JennyTaylor

I love Steven McRae showing off. Sorry if this doesn't make me a purist but talent of his ilk does not come along too often - and I want to see it I remember Tamara Rojo commenting that her ability to hold on point in Swan Lake had been criticised for not going with the musicality, but that she felt that as she had the technique to achieve this, she should - and I completely agree. Few dancers have this ability and it is breathtaking. Agnes Oakes in Swan Lake was another example. I remember one performance at the Albert Hall where she was simply astonishing both with the fouettes and the holding on point in Act 3. AAArrhh, I have seen loads of ballet performances and those are the ones I remember. Steven McRae will live in my memory in both La Fille and La Sylphide - long may it continue......and then there was Les Patineurs, the BlueBird - he lights up the stage.

I loved Steven McRae and Roberta Marquez in La Sylphide last night. Amazing dancing from Steven in particular - razor sharp feet. I just sat and gasped at his solos. Very interesting to see Alexander Campbell as Gurn - very creditable indeed and nice to see him given the chance of a major part such as this. All the sylphs were beautiful too - in fact the whole thing was marvellous. Deep satisfaction all round.

Ballo was also very pretty/ charming with a radiant Marianella.

Sixth! In the interim period when there was no Ballet.Co, I missed it dreadfully. Suddenly, there was nowhere to test reaction to performances, no information and no chat. Really awful. So a huge THANK YOU for keeping it going. I don't post with frequency, but I do read much more- and even more importantly one knows it's there - like a lifeline

I can only describe Marianela and Carlos as completely joyous throughout- and even better as they looked so happy all the way through. It was as near perfect as I could imagine.

I wish I could book for every performance of this ballet, (I'd probably be in the divorce courts with my husband and my cats if I did), but even so, I still have the joy of 2 more performances to come - Brian Maloney / Yuhui Choe and Steven McRae/ Roberta Marquez. Who cares about the weather, the sun has just come out.

I've seen this twice now this time round and have enjoyed it far more than last year, when I really wasn't sure. In fact, it has now become one of my favourite ballets. Last night's performance was wonderful - so much to see and enjoy. I can see why ballet purists may not take to it, but I am now completely hooked. Steven McRae's tap dancing last night a particular highlight.

SO pleased to see Gary Avis win. He's always a highlight in any RB performance.

Dear me - no one is indispensable. That's one of the first things I learned when I started work many moons ago. Exactly how many people book for exact casts. Yes, we might all do on this Forum, but apart from that - I suspect not, apart from Carlos Acosta performances......and does that fill the ROH every evening, I think not. I remember sitting next to someone in that very last Sylvie Guillem Manon who had no idea who she was.

Fame is short lived especially at the age of 22. There's a long career ahead..........or.......

I saw Marianella and Thiago last Friday and it was truly magical. The depth of their performance has grown so much and they both looked wiped out at the end Special mention for Thomas Whitehead as Tybalt, who was superb. Gary Avis and Thiago are a hard act to follow in this role, but he really brought life and immense character to the part. Very show stopping and that's without Gary Avis as Juliet's father. So, a wonderful evening all round.

I saw their debut andwould be very interested in comments on their second performance