Cinquieme

www.invitationtodance.org.uk This summer school is non-audition and still accepting applicants. It is based at ISTD2 on Old Street, London. 3/4 classes per day in classical ballet, group repertoire, solo repertoire, contemporary, creative workshops and a ballet rep workshop with Rochard Ramsay (ex-Royal Ballet). It's taking place the weeke of July 29 - Aug 2. Message me for more details.

Raven Girl....it's almost a struggle to have an opinion about something with so little in it (in terms of dance anyway). McGregor, adept as he is at dodging bullets, said that it's "visual theatre" rather than "narrative ballet". Hmm. His movement vocabulary just doesn't have the breadth of expression to tell a story; sure, it pushes the boundaries of the human body, but it just isn't communicative. 

Symphony in C, which warranted a second viewing from me, was divine. The stand-out for me Was Zenaida Yanowsky - she's dancing like a dream in this. Neither cast of the 4th ballerina (Morera and Mendizabal) have done it for me yet.

Absolutely. She's one of my faves - I'm not ready to lose her just yet! :-)

_{In the paper version it clearly states in the caption under the photo that they're both retiring. Must be a mistake.}

According to the Evening Standard Yanowsky is retiring - is this misinformation? I sincerely hope so!

Yes, Petrushka and the Moor. Casting will be interesting!

Just back from the matinee at SWT. Very impressed by the company as a whole - it had been quite a while since I last saw them. I thought the men of the company looked fantastic in particular. Jessica Morgan was great as Myrtle, but I would have loved to have seen the other cast, Vicky Sibson (who still had a whale of a time in the corps). What I most admire in this company is the way Nixon uses the technique as a way of allowing his dancers to dance and tell a story, rather than the technique being an end in itself. Very refreshing, especially with so much thrashing around being called ballet these days.

Thanks rachaelballet12 - I see your smartphone doesn't like how I spell my name! Dairymaid is certainly better than the other alternative - Doormat!

Thanks Michelle. And thanks for making me feel so welcome - how lovely!

You'll be spoiled at Chelsea Ballet - Richard and Bethany!

I'm super excited about the programme. Particularly Raymonda - although, once again it will be ladies of ENB that get the spotlights again. Still, at least the guys get the pas de quatre. I hope Elena Glurdjidze or Ksenia Ovsyanick will get the title role, but I don't think the former is a favourite under the new regime :-/

No idea what happened the font there! Not for the short of sight :-)

^{Thanks Amber21. We're slowly getting off the ground - there's lots of competition in London, as I'm sure you know.}

Thanks spannerandpony. I had no idea how active it was! Wonderful place to get and give information!

Started in 2012, Invitation to Dance still has some places on their 2013 course. Details are on www.invitationtodance.org.uk

Guest teacher (ballet and repertoire) for this year is Richard Ramsey - First Artist in the Royal Ballet for 12 years! Along side the core teachers, other guests are Jo Meredith (choreographer for National Youth Ballet) and Jack Jones (Matthew Bourne's New Adventures).

Class sizes are purposely small to allow every dancer to get the most out of their class time.

Any questions - please ask them here!