Arky

Was "In Rehearsal" on Monday advertised to the general public or just to Friends?

Ribbons asks, "where are the schools in this?". Are there any people here in a position to find out the reactions of the various schools and what they are proposing to do, if anything?

Joan, Thanks for that. How thrilling to see them just after a wonderful triumph! Marianela and Thiago were outstanding, both technically and in conveying the emotion. They drew us into the drama. Such a contrast from the disappointment of Osipova's performance in Swan Lake, which was technically good but, to me at least, without any emotional involvement in the story; I did not come away that day feeling that I had witnessed a great performance.

I'd just like to echo the praise for Marianella & Thiago's performance - it was a real tour de force. Their wonderful dancing was a joy to behold, they conveyed the changing passions of the story brilliantly. Valentino and Meaghan Grace were excellent, as was the rest of the cast. As already mentioned, the applause was rapturous. What a privilege to witness such an outstanding performance! Joan, as a matter of interest how long did it take from the end of the performance for Marianela and Thiago to come out? I was tempted to wait, but I assumed that it would take them a long time to recuperate and then emerge after giving their all in the last scene.

Many thanks, Minder.

Minder, A Happy New Year! I hope that you received my pm the other day.

Blackdove, Thanks for that. I've just booked! Perhaps see you there? I've also booked for Sunday 28 April 2013, 3:30pm, when "The Summer Season opens spectacularly with Steven McRae, Principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, who will talk with Royal Ballet Director Kevin O’Hare and perform his signature works".

For details of the finals which took place on 15 Dec http://www.rad.org.uk/article.asp?id=645 My daughter, who lives near Wellington, tells me it was 31 degrees yesterday there!

Will do, Janet.

Thanks for this, Janet. It very conveniently coincides with when I am going to see Onegin, so it will be easy to go to Endell Street on the way!

I asked for casting details, as it was not on the website, & have received this today NUTCRACKER PRINCIPAL CASTING LONDON COLISEUM 2012 LONDON 1ST WEEK WED EVE THURS MAT THURS EVE FRI MATINEE FRI EVENING 12.12.2012 13.12.2012 13.12.2012 14.12.2012 14.12.2012 CLARA Klimentova Oliveira Takahashi Glurdjidize Klimentova PRINCE Muntagirov Gruzdyev Konvalina Vargas Muntagirov NUTCRACKER Forbat Forbat Liotardo Atymtayev Forbat DROSSELMEYER Reimair Atymtayev Reimair Jones Reimair SAT M SAT E SUN M 15.12.2012 15.12.2012 16.12.2012 CLARA Takahashi Rojo Kase PRINCE Konvalina Berlanga Vargas NUTCRACKER Liotardo Westwell Young DROSSELMEYER Reimair Streeter Rodriguez LONDON 2ND WEEK TUES M TUES E WED M WED E THUR M THUR E 18.12.2012 18.12.2012 19.12.2012 19.12.2012 20.12.2012 20.12.12 CLARA Kase Takahashi Cao Glurdjidize Oliveira Rojo PRINCE Vargas Konvalina Berlanga Vargas Gruzdyev Berlanga NUTCRACKER Young Liotardo Reimair Atymtayev Forbat Westwell DROSSELMEYER Rodriguez Reimair Westwell Jones Atymtayev Streeter FRI M FRI E SAT M SAT E SUN M 21.12.2012 21.12.2012 22.12.2012 22.12.2012 23.12.2012 CLARA Ramirez Takahashi Glurdjidize Rojo Ramirez PRINCE Atymtayev Konvalina Vargas Berlanga Atymtayev NUTCRACKER Becerra Liotardo Atymtayev Westwell Becerra DROSSELMEYER Rodriguez Reimair Jones Streeter Rodriguez LONDON 3RD WEEK WED MAT WED EVE THUR MAT THUR EVE FRI MAT 26.12.2012 26.12.2012 27.12.2012 27.12.2012 28.12.2012 CLARA Klimentova Oliveira Glurdjidze Takahashi Chalendard PRINCE Muntagirov Gruzdyev Vargas Konvalina Forbat NUTCRACKER Forbat Forbat Atymtayev Liotardo Young DROSSELMEYER Reimair Atymtayev Jones Reimair Jones FRI EVE SAT MAT SAT EVE SUN MAT 28.12.2012 29.12.2012 29.12.2012 30.12.2012 CLARA Klimentova Chalendard Rojo Glurdjidize PRINCE Muntagirov Forbat Berlanga Vargas NUTCRACKER Westwell Young Westwell Atymtayev DROSSELMEYER Reimair Jones Streeter Jones MOUSE KING Streeter 4TH WEEK TUE MAT WED MAT WED EVE THUR EVE FRIDAY EVE 1.1.2013 2.1.2013 2.1.2013 3.1.2012 4.1.2013 CLARA Cao Costa Oliveira Cao Oliveira PRINCE Berlanga Forbat Gruzdyev Berlanga Gruzdyev NUTCRACKER Reimair Kraus Forbat Reimair Forbat DROSSELMEYER Westwell Jones Atymtayev Westwell Atymtayev SAT M SAT E 5.1.2013 5.1.2013 CLARA Costa Klimentova PRINCE Forbat Muntagirov NUTCRACKER Kraus Westwell DROSSELMEYER Jones Reimair

