Jan McNulty

Happy Birthday Boris Eifman!

I can't get the URL but this is what James Barton tweeted on 19th February: "Theatre goers - Read and take heed. We can see you texting from the stage. Thanks!" In response to this article from The Guardian

Yes, James Barton of BRB tweeted something similar a few months ago.

Links - Wednesday, July 22 2015 Reviews – Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Car Man, London: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Josephine Leask, London Dance Reviews – Ardani 25 Dance Gala, London: Louise Levene, FT Victoria Sadler, Huffington Post Claire Cohen, London Dance Review – Momix, Alchemia, New York: Robert Greskovic, Wall Street Journal Review – National Ballet of China, The Peony Pavilion, Saratoga: Tresca Weinstein, Times Union Q&A – Yuri Possokhov: Anna Galaida, Russia Beyond the Headlines News – Siobhan Davies Dance joins Dancing Museum: Clare Evans, London Dance Reviews – Noche Flamenca, Antigona, New York: Apollinaire Scherr, FT Tom Phillips, Danceview Times Featurette – Michaela de Prince: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post via Erika Hayasaki, Glamour Review – Footnote New Zealand Dance, NOW, Hamilton: Brenda Rae Kidd, NZ Theatreview Preview – Post:Ballet, Six Pack, San Francisco then Jacob’s Pillow: Carla Escoda, Huffington Post Review with Gallery – Fire Island Dance Festival 2015, New York: Dance News Desk, Broadway World

Article in the Toronto Globe and Mail

Sigourney Weaver hosted a party for Marcelo Gomes: http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/sigourney-weaver-hosts-party-to-celebrate-dancer-marcelo-gomes-after-doc-martin-filming-10403703.html

Links - Tuesday, July 21 2015 Review – Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Car Man, London: Louise Levene, FT Graham Watts, DanceTabs Hannah Weibye, Arts Desk Siobhan Murphy, Timeout London Reviews – Ardani 25 Dance Gala, London: Sanjoy Roy, Guardian Lyndsey Winship, Standard Margaret Willis, Bachtrack Neil Norman, Stage Interview – Leanne Cope: Caryn Robbins, Broadway World Review – Rashida Bumbray and Dance Diaspora Collective, Run Mary Run, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Groundworks Dance Theatre, Heartbroken, Remora, Boom Boom, Cleveland: Roy Berko, Broadway World Book Feature – Royona Mitra. Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism: Carmel Smith, London Dance Preview – Electric Company Theatre and Crystal Pite, Betroffenheit, Toronto: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Preview – Circa, Close Up, Edinburgh: Susie Burge, Guardian

I think people just forget they are not in their own living rooms!

Hello LittleNutcracker, I am sure other members with experience will be able to chip in but in the meantime, assuming your DD will be auditioning for Lower Schools, here is a thread that will have useful information: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/4999-questions-about-lower-school-auditions/

I just hope that Jonathan Ollivier is not seriously injured and is back soon.

Scroll down the Standard's Londoner's Diary for gossipy featurette including a picture of Osipova and Gomes at a post-show celebration. There is also news that Bryan Ferry has hired Osipova and Watson for his next video!

Jefta van Dinther As It Empties Out UK Premiere Thursday 1 & Friday 2 October 2015 Performances at 8.00pm Tickets: £17 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com Jefta van Dinther presents the UK premiere of As It Empties Out, on 1 & 2 October 2015 at the Platform Theatre, Central St Martin’s, in King’s Cross. Swedish choreographer and dancer Jefta van Dinther has been attracting growing attention internationally with his striking world of sensorial illusions and bodies compelled to move. His recent work, the provocative Plateau Effect for Cullberg Ballet, was presented at Sadler’s Wells as part of the Northern Light season in 2014. He returns with another ambitious project, co-commissioned by Sadler's Wells and presented in partnership with Platform Theatre at Central Saint Martins. As It Empties Out plays with scale, dimension and time in order to dislodge the senses and create an uncanny, beguiling world. The dancers exude energy and emotion, repeatedly vanishing and dissolving into a space that lacks boundaries, coaxing the audience to go deeper and forget where they are. Van Dinther creates sophisticated environments of light, sound and voice, using heavy electronic soundscapes that offer the audience powerful physical experiences. For this piece, he returns to long term collaborators: lighting designer Minna Tiikkainen, sound designer David Kiers and the set design duo SIMKA. Van Dinther is a choreographer and dancer working between Stockholm and Berlin. Recent works include THIS IS CONCRETE(2012), made in collaboration with Thiago Granato, as well as GRIND (2011), in collaboration with lighting designer Minna Tiikkainen and sound designer Davis Kiers. His other works include The Way Things Go (2009) and IT'S IN THE AIR (2008) in collaboration with Mette Ingvartsen. He was appointed Senior Lecturer and Artistic Director, together with Frederic Gies, at the MA program in Choreography at DOCH (University of Dance and Circus in Stockholm) between 2012-2014. Free post-show talk for ticket holders: Thursday 1 October Listings information Jefta van Dinther As It Empties Out UK Premiere Thursday 1 & Friday 2 October 2015 Performances at 8.00pm Tickets: £17 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very 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 90 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 appointed world class Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and an Associate Company and nurtures the next generation of talent through hosting the National Youth Dance Company, its Summer University programme, Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates. Located in Islington in 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 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England.

