LinMM

I went to see this yesterday in Brighton and I really thought it was fantastic. I wasn't sure what to expect as I don't know this Company but the previous reviews on this are spot on ....this is a real treat. The Old Market in Hove(just) is only a small venue suitably for this show down in the basement and I reckoned seated about two hundred people. It's very well raked so all tickets are the same price and you get a brilliant view wherever you sit. I was about half way down on the end of a row so everything was very close up. It's difficult to know where to start with this because I loved everything about it!! I haven't read the book so my knowledge of Dracula is limited to the usual films ....some closer to the original text than others apparently but this was enough to understand the general goings on and Bruce has a highly original take on it all anyway. It is presented in a series of fast moving and changing scenes almost like a film in a way but I think the staging of this is fabulous. I loved the scene with the horses and wolves galloping through the night very dramatic and atmospheric....the wooing of Lucy quite deliciously funny .....the visitations by Dracula(chucking her around as if gossamer light) ever more intense and the terribleness of her death.....plenty of blood and real horror here.......so many fantastic scenes. I imagine each time one goes one would find another standing out. When I was reading the programme initially and saw the enormous range of music .....13 different composers .....for 22 different scenes ....I thought it might be a bit bitty but no .....each scene was perfectly accompanied by the music and seamlessly evolved into the next just as in the movies......with some beautiful images throughout......the ending with the three vampire brides strung up as almost symbolic of the crucifixion scene while Mina and Dracula danced into a new kind of relationship was particularly stunning. Unlike the original film era where vampires were fair game to be destroyed .....in this version (as it is in more recent films) it's the destroyers you have less sympathy for and more feeling for the vampires and their fate. The dance was pretty eclectic too starting with a wonderfully performed solo introducing Dracula......with that lightness of a creature of the night .....with powers of flight! As others have said Jonathon Goddard was brilliant in this role creating both menace and sympathy. But all the dancers were excellent in their roles. I usually think dancers aren't so good expressing with their voices(difference of breathing habits I think) but not this lot they could scream with the best. Although the main style was contemporary there was quite a few bits of more balletic style with some very quick beaten steps at one point done in perfect unison and light and airy and some folk (Romanian.....not sure?) and even a bit of tap! But it's the dramatic story telling which is at the heart of this work I think and this was totally absorbing......particularly as I had a double wasp sting that afternoon and it completely took my mind of my somewhat throbbing ankle! I looked to see where this is going next but it seems to end in Brighton in my programme but if it's on anywhere after Christmas it's definitely worth seeking out. I couldn't persuade my partner to go to this but after I told him about it (he is a film man) he would like to see it now so obviously will have to catch it somewhere else if we can!! Thanks Sim for telling me about this as I would have missed it otherwise!

Hi Michelle have just emailed you am having trouble with a couple of wasp stings!!

Review coming soon ....but wonderful and impressive Theatre!

What a hassle Michelle. These days I'm a real baby where barely functioning cars are concerned and precisely because I have been in some pretty hairy situations in the past why I am not very tolerant of remarks by partners and relatives of "you'll be fine just ring the recovery line if it doesn't make it!!!" Grrrr!! I once drove from Cambridge to Brighton with the windscreen wipers not working in extremely bad weather.....it rained for 2/3 of the journey!!.... I'm sure this must be illegal ....but it did make me very resourceful with planning the route on way.....like avoiding M11. And M.25 and M.23!! The difficult bit was the Dartford Crossing noway I could avoid this and I was praying the rain would hold off for 20 mins or so which it did!! All this because we had very recently gone down to having only one car....my partners car of course....and I didn't have any info about his then breakdown service info in the car!!! And he is so fussy about choosing the right product when renewing things etc that there would have been no point in me going to a garage and trying to get new windscreen wipers (as I would have done had it been my car)So it's amazing what you can get yourself into sometimes. I'm so glad it wasn't me on that grass verge Michelle!! Also it's amazing how intolerant other drivers can be if you do break down in an awkward place......as if you have deliberately planned to do so.....never mind ones own embarrassment. Ive had some not very savoury things shouted at me on a couple of occasions when this has happened. Anyway this should be for another thread I think! Sorry you didn't make LAB class Michelle. Am looking forward to the grand group rehearsal on the 17th a chance to catch up with people in the other groups like yourself. Hope car is fully functional again now but they do get a bit temperamental once over a certain age!!

