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capybara

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  1. capybara
    It is confirmed on the individual page that The Judas Tree will be performed by the RB and Song of the Earth by ENB: http://www.roh.org.uk/mixed-programmes/the-judas-tree-song-of-the-earth Elsewhere , it makes clear that the NB will dance Gloria, the RB The Judas Tree and Elite Syncopations will be a joint venture involving the RB, BRB, NB and SB: http://www.roh.org.uk/mixed-programmes/gloria-the-judas-tree-elite-syncopations The earlier programme has BRB dancing Concerto, SB Le Baiser de la Fe with Elite Syncopations as above plus ENB: http://www.roh.org.uk/mixed-programmes/concerto-le-baiser-de-la-fee-elite-syncopations
  2. capybara
    Rina is now aged 19; Francesca 18. Today on social media congratulations are being offered to Julia Conway who is aged 17 and has just joined ENB (from the RBS second year).
  3. capybara
    I went with high hopes and was underwhelmed - indeed bored. Maybe I'm just not someone who 'gets' musicals but I found the storyline weak, the acting unconvincing, the dancing in the chorus numbers cliched, and the constant moving of 'scenery' distracting. The upside was that seeing this show has made me value even more (if that were possible) the high quality programmes, performances and artistry of 'our' ballet companies.
  4. capybara
    (following from MAB).......and, if Polunin is to be Armand, nothing can detract from the fact that he is particularly fine in that role. There are, of course, many factors in play in the casting but I think that the RB could also have afforded to field one debutante this time round.
  5. capybara
    Golding was paired with Lamb and is now replaced by Hirano. Hamilton is the solo girl in the first cast of Rubies. I agree with those above who felt that the matinee performance got Jewels off to a wonderful start.
  6. capybara
    Congratulations to the deserved winner. While I had problems with the 'balance' of the programme, I felt it could/did help people who are unfamiliar with ballet understand how challenging an art it is. I do wish that the RBS could get behind the venture. As others have said, YBDY was an excellent initiative with entrants (up to the semi-final stage, at least) perhaps more widespread and more representative of ballet training in the UK today than is the case with the TV venture. There was some excellent dancing at the recent RBS Solos Evening.
  7. capybara
    Yes, it may be. However, this is ENB in 2017 not The Bausch Company in 1975! These dancers must have worked exceptionally hard for weeks and weeks and weeks and should be enabled to take credit for their performances.
  8. capybara
    Sorry, no. Emily Suzuki danced the Chosen One last Friday. All this confusion goes to show how important it is for lead dancers to be acknowledged. They are turning in stunning performances and most of the audience don't know who they are.
  9. capybara
    There are three 'chosen ones' in the frame. Two have appeared already (Francesca Velicu twice and Emily Suzuki twice). The third dancer may well be 'chosen' tonight. The cast lists are not always up to date for Sacre and changes are not announced - neither is the name of the 'chosen one' even after the performance.
  10. capybara
    Yes, it does usually sell out but there are often quite a lot of returns as well nearer the time.
  11. capybara
    The headline list of Principals for Australia omits Vadim Muntagirov yet he is cast as Florizel in The Winter's Tale. Probably inadvertent but poor nonetheless.
  12. capybara
    There is a feature on Vadim Muntagirov in The Sunday Times Culture section today. It begins, "VM is the hidden weapon of British dance".
  13. capybara
    Oh, pleeeeeeeeeeeeease let's not run with this speculation
  14. capybara
    The ROH feedback page now has a range of comments on the Triple Bill to which readers here might wish to refer: http://www.roh.org.uk/news/your-reaction-what-did-you-think-of-the-royal-ballets-mixed-programme
  15. capybara
    That's rather below the belt, Dave.
  16. capybara
    Several cast changes for The Human Seasons tonight (as a consequence of Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli being injured): http://www.roh.org.uk/news/cast-changes-the-human-seasons-on-24-march-2017
  17. capybara
    MacMillan's Rite was re-dressed the last time ENB performed it. Not sure who the designer was but the costumes had a Japanese feel to me and I think that they worked well. I do understand, though, what you mean about being 'on the outside looking in' as distinct from being able to identify with the dancers. Strangely, I feel that even more with the 'original' versions of the piece and cannot 'get with it' that all.
  18. capybara
    I thought that The Human Seasons went very well tonight. The pairing of Yasmine Nagdhi and Matthew Ball in the last pas de deux was beautiful and, as Bruce has said above, everyone seemed to be 'going for it'.
  19. capybara
    But it is not included at all in the paper itself.
  20. capybara
    Surprised to find only one comment registered so far in support of the dancers: http://www.roh.org.uk/news/your-reaction-what-did-you-think-of-the-royal-ballets-mixed-programme Of course, one wouldn't want to rehearse the HS saga or hint at criticism but some of us might feel that expressions of support are appropriate in that context.
  21. capybara
    I am given to understand that the hard copy headline in the Daily Telegraph reads: "How the 'bickering' Royal Ballet stars fell from grace" and that, while his original 'tweet' is quoted, David Dawson's conciliatory statement is omitted. The accompanying photo shows all 6 men in the sequence with Claire Calvert.
  22. capybara
    I now feel more ready to express some thoughts about Flight Pattern which truly merits being the focus of this thread. I suspect that I haven’t seen the piece from the best vantage point in terms of the early mass movement and patterns created later – that is, higher up than the Stalls Circle. Nevertheless, the early part of the ballet captures for me the feeling of people moving inexorably towards a goal but not being certain what that goal really is or, if and when they reach it, what it will imply for them and their lives. The ‘break out’ groups, individuals and pairs (all superb) express this uncertainty, anguish and, perhaps, hope very vividly - and their activity captures the reality of a refugee ‘line’ where all is not uniform all of the time. Their short sequences also provide energetic dance as distinct from sombre movement - a juxtaposition which is helpful, also, in terms of the work's overall balance. Although the stage remains one tone, the moment when the light falls on Kristen McNally’s hunched back changes the mood movingly and reminds us that each refugee is a unique human being and each one has their own particular anguish. The grief-stricken soliloquy from Marcelino Sambe at the close is searing in its intensity – achingly sad but also having the effect (for me) of lifting the work artistically. It confirms Marcelino as an artist of very considerable range and depth. Of course, we all have our own interpretations of what Flight Pattern portrays – and that is one of its many strengths. I’m not sure how I would have dressed it, but groups of refugees do not, surely, wear heavy trench coats reminiscent of WWII? Also, when one watches footage of refugees on the move, there are always (I think) many more men than women. But what a wonderful opportunity for so many RB dancers to work with a choreographer of this calibre as part of a large team.
  23. capybara
    I understand that there is a possibility of misrepresentation. But it is very hard indeed, in the case of the responses to the criticism of The Human Seasons to imagine that anyone unconnected with the ballet would invest the time and effort to craft such an extensive piece below The Arts Desk review. It feels like a chain reaction: the choreographer is wounded; he accuses the stager and the stager seeks to cast the blame elsewhere. Edited to add that I was posting at the same time as Alison.
  24. capybara
    More than 40 tickets now available in the Stalls for the Thursday 30th March performance of the Triple Bill.
  25. capybara
    Isn't it the very essence of the job of a 'stager' to inspire the dancers, to help them learn unfamiliar moves, to coach them and to support them - and to 'get it right' on behalf of the choreographer? By his own admission, any 'failure' lies at the door of Tim Couchman. As I said above, The Human Seasons has been richly cast - surely the stuff of dreams for most 'stagers'...............................
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