Jan McNulty

No, that is not necessarily the case at all Straceydor. For example all the current productions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker tend to be "based on" Ivanov/Petipa but will all have subtle differences. Where choreography is owned by a living choreographer or a trust then the steps should be the same eg Cranko's Onegin or Balanchine's works.

At least one of the ENB productions I have seen included a Mother Gingerbread/Hubbard/something of that ilk but I can't remember which production and it didn't inspire me. In fact it was completely erased from my memory banks till the recent discussion!

Lori Gilchrist and John Hull, both ex-NB.

I hope I get to see them when they are over here - a couple of my favourite dancers are now there!

Thanks Melody, I'd completely erased that piece of music from my memory!

Of course anyone who becomes aware of links hidden behind paywalls is welcome to mention them on this site, as Beryl H obviously had done.

Does Mother Gingerbread use the Mirlitons music (Everyone's a fruit and nutcase for anyone old enough to remember!)?

That is so beautiful to watch! Thanks for sharing the link. In the 1980s, just as was beginning as a ballet-watcher, the BBC showed a television series called Dancer, presented by Peter Schaufuss. He commented on the Bournonville style and one of the first things I saw was his production of La Sylphide for ENB (then London Festival Ballet) starring Eva Evdokimova and Peter Schaufuss himself. I just fell in love with the style! I love the very deft footwork and all the ballon and I think I like Ashton for the same reason. One of the most joyous things (IMHO) to watch on a stage is Act 3 of Napoli!

Beautiful words Alison. Merry Christmas to all BalletCoers!

Hello Flora and welcome out of the lurking shadows! Thanks for sharing your DD's experiences of YDA with us. I hope you will continue to contribute.

Hello MiSi and welcome to the Forum. I have moved your post to "Doing Dance" which I think may be more appropriate but I have also left a link in the original forum. I am sure some of our other Members will be able to chip in. Are you based in Copenhagen by any chance? It's one of my favourite cities and I love the RDB!

Links - Wednesday, December 24, 2014 Review – Royal Ballet, Don Quixote, London: Luke Jennings, Observer Interview – Ulrik Birkkjaer, Royal Danish Ballet: Laura Dodge, London Dance Review – Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Swan Lake, The Naiad and The Fisherman, Don Quixote, New York: Apollinaire Scherr, FT Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Uprising, Odetta, After the Rain, Memoria, New York: Robert Greskovic, Wall Street Journal Review – National Ballet of Canada, The Nutcracker, Toronto: Paula Citron, Toronto Globe and Mail Review – Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, The Nutcracker, New York: Rose Marija, Broadway World Review – Los Angeles Ballet, The Nutcracker, Los Angeles: Shari Barrett, Broadway World Review – Austin McCormick, Nutcracker Rouge, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Preview - Cairo Opera Ballet, The Nutcracker, Cairo: Unattributed, Ahram Interview – Sergei Polunin explains his indecision: Ismene Brown, Blog via Izvestia Feature – Andrew Murphy (ex BRB) finds an answer to his hip pain: Amber Hewitt, Houston Chronicle Review - Astana Ballet, Zhusan, Astana, Kazakhstan: Mlika Rustem, Astana Times And finally... Feature – Ballet: Fashion’s new fixation: Ellie Pithers, Telegraph

My Chunkydog has much better social skills with humans than other dogs! She was attacked some years ago and is now very timid unless she has got to know the dog.

And here's one from BRB:

