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Fonty

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Everything posted by Fonty

  1. Fonty
    Going to Wimbledon this year, Alison? I have only just discovered this thread. Where was everyone during the little tennis tournament last week?
  2. Fonty
    What's the connection between Fonteyn and 118 Long Acre? I know the road, but can't picture the exact building.
  3. Fonty
    Regarding the email about e tickets, the message said "Keep it on your phone or print it now". I find it amusing that even the ROH thinks we are all so trendy these days, we have phones that are capable of such things. My phone allows me to make phone calls. Oh, and I can even send texts!
  4. Fonty
    Well, I've just decided to book a ticket for the matinee on Saturday. Last minute decision, as I was supposed to be somewhere else. I am slightly confused, as in spite of all the "Please collect your ticket from the Box Office" notices, my confirmation email said I am getting an e-ticket. I wait with eager anticipation. Sadly, I don't have my blue badge.
  5. Fonty
    Thanks Floss. I wonder why Nerina got told off? I would love to see a ballerina do something like that, it would make a nice change. Janet mentioned my own personal hate, which is dancers who, by throwing in doubles or whatever, do not turn in time to the music. It really annoys me. For one thing, it looks clumsy, and for another they have to drop out of the turns and do something else in order to finish at the same time as the music. Often it looks as though it has been made up on the spot. Alison, I wasn't suggesting that all principals should dance Swan Lake, far from it, It was just that Sarah Wildor was one of my favourites because not only was she such a good actress, but she was a lovely, lyrical dancer, as I recall. But she wasn't someone who flashed their technique at you, she was more the understated, "English" style. Her comment seemed to be implying that the authorities didn't think this style was suitable for the ballet. A pity, I would have thought she would have brought something different to the role, but sadly we'll never know.
  6. Fonty
    I think one of best dance actresses that I saw was Sarah Wildor, but I don't think she ever danced Swan Lake? I remember reading once that she said that she wasn't considered to be a technician. I never quite understood what she meant by that. If she was a Principal, surely she should have been given the opportunity?
  7. Fonty
    While I agree with most of what you say, Mab, I don't think the 32 fouettes in Swan Lake are actually set in stone, are they? I would hate to think that a dancer who might be an exceptional Odette/Odile is denied the opportunity because they don't happen to be very good at one tiny part of the dance curriculum. It's a bit like saying anybody who can't manage a 6 o'clock extension is not technically good enough to dance a role. Personally, if a particular dancer has a different party piece, I wouldn't have an issue with them doing something else. Edited to add does anyone know of dancers who do perform something else? Was it Nadia Nerina who substituted jumps and beats, rather than fouettes?
  8. Fonty
    I do wish Stepanek didn't have the same surname as a certain toothy tennis player. Each time his name is mentioned, I get a bit startled for a moment!
  9. Fonty
    Yes, I can't see anything wrong with being called an actress, it just indicates the sex of the performer. Otherwise, you have to say female actor, which is the term they use at the Oscars now. Seems just plain silly to me.
  10. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    I'll third both Alison and Quintus. I had organised my entire weekend around the French Open. And we are also supposed to be travelling across France in the next couple of weeks, but the weather is the holding up our plans. Friends of ours cut their holiday short because the weather has been so awful over there. And it doesn't help that people in Scotland keep telling me how hot it is up there, either.
  11. Fonty
    I don't think I ever saw any of Bread, but I adored Butterflies. I echo everyone else in the hope they will show it again as a tribute.
  12. Fonty
    Yes, me too, Alison. The trouble is, we can wait, but if we don't like what we see, we are stuck with it for the next 20 (?) years. So I would rather our feelings were made plain now, before the new costumes and scenery have been completed.
  13. Fonty
    Thanks Janet. Were you allowed to take any left over cakes away? Unless, of course, you didn't have any left overs.
  14. Fonty
    Not sure I would class Woolf Works as a full length ballet. When I saw it, I thought it was 3 one act ballets united by a common theme, and any one of the acts would stand alone as part of a triple bill.
  15. Fonty
    Yes, I can remember the RB using the word Coryphee as well. I think it was still in use in the 80s. I rather like the term.