Matthew Bourne's New Adventures Facebook page carries an announcement that full casting has now been provided but the Jonathan Ollivier is injured: "We are pleased to now be able to announce the Principal Casting for the entire run of THE CAR MAN at Sadler's Wells PLEASE NOTE - It is with great regret that we announce that Jonathan Ollivier is injured and will not be performing for the next two weeks. We hope that he will return in the final week of our season, but check in again nearer the time for an update. The previously announced casting has been adjusted accordingly." http://new-adventures.net/the-car-man/news/principal-cast-announced-for-rest-of-season-of-the-car-man-at-sadlers-wells

Join the revolution with the World Première of Northern Ballet’s 1984 As one man risks everything to fall in love, join Northern Ballet for the World Première of Jonathan Watkins’ 1984. Recently awarded Best Company at the European Taglioni Ballet Awards, Northern Ballet is bringing this cult-classic to life with the World Première at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds from 5 – 12 September 2015. This thought-provoking tale of love and betrayal will also tour nationally in autumn 2015 and spring 2016. Choreographed by Jonathan Watkins, whose recent credits include Kes for Sheffield Crucible Theatre, Northern Ballet’s1984 is the first full-length ballet adaptation of George Orwell’s renowned novel. The production is set to an original score by Tony nominated Composer and Arranger Alex Baranowski, who recently worked with Mercury Prize winning band The xx. The creative team also includes Set and Costume Designer Simon Daw, whose work includes productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House and Rambert Dance Company; Dramaturg Ruth Little, previously Literary Manager of The Royal Court Theatre; and Lighting Designer Chris Davey, well known for his work in dance and theatre including collaborations with Matthew Bourne. In the production, Ministry of Truth worker Winston Smith lives in a world of absolute conformity, his every action scrutinised by Big Brother. Whilst outwardly conforming to Party doctrine, he is secretly disillusioned, illegally documenting his thoughts in a diary. When one day he receives a love note from Julia, a colleague he suspected on spying on him for the Thought Police, the pair instead begin an illicit affair leading a dangerous double life putting physical desire above Party discipline. As their romance develops and they prepare for an act of political rebellion, Winston and Julia discover that Big Brother is always watching and no one can be trusted; least of all themselves. Jonathan Watkins said: ‘George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four has been a constant inspiration to me since I first read it at 15. It is a powerful and thought-provoking allegory that now, more than ever, has resonance with the times in which we are living. I am excited to be working with Northern Ballet and a wonderful creative team to realise this new full-length ballet for the audiences of today and I look forward to exploring through dance, music and film, a new way of seeing this modern classic.’ Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE, said: ‘Jonathan is an exciting choreographic talent and I am delighted that he accepted my invitation to create 1984 with us. This production promises to challenge the idea of what stories can be told through dance and the dramatic talent of our dancers will draw the audience into the very core of this literary masterpiece.’ Tickets for the World Première of Northern Ballet’s 1984 are on sale now and can be booked online at wyp.org.uk or by calling the box office on 0113 213 7700. -ENDS- Notes to Editors For more details of Northern Ballet's tour, on sale dates and booking information, please visit northernballet.com/whatson. Voted Best Company at the 2014 Taglioni European Ballet Awards, Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s five large ballet companies. Based in Leeds it performs throughout the UK as well as overseas. Northern Ballet’s productions mix classical dance and theatre, embracing popular culture and taking inspiration from literature, opera, or giving a unique interpretation of popular classical ballets. Northern Ballet is the busiest touring ballet company in the UK and is typically on the road for around 32 weeks of the year. The Company of 47 dancers tours a combination of full-length new work and established repertoire to cities throughout the UK. Northern Ballet introduced a new strand of touring in 2015, widening the Company’s already extensive reach to include nine new venues. Northern Ballet tours widely with its ballets for children, the first three of which were adapted for TV by CBeebies, and also performs a mixed programme showcasing the versatility of its dancers. Visit northernballet.com for more information on the Company and tour. Production images and information are available via the online media centre. Production Credits Choreography Jonathan Watkins Music Alex Baranowski Set & Costume Design Simon Daw Lighting Design Chris Davey Video Design Andrzej Goulding Dramaturg Ruth Little 1984 – Tour Dates Leeds, West Yorkshire Playhouse (World Première) 5 – 12 Sep 2015 Box Office 0113 213 7700 wyp.org.uk Nottingham, Theatre Royal 29 Sep – 3 Oct 2015 Box Office 0115 989 5555 trch.co.uk Manchester, Palace Theatre 14 – 17 Oct 2015 Box Office 0844 871 3019 atgtickets.com/palacetheatre Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre 20 – 24 Oct 2015 Box Office 0114 249 6000 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Southampton, Mayflower Theatre 4 – 7 May 2016 Box Office 02380 711 811 mayflower.org.uk London, Sadler’s Wells 24 – 28 May 2016 Box Office 0844 412 4300 sadlerswells.com Touring nationally in autumn 2015 and spring 2016 with more dates and venues to be announced. Seenorthernballet.com/whatson for updates. Calls to 0844 numbers cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.

