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. Boasting the biggest names in comedy, theatre, dance, film, cabaret, literature and performance, Latitude is unrivalled for the breadth, depth and quality of its arts programming. 2016 is no different, offering a spectacular choice of major shows, star acts and ground-breaking commissioned works. TICKET INFORMATION TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW Adult Weekend tickets £197.50 face value + £8 booking fee per ticket Accompanied Teen Weekend tickets (13-15 years) £132.50 + £8 booking fee per ticket Child Weekend tickets £7.50 + £2.70 booking fee per ticket Adult Day tickets £77.50 + £7 booking fee per ticket Child Day Tickets are £4.50 + £2.70 booking fee per ticket Adult Weekend instalment tickets – If you pay your first instalment on or before March 31st, your subsequent payment dates will be 3rd May(£65.00) and 1st June (£67.50 + postage) More ticket information/Tickets available HERE About Wilderness Festival Wilderness is an award-winning arts festival set deep in the Oxfordshire countryside boasts a stellar, multi-dimensional programme. At Wilderness you are cordially invited to enjoy long table feasts from headline chefs, open-air theatre, classical music and orchestral performances, contemporary dance, internationally renowned musicians, outdoor pursuits, yoga and meditation, craft workshops, talks, debates, late night parties, a luxurious spa and a whole lot more. The magic occurs in the rolling parkland of Cornbury Estate, under the ancient trees, with a majestic lake at its centre. Come and join us in the Wilderness. TICKET INFORMATION Adult 4-day Tickets from £164+bf (Child tickets £5) Available from: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wilderness

I was very lucky to be able to catch up with the Ballet Central Spring Tour at Leeds' Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre last night. It's always such a pleasure to see the young dancers as they are about to fledge and last night was no exception. The evening started with Christopher Gable's Celebration, a delightful classical piece for four couples. What I liked, apart from the lovely, lyrical choreography, was that you can imagine little stories being enacted out between the couples in the duets. It was danced with beautiful emotion. Next up was Insinuare by Leanne King - a great duet for the 2 dancers. I loved Repetition (2) Change by Sharon Watson for 6 dancers. According to the programme it is about DNA but the costumes (red or black voluminous short dresses for all the dancers) reminded me of sculptures of Greek Philosophers and the choreography reminded me of them perhaps postulating in the Acropolis. The dresses were quite a feature - almost part of the action. It was sharply danced by all the dancers. Superstruct by Sara Matthews showed off the technical skills of all the 6 dancers involved with its edgy choreography. The first half of the evening was completed by the Pas de Trois from Laquita, devilishly difficult and very well danced - an uber-classical finish to this act. Act 2 was devoted to Christopher Marney's delightful War Letters a series of vignettes for 12 dancers based on the premise of letters written in war time. It had a narrative feel to it and you could read as much into the back stories as you wanted, loneliness, yearning, joy, sadness and more. I found it rather moving and again the young dancers gave their all and showed their acting strengths. I thought this was a great programme that gave us the opportunity to see these young dancers in a variety of styles. You should go and see Ballet Central if you can - it is a great night out!

I only went to the Saturday matinee the week SW reopened and it was still pretty chaotic!

Links - Friday 29 April, 2016 Review - New York City Ballet, Estancia, Pictures at an Exhibition, Everywhere We Go, New York: Barnett Serchuk, Broadway World Preview - San Francisco Ballet, Onegin, San Francisco: Gilly Lloyd, Examiner Review - Australian Ballet, Forgotten Land, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, DGV, Sydney: Valerie Lawson, DanceTabs Feature - Robert Fairchild (NYCB): Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Review - Kid Pivot & Electric Theatre Company, Betroffenheit, Dallas: Margaret Putnam, Theater Jones Review - Ockham’s Razor, Tipping Point, London: Graham Watts, DanceTabs Review - Janine Antoni, Anna Halprin and Stephen Petronio, Ally, Philadelphia: Kathryn Tully, DanceTabs Review - Northern Ballet, Swan Lake, Milton Keynes: Hannah Richardson, Buckingham Today Feature - Sexism in dance: where are all the female choreographers in dance?: Rachel Moss, Huffington Post Review - BalletX, 10th Anniversary Retrospective, Philadelphia: Kat Richter, Dance Journal Feature - Savion Glover: Adam Green, Vogue Featurette - Australian Ballet’s show-stopping red tutu: Amanda Hoh & Karai Amall, ABC Review - Kimberley Bartosik, Étroits Sont les Vaisseaux, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review - Heather Kravas, play, things, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Q&A - Kloe Dean: Carmel Smith, London Dance

