lyn

Actually on that note.. does anyone know when they rehearse in the studio? I got a backstage tour thinking it might be nice just to get a glimpse of the backstage preparation. If they dance that night, are they rehearsing that afternoon?

The ROH website also confirms that Lauren Cuthbertson is cast in Ondiviela's Cassandra:

http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/cassandra-by-ludovic-ondiviela

fantastic! bought it without knowing and now i'm glad i lucked out.

@Mummykool: bread and cheese month -- indeed..!! Booked my tickets and my flights all in one morning.

Got my tickets for a few ballets in seconds almost (my perfect seats!! so relieved), great and easy experience. I remember the panic many years back of getting stuck and having to call in. I do feel annoyed on behalf of the folks who can't buy the Osipova Manon though.. because of rehearsal scheduling/orchestra positioning??

Wow what an insightful read this thread is! Interesting perspectives on culture.

So i have a random question.. When i watch ballet i've always tended to angle my head to follow the dancer i'm watching. It happens quite unconsciously, and I'm aware that dancers watching other dancers do it too. I do it in the theatre sometimes when I get super into a piece, but always hope that it's not too irritating for the person behind me, because my head only.. Rotates.. Rather than moves translationally. Uh. If that made sense. Have you ever minded when sitting behind someone like that before..? :/ All the same I'll keep it rigid for the future..!!

And just a little anecdote re phones in shows.. The other day during the RB DGV I was so annoyed when my phone started vibrating repeatedly in my pocket (my fault, should've left it in my bag), quite unexpected since I was in a foreign country with a new number, so thought it was an idiot misdialing me! But it turned out to be Lauren Cuthbertson, who having finished Serenade and Violets just earlier, was replying and favouriting my tweets during her DGV break

On that note, the main theatre in Singapore has a delightful (but perhaps not intentional) workaround.. Once they close the theatre doors, you can't get reception. We've never had a phone disrupt a performance before!

Not a professional musician, but I know music and have heard the Nyman MGV recording (my itunes tells me.. 226 times apparently like JaneL I find it excellent energy/paper writing music). So for me, I was judging it against that..! I do appreciate they could have changed things for the ballet though, and that it is a ridiculously complex piece. But the 5th movement was different enough for me to go "hey, hold on now.." The guy behind me had actually played the piece before, so I should have asked him Well, I simply have to go again for another viewing/hearing

I never saw the original Sweet Violets.. what was changed from that to this version..?

Serenade: I've seen it a million times and been bored a million times, but last night really appreciated the delightful, reckless abandon which Lauren brought. For the first time, I found myself actually paying attention, and by the end, beaming like crazy.

SV: As others have said, it really needs a synopsis. I did my due reading on Wood/Sickert and still was none the wiser. I was amazed by how Liam Scarlett wove the story line into the music though. It could be so, so much better with some editing. Prune the characters, the deaths, the misogyny, and maybe some of the arm flailing... I'm not a huge fan of Scarlett yet but I definitely see the potential.

DGV: I LOved DGV. I've always listened to the music, but had never seen it. I'm so relieved that Wheeldon didn't just turn it into an endlessly chugging/mechanical fare, and instead filled the spaces in the music so fascinatingly. I especially love the slow way it starts with Eric and Zen, and the gentle spinning of the ladies at the end. Zen has always hands down been my favourite dancer. But even I was really surprised by how enrapturing her DGV was. Something about her crazy purposeful expression.. the sharpness of her movement.. I don't get it. She astounds me anew every time. Immediately after the show I went to sign up as a Friend to make sure I get the best darn seats for her Manon.

One thing though -- quite disappointed with the orchestra on DGV. The trumpets seemed to be skipping every few notes and one half of the orchestra was playing faster than the other in the last movement (excluding the parts with intentional syncopation)

phew! i panicked too. they've never danced together, have they?

Oh wow, Thanks for the many suggestions!! And the welcome. Great, so many more dancers to discover!

i was wondering if anyone could recommend some great "dance actors"... I'm not sure what to really call this kind of dancer, but I don't mean character artists. I mean dancers who do more than get the technique right, but inhabit the role as well.

Primary example, Zenaida Yanowsky! I'm a huge fan because she builds layers of depth into every role, where a lot of other dancers seem to just stop at what's in the synopsis. And I love Ed Watson too just cos I've seen what he can do in Mayerling.

So I'm looking to explore other dancers who can move me just as much, and consistently too, regardless of the role. Any suggestions..?