capybara

Now that we know that there is a groupon offer for the Mikhailovsky Mixed Bills (see other thread), I felt that the ENB deal should also be promulgated. For Ecstacy and Death (Petite Mort, Jeune Homme and Etudes) 18th to 21st April, you can get 2 tickets for the price of one on the top three prices. To book tickets, call the Coli on 020 7845 9300 and quote 'EMERGING' or visit www.ballet.org.uk (ENB's website) and enter the promocode 'EMERGING'. Has anyone heard anything yet about offers for BRB? If not, what is the 'standby' policy for that company, please? As in the case of the aforesaid companies, the sales position for Aladdin does not look good at present.

There are hundreds of tickets unsold for many performances. One wonders about/hopes for some irresistible offers soon.

Thank you, Rio. That's 4 young men graduating from the RBS to the RB Company this year then. Interesting also that both Marcellino and Luca have had named roles almost immediately on joining.

It was interesting that Luca Acri - who is still an RBS students, isn't he? - was cast as one of The Three Gardeners (alongside Dawid and Tristan) at today's Alice rehearsal.

Such a pity about Lauren. One really feels for her, especially at such an important stage in her career. Does anyone know whether there is any truth in the rumour that she is out of La Bayadere? Fingers crossed that she will be OK for that......

Since there appears to be difficulty in giving the links to Vadim's two solos here, searchers may wish to know that, thanks to Graham Watts, both can now be accessed via Vadim's twitter account.

Aileen, I can't find the 'shades act' solo on YouTube. The clip that I have seen shows the 'wedding' solo twice! But, yes, he was in blue for the 'shades act'. Where did you find that? Of course, the rest of the performance of Bayadere was wonderfully up to the Mariinsky's standards with Ekaterina Osmolkina and Oxana Skorik both lovely as Gamzatti and Nikiya respectively. Alas, we couldn't stay for the Gala. Too many RB tickets already booked for this weekend.

Apologies, the link has disappeared and I can't seem to edit it in.

The YouTube film actually show Vadim's 'wedding' solo twice. His 'shades' act solo was equally stunning. A privilege to be there. Incidentally, Xander Parish features prominently and very well indeed in the Grand Pas. So the YouTube extract is very much worth a look on both counts. I think the link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4awdOTTQig

And Laurretta Summerscales was The People's Choice winner. A lovely evening with some stunning performances.

I couldn't agree more!

I would really like to think that Bruce is right and that ENB's new image will be the key to attracting new audiences. However, some of the people who have commented to me on the current advertising campaign are very much in the target age group and very 'modern' in most respects - and, as I said earlier, their views are entirely negative and, if anything, discourage booking for the April Triple Bill at the Coliseum for which, sadly, tickets are selling very slowly.

I cannot get my head around the concept of a company existing aside from its core art and its performances. For several people I know the ads in the national papers conveyed an image (I won't say what!) very different from a troupe which aspires to be "Britain's best loved ballet company".

Interestingly, ENB's Swan Lake in the round at the Albert Hall is being advertised in the Sunday papers today in the old, traditional way. Maybe this says something about what Raymond Gubbay (who promotes the season) thinks of the new image?

I have just discovered the information below on the new ENB website. It looks as if it is going to be a really good evening. The final is fast approaching and we can now confirm the evening’s repertoire. Nancy Osbaldeston and Ken Saruhashi - Don Quixote Alison McWhinney and Nathan Young - Giselle Laurretta Summerscales and Guilherme Menezes - Black Swan pas de deux Ken Saruhashi - Verdiana Nancy Osbaldeston - Bach Suite No: 2 Nathan Young - solo variation from Napoli Alison McWhinney - Grand Pas Classique Guilherme Menezes - A Simple Joy Laurretta Summerscales - Elite Syncopations We also have a very special performance of Diana & Acteon danced by Yonah Acosta (2012 Emerging Dancer and People’s Choice Award Winner) and Shiori Kase (Emerging Dancer 2011). The evening’s performances will be followed by the Emerging Dancer 2013 award presentation as well as the eagerly anticipated The People’s Choice Award 2013. Tickets are now sold out.

Thank you, Alison.

I'm really sorry. Firstly, I should have posted this under news rather the heading it has appeared under. Secondly, I do not know how to provide a link in Doing Dance as suggested above. Please could someone help sort this out? Many thanks.

This event (in the Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre) which is associated with ENB's Emerging Dancer Competition, seems to have received little or no publicity. Details are as follows: 10.30 - 11.45 ENB School Class and performance piece 12.00 - 13.15 ENB Class (including the six Emerging Dancer nominees) 13.15 - 13.45 Q & A with ENB principals (opportunity for audience questions) 14.00 - 15.30 Etudes- based schools workshop 15.45 -16.45 ENB Rehearsal for Petite Mort 17.00 - 17.30 ENBYouthCo

Marcellino joined the RB from the RBS last December and was quite prominent in the corps during the Onegin run. He hails from Portugal, I believe. What a wonderful opportunity for him so early in his career.

Of course, Osipova is a blonde who keeps her hair jet black all the time because she believes that that is how ballerinas should look.

My memory might be playing me false, but I thought that Jonny was cast as Onegin with Tamara as Tatiana in 2004 but he was injured and replaced by Thiago well before the run. Of course Tamara herself was taken out and replaced by Laura after the pre-general rehearsal which some of us saw (with Alina as Olga and Ivan as Lensky) as part of an Insight Day. Given the emotional heights they reached together in Mayerling, Jonny and Tamara together in Onegin could have been really special. And, alas, in the end, he never danced the role. This has brought on a rush of nostalgia for the days when Insights really were that and were offered over a full day.

Sometimes it seemed to be around 2 hours and 50 minutes but, on other occasions, it ran very near to the 3 hours.

Thank you P de Q.

Please can someone explain the prize structure this year? There only appeared to be special awards and apprenticeships on offer - at least on the video.

It is more difficult than we might realise for young people to represent themselves well in the media. Think Prince Harry. There are many 'back stories' or personal observations at the stage door or in rehearsal which can so easily get in the way of one's appreciation of Principal Dancers and I am glad to see on this site that posters are, in the main, rejoicing in Sergei's performance as Armand. I personally cannot wait until my second viewing next Thursday.