Jan McNulty

I'm going to the first night in both Edinburgh and Leeds! The excitement is rising...

A nice feature about the Academy: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/search-is-on-for-ballet-stars-of-the-future-1-7093814

Edinburgh to host the UK Première of Romeo and Juliet Get swept up in the passion and heartbreak with Europe’s Best Ballet Company as Northern Ballet brings the UK Première of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Les Ballets de Monte Carlo’s production of Romeo and Juliet to Edinburgh Festival Theatrefrom 26 – 28 February 2015 followed by Leeds Grand Theatre from 4 – 12 March 2015. A treasured classic reimagined, this is a timeless ballet for a modern audience. Set to Prokofiev’s unforgettable score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Julietis a modern interpretation of a classical ballet, capturing the raw sensuality and the very essence of the story as Romeo and Juliet embark on their impulsive love affair. As the lovers are caught in the throes of ecstatic joy and crushing heartbreak, this production will see Northern Ballet’s dancers at their dramatic best bringing the intensity and extreme emotions to the stage. Romeo and Juliet will be Northern Ballet’s first collaboration with acclaimed choreographer Maillot, who recently created a new version of The Taming of the Shrew for the Bolshoi Ballet. This is the first time that this production of Romeo and Juliethas been performed in the UK and by a British company. The UK Première will take place in Edinburgh followed by performances at Leeds Grand Theatre in March and a national tour in 2016. Jean-Christophe Maillot said: ‘In this adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, my primary objective is to sincerely portray the powerful emotions to the audience so that they share in the passionate love of the young couple and take a journey with them. Interpreting the narrative is a specialism of Northern Ballet and for this reason I am curious and excited to see how the dancers will respond to the choreography and I am honoured that they will be the first British company to perform one of my ballets.’ Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE, said: ‘Jean-Christophe Maillot's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is an inspired contemporary response to the classic play and our talented dancers are ideally suited to interpret his wonderful language. This is a new production for our audiences to experience and reflect upon and I am delighted that we will be the first British company to present Jean-Christophe Maillot's work.’ Share in the passion and stolen moments of young love with Romeo and Juliet at Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 26 – 28 February 2015 or Leeds Grand Theatre from 4 – 12 March 2015. Tickets for Edinburgh can be booked at edtheatres.com or by calling the box office on 0131 529 6000. Tickets for Leeds can be booked at leedsgrandtheatre.com or by calling the box office on 0844 848 2700. -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 from 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 two 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. Romeo and Juliet – Tour Dates Edinburgh Festival Theatre 26 – 28 February 2015 Box Office 0131 529 6000 edtheatres.com On sale now Leeds Grand Theatre 4 – 12 March 2015 Box Office 0844 848 2700 leedsgrandtheatre.com On sale now Touring nationally in 2016. Details to be announced. See northernballet.com for updates.

I love the Bournonville style too Harwel.

Thanks for keeping us up to date Artem. This certainly looks an intriguing piece. I do hope the Company has a very successful season in Paris.

Alison, that's how I've always taken it too. I've seldom seen the RB production but have seen Onegin performed by a number of companies over the years and that is how it has always come across to me.

Well I have been a ballet-watcher for just over 30 years now and I can notice stylistic differences between companies let alone training styles! I think the Vaganova style is "big" and very outward facing. A number of dancers I have seen over the years from Eastern European training and companies do not seem to me to act in the way that I am used to seeing British trained dancers act - they are bigger and more cariacatured. I find the British style of acting more subtle. The Danish style with its emphasis on glorious deft footwork and beautiful (to my eyes) upper body placement is not so outward facing. I would say the same about British training too. Of course, with the more international membership of companies these days, dancers can subsume themselves into the company style. One of my friends has commented on Mathias Dingman of BRB (who was trained in Vaganova style in Washington) that he now looks more British than the British!!! And I know exactly what he means!!! Hope the ramble from the point of view of a ballet watcher with no practical experience makes sense.