  16. Fonty
    Is First Artist what used to be called Coryphee? What would someone promoted to FA normally be expected to dance?
  17. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    I just checked, Alison, because I wasn't sure what the law actually was regarding driveways. On 1 October 2008 new rules applied for householders wanting to hard surface over their front gardens. If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres, you are required to get planning permission for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not control rainwater running off onto roads. This will apply to new driveways, drive extensions or drive replacements. You do NOT need planning permission if the surface to be covered is less than five square metres or if the new surface is permeable or porous or if a traditional surface is laid and the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally or if it is directed to a soakaway via a drainage channel. An estimated 70% of existing driveways already drain in a sustainable way. . So, impermeable driveways are not banned, which startles me. Also, I would be interested to know how many people get planning permission refused. And whether an official actually goes round and checks that there is a border or soakaway. I suspect not. Sorry to hear about your stressful time 2dm.
  18. Fonty
    I was hoping to watch this at the cinema, but unfortunately I had another commitment today. I thing there is one showing at a local cinema on Wednesday, fingers crossed I can see that. So, not having seen it, I would be interested to know how Scarlett is able to interpret the music. For me, ballet is the visualisation of music. I don't necessarily want innovation, or wonderfully unique combinations of steps. I just want to feel that the dancers are at one with the score. Of course, this does depend on how good the music is, but even if it is not particularly memorable, at least I want to feel moved by the sight of choreography which strives to link up with the music in the best way possible.
  19. Fonty
    Why do you think that, Lindsay? If the idea was for McGregor to use his contemporary background to work within the traditional mould, and create some new, interesting classical ballets, then it has failed. Yes, he has produced lots of new work, none of which has done anything to raise the standards of the dancers, or even used their training to good effect IMO. Moreover, the young choreographers coming through don't have any examples of new classical works to inspire them. Hence, someone who wants to create a more traditional piece for the RB has to delve into the archives.
  20. Fonty
    I remember seeing Lucette Aldous in the film they showed on tv, and thinking how wonderful it was to have an LF in a tutu and doing proper dancing, rather than wafting about the stage in the sort of elegant dress that makes her look like mother of the bride. Why has it become the fashion to turn this in to a non dancing role? Do they think it balances out the antics of Carabosse? And if it has become customary to give this role to a taller dancer, why is that? Someone with superb technique and stage presence can command the stage, no matter how short they are. We've all commented on the remarkably average dancing for some of the fairy variations in the past. Presumably Grey, Sibley, Collier and so on are all available and able to contribute? What astounds me is that they are not routinely called in to give a little extra advice and coaching, not just for new youngsters but for some of the more experienced dancers who may need a bit of a reminder.
  21. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    Oh dear, I still wonder why they removed all the hedging, the exntension isn't going to be that big. New owners around here do that, because they don't want the bother of maintaining them. Lovely shrubs and hedges are replaced with ugly fencing, or huge walls. My new neighbour adorned his with ugly security spikes as well, as if he thought I was going to climb into his garden. Although as he has never lived in it, and rents it out, maybe it was to protect me!
  22. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    It was their hedge, was it, and not yours? I must say, it seems very short sighted to pull down a mature hedge. They are like gold dust, and all the gardening magazines are urging people to plant them.
  23. Fonty
    If I could only see one, then my choice would be either be Marquez and Campbell, or Morera and Muntagirov. Both ladies are wonderful in this, but what makes it special for me are the two men. Muntagirov is just fantastic in everything, and cannot put a foot wrong as far as I am concerned. And Campbell is rapidly becoming one of my personal favourites.
  24. Fonty
    And I was just commenting on the link posted in 256.
  25. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    It makes me wonder what the government is doing. If someone must turn their front garden into a parking space, there are perfectly good permeable surfaces that could be used, and there are some very attractive ones around. It should be compulsory, not voluntary. The evidence is there for everyone to see, but nobody in authority has made this very simple move. Also, I have just checked, and under permitted development rights, extensions "should not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the original house." That is a huge amount, and completely wrong in my opinion. If you have a very large garden to start with, you end up with a ground floor that is way out of all proportion to the rest of the house. If you have a small garden, you end up with a tiny landing strip of decking at the back, which is equally unsightly.
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