Breakin' Convention presents Sébastien Ramirez & Honji Wang Borderline Friday 2 &Saturday 3 October Performances at 7.30pm Tickets: £12 - £27 Ticket office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com Breakin’ Convention presents Borderline, a collaboration between award-winning choreographers Sébastien Ramirez and Honji Wang fusing hip hop with elements of contemporary dance, at Sadler’s Wells on 2 & 3 October 2015. Sébastien Ramirez is a French hip hop choreographer and b-boy, known for the finesse and emotional impact of his dance style. He works worldwide with dancers from different cultural and chorographical backgrounds.Honji Wang is a choreographer and dancer born and raised in Germany by Korean parents, whose style is rooted in hip hop with influences of martial arts and ballet. She studied ballet for 10 years in Frankfurt before dedicating herself to the hip hop techniques of b-girling and newstyle, as well as working in contemporary dance. The duo’s choreographic language is often called urban Tanztheater and has won many accolades, including the Outstanding Performers Award at the Bessies for their appearance at Breakin' Convention at the Apollo Theater, New York in 2013. Their other awards include the Special Jury Award at Dance Delight in Osaka in 2009, and the 1st Prize and Audience Prize at the International Choreography Competition of Hannover in 2012 for their collaboration AP15. Borderline, a choreography for six performers, features a subtle use of rigging to create a fluid and energetic exploration of what defines people as individuals and what ties them together as a group. Using lengths of rope and elastic, the performers unfurl themes of constraint, freedom and manipulation. Jonzi D, Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention, said: “The inventive choreographic exploration of Sébastien Ramirez and Honji Wang is a benchmark in the development of the hip hop dance theatre genre. We are very proud to have Borderline as the premiere production of Sadler’s Wells’ Breakin’ Convention presents program.” Notes to editors: About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very 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 90 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 appointed world class Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and an Associate Company and nurtures the next generation of talent through its National Youth Dance Company, Summer University programme, Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates. Located in Islington in 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 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England. About Breakin’ Convention Breakin’ Convention is committed to celebrating, elevating and supporting hip hop dance theatre. Spearheaded by Jonzi D, the company works with the most respected, innovative and inspirational hip hop artists in the industry.Through its world-renowned international festival, professional development, youth projects and educational programme, Breakin’ Convention seeks to position hip hop dance alongside more historically established artforms. Breakin’ Convention is a resident company at Sadler’s Wells and Jonzi D is based at the theatre.

That is dreadful Taxi. Political correctness gone mad!! I think that people who have allergens are perfectly capable of deciding not to buy a piece of cake "just in case"!

