Lynette H

I see from one of the interviews given in the links (Bachtrack) that the company is planning to operate for half the year - April to September /October. That seems to be a sensible plan, meaning they won't be in direct competition with other companies on their summer break. If thy have programmes to offer in July and August these would be very welcome, given that these months can be quite scant in terms of ballet performances.

The Swan Lake live cinema screening is given on the ROH website as Wed 24 April 7:15pm . Encore Sun 28th 2pm. So that should be Naghdi / Ball. A cheaper option than being there in person, if that affects your booking plans.....

The 4th Oct is clearly a very unlucky day. Tube and rail strikes and now an injured ballerina.

The Manon Insight was sold out before booking opened. It seems they don't hold back tickets even for the "lesser" Friends, never mind the public. (It does say it will be livestreamed).

Some very substantial cuts to the arts in Birmingham came in 2016. I recall posting something about them here then, but I don't think it triggered the same kind of reaction. Here's the news from 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/dec/15/birmingham-arts-council-spending-cuts-symphony-orchestra I suspect the funding has shrunk still further since then. So the latest news is indeed calamitous but its the end of a long drawn out process.

Concerning the Festival of New Choreography, the blub said that there would be performances in the Linbury and Clore Studio as well as the four scheduled dates on the main stage. The main stage dates are there on the ROH web site but there's no trace on the web site so far of anything in the Linbury or Clore. Presumably the Linbury piece is the work by Robert Binet. Booking is now open for some Friends so this seems a bit odd. Just curious because the Clore and Linbury seem more congenial homes for some new work - the main stage is dauntingly vast for a choreographer at an early stage in their career.

Also The Orchard Theatre in Dartford https://orchardtheatre.co.uk/Online/default.asp

Oops you are right. It is in there. Apologies.

Runs 21 Ag to 3 Sept. I had a look at what was on offer - no dance shows sadly. Though there are some good offers for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge - choreography Arlene Philips with James Cousins - a very enjoyable production https://www.todaytix.com/london/category/london-theatre-week?utm_source=IterableMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LON_TT_LTW_TixSellingFast_082123_Segment1&userId=c.rm74tihnce3h735yxgj

Just spotted that this had popped up on Sadler's web site for 2 and 3 November. "After a hugely successful 2022 season, New English Ballet Theatre returns with a dynamic programme danced to music from Baroque to Pop, created by six successful choreographers. The first half includes All in Passing by British choreographer and House of Makers’ Director Peter Leung accompanied by an original electronic score by Nicholas Robert Thayer. Baroque meets contemporary ballet in a new work by one of our Associate Choreographers, NEBT’s Assistant Director Daniela Cardim, set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach The second half features the world premiere of the electrifying Genesis Dance Project, a collection of works by four choreographers, set to songs by the legendary band Genesis. Created with the band’s generous permission, this modern-day ballet features imaginative costumes and spectacular imagery, showcasing some of Genesis’ most iconic prog rock and pop hits. The work includes The Cinema Show by Ruth Brill, Firth of Fifth by Valentino Zucchetti, I Can’t Dance and Invisible Touch by Kristen McNally, and Ripples and Watcher of the Skies by Wayne Eagling." Independent hire, not part of Sadler's season so no members discount. https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/nebt-genesis-dance-project-and-new-works/

Bolle appeared with Zenaida Yanowsky in Manon in 2014. Her last performance as Manon, I think. It's her I remember (stunning, astonishing detail) rather than him, but he was a very supportive partner.

Reformatted Francesca Hayward, Marcelino Sambe*, Mayara Magri, Alexander Campbell, Gary Avis Wednesday 17 January 7.30pm Saturday 17 February 1pm Lauren Cuthbertson, Matthew Ball, Itziar Mendizabal, Ryoichi Hirano, Bennet Gartside Friday 19 January 7.30pm Wednesday 14 February 7.30pm Yasmine Naghdi*, William Bracewell*, Anna Rose O’Sullivan*, Luca Acri, Thomas Whitehead Saturday 20 January 7.30pm Saturday 3 February 7pm Natalia Osipova, Reece Clarke, Mayara Magri, Alexander Campbell, Gary Avis Saturday 3 February 1pm (AV1) 7 February 7.30pm (Live Cinema Relay) Marianela Nuñez, Roberto Bolle†, Itziar Mendizabal, Ryoichi Hirano, Christopher Saunders 9 February 7.30pm 17 February 7pm Fumi Kaneko*, Vadim Muntagirov, Leticia Dias*, Joseph Sissens*, Bennet Gartside Friday 23 February 7.30pm Tuesday 27 February 7.30pm Sarah Lamb, Steven McRae, Meaghan Grace Hinkis, James Hay, Christopher Saunders Monday 26 February 7.30pm Saturday 2 March 1pm Akane Takada, Alexander Campbell, Yuhui Choe, Valentino Zucchetti, Thomas Whitehead Saturday 2 March 7pm Friday 8 March 7.30pm Melissa Hamilton, Calvin Richardson*, Meaghan Grace Hinkis, James Hay, Christopher Saunders Tuesday 5 March 7.30pm