Phoenix Dance Theatre - Spring 2015 Two premieres and a double bill by Christopher Bruce CBE on a national tour For its Spring 2015 season Phoenix Dance Theatre, under Artistic Director Sharon Watson, proudly presents a trademark mixed bill, featuring four works. The 10-venue tour kicks-off at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds on 11 February and concludes at Northern Stage Newcastle on 28 May, with premières from Sharon Watson and Caroline Finn and a double bill by Christopher Bruce CBE. The double bill by Christopher Bruce CBE features Shadows, a brand new work created especially for Phoenix Dance Theatre and a restaging of Christopher’s energetic study of life in the 1940’s, Shift. This double bill was previously performed at the Linbury Studio Theatre, London in November 2014, the first time that Phoenix has performed any of this renowned choreographer’s work. The mixed bill also features two world premieres – TearFall by Sharon Watson and Bloom by NewAdventures Choreographer Award winner Caroline Finn. Watson follows up her audience favourites Melt(2011) and Repetition of Change (2013) with TearFall, a piece that builds on her exploration of tears through dance, whilst Finn’s work often presents darkly comic expressions of life and humanity using a playful, quirky and highly engaging choreographic style. Fuller programme details to be announced early in January 2015 Dates Venue Box Office 11 – 14 Feb West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds 0113 213 7700 24 Feb Watford Palace 01923 225671 3 Mar Curve Leicester 0116 242 3595 12 Mar Worthing Connaught Theatre 01903 206206 31 Mar Oldham Coliseum 0161 624 2829 22 Apr Buxton Opera House 0845 127 2190 7 May Liverpool Playhouse 0151 709 4776 13 May CAST Doncaster 01302 303 959 21 May The Churchill Theatre Bromley 0844 871 7620 28 May Northern Stage Newcastle 0844 8717 620 NOTES TO EDITORS: Sharon Watson – Phoenix Dance Theatre Artistic Director Sharon Watson was appointed as the 7th Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre in May 2009. Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, Sharon danced with Spiral and Extemporary Dance Theatre before joining Phoenix as a dancer from 1989 to 1997. During this time Sharon choreographed Never Still and Shaded Limits for Phoenix as well as creating new works for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, National Youth Dance Company, Union Dance and a specially commissioned piece for the opening ceremony of the Royal Armouries in Leeds. She formed ABCD in 1998 and returned to Phoenix in 2000 as the company’s Rehearsal and Tour Director. In 2006 she embarked upon a fellowship with the Clore Leadership Programme and in 2008 she was one of 26 aspiring leaders from around the globe selected to attend Dance East’s fourth Rural Retreat. Sharon was named as one of the Cultural Leadership Programme’s Women to Watch, a list of 50 influential women working in arts and culture in the UK selected by a distinguished panel made up of figures from the cultural and creative industries. Phoenix Dance Theatre Formed in 1981 in inner-city Leeds, Phoenix Dance Theatre has grown to be one of Britain's leading international dance companies. As a repertory company, Phoenix aims to bring together the best choreographers from the international contemporary dance world. A diverse company of dancers works with these choreographers and the Artistic Director to create innovative work, which is communicative, highly accessible and represents the cultural diversity and experience of life in multi-cultural society.Phoenix is inclusive and open to people from all backgrounds. The company has a commitment to widening access to dance through its education, audience development and creative programmes. Phoenix Dance Education’s highly acclaimed programme of education work promotes participation in the arts as a stimulating and creative pursuit within schools and community settings. The company takes on dance apprentices and dancers are encouraged to develop their skills as teachers and choreographers. Sharon Watson was appointed as Artistic Director in 2009. A more detailed history of Phoenix is available atwww.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk

Links - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 Review – Royal Ballet, Don Quixote, London: Zoe Anderson, Independent Review – Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, ChopEniana, Patterns in Space, Esmerelda, Dying Swan, Don Quixote, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Paris Opera Ballet, The Nutcracker, Paris: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Review – English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: GJ Dowler, Classical Source Review – Scottish Ballet, The Nutcracker, Edinburgh: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Feature – Keeping Nutcracker running like clockwork (NYCB), New York: Lizzie Simon, Wall Street Journal Review – Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Nutcracker, Winnipeg: Holly Harris, Winnipeg Free Press Feature – If there’s mice and mirlitons… : Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Review – Oakland Ballet, The Nutcracker, Oakland: Carla Escoda, Huffington Post Feature – National Museum of Dance School of Arts, The Nutcracker Act 2, Saratoga: Donna J Bell, The Saratogian Feature – Kristina Chan: Valerie Lawson, Sydney Morning Herald Review – Neil Greenberg, THIS, New York: Brendan Drake, Broadway World Review – Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, Virtuosity of Forgetting, Chicago: Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune Review – Cape Town City Ballet, Cinderella, Cape Town: Shirley-Anne Bezuidenhout, Artslink

It came up on a google search and I had full access, which is why I published the link. Sorry if people can't get in. One of the top 5 bugbears was mobile phones.

