Jan McNulty

She's listed in the same "Diplomatic Service and Overseas" category as Christopher Wheeldon. As she was born in Canada she is, presumably, entitled to the full rather than an honorary award.

I've seen different conductors conduct the same production at different speeds in the same week! I once saw a performance of Coppelia at the Lowry that was taken at such a fast pace it was breath-taking. I saw the young lady who had danced Swanilda in Costa the following morning and asked her if she had asked for it to be played so fast because she was a particularly fast, deft dancer. The answer that came back was a resounding No! I was under the impression that conductors watched (or were supposed to watch) the stage to see what was happening and perhaps adjust accordingly.

Huge congratulations to all the honourees. The Guardian has published the full list in a more readable format than the officially supplied government pdf: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/30/new-years-honours-2016-the-full-list How to nominate someone for an honour: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/245406/How_to_write_a_nomination.pdf

There was an earlier thread with links to other threads but they do not seem to be recommended: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/8144-foot-stretchers/?hl=stretcher#entry108152 Do you know who recommended your Son's friend to get one?

Links - Thursday 31 December, 2015 Obituary - Gloria Contreras, dancer and choreographer: Peter Dickinson, Guardian Feature - Sylvie Guillem bows out in Japan: Richard Smart, Guardian Review - San Francisco Ballet, The Nutcracker, San Francisco: Miyako Singer, Daily Californian Preview - Big Dance Theatre, 25th Anniversary programme, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Feature & Interviews: In the studio with Jerome Robbins: Apollinaire Scherr, Fjord Review Book Review - Megan Pugh, America Dancing: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Film Review - Bolshoi Babylon: Emma Jacobs, FT Preview - Daniil Simkin’s Intensio, New York: Jack Anderson, NY Times List - Best of dance in 2015 in Vancouver: Deborah Meyers, Vancouver Sun Review - Imperial Ice Stars, The Nutcracker on Ice, London: Stephen Bates, Reviews Hub

You nominate the individual and the awards committee decides on the award.

Oh yes! I used to love watching this with my Nan and Granddad. I think TV standards have changed a lot since the advent of more and more channels. The mainstream channels are trying to compete with the satellite and cable channels and everything seems to be moving to the lowest common denominator. I would have now gone into a major rant about one of the alleged mainstream channels if it wasn't for the fact that it was showing some super musicals this week! Actually nothing to do with dance but I used to be a volunteer at the Merseyside Film Institute and still keep up with a group of fellow volunteers. We were having a natter a while ago and hardly any of us keep up with 'art house' films any more, one girl saying that after a hard day at work and looking after children she just wanted something she could watch and enjoy without having to think too much about it. Perhaps a lot of people see media entertainment that way these days...

It looks to me as though ROH has had a very unfortunate set of circumstances and that you personally have been extremely unlucky. We've had discussions on various threads in the past and I have to say that over the years I have come to appreciate that the two companies I follow only publish casting very late in the day so I always have to take pot luck on casting and sometimes book extra tickets to (hopefully) see casts that I particularly want to. I am also very lucky in that, at the moment, tickets for the venues those companies appear at cost nothing like those at ROH! You really have my sympathies over this one Penelope; I think I would be in despair by now.

I think it was on Bruce's previous site. Perhaps we should start a new thread!

You've expressed my thoughts with great eloquence there Dave. Thanks for articulating what I have been trying to think how to say!

I think, if you have seen it many times you know it hasn't finished but if it is your first time you may think it has. The late Christopher Gable did not encourage applause during narrative ballets and to this day I tend not to applaud while the dancing is still going on (or while the orchestra is still playing) unless there are clear "take the applause" moments.

I must admit that it was the Markova clip that most grabbed me. I found Danilova too strident for my taste.

