Jan McNulty

Perhaps RB should consider asking Sir Peter Wright to produce a production for them...

Yes, indeed they are.

I thought the Sunday trading laws were for 6 hours (rather than not before 11). Our local supermarkets are 10-4 and I think you can go in to browse at 930 but not pay before 10. When I worked in Bath Waitrose opened at 11 and there was always a queue to get in!

Brothers Rory and Iain Mackay - both wonderful!

Hello Mrs Brown and welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your advice. I do hope you will continue to join in.

We already have a Mackay contingent at BRB!!!

Has anyone seen the Ancient Greeks on the Underground? I came across this item on Facebook and it looks hilarious... (It is the post, with photographs, dated 11th February) https://www.facebook.com/AncientHellas

The Rad is only a couple of minutes walk away too but don't know what the prices are like at the moment.

I've just had a look at the article and think it is typical of a fashion magazine looking to fill its pages! Interesting Bruce that you chose to highlight the Millepied bullet point when perhaps the conclusion is more pertinent ... or were you trying to cause controversy and comment yourself?

Come to Northern Ballet's Sapphire Gala in Leeds on 14th March - top price £75!

There is a Travelodge about 50 yards away. It's the one in Vicar's Lane

Trog, you are an absolute mine of information. I think the voting is sooooooo ludicrous these days that I haven't watched it for some years now despite Graham Norton's wonderful commentaries.

A press release with some further information has been received from Northern Ballet: International ballet stars come together for Northern Ballet’s 45th anniversary Sapphire Gala International guest artists from across the globe will join Northern Ballet at Leeds Grand Theatre on 14 March 2015 for theirSapphire Gala, in celebration of the Company’s 45th anniversary. Performers at the gala will include Royal Ballet Principle Dancers Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov, Principle Artists Lara Jones and Adam Bull from The Australian Ballet, Hamburg Ballet Principle Dancers Carolina Agüero and Alexandr Trusch and Phoenix Dance Theatre. The gala will also feature four world premières of new works by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, Daniel de Andrade, Kenneth Tindall and Jonathan Watkins and a Northern Ballet première of Stuttgart Ballet’s Demis Volpi’s Little Monsters. The Royal Ballet’s Principle Dancers Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov will perform a pas de deux from Anthony Dowell’sSwan Lake. Lara Jones and Adam Bull will perform a duet from Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella. Carolina Agüero will perform a pas de deux from John Neumeier’s Othello with Northern Ballet’s Premier Dancer Javier Torres and Alexandr Trusch will perform a pas de deux from John Neumeier’s The Nutcracker with Northern Ballet’s First Soloist Lucia Solari. Phoenix Dance Theatre will perform Shift. Premièring at the Sapphire Gala will be David Nixon OBE’s Sapphire, Daniel de Andrade’s Fatal Kiss, Jonathan Watkins’ A Northern Trilogy and Kenneth Tindall’s fourth new work for Northern Ballet featuring Premier Dancers Martha Leebolt and Tobias Batley. Northern Ballet will also perform an Enhanced Charleston from David Nixon’s smash hit production The Great Gatsby. The performances will be accompanied by live music played by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. David Nixon said: ‘I am incredibly proud to be Artistic Director of a Company which has such talented and passionate dancers. I am delighted that companies from across the globe, who are rarely seen in the UK, are joining us to celebrate this milestone anniversary and I would like to thank all of the artists who are giving up their time to support Northern Ballet on what will be a most memorable evening.’ Tickets for the Sapphire Gala are now on sale at the Leeds Grand Theatre Box Office on 0844 848 2700 orleedsgrandtheatre.com and are priced from £25-£75, including a complimentary commemorative programme. Northern Ballet will also host a special fundraising dinner in the prestigious Howard Assembly Rooms following the performance. The dinner will be a special opportunity to support one of the UK’s most loved ballet companies. The Sapphire Gala Fundraising Dinner package includes a pre-performance reception with champagne and canapés, premium dress circle tickets for the performance, an indulgent three course meal with wine, a luxury gift bag for each guest and the chance to participate in the Gala auction, with a host of exclusive items available. The dinner package for a table of 10 guests is available at £2,500. Individual tickets for the dinner are available although these are limited. To book a table or to find out more about the ways in which you could support the Gala please contact Abi Walton, Development Manager: Corporates and Individuals at abi.walton@northernballet.com. -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 46 dancers tours a combination of full-length new work and established repertoire to cities throughout the UK and is the only large scale ballet company to do so. Northern Ballet will introduce a new strand of touring in 2015, widening the Company’s already extensive reach. The new mid-scale tour will see the Company perform in nine additional 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. Listings Sapphire Gala Leeds Grand Theatre 14 Mar 2015 leedsgrandtheatre.com Box Office 0844 848 2700 On sale now