Please count me in. Thanks.

I'm joining the debate somewhat late. I have a DVD of Don Q by the Dutch National Ballet where Basilio is danced by Matthew Golding and Kitri by Anna Tsygankova. They both give fine performances and capture the joie de vivre of the ballet admirably. Golding’s jumps are sensational. Golding is already coming to ROH for La Bayadere, but I’d love to see him dance Basilio, either with Anna or Marianela. DNB used two fine actors for the parts of Don Q & Sancho Pancho and the whole production is a joy to watch. Failing Golding, my vote for Basilio, like that of several other forum members, is for Steven McRae.

My friend & I had never seen BRB before and we both thoroughly enjoyed the varied programme last night (Friday). The Grand Tour was delightful and amusing, the set was attractive and, whilst I agree that some of the characterisation might have been stronger, overall it was very pleasing. Faster was an amazing piece, a real triumph. Sim has captured the spirit of it well. The Dream was magnificent, a total contrast to Faster, of course, but none the less successful and enjoyable Tzu-Chao Chou as Puck had impressive technique, boundless energy and mischief as Puck, whilst Natasha Oughtred as Titania & William Bracewell as Oberon were a joy to behold, as indeed was the whole ballet. What a company! BerylH, you missed a wonderful evening, but the performance finished at 10.45 again, so you probably made a wise decision. The audience was seated for The Dream on time, but had to wait a further15 minutes for it to start. Even without this wait I would not have reached home before midnight – theatres do not seem to realise that some patrons do not live in London. Why not cut the intervals to 20 minutes and/or make an earlier start?

As with so many things in life, our perceptions of the same performance can be very different. I found Osipova disappointing in Act 2, particularly with her poor miming and found it difficult to engage with her interpretation, which seemed to lack emotional involvement. Osipova's dancing is technically very good and in Act 4 she exhibited more feeling, and she and Acosta gave wonderful displays, though there seemed to be a vital spark missing between them. Perhaps I was too far away in the amphitheatre to appreciate what others have experienced, to become better engaged with the story. However, even from high up I could see the mattress on to which they jumped being removed, which was a detail too many!

Indeed, very interesting. Thanks, Bruce.

Thanks, Dave & John, for these superb photos - wonderful reminders of a great evening on Friday.

Thanks, Alison. I'll try & listen in. I've booked for two of SFB's three programmes at Sadler's Wells - gretaly looking forward to seeing them.

Lovely to see, Jane; thank you.

Thank you, too, Nina G, we were posting at the same time!

Thank you, bangorballetboy, for explaining.

Nina G said - Great that eight very talented Corps dancers were moved up recently (3 to First Artist and 5 to Soloist). Who are the eight from the Corps? Have I missed something? I thought Meaghan, Fumi & Yasmine went from the Corps to be First Artists and Beatrix from the Corps to be a Soloist. Four First Artists became Soloists - Claire, James, Dawid & Valentino.

Ours not to reason why!!

Buddy. Not surprisingly, your comments had me looking for & finding that Bolero on You Tube, Quite something!! By coincidence I see that under Dance links w/b Sunday July 15, 2012, Review – Paris Opera Ballet, Triple Bill: Tobi Tobias, Arts Journal, that there is a write up of Bolero. I wish I'd been there to see Lifar's Suite en Blanc with Aurélie Dupont also. I saw a performance of it by ENB earlier this year, which was stunning. Just found Aurélie Dupont in extracts from Suite en blanc on You Tube and

Bluebird, I hope that you enjoyed the performance like I did. I picked up a ticket at the door without problem, having refused to pay £2.50 booking fee!