I don't think that is the case at all Aileen, certainly not with BRB or NB. Yes there are partnerships we come to recognise such as Nao and Chi (BRB) or Martha and Toby (NB) but all 4 of those dancers also dance with a range of other people. For example I always loved Nao dancing with Robert Parker and Chi with Ambra. Martha has also danced regularly with Kenny and Javier at NB as well as Chris H-L in the past.

I've just come across this interview with Alexander Bird of BRB. He joined the company at the start of the Autumn season and I thought this may be a useful read for DPs and DCs. http://www.redbrick.me/culture/interview-culture/culture-meets-alexander-bird-of-the-birmingham-royal-ballet/

Links - Saturday, February, 07 2015 Review – New York City Ballet, Pictures at an Exhibition, Rōdē, ō: Four Dance Episodes, Mercurial Manoeuvres, New York: Michael Popkin, Danceview Times Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Coppelia, Edinburgh: Lucy Ribchester, The List Preview – This week’s new dance: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Preview – Houston Ballet, 2015-16 season, Houston: Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle Preview – Wendy Whelan, Restless Creature, Long Beach: Christina Campodonico, Neon Tommy Review – West Australian Ballet, Hold the Fourth, Steptext, Zip Zap Zoom, Perth: Kirsty Symonds, Perth Now Review – American Realness, selected roundup, New York: Jaime Shearn Coan, Brooklyn Rail Review – Susan Beahrs, Rise, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Alexandra Bachzetsis, From A to B via C, New York: Leslie Allison, Brooklyn Rail Review – Ben Munisteri, Axis Obliquity, Smash through to sunlight, Petrichor, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Mollie Lieber and Eleanor Smith, Rude World, New York: Cassie Peterson, Brooklyn Rail Review – Cid Pearlman, Economies of Effort, San Francisco: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Review – Zoe Scofield and Juniper Shuey, BeginAgain, New York: Madison Mainwaring, Brooklyn Rail Film Trailer – Ballet 422: Stage Tube, Broadway World

Valerie Lawson has published a link to a promotional film on her blog, Dancelines

Sorry Nina I don't (it is a Murdoch paper after all). It popped up on a google search.

Well tonight's performance led by Elisha Willis, Joe Caley and Michael O'Hare absolutely sparkled from start to finish! All 3 leads gave beautifully judged performances that made their characters utterly believable. Arancha Baselga and Jonny Caguoia were a delight in the betrothal duet. Celine Gittens could only be described as sensational as Dawn! What an enormous talent this young lady has! Delia Matthews was a beautiful and assured Prayer. Mathias Dingman absolutely dazzled as the lead in Call to Arms (he looked like he was drilling down to Australia with his spins!) and all the young gentlemen were splendidly in sync. This was a performance guaranteed to lift your spirits! Roll on tomorrow...

Links - Friday, February, 06 2015 Review – New York City Ballet, Rōdē,ō, New York: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Apollinaire Scherr, FT Review – Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Swan Lake Act 2, Le Corsaire pdd, Esmerelda pds, Paquita, Sarasota: Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald Tribune Review – Nederlands Dans Theater 2, I New Then, Shutters Shut, Sara, Subject to Change, New York: Lauren Gallagher, DanceTabs Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Uprising, Grace, Revelations, New York: Shanti Crawford, DanceTabs Preview/Feature – Carmen de Lavallade, New York: Charmaine Patricia Warren, NY Amsterdam News Interview – Ben Mitchell, Phoenix Dance Theatre: Yvette Huddleston, Yorkshire Evening Post Interview – Michele Wiles and Jay Don, Ballet Next: Gia Kourlas, Timeout New York Preview – Matthew Bourne | New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, Birmingham: Kyle Pedley, Stourbridge News Film Review – Ballet 422: A O Scott, NY Times Book excerpt – Leonid Yakobson, Like a Bomb Going Off: Janice Ross, Daily Beast courtesy of Yale Press News – Wayne Sleep becomes patron of Fertile Ground Dance Group: David Whetstone, The Journal Preview – Ballet San Antonio, Romeo and Juliet, San Antonio: Jasmina Wellinghoff, San Antonio Express News Preview – Maxine Heppner, Old Stories, Toronto: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star And finally… Video feature – Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lil Buck in video campaign for Rag & Bone: Stage Tube, Broadway World

Thanks Linda, I had a look at Youtube and Chi's interview is there! It starts at around 44 minutes and 30 seconds for anyone who wants to catch up on it!

