Shade

I went Thursday evening. I see that the Arts Desk review refers to the first two pieces as "greige". The disturbing first piece seemed to be Fifty Shades of Greige - the Ballet! Although the performers created some beautiful sculptural shapes. The only piece that I enjoyed was the final one, which I thought was wonderful. I appreciated the music too.

It was such a joy to see Osipova and Vasiliev dancing together again with such commitment and confidence in each other that that alone was worth the attendance. Their smiles at the end said it all.

I too was pleased to be reacquainted with this production last night. I checked and my previous viewing was 1997, with the luminous Asylmuratova as Juliet and Viktor Baranov as Romeo. In Yesterday's performance the principals were better matched. The sword fights were exciting and I found it very moving but very different to the RB production. I loved the "kneeling lifts" - don't know the correct term for them but I am sure that you know the ones! Shklyarov has great strength - I was worried that he might drop Vishneva in the one handed overhead lift!

I enjoyed the orchestra too - maybe from the amphi the sound I'd different.

I managed to get a ticket for Thursday. I am so pleased that I did. The Dream cast a spell on the audience - we were in thrall to the performance. I have never seen it before and thought that it was beautiful. Golding lost his garland at one point - it flew off. Puck then kicked it to the side of the stage, raising a laugh. Is n't live performance wonderful! Osipova was enchanting.

Connectome was interesting, and I enjoyed the music. I think I need to view it again. hope that they repeat it.

I enjoyed the humour of the Concert.

All together a lovely evening.

It seems that Vue is showing Bayadere in a number of cinemas that might offer some more choice of venue.

and thank you to me for uploading that clip! :-)))))

Happy birthday to Osipova...even if it's already the 19th, so Slava Samodurov birthday :-)

Very happy birthday to Natalia Osipova I hope that she has finds creative and personal fulfilment this year.

I love that Esmerelda clip and have watched it many times on YT.

Best wishes to all ballet dancers with birthdays in May - it seems to be a popular month!

So pleased that Osipova and Vasiliev are dancing together again - that is very exciting. I hope to attend this if I can. Agree that the Coli is a large venue to fill but I must say that I find it very much convenient for me to travel to so I don't mind!

I was there - with my family. We were very impressed with both the dancers and the musicians from the NYO. We stayed to hear their compositions. What a lovely afternoon at the Southbank in the sunshine. I must say that the Southbank is a very inviting venue - lots of people were there. Very different to Covent Garden!

Dear Don Q Fan

I feel for you - it is very disappointing indeed when a trip to ROH entails such advance planning and expenditure. Although I am closer to London I do have to juggle work and childcare so also have to plan in advance.

Of course I hope that Osipova recovers soon and that Choe has another great performance.

Thank you Amelia, as it was said on the other topic (KoD) that Vasiliev might be in London again in July, do you think he might be appearing in one of these performances? Just speculating! Has anybody seen the Golden cockerel?

Thanks Alison I have now booked tickets for the opening R and J, Apollo mixed bill and Firebird mixed bill. No doubt the casting will change closer to the performances!

Did anybody watch the repeat of Darcey Bussell's programme about tap dancing on BBC4 yesterday evening? I must have missed it first time round but it was interesting, especially the old film clips of Kelly and Astaire.

I saw this on Thursday evening and enjoyed it. The staging was excellent and the music. Felt the ballet wasn't quite there. I agree with you Alison that the brother/ sister dynamic would be better as young lovers, separated by the wicked stepmother who are reunited. I appreciated all the dancers and thought Act 2 was the best.

Thank you Amelia for that clip - very interesting. I learn a great deal from this site. however, it doesn't change my view of Friday 's performance.

I also meant to say how much I enjoyed seeing Lunkina in JH - she made me shiver! I would really wish to see more of her. Did she ever tour with the Bolshoi when they were in the UK - I don't remember?

It is on the classic fm available on demand function from the website. Enjoy!

Did anybody else catch this show yesterday evening? It was presented by Alex James and I thought it was interesting because it included some more unusual ballet composers.

It is very interesting to see others views on this performance. On the whole I enjoyed it but the intervals were too long and the pieces were of uneven quality. To me, Vestris was a criminal waste of Sarafanov's talent. Very disappointing as I have not been able to see him in a live performance before. Agree that on Friday it was Vasiliev's night. My husband was not converted to this type of performance!

How interesting to hear of these experiences. I have only twice gone to the stage door, once after the closing performance in 2010 of the Bolshoi Don Q. Osipova and Vasiliev were dancing. I thought that there had been a standing ovation then. There was quite a crowd but we managed to get into the lobby before the minders shut the door! Osipova and Vasiliev were very charming even though they were tired.

I went again after the RB Nutcracker on 4 Jan and got a number of dancers' autographs. They were all gracious and charming and posed for photos if asked. I wished them a happy new year and thanked them for the performance and the Cinema transmission.

I would definitely go again. I regret not having the time on 22 Jan but I had to run to catch my train!

I had to queue for a day ticket on 22 Jan ( first time that I have ever done so) but it was worth it to see Osipova's Giselle with the RB. What a lovely production it is. I thought that act 2 was superb, the corps were so other worldly. Osipova was truly a spirit and she was very moving. However, I think that for a truly great performance there has to be an emotional connection between Giselle and Albrecht, after all the power of her love does save him. That is what I missed when I compare it with the performance with Vasiliev and the Mikhailovsky last March. Others will have different views I am sure.

What a lovely performance yesterday at the matinee, very enjoyable. I am sure that this will continue to be a successful production for ENB. Great dancing by the whole company too. I am so glad that I took the chance of getting a ticket on the day, even though I hadn't

booked!

A bit late to this but 2013 was a wonderful year for ballet - really epic, with epic performances.

Sad memories - attack on Sergei Filin

Happy memories - Natalia Osipova in Giselle, Laurencia, Flames of Paris, Romeo and Juliet

Ivan Vasiliev in Laurencia, Flames of Paris

Evgenia Obratzova and Olga Smirnova in Jewels

The adorable dancing toddler in FoP

Boston ballet

Cinema transmissions from RB and Bolshoi

Thanks to all the ballet dancers, musicians and all who work so hard to bring audiences this great art. I am looking forward to 2014.

Yes the cast sheet says it was the London Oratory Children's Choir and it was lovely - a choir really adds to the atmosphere I think

There is a lovely YT clip of Evgenia Obratzova as Aurora with Olga Smirnova as the Lilac Fairy in the Bolshoi production. I would have loved to have seen that performance. I am though looking forward to seeing the RB production this season. I have not seen it since I saw Viviana Durante in the previous production. She was marvellous but the scenery made my head swim!

This production seems much improved.

Did anybody else go to the performance at ROH on 4 jan? For me it was worth all the travel difficulties (buses and trains etc). I thought it was a magical performance, especially the Christmas tree. I have not seen the RB Nutcracker for many years - it must have been the previous production that I saw. This one was very enjoyable. I thought that Natalia Osipova danced in the style of a grand imperial Russian ballerina, which surprised me. The pdd was very grand indeed!

Thanks to all the gracious and charming dancers who signed autographs after the performance. I wish them all a happy New Year. Pleased to see Francesca Hayward in the Observer as one to watch in 2014 - well deserved.

Went to this show yesterday evening with a group of pony mad girls. It was great fun and the performance of the Andalusian horses to music (horse ballet) was so graceful and delightful. The Shetland pony grand national was great too!

Thank you Meadowblythe and congratulations to your son on his grade 8. JWO played the ballet from An American in Paris - it was great. The musicians were on top form and really seemed to enjoy the performance too. The audience was very enthusiastic!