And another offering to report. The City of London have revived the concept of Bartholomew Fair after a century or more gap. There are various free performances, mostly outside. one you might like to think about is RESUGAM - 31 Aug to 2nd Sept 6:15pm "Look up in wonder, as one of the world’s most extraordinary vertical dance companies present this breathtaking performance on the iconic façade of Wren’s masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral. An enduring symbol of hope for Londoners for more than 300 years, director Melecio Estrella has taken inspiration from the inscription Resurgam (I shall rise), carved onto the south portico of the cathedral, to create this awe-inspiring performance, which explores what it takes to be optimistic in challenging times. BANDALOOP, is co-produced and co-commissioned by the City Corporation and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. The performance of Resurgam is an outdoor show and will take place on the façade of St Paul's Cathedral. The performance can be viewed from the southside of the Cathedral." There's more about this and other free stuff here https://www.thecityofldn.com/bartholomew-fair/

I was wondering how many people were looking to go and see live (or encore) relays at the cinema instead of attending in person ? Seems quite an attractive option to me (if you like the cast...) If you usually stand, then cinema seats are more expensive. But if you usually choose somewhere in the amphi, the price differential is more attractive. There are live relays for Don Q, Nutcracker, Manon, Macmillan Triple and SwAn Lake. The encore performances (not all cinemas do them) are usually on the Sunday afternoon after the relay.

Acosta Danza's performance of Carmen in this programme was considerably livelier than the Royal's original performance of this - particularly so in the tavern scene that we saw. Acosta is reviving his Carmen for Acosts Danza, and it is at Sadler's Wells next July. Booking open. https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/acosta-danza-carlos-acostas-carmen/

Proof the elixir of life exists. Carlos seems to have an inexhaustible supply.

Spotted this yesterday and used it to cancel a ticket. The credit turned up immediately and I was able to use this right away to buy a ticket for a different date. Very handy.

In the fountains in the courtyard at Somerset House - 22 dancers perform Shobana Jeyasingh's Counterpoint. Made for this site in 2010. Free. Sounds like a fun thing to drop in on. Performance is 10 minutes in length. Saturday 19 August at 11am, 12 noon, 3pm, 4pmSunday 20 August at 3pm, 4pm, 6pm, 7pm

The RBS matinee has been an important rite of passage for many people. Leanne Benjamin writes movingly in her autobiography how important her schools performance as Giselle was to her -partnered by Jonathan Cope. I think that Laura Morera also attached a lot of importance to her schools performance as the Gypsy Girl in The Two Pigeons. (I hope I've got that right - please correct me if this is a mix up). Often schools performances used to be referenced in a dancer's cv - I think I recall that Sarah Wildor's referenced her performance as The Betrayed Girl in de Valois Rake's Progress ( mmmm....I do hope that is right) I'm sure that there are people out there with better memories). I think Muntagirov was supposed to do Oberon in Ashton's The Dream but was unable to do for some reason. Other performances I recall were Reece Clarke as the lead male in Raymonda Act III. (Was Katsura his partner then ?) Also Haoiiang Feng (currently at BRB) as the poet in the production of Les Syphides staged by Monica Mason a few years ago. The RBS performance has often been a time to catch upon choreography sometimes rather neglected by the company. There was a lively performance of de Valois' Checkmate a few years ago - something we haven't seen for some time on the Covent Garden stage. Also a performance of Ashton's Les Patineurs It is good to see students taking on substantial pieces of choreography. Ashton's La Valse and MacMillian's Concerto have featured in the past. Handy for getting lots of students on stage, but still a real challenge for them. I did think that this year's performance, while containing some wonderful performances, lacked a really substantial extended classical work that tested out partnering skills. The students looked more comfortable in more modern vocabulary

Up and down the land, most theatres have panto in that time slot. The logistics of this might be more difficult than we imagine.

From the latest Friends email "From 17 July until the end of August, our escalators will be undergoing essential maintenance. There will be alternative routes in place but it may take a little longer to get around our building, so please do allow a little extra time when visiting us and getting to your seats. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. Our visitor experience team will be on hand to assist you. " Something to factor in if you are planning a visit - or intending to meet up with friends siting in a different part of the house. There aren't that many lifts and the existing stairs may get very congested. I remember the old stone stairs that you had to use to get up to the amphi pre the redevelopment. Always needed a rest half way up.

I couldn't find the Winter Draft works in Winter either.

Nor directly related to booking woes, but to the autumn season - I'm sure there was originally supposed to be a Winter Draft works scheduled for 11 December, which I expected to be in the autumn booking period. It seems to have vanished entirely. There's no trace of it now.

The programme booklet for the RBS performances at Opera Holland Park this week lists the contracts for this years graduates. Six join the RB Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme (Bethany Bartlett, Sierra Glasheen, Seung See Han, Caspar Lench, Isabella Shaker, Blake Smith). Four join BRB / BRB2 (Ariana Allen, Tom Hazleby, Sasha Manuel, Alfie Shacklock). Other destinations include Joffrey Studio Company (2), Finnish National Ballet Junior Company, National Ballet of Canada, ABT Studio Company, Norwegian National Ballet 2, Royal Danish Ballet, Dresden, Houston Ballet II, Boston Ballet II, Orlando Ballet II, Europaballet, Hungarian National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet Junior Company. I can't find a link on the RBS site for this at the moment, hope I have transcribed correctly.

A 24hr offer from TodayTix. "Save up to 51%" https://www.todaytix.com/london/shows/26416-cinderella-in-the-round?utm_source=IterableMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LON_TT_CinderellaITR24hroffer_061623&userId=c.rm74tihnce3h735yxgj They also have offers on the Bourne Romeo and Juliet and Message in a Bottle.