As I absolutely loathed Balanchine's Midsummer Night's Dream when I saw it in Edinburgh some years ago, I would go for your option 1! Also as your option 1 seems to be all mixed programmes I would think there is more of general interest (but that is just me).

Northern Ballet are holding 2 Easter courses in 2015 for 7-11 year olds. Here is the link to the page on the website: http://northernballet.com/?q=join-in/get-dancing/courses/easter

I got my Friends' newsletter (Entrechat) from BRB this morning and see that Chi Cao is on the judging panel.

As far as I am aware most companies in the UK these days offer annual contracts. So if, for example, a new AD came in and wanted to have a spring clean s/he would only have to wait until the contracts of the dancers come up for renewal.

Links - Thursday, February, 05 2015 Review – New York City Ballet, Symphonic Dances, The Cage, Andantino, Cortege Hongrois, New York: Marianne Adams, Danceview Times Review – Paris Opera Ballet, Repliques, salut, Together Alone, AndreAurea, Paris: Laura Cappelle, FT News – Paris Opera Ballet 2015/16 season: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times News – Paris Opera Ballet 2015/16 season and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui new AD at Royal Ballet of Flanders: Judith Mackrell, Guardian News - New AD, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, at Royal Ballet of Flanders: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times London Dance Short video, Flanders News Review – San Francisco Ballet, Serenade, Lambarena, Raku, Giselle, San Francisco: Paul Parish, Bay Area Reporter Review – Nederlands Dans Theatre 2, I Knew Then, Sara, Shutters Shut, Subject to Change, New York: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Odetta, After the Rain, Caught, Revelations, Washington: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Review – Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Gnawa, Cloudless, Sarabande, Falling Angels, Austin: Jonelle Seitz, Austin Chronicle Review - Raja Feather Kelly and Tzveta Kassabova, Super We, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Feature including video: Siobhan Davies: Ruth Amelung for Crane TV, Huffington Post Feature – The Wonderful Life of Sir Peter Wright: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines from an Australian Ballet programme Feature – Vladimir Malakhov: Ayako Takahashi, Japan Times Feature – Joseph Gatti returns to Orlando Ballet: Matthew J Palm, Orlando Sentinel Preview – Diablo Ballet, premiere of Sonya Delwaide’s new work, Walnut Creek: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Preview – Vincent Mantsoe, NTU, Ottawa: Peter Robb, Ottawa Citizen Preview – Ten Tiny Dances series, Seattle: Alice Kaderlan, Seattle Times Review – Cape Town City Ballet, La Sylphide, Cape Town: Beverley Brommert, Tonight Feature – Five of the best tap dancing scenes in the movies: Virginia Cerezo, Guardian Preview – Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Sequence 8, Northridge CA: Ellen Dostal, Broadway World And finally… Hitchin dancing dads take a dip into Swan Lake: Helen Wright, The Comet

The prices at POB seem to have really banged up over the last couple of seasons. Not that I was a frequent visitor but it used to be much more economic for me to go to Paris than ROH.

BRB use that music with completely different choreography! They are doing Swan Lake in the Autumn - try and get to see it! I prefer Italian wine to French, and always have done!

And in English: https://operaballet.be/en/the-house/blog/sidi-larbi-new-artistic-director-of-royal-ballet-flanders

Angela and I were posting at the same time. I've merged the topics

Courtesy of Cloud Dance Festival I have just picked up that Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has been announced as the new Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet of Flanders. It looks s if the press conference is still ongoing. The twitter tag for the company is @BalletFlanders