SPD444

Regarding Alina's partner for Le Corsaire we could have a little fun with this. I have just returned from the cinema showing of the Ashton performance including Tamara's last show in Marguerite and Armand, with the flower throw, fantastic. Who did she ask to partner her that night? Sergei!!  Who did Alina ask to come and perform at her recent Gala night for the hospice in Rumania?  Sergei!!

Is it ridiculous to suggest it could be the bad boy???

Usually the casting goes on the page/minisite covering the production but the casting hasnt been announced yet.  Here is the Corsaire overview page, where a tab should eventually appear to show the casting:  http://www.ballet.org.uk/whats-on/lecorsaire/

 

As an example, here is the Nureyev programme overview page, showing the casting tab:  http://www.ballet.org.uk/whats-on/tribute-rudolf-nureyev/

 

Also to say welcome to the forum PetitDi!

Thanks for that Janet.  The audience for ENB must be happy to book seats without knowing who is dancing - As a fan of Alina I will need to know when she is due to dance before I spend my money.

Yes, I really didn't see *that* one coming!  Interesting news, the implications of which will take a while to digest.  I suppose the periods of "downtime" between performance runs will give her ample time to guest while still having the stability of being in a company, and help flesh out what can be a fairly restricted professional diet for ENB at times.  It will be interesting to see how she adapts to the ENB lifestyle and working circumstances, and also to see the effects it has on casting.  We've had the impression that the majority of ENB audience members aren't particularly worried about casting, but wonder whether that will change.

I have been wondering about the casting information side of things. Since the news of Alina I have been scouring the internet trying to find details of who is dancing what and when. I have found tickets on sale for all the ballets mentioned in the Alina press release but cannot find who is dancing on each night other than when Carlos and Tamara are dancing R&J at the RAH - other than that nothing. When do the ENB tell us?

Honestly we take Chunkydog out for a walk and look what happens!  Here's the press release in full:

 

Alina Cojocaru to Join English National Ballet

 

Alina Cojocaru, one of the world’s greatest ballerinas, is to join English National Ballet.

  

Speaking of her new role, Alina Cojocaru said: “I am very excited to be joining English National Ballet next season.  I am attracted by the opportunities the repertoire offers, the combination of the classics and the chance to work with choreographers I really admire. I have always enjoyed dancing and performing in the UK and am delighted that English National Ballet will give me the chance to reach new audiences outside London.  Not shy of challenges, I look forward to what the future might bring. Sharing Tamara's passion for the art form and for artistry, I am excited about what lies ahead."

 

Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said: “I am so happy to welcome Alina to the Company.  She is one of the dancers I most admire. Her exquisite technique, dramatic qualities and artistry have been a constant inspiration to many, including me. I know that the dancers in the Company will be thrilled to have an artist of her stature join us and I am sure that we can give Alina the artistic challenges and opportunities she seeks.”

 

Alina’s debut with English National Ballet will be in the Company’s new restaging of Le Corsaire.  She will dance the role of the heroine Medora on the opening night in Milton Keynes (October 17– the start of the Company’s Autumn tour) Other productions which Alina will appear in include Nutcracker in the Christmas season at the London Coliseum, Lest We Forget, the programme of ballets inspired by the Great War at the Barbican, London, in April 2014 and Romeo & Juliet in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall in June.

 

Alina will join the Company as Lead Principal.  She will continue to make guest appearances with Hamburg Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, two companies with which she has an established relationship. 

 

Ends

 

Le Corsaire

17 October–30 November 2013, and 11–15 February on tour

9–19 January 2014, London Coliseum

 

Nutcracker

11 December–5 January 2014, London Coliseum

 

Lest We Forget

2–12 April 2014, Barbican Theatre

 

Romeo & Juliet

11-22 June 2014, Royal Albert Hall

 

Janet, do you know where on the ENB web site it shows the casting schedule.

Any evidence to support th

I apologise to the RB and all those who responded to my post. I was so fed up that we had lost her and had seemingly done little to persuade her to stay that I vented my frustration without any justification. Very pleased for the ENB.

I am so pleased with this news, and well done to Tamara for sweeping her up when she had been dumped by the RB. Having assumed she was lost to the UK, particularly after Johan's rant on his facebook page, it is great news that we can still see her. Bye. Bye RB and hello ENB.

Got my DonQ with carlos and marinella for the 26th so pleased as punch - booking nice and smooth - confirmation email on time.  That's the first time that has happened so things are looking up.  The only one for me - will use the live cinema performances for the others. My next one has to be Winters Tale next year.

Would you believe my luck, I happened to spot  tickets had just been returned yesterday afternoon for the performance last night. These young people are fantastic. Their joy of dancing is plain to see and they don't appear to get out of breath, ever. Thanks for the reply LinMM and if it proves correct then they are repeats from this weeks show, but that's perfectly fine. We all worry when famous principals leave but, rest assured, the next generation are being developed under the guidance of the RBS and the future for the RB is sure.

I am going on the 14th as well. Does the program list the ballets and artists being performed because I have seen nothing detailing what is being danced.

Allison does make valid points in that rumour can become "fact" if not replaced by the truth, whatever that may be and the ability to recover from the injuries sustained by both Johan and Alina in recent months must have questioned their ability to perform to the levels they have set themselves. Last night dispelled those fears, I have never seen such passion and committment on display in huge measures. Fantastic. I bet their bodies are feeling it today. For the future I think Johan had no choice but to move on, the program notes by Mr O'Hare discusses the arrangements already in place as to the RB direction in new choreographers which leaves no place for Johan at the level he would demand. Let Johan get more experience and I can well see him coming back to the RB at a very senior level. As for Alina, I have not read she will not be appearing as a guest and that last night was her last appearance as a member of the RB not her last appearance ever. I am sure I read somewhere that she said that where Johan goes she will follow and I am equally sure the management are in no doubt as to how we, the supporters, feel about Alina. If they were I hope they saw the curtain call, I have never felt such love being expressed from an audience to two stars, it blew me away I can't imagine what it must have felt like for it to be aimed at yourself.

 Mary Vetsera has not to do 32 fouettes so I hope to see Cojocaru on stage tomorrow.

 

Regarding her web-site, it does not include also the Romeo and Juliet shows she is dancing in Tokyo in September (with Vogel) for La Scala: maybe they are waiting to be able to put there all the news together. And maybe they updated it so far only to this Summer just to avoid questions about Royal Ballet missing dates, who knows?

I don't think Alina is very computer minded. I noticed that Johan on a tweet said in astonishment that she had recently got an ipad or tablet. Her web site has never been at the sharp edge of her thoughts, she went months and months without updating her page on their.

I have never seen Mayerling so don't know how taxing the role of Mary is. She seemed O.K. at her recent gala where she performed but  that could have been good acting of course. If she is in pain could she just perform one act and let another do the rest? I cannot imagine her not doing anything in her final performance as a member of the RB.

Hello SPD444, and welcome to the Forum. Sorry your first posting has been about sad news for Alina and Johan's fans. I hope your next posting will be on a happier thread!

Thank you Janet. Yes it is sad. I have tickets for the performance and can I take some flowers to throw or must permission be sought? Who can I ask?

Very sad news to hear, but I wish them well for whatever they do now!

 

SO happy that I have tickets for Mayerling on Wednesday. Even at this short notice, will there be  'proper' goodbye with flower throw etc?

I was wondering about the flower throw, who organises this? do you need permission? we can't let her leave without one surely. I agree with everyone else, very sad that we will not see her Juliet again.