Don't know off hand. I saw her company a few years ago and I absolutely loathed the piece I saw, so I have avoided them ever since!

Links - Thursday 28 April, 2016 News - Royal Danish Ballet 2016-17 season announced: Eva Kistrup, Danceview Times News - English National Ballet announces new Executive Director: Staff, BBC Review - BalletBoyz, Life: Rabbit & Fiction, London: Sarah Veale, Fjord Review News - McGregor’s Obsidian Tear is a co-production between Royal and Boston Ballets: Karen Campbell, Boston Globe Review - Protein Dance, May Contain Food, London: Louise Levene, FT Review - Alexander Whitley, Pattern Recognition, London: Graham Watts, London Dance Review - Northern Ballet, Swan Lake, Milton Keynes: Bev Creagh & Stewart Carr, Biggleswade Today Reviews - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Sleeping Beauty, Cardiff: Katie Sands, Wales Online Beth Steer, The Reviews Hub Interview - In Conversation with Deborah Jowitt: Deborah Jones, Blog Preview - Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Wizard of Oz, Wellington: Hannah McKee, Dominion Post Review - Ballet Preljocaj, Empty Moves, New York: Joel Benjamin, Theater Scene News - Romania’s Culture Minister stands down as ballet dispute continues: Rachel Donadio & Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Kit Gillet, Guardian Review - Metta Theatre, Jungle Book, Windsor: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs News Feature - Philadelphia Ballet roster changes and reaction: Ellen Dunkel, Philadelphia Inquirer Opera with Ballet Review - Royal Opera, Tannhauser, London: George Hall, Stage Review - London Children’s Ballet, Little Lord Fauntleroy, London: Lottie Eustace, The Upcoming Review - Dorrance Dance, ETM: Double Down, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Feature - Arcadian Broad of Orlando Ballet: Matthew J Palm, Orlando Sentinel Review - BalletX, 10th Anniversary Retrospective, Philadelphia: Nicole DelRossi, Broadway World News - Mentorship Scheme launched for Women in the Arts, Tamara Rojo speaks: Jennifer Tuckett, Guardian Preview - Ballet Kelowna, Vancouver: Deborah Meyers, Vancouver Sun Preview - Festival Ballet Providence, Swan Lake, Providence: Channing Gray, Providence Journal Feature - Sonia Rodriguez (NBoC) performs for Ballet in the City (Cleveland): Staff, Oakland Press Feature - Jock Soto (ex-NYCB) retires to Eagle’s Nest: Johanne DeBiase, Taos News And finally … Video feature - Pony “dances” outside the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow: RT

A review from The Upcoming: http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2016/04/25/little-lord-fauntleroy-at-the-peacock-theatre-dance-review/

New English Ballet Theatre are auditioning for a season August-November 2016: http://www.nebt.co.uk/application-for-audition/

Review from The Stage: https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2016/tannhauser-review-at-royal-opera-house/ Is it Jasmin Vardimon's company doing the danced section?

Hello Dancey and welcome to the Forum! I can't answer your question but I am sure others members will be able to.

Hello Ferrylights, Thanks for the link to your blog and your super review contained therein. I really enjoyed reading it. I do wish I could have seen this performance. BTW, if you regularly post on your blog about ballet/dance you could include a link to your home page within a signature block on your profile. Member Terpsichore has done this so anyone interested can pop over to her blog.

Well said Floss!

I've just read the article in links Tony!