A Sadler’s Wells Production National Youth Dance Company / Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Frame[d] World Premiere Sadler’s Wells Friday 10 April 2015 Performance at 7:30pm Tickets: £12 Ticket Office: 0844 412 4300 or www.sadlerswells.com The National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) returns for its third year with a new intake of 30 talented young dancers who join the eight returners from the previous two cohorts. The company performs the world premiere of its newly commissioned piece created by this year’s Guest Artistic Director, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, at Sadler’s Wells on Friday 10 April 2015. Following the premiere, NYDC will then tour around the UK to locations including Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Ipswich, Bournemouth and Plymouth. This new commission Frame[d] sees Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Cherkaoui revisiting moments from his established catalogue of work: Babel(words), co-choreographed with Damien Jalet, Puz/zle, Loin and TeZukA, incorporating new ideas and movement material from the young dancers. Cherkaoui’s unique choreographic process, combined with the fresh talent of NYDC dancers drawn from across the country, illustrates the influence and creativity that emerging dance artists can bring to a professional dance collaboration. The work is created in partnership with Eastman. Cherkaoui and his artistic team are working with the dancers over three intensive residencies to create, develop and rehearse the newly commissioned piece. Throughout the dancers’ time with NYDC they are given a unique insight into the dance profession, gaining skills and techniques that will stay with them throughout their careers. The first residency took place from 25 October to 2 November; the next residency will happen from 14 to 21 February, with the final residency from 28 March to 12 April. Now in its third year, NYDC is fast establishing a reputation for producing high quality performances from a company of dancers who are expressive, brave and energise the dance environment. The new line up of NYDC dancers are being given the opportunity to engage with dance through working at the highest level and with world class resources, working with an artistic team that have exceptional standards and artistic integrity. Jane Hackett, Sadler’s Wells Artistic Programmer and Producer (Creative Learning) and Director of NYDC,said: “We believe in the importance of identifying talent at an early age. These young people have the potential to be the future leaders of the dance world and we want to provide them with as many tools as possible to excel and succeed.” Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, said: “It’s vital for the health of the dance sector that there is a pipeline of talent feeding it. I firmly believe that those performers should have the opportunity to work to the highest standards and with world class resources, to gain real insight into the dance profession. Through our role with NYDC and other work we’ve been doing with students and young dancers in recent years at Sadler’s Wells, we’ve created a growing network of emerging talent, and I will be watching the progress of those artists with real interest.” Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and NYDC Guest Artistic Director 2014-15, said: “It’s a pleasure to be selected by NYDC as this year’s Guest Artistic Director. I have always believed that more needs to be done to nurture young talent, and it is initiatives like these that have the potential to truly change the dance landscape for young people. From what I have seen of them so far I am confident that these dancers will excel beyond expectations.” Claire Niesto-Bame, one of the new NYDC members, said at the October 2014 residency: “Although we are all from different areas of England and come from different backgrounds and circumstances, we were all born with the same passion. NYDC brings us together and feeds our hunger for dance; it has already provided us with knowledge and experience that we will undoubtedly carry with us throughout the rest of our dance journeys.” On Sunday 12 April, National Youth Dance Company and Sadler’s Wells will also be hosting the final day of the Dance UK ‘The Future: New Ideas: New Inspirations’ conference, which will offer an opportunity to discuss dance training, take inspiration from around the world and focus on the needs of young people as they prepare to be the future of dance. Originally funded for a three year period from 2012, National Youth Dance Company has now been granted continued financial support for another year by the Department of Education and for another three years by Arts Council England, from the National Lottery and Grant in Aids funds, as part of a commitment to arts for young people and to nurturing and developing exceptional artistic talent in the country. NOTES TO EDITORS: About the National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) Founded in 2012, and hosted at Sadler’s Wells, NYDC is an exciting new company that aims to create and perform innovative and influential youth dance, drawing together some of the brightest young talent from across the country to work with Sadler’s Wells’ internationally renowned Associate Artists. NYDC is funded jointly by Arts Council England and the Department for Education, from the National Lottery and Grant in Aid funds. Since NYDC’s inception in 2012: 1000 young people have worked with the company. NYDC has delivered 47 workshops in 21 different venues across 17 towns and cities. Over 17,000 people have seen the company perform. NYDC has featured in 22 performances, visiting 15 different venues across the UK, including some leading theatres in the country. 90 dancers have joined the company, working intensively with renowned dance artists including Guest Artistic Directors: Jasmin Vardimon (2012-13), Akram Khan (2013-14) and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (2014-15). These 90 dancers come from 43 different towns and cities in England. 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 and 3 Resident Companies 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 Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Artistic Director of Royal Ballet Flanders, is one of the most prolific choreographers working today. A Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, he has created more than 20 works and is acknowledged as one of Europe’s most exciting choreographers. His productions include zero degrees (2005, with Akram Khan, Antony Gormley and Nitin Sawhney); Faun (which premiered at Sadler’s Wells as part of In the Spirit of Diaghilev); TeZukA (2011, based on the iconic work of manga artist Osamu Tezuka); award winning Babel (2010) and Dunas (2009, with celebrated flamenco dancer/ choreographer Maria Pagés); Sutra (2008), and his recent tango inspired, Sadler’s Wells Production, m¡longa. About Arts Council England Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. ACE support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk About Dance UK Conference For more information on the Dance UK Conference: www.danceuk.org/conference/