And I fear that television is not the only art form that is dumbed down! When I look at some of the glorious and witty American films of the 1930s, 40s and 50s I often wonder where that has all gone. For example - It happened one night, After office hours, The Bride came COD, The Philadelphia Story and so many more wonderful films my friend and I used to watch on BBC2 on a Saturday afternoon! I thoroughly enjoyed the new Star Wars film when I saw it this week but in terms of style and wit it is not a patch on any of the films I have just mentioned. Come to think of it, I had watched about half of the Wayans Brothers White Chicks before I finally realised that it was a remake of Some Like It Hot! The BBC may not have radically different audiences for which it has to cater but it does cater for radically different audiences. I understood BBC4 was supposed to be a serious arts channel and I suppose that gave the Beeb license to think that it could dumb down BBCs 1 and 2. The mainstream TV channels are competing with the streaming services and the likes of YouTube and perhaps their current policies are how they think they can compete. Like it or not, we have moved away from the heady days of serious arts programmes on mainstream channels.

If you know the dancer I really like at RB - it's him!

Good point DQF. I often tweet dancers if I have enjoyed a performance and most seem really chuffed to hear feedback.

That's a terrific clip isn't it capybara! When Friends of BRB used to have interviews with dancers, I found I often looked out for those dancers more on stage as I knew something about them and felt almost a link to them.

On various threads people have spoken about how speeds of dances have altered (usually slowed down) over the years. In a recent article about NYCB’s Nutcracker Alastair Macaulay included links to Danilova and Markova dancing Sugarplum. He also gives a quote from Margot Fonteyn’s autobiography about Frederick Ashton talking about watching both dancers rehearsing this role. The Danilova clip is from the Jacob’s Pillow Archive. The Markova clip is on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBknFnVu7Hw Here is also a clip of Yoshida in the RB’s production from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K65lcuHQn-E And here is a BRB rehearsal clip Would anyone like to give some thoughts on these 4 performances?

I know someone who has just started a new job; she was given a list of rules about what she could and could not do on social media as she is now a representative of that company even when she is off-duty. I wonder if companies' media officers give guidelines on how to use social media sensibly?

I don't disagree with the sentiments that a more serious and in-depth programme could be presented by Ms Bussell but she is still at the whim of what is required by her contract, the writer, director and producer. If she is categorised as a light entertainment presenter then that is what we will probably get.

Tabitha, this subject was raised a couple of months ago. I have merged your comment in to the extant thread and perhaps it will encourage more discussion. Depending upon how they post it can, IMHO enhance my enjoyment of their performances. Since I joined twitter over 5 years ago I think a lot more people in the entertainment world have realised that what goes on the internet stays on the internet and have become more careful about how they post. (Or at least I hope they have!)

Some years ago both Birmingham Royal Ballet and Northern Ballet had their own calendars. I think both companies gave up after a couple of years because they cost too much to produce compared to the numbers bought.

Links - Wednesday 30 December, 2015 Review - Blanca Li and Maria Alexandrova, Déesses et Démones, Paris: Laura Cappelle, FT Review - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Exodus, Awakening, Untitled America: First Movement, Open Door, New York: Rose Marija, Broadway World Interview - Rachael Gillespie, Northern Ballet: Marion Sauvebois, Swindon Advertiser Review - Shanghai Ballet, Swan Lake, Amsterdam: Isabella Zijp, Bachtrack List - The Five Best Dance Performances in Sydney in 2015: Jill Sykes, Sydney Morning Herald Feature - Atlanta Dance Review 2015: Staff, Arts Atlanta Interview - Jennifer Weber talks the Hip Hop Nutcracker: Linda Ann Watt, Broadway World Reviews - The Imperial Ice Stars, The Nutcracker on Ice, London: Louise Levene, FT Michael Coveney, What's On Stage

TP, I assume you mean BBC1 or 2 for Darcey rather than BBC4 for the rest! I agree with Anna that it was rather rude. I would just like to say again that programmes intended to appeal to a mass audience are probably not going to be as in depth as programmes aimed at keen fans such as members of this Forum.

I've moved this post to Doing Dance where you are more likely to get a response.

The performances at the Lowry in May are almost sold out despite the horrendous (for the Lowry) prices. Guess I will have to miss his Swansong.