Aileen, I'm a dog person and I do not believe huskies are suitable pets. When I am out with Chunkydog and I see what I think is a husky off the lead I am very wary.

I've just come across this article in The Australian

Links - Monday, December 22, 2014 Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Uprising, Suspended Women, Odetta, New York: Lauren Gallagher, DanceTabs Review – Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, ChopEniana, Patterns in Space, Esmerelda, Dying Swan, Don Quixote, New York: Marianne Adams, Danceview Times Review – New York Theatre Ballet, The Nutcracker, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Oakland Ballet, The Nutcracker, Oakland: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Review - Los Angeles Ballet, The Nutcracker, Los Angeles: Helen Carefoot, Neon Tommy Blog – Rumour of new Bolshoi Ballet chief denied: Ismene Brown, Blog and Moskovsky Komsomolets Feature – Benedicte Bemet (Australian Ballet), A day in the life of a ballerina: unattributed, Harpers Bazaar Australia Preview – Seoul Ballet Theatre, Rage, Seoul: Julie Jackson, Korea Herald

This is dreadful Lisa. Unfortunately I can't offer the dog a home. I am surprised the authorities have intervened. They would not be able to in England for a "dog on dog" incident.

Hello Vanartus and welcome to the Forum! I hope you will continue to contribute.

Well fellow forum member MargS and I enjoyed a fabulous afternoon of ballet yesterday. This ballet has really bedded in since its opening season last year and I think it is a credit to Carlos Acosta and the dancers of the Royal Ballet that it comes across so joyously. People who know me will know exactly why I booked yesterday afternoon's performance and I was not disappointed! Akane Takada was a delight to me as Kitri - hers is a much gentler portrayal than the feisty Roberta Marquez but I liked her very much indeed. She was absolutely sublime in the Dryad scene. Also in the Dryad scene I loved Yasmine Naghdi as Amour. Ex-NB favourite Isabella Gasparini stood out from the crowd for me too. Alexander Campbell gave a wondrous performance as Basilio - he really inhabited the character and his dancing was enthralling - the one-handed lifts in act 1 were show stoppers! He brought just the right amount of humour into it too with plenty of laughs throughout - it's amazing what eyebrow-ography can add to an interpretation! I thought he and Akane were terrific together, with a great rapport. All the dancers on stage really looked as though they were enjoying themselves. I am very glad I was there to witness this wonderful performance. It was lovely to see fellow Forum members Josephine, Don Q Fan and Jmhopton too. I'm just sorry I missed Tony and Michelle and any other Forum members there.

Links - Sunday, December 21, 2014 Preview – The best (and worst) of ballet and dance over Christmas, London: Ismene Brown, Spectator Reviews – Sarasota Ballet, La Fille Mal Gardee, Sarasota: Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald Tribune Anna Dearing, Sarasota Observer Review – Northern Ballet, Peter Pan, Leeds: Luke Jennings, Observer Feature – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, new ballet Odetta pays tribute to civil rights icon: Jocelyn Noveck, Columbia Tribune Review of the year: Dance in 2014, Los Angeles: Lewis Segal, LA Times Book extract – Michaela DePrince, Hope in a ballet shoe: Michaela DePrince, Mail Review – Jennifer Weber, The Hip-hop Nutcracker, New York: Samantha Bancroft, Broadway World Review – Orlando Ballet, The Nutcracker, Orlando: Matthew J Palm, Orlando Sentinel Review – Festival Ballet Providence, The Nutcracker, Providence: Veronica Bruscini, Broadway World Review - Hubbard Street Dance/Second City, The Art of Falling, Chicago: Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune Feature – Dancing Twins escape Cuba: Roxana Popescu, UT San Diego

Just came across this while culling the links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/19/making-a-tutu_n_6357624.html?utm_hp_ref=dance