There was a feature in yesterday's Liverpool Echo about a pensioner who lost his passport on one of the Canary Islands as he was due to fly home. The airline asked him if he had any other form of photo-id and a family member faxed a copy of his Merseytravel senior travel pass, which the airline accepted. Apparently immigration were NOT amused when he landed at Liverpool and conducted extensive identity checks before they would let him pass through. As far as I am aware, for internal flights you only have to show your id when checking in and boarding and not when you get off.

As far as I am aware it is passport, photo driving license or, as we discovered yesterday for internal UK flights (but not recognised by Ryanair), Citizen Cards. I think it is because these forms of identification are issued by government departments.

Because it's a legal requirement that acknowledged photo id be shown.

It's useful to know that Citizen Cards are accepted by all carriers except Ryanair for internal flights.

Hi Brenda! I can't answer your queries but I just wanted to welcome you to the Forum. Your English is a lot better than my nonexistant Spanish!

I have to say that since my earliest days as a ballet watcher I have seen dancers of various ethnicities and appearances appearing together as family members and it is only when discussions such as these take place and I think about it that I realise I have seen multi-ethnic families on stage!

Chris Marney choreographing for The Chelmsford Ballet Company Spring Season 2015 Christopher Marney, a dancer and choreographer, has achieved international recognition as a long-standing member of the iconic Matthew Bourne's New Adventures dance company. Marney is now much sought after creatively, and is staging his Carnival of the Animals for The Chelmsford Ballet Company dancers. He has become somewhat of a local star; originally a dancer with The Chelmsford Ballet Company in 1996, he is now a choreographer in his own right. Local dancers - who have gone onto further vocational dance training - will be leading The Chelmsford Ballet Company’s double bill, talent paving the way for the company’s dancers. Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance graduate Stephen Quildan – from Walthamstow – and Central School of Ballet student Jasmine Wallis – from Ongar – have joined The Chelmsford Ballet Company for its upcoming production in March at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford. Quildan will be dancing the role of the hapless stage hand whilst Wallis – still a Senior Company dancer – features as the female lead, whilst currently training at the Central School of Ballet in London. As a fantastic introduction to ballet, the Company’s 2015 double bill is ideal for those new to the art form, with comical and an easy-to-understand narratives. Full of humour and family fun, audiences will experience the Company's varied work through The Carnival of the Animals and Artistic Director Annette Potter's Pineapple Poll. The programme runs from 18–21 March 2015 at the Civic Theatre in Chelmsford, Essex. Tickets are now on sale, for which contact the box office on 01245 606505 or visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres The Chelmsford Ballet Company's Pineapple Poll & Carnival of the Animals, 18-21 March 2015 Civic Theatre box office 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres

As it happens they were very common in this country and many still exist for example the Empire in Sunderland, the Grand in Leeds, Liverpool Playhouse and a double whammy rake at the Opera House in Buxton to name some that I know of! The stages are also raked in Russia and I assume the rest of the Eastern Block. On holiday in Russia in 1986 we were told that all the rakes are the same (unlike this country) and the studios are raked at the same angle too. I remember seeing a BRB Coppelia rehearsal in Sunderland where the doll's chair in act 2 kept rolling towards the front of the stage. Fortunately the company had somehow managed to resolve the issue by the time of the performance. Dancers in professional touring companies in the UK have to get used to dancing on a variety of stage types including rakes at different angles! I believe dancers who dance mostly on raked stages have as much difficulty adapting to flat stages as dancers used to flat stages have in adapting to rakes.

Their wings are very noisy in flight. Chunkydog and I had the fright of our lives a couple of weeks ago when a pair flew past us within touching distance about 4 feet from the ground as they were coming in to land on the lake. It was a very close call indeed!

Ergo it doesn't matter whether you see the legs or not - the fantasy is in the designer's eyes. I myself have wondered why, since being a frequent visitor to Martin Mere and having seen Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, women are ever cast as swans as they are such powerful masculine looking birds!

The swans in David Nixon's Swan Lake (for Northern Ballet) do not wear tutus. There is a photograph on this page. Although you can't see the back of the costume the "petals" of the skirt fold over each other a bit at the bottom reminiscent of the way swans wings lie when they are sitting on the water. I liked these costumes very much but I would guess they are quite hard to dance in.