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This post is to celebrate the critical acclaim heaped this week on ENB's Beyond Ballet Russes Programme 2. Two reviews which we have just read in the Sunday papers serve to highlight the achievements of the Company under Wayne Eagling's: the very interesting repertoire, the skilled composition of mixed bills, the introduction of new choreography, the nurturing of young talent, the excellence of established stars and the overall high standard of performance. Yet the services of this Artistic Director are being dispensed with.

It is still not too late to sign the petition calling for Wayne's reinstatement at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/32127

Apologies for changing the subject temporarily but we don't know how to start a new thread. Does anyone know, please, what the line-up is for Alain and Widow Simone in Fille and who is aligned with which cast? We have purchased a range of tickets in the hope of seeing certain people who delight us in these roles and it's time to think in terms of offloading some of them.

Returning to the Ballet Russes programmes per se......

Last night saw the arresting premiere of Jeux by Wayne Eagling, an achievement made all the more remarkable because he had to 'fill in' at short notice when another choregrapher dropped out and has done so with professionalism and aplomb in far from ideal personal circumstances. This ballet is set alongside an entertaining short extract from Le Tran Bleu, the timeless Apollo, and the wonderful Suite en Blanc.with the latter showcasing last night some of the amazing young talent in the company alongside stellar Senior Principals.

We understand that there is a Dancing Times ticket offer for the remaining shows this week (£10 for any available seat). This requires the Promo Code RUSSES on www.eno.org. Please do yourselves a really big favour and go. You will have a wonderful afternoon/evening.

Contributors to this post and other readers will be interested to learn that there is now a petition concerning Wayne and the ENB Board on the government website [http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/32127] Please visit with a view to signing. Many thanks.

We feel that it is a real pity that this thread, which started being about Wayne Eagling, has been swamped by posts about anonymity and really quite unfortunate attacks on Irmgard, whom we know from our frequent visits to the ENB studios and attendance at performances of Giselle, and who wrote in such a supportive and thoughtful way about the situation at ENB. We should also say that, out of 14 possible dress rehearsals/performances in the current Ballet Russe run at the Coliseum, we are going to 11. We have been thrilled by the first programme, which evidences all the points we make below, and looking forward to the second, which includes the wonderful Apollo and Suite en Blanc, together with Jeux which Wayne has made at very short notice after a choreographer had to drop out.

In common with the writer of the letter to the DT, Jeffrey Taylor in the Express, and people we have spoken to recently, we cannot understand the thinking of the ENB Board in wishing to dispose of Wayne's services, as clearly they have. For us, his achievements include the following:

- standards of production and performance generally acknowledged to be the highest ever achieved by ENB

- attracting top dancers to join the company and stay happily

- bringing on, and giving opportunities to, new, young talent

- developing an exciting line up of young male dancers

- introducing international teachers of high calibre

- assembling and leading an enormously talented Ballet Staff able to get the very best out of the Company at all levels

and imbue the rehearsal process with a sense of enjoyment and shared endeavour (no wonder the corps is such a joy)

- nurturing choreographers from within and outside the Company

- commissioning new works as well as choregraphing some himself

- introducing audiences to little seen works and choreographers - e.g. Roland Petit

- balancing innovation in the repertoire (which inspires the dancers) with the necessary Box Office favourites

- programming mixed bills with great skill (an aspect which many Directors get wrong)

- developing the ENB brand and support in the regions even though progress in this respect is hard won

- engendering critical acclaim/media support

It is against such criteria that we believe the performance of an Artistic Director should be judged. The flower throw at last night's performance spoke volumes in terms of people's acknowledgement of the achievements of the Company under Wayne's leadership.

BalletcoForum readers who may not yet have a ticket for Ballet Russes Programme 2 - please get yourselves down to the Coliseum: you will not be disappointed.

Linda and Michael Gainsbury