Links - Monday, July 20 2015 Reviews – Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Car Man, London: Jeffrey Taylor, Express Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide Gallery – Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Review – Royal Ballet School, Annual Main Stage Performance 2015, London: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Review – Ardani 25 Dance Gala, London: Lynette Halewood, DanceTabs Review – Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, SKETCH 5: stirred programme, San Francisco: Claudia Bauer, DanceTabs Review – Dutch National Ballet, Cinderella, London: Zoe Anderson, Independent Feature – Michael Flatley: Stephen Jewell, Dominion Post Review – Roberto Villanueva’s BalaSole, mixed programme, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Big Dance Theatre, Alan Smithee directed this play, triple feature, Jacob’s Pillow: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Exhibition Feature – Dancenoise at the Whitney, New York: Andy Battaglia, Wall Street Journal Documentary Preview – Mr Gaga, (about Ohad Naharin): Hannah Brown, Jerusalem Post Interview – Cathy Waller: Georgia Snow, Stage

Go to both!

Links - Sunday, July 19 2015 Interview – Zenaida Yanowsky: Margaret Willis, DanceTabs Review – New York City Ballet, La Sylphide, Saratoga: Jay Rogoff, Saratogian Review – Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Car Man, London: Luke Jennings, Observer Reviews – Ardani 25 Dance Gala, London: Laura Thompson, Telegraph Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Feature – Luca Patuelli: redefining the limits of human abilities through dance: Martha Schabas, Toronto Globe and Mail Preview – Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet, Still Life, Schubert’s Silence, Los Angeles: Laura Bleiberg, LA Times Feature - Does one black ballet superstar mean real change? : Ellen Dunkel, Philadelphia Inquirer

Hello Alice and welcome to the Forum! I do hope you will continue to join in.

Assume you mean that Naomi is joining ENB?

Links - Saturday, July 18 2015 Review – New York City Ballet, Bournonville Divertissements, La Sylphide, Saratoga: Tresca Weinstein, Times Union Reviews – Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Car Man, London: Rachel Ward, Telegraph Neil Norman, Stage Gallery – Ardani Dance Gala 25, London: Dave Morgan, DanceTabs Review – Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Biophany, Jacob’s Pillow: Brian Seibert, NY Times Feature – Michaela de Prince: Jordan Levin, Miami Herald Review – MOMIX, Alchemia, New York: Lauren Wingenroth, Broadway World News – This week’s new dance in London: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review – Honji Wang and Sebastien Ramirez, Monchichi, Jacob’s Pillow: Brian Seibert, NY Times Reviews – Footnote New Zealand Dance, NOW, Auckland: Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald Camelle Pink, NZ Theatreview News – Dancers selected for Dance UK’s Mentoring Programme: Clare Evans, London Dance Review – ARC Dance, mixed programme, Seattle: Alice Kaderlan, Seattle Times Feature – Strange Attractor: The Space in the Middle, Canberra: Lucy Nelson, Sydney Morning Herald Feature/Preview - Inside the making of Silent Ghost at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet: Andrew Travers, Aspen Times Review – Texture Contemporary Ballet, mixed programme, Pittsburgh: Jane Vranish, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Photo Essay – Jacques d’Amboise: Corinne Segal, PBS Comment - Do bad reviews say more about the reviewer: Jennifer Stahl, Dance Magazine Video Feature – Modern Ballet embraces Tang Dynasty love story: CNTV

Interesting comment in Dance Magazine

There was a dreadful smell in the kitchenette in work some years ago. Eventually someone opened a bag that noone claimed and it contained a rotted cucumber. In the end we thought it may have belonged to someone who had left about 6 months earlier! There is a dent on the lid of our wheelie bin. I had no idea how it had happened until fairly recently when my niece told me she had put something on a plate in the microwave. She admitted turning the dial around as far as she could!! When she took the item out she realised something was amiss and ran out of the house with it, placing the plate on top of the wheelie bin, where it immediately shattered and was hot enough to cause the dent!! (She used to wash everything at 90 degrees as well!)

Welcome to the Forum Erehwon! How long will you be in London and approximately when? I'm very biased but I would go to see anything with Alexander Campbell in - so I have got a ticket for Two Pigeons on 5th December. If you are in London mid-October, Birmingham Royal Ballet are at Sadler's Wells with a terrific traditional production of Swan Lake and a great triple bill at the end of the week. BRB don't usually post casting until very close to the performance but most casts are worth seeing.