Jan McNulty

And BRB fans thank their lucky stars that those dancers chose to come to BRB!

Rather than start a new topic I thought I would mention here that there is a wonderful exhibition of "behind the scenes" photographs of Northern Ballet at the Cafe 164 Gallery in Leeds. The photographer is the very talented Justin Slee. There is a website that shows most of the photographs: http://avantprints.co.uk/# It really is worth visiting if you are in Leeds over the next couple of weeks,

Hope all goes well with the exploratory today(!) Regattah. Thinking of you all. Jxx

Good point Aileen! Does anyone know? When Mark Baldwin was an associate choreographer with Scottish Ballet many years ago he created works in the ballet idiom with the ladies on point. I remember Aye Fond Kiss with particular fondness.

Cindy Sughrue stands down as Chief Executive of Scottish Ballet The Board of Scottish Ballet announces today, Monday 30 March 2015, that, for personal reasons, Cindy Sughrue, is stepping down from her role as Chief Executive / Executive Producer with immediate effect. The Board would like to acknowledge the considerable contribution Cindy has made to Scottish Ballet and wishes her success in the future. The process to recruit her successor will begin immediately. In the interim, Scottish Ballet's Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson, will assume the role of Acting Chief Executive.

Hello Balletmom007 and welcome to the Forum. Congratulations on your dd's success. I do hope you will continue to join in.

I've just come across this gem via twitter: "Back in 1915, a notice appeared in the programs handed out at New York Philharmonic concerts, signed ``Felix F. Leifels, Manager.'' It read: ``The Philharmonic Society fully appreciates the spirit that prompts charitable assistance in the great world's calamity caused by the European war, but many complaints have ben received from patrons of the concerts who are annoyed by knitting during performances, and the Directors respectfully request that this practice, which interferes with the artistic enjoyment of the music, be omitted.'' Let this serve as a reminder to those attending the Auditorium concert, both to the ladies and the gentlemen. Don't bring your knitting needles." http://ww.heraldtimesonline.com//stories/1990/11/18/archive.19901118.b7e852b.sto?code=db988ed8-d63a-11e4-b6c4-b757e3a1d9f8 (Scroll down to the bottom 2 paragraphs)

There is a Just Giving page for the Ann Maguire Foundation: https://www.justgiving.com/ann-maguire

Glad you enjoyed your visit to the Empire Tulip. It is a barn of a theatre, holding over 2300 on 2 levels, but I always enjoy my visits there.

I saw three performances at Sadler's Wells last week - Wednesday evening, Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening. The two evening performances were led by Dreda Blow / Javier Torres and Martha Leebolt / Toby Batley. Both performances, to my eyes, were absolutely magnificent. On Thursday afternoon I finally managed to catch Antoinette Brooks Daw ahd Giuliano Contadini as Daisy and Gatsby. Antoinette proved to be a bubbly, dizzy Daisy - she was absolutely gorgeous! Giuliano inhabited the role of Gatsby. Their duets had a real edge - especially the tango duet, which had me forgetting to breathe! Jeremy Curnier gave a beautifully nuanced performance as Nick - he was every inch the gooseberry when Gatsby and Daisy met at his cottage. Ashley Dixon, cast against type, was a brutal Tom. Hannah Bateman absolutely sizzled as Myrtle both with Joseph Taylor as George and Tom. The sublime Rachael Gillespie was young Daisy to Kevin Poeung's strongly danced young Gatsby. Pippa Moore was terrific as Jordan too. I think this production is very cleverly put together, staying faithful to the essence of Fitzgerald's novel. Gatsby did not appear at his own parties but how do you portray that in a ballet - Gatsby seems almost other-worldly in the Charleston scene - not seen by the party goers. The use of Gatsby and Daisy's younger selves is a clever device to explain the back stories and for Gatsby to explain things to Nick. The Northern Ballet dancers look as though they are having an absolute ball in the Charleston party and it is a party I want to be at!

And some of the waiters in each performance include Young Gatsby (lots of quick changes there!), Myrtle's party guests and so on! You will probably find that the dancers at NB have far less opportunity to be "spear carriers" in this company than in larger companies. The waiters are there to indicate the wealth of Gatsby and are integral to the production. They may not, as waiters, be dancing but they are nevertheless integral to the production and need to perform those roles with a commitment equal to that of any of the major roles. As it happens I went to the dinner after NB's recent gala and the many waiters marched around in similar fashion delivering the food to the tables, pouring wine etc. It just reminded me of this production. Aileen is right that some of the senior dancers perform some of the cameos. Kenny Tindall was a Gatsby minder, Myrtle party guest and policeman in Wednesday evening's performance and Toby Batley was the most nerdy of Myrtle party guests on Thursday afternoon. It's one of the joys of watching Northern Ballet!

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

Of the four names listed only 2 are guests - Luke Schaufuss and Francesca Haywward.

So sorry to hear your news Regattah. I am thinking of you all and sending positive thoughts your way. Please let us know how your younger dd is getting on, if you feel up to it. Jxx

Not entirely sure Alison. I assumed cut down slightly time wise but the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse is miniscule so maybe the set is cut down too. I'm just so thrilled they are coming back to Liverpool after 22 years!

As far as I am aware it is JC Maillot's production, which is the one performed by NB in Edinburgh and Leeds earlier this year. Here's the link to the thread about Northern Ballet's performances: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/9018-northern-ballet-romeo-and-juliet-maillot-spring-2015/ Some review links: http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/stage/dance-review-romeo-and-juliet-festival-theatre.119620172 http://dancetabs.com/2015/03/northern-ballet-romeo-and-juliet-edinburgh/ http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/mar/05/northern-ballet-romeo-juliet http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/11845409.Review__Northern_Ballet__Romeo_And_Juliet__Leeds_Grand_Theatre/

Hello Serenade and welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your thoughts on RB Swan Lake. I do hope you will continue to join in!

Could we please put comments about the performance in this thread: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/9286-the-royal-ballet-four-temperaments-mixed-bill-marchapril-2015/

Hello Balletnovice, I can't answer your question but I just wanted to say welcome to the Forum. Do let us know how you get on.

A sad day. Sincere condolences to her family and friends.

The casts are now up on NB's website. My phone isn't letting me do the link.

I hope you get to Southampton Sandsfoot, NB are in spectacular form at the moment.

Well done you! Keep up the good work!

Try this one: Please just don't try this at home!!!

Hello Singing4dancers and welcome to the Forum. I hope you will continue to join in!