Doh ......yes of course!! I sort of imagined there was some sort of new Advanced type of exam!! Amazing what the imagination can do when one hasn't quite got a grip on the info!! Mind you had a double stressful day yesterday as had to be in London by 1pm to pick up a passport being delivered between 1 and 5 which we had paid extra to arrange. Normally no problem but yesterday someone jumped in front of a train at Balcombe(the second one there in as many months) which meant no trains for two hours ......initially announced. Then suddenly a London Bridge train was announced so hundreds of people who had been stranded since 10am all converged on the train.....luckily got a seat there. Then it got to Haywards Heath and just stayed there for an hour. I felt even more sorry for the two women opposite me who missed their Euro star train. Anyway eventually got to Highbury Corner at 2pm hoping the delivery hadn't happened yet but lo and behold there was the card to say had already called(another day it would have been nearer 5 you can bet) So after two phone calls the delivery firm said they would try to get hold of the bloke but didn't hold out much hope of him returning but then I got a call to say he would be back around 5 and he came at 4.30.......so alls well that ends well as they say!! The thought of having to rearrange this again and pay the fee again was not particular welcome or even that practical! After a good LAB rehearsal eventually got home at 11.15pm with no further dreaded disruptions. Anyway that's my excuse for being so dumb about what Adv F meant!!

What is Adv F Sheila?

How annoying Michelle. We recently had trouble with the car battery(ending up in having a new one) but while it was playing up I wouldn't drive the car at night anywhere as the thought of being stranded somewhere not being able to get it started was too much. Perhaps you could look at the cost of hiring against that of getting a taxi though I know the latter will be very expensive both ways!! Fingers crossed it works out for you in the end and the car gets fixed by Friday.

Good luck to all!!

Just like to clarify in my last post that I did not mean the students will be asked to make up their own combination of steps to perform for the examiner (improvise) .....these are always given by the examiner. It's just that if she had someone to practice with they could each 'pretend' to be the examiner and set each other the steps to perform! I don't think that's clear in my post on re reading!! From friends who've taken this exam or similar level as adults yes they do get some time to go over it. In one case the student wasn't sure about the name of the step the examiner had used and just asked the examiner if it was the same as another step......which she then demonstrated.....and the examiner confirmed this. I don't know whether it's because they were much older students but the examiners in each case seemed to be really helpful and kind. These adults took the exam on their own there were no other students with them but this is not always the case of course. Anyway looks like you may have solved the problem Lilac and the teacher must have a pretty good idea of whether her students are capable of passing the exams she puts them in for.........especially at this late stage. Good luck with it all anyway!! Linda

Well have got my ticket for Thursday so am looking forward to seeing this new company(for me)

Love hearing about your DD Katymac I'm pretty sure she will make it in the end!! Happy hols to you and your family xx

Well between the eloquent reviews of both Sim and Bruce it would now seem almost churlish not to make the effort to see it!!! I'll ring tomorrow and hope they've got seats left for Thursday. It does then seem a shame this was not put on at one of the Dome complexes theatres or even at the Theatre Royal. I don't believe the capacity at the Old Market is all that much. They are supposed to be building a brand new Dance Centre in Brighton with a performing space. Ive heard plans are passed and finance is there so hopefully if this is ready as originally planned for 2017 works like this may get a higher profile here in Brighton.

There is a cafe inside the Lilian Bayliss studio on the right as you sign in so don't have to leave the theatre.

May be interested in the Bristol one for friends DD do they have their own website?

What very good advice Aileen and Rowan. I'm a long way off having to deal first hand with the vaguaries of teenagers ways at this point and forget that sometimes they can be their own worst enemy(as can we all in fact!) I do remember though that as an early to mid teen I'm not sure I'd have had the confidence to ask the teacher for extra lessons without my mum being behind it ......this didn't come till I had left school quite honestly......but we do live in different times and today's teenagers as a whole that is do seem thankfully much more confident. If the extra lesson/s with the teacher seem out of the question is there another girl she gets on well with taking the exam who she could get together with and go through things together.....even putting together their own steps from the syllabus to perform for each other etc as will be required in the exam......probably the most nerve wracking bit of it......OR an older student at the Dance school who has already passed this exam? Anyway we will all now be keeping fingers crossed on the day for your DD!

The Lego reindeer and Father Christmas in the Covent Garden Piazza is rather fun but not sure how long it will be there.

I think it's good to aim to pass well not just aim to pass and most students are very keen to get the best mark they possibly can. So any extra help at the mo must be good. Obviously the teacher has great confidence in your daughter Lilac so I'm sure things will be okay but your daughter also needs to feel this confidence so a bit of extra private work might make all the difference. My friend in Oz's daughter is about to take this very same exam(she's 14 at mo) and has been working towards this for almost 18 months .....started in summer of 2013.

Will try to go next Thursday Haven't seen any advertising about this in Brighton. The Old Market is a theatre off the main drag from Brighton to Hove roughly on the border of the two. It's a while since Ive been there. If I make it I'll post a review.

Thanks Sim will look it up and see if I can get there!

Do be careful Michelle. The pain is there for a reason and you may need to rest a bit now .....as you have chosen to do by dropping the ENB class for the time being. Presumably you won't have the City Academy classes after Christmas which may ease off the load but I'd play it by ear and go with what your body is telling you at the time. Don't worry about Wednesday as I'll see you on the Saturday at Sadlers perhaps we can have a coffee between your performances!!

Ive told my friend in Oz about this one and they are looking into it. She is coming over in the summer ...her DD will be 15 by then.

Thanks Jacqueline thTs really kind of you. I'll PM you over price ranges etc as I'm up at Sadlers every Wednesday as the LAB have their rehearsals there and it's not far from where I stay when in London so can keep calling in so perhaps one way or the other we'll get to the May show!! I didn't see any big signs outside Sadlers today saying the performance this evening was cancelled so perhaps Akram has recovered enough to complete the final two. To their credit my partner said Sadlers Wells had rung the home number to tell me the performance was cancelled but he said oh she's already in London so gave them my mobile. Now I did have a call on my mobile but it said number withheld so didn't bother to answer it in case it was one of those people who keep ringing to tell you ....oh we see you have had an accident an d might be due compensation etcetc ......how do they find out!!! So I'm sure the Theatre made every effort to let people know. But as I turned up at the theatre it was too late to do anything else so consoled myself with a nice glass of wine while I decided what to swap the ticket for!!!

Missed that unfortunately but even more unfortunately her performance with Akram Khan at Sadlers wells. I had a ticket for last night but the performance was cancelled due to an injury of Akrams. Anyone else with tickets for this should check before you go in case he's still not able to perform. The Wells handled it all wonderfully and I exchanged ticket for the Dutch National in July!! This was because Guillems May performances are already sold out although returns come in daily apparently so still might get to see her then.

I think there are now quite a few boys only workshops/master classes etc. Ballet theatre UK for example ......based in Hinckley ......have only today advertised on Facebook for a special class for boys in February 2015 unfortunately that one is for post 14 year olds but I'm sure there are others around for younger pupils too. There are of course the Associate classes run by some of the bigger schools such as the Royal Ballet and Elmhurst etc. You audition for these in your own area and then if chosen attend the class run nearest to where you live.....eg they are not all in London!!!

Wow what fantastic elevation. Did she dance in the UK with the Company?