Sophoife

🤣🤣🤣 I couldn't either, so I searched "Isobelle Dashwood" using forum search!!

We had this height discussion with specific reference to Sangeun Lee last year. The shortest female dancer at AusBallet is Yuumi Yamada, who is not quite 5'0". There was also a thread in 2018.

No, Callum has beeyootiful curly hair and he's had this awful haircut. This is what he looks like normally, @Emeralds (still from video of his promotion to principal after Anna Karenina in 2022).

Yes, they are. Off-the-shoulder black top and blue leggings girl and DREADFUL haircut boy with beautiful large eyes: principals Jill Ogai and Callum Linnane.

Well, I mean, if you're there... remember we (audience and dancers) don't have that much exposure locally to a company like that...

Links – Friday 23 February, 2024 Obituary – Sydney King, pioneering Black ballet teacher: Karen Warrington, The Philadelphia Inquirer Review – The Australian Ballet, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ©, Capitol Theatre, Sydney NSW: Natasha Ciesielski, Sydney Scoop Katie Lawrence, Bachtrack Chantal Nguyen, Sydney Morning Herald Martin Portus, Stage Whispers Review – Ballet West, Swan Lake, Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City UT: Les Roka/Chris Myers, The Utah Review Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham UK: Alison Brinkworth, Birmingham Mail Maria Cusine, Express & Star Review – Joffrey Ballet, Studies in Blue, Lyric Opera House, Chicago IL: Jennifer Lunz, Splash Magazines Review – New York City Ballet, Opus 19/The Dreamer / Solitude / Symphony in Three Movements, Lincoln Center, New York NY: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review – Oregon Ballet Theatre, Peter Pan, Keller Auditorium, Portland OR: Robert Ham, Portland Mercury Review – Phoenix Dance Theatre, BELONGING: Loss. Legacy. Love, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds UK: Donald Hutera, Times (+ share) *** Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian Review – ProLab Dance, when we were Ocean, Planetarium, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, OR: Hannah Krafcik, Oregon Arts Watch Review – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Nelken, Sadler’s Wells, London UK: Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Review – Washington Ballet, Jazz Icons, Kennedy Center, Washington DC: Oksana Khadarina, The Ballet Herald Preview – Ballet National de Marseilles x LA(HORDE), Roommates, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London UK: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview – Grand Kyiv Ballet, Giselle, touring 60 US cities: Rizwan Shah, BNN Breaking/The People’s Network Preview – Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Celebrating Michael Smuin (Fly Me to the Moon, Zorro!), Blue Shield of California Theater YBCA, San Francisco CA: San Francisco Bay Times News – Royal Academy of Dance appoints Alexander Campbell as artistic director: Georgia Luckhurst, The Stage Staff, Arts Professional News – Guillaume Côté to retire: Andy Johnson, Zoomer Radio News – International Ballet Competition to take place in Budapest this weekend, Grand Audition 2024: Staff, Hungary Today News – Matthew Ball to guest in Sleeping Beauty at BRB: Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide News – Royal Winnipeg Ballet, 2024-25 Season: Jen Zoratti, Winnipeg Free Press News – Vail Dance Festival Announces 2024 Season: Staff, En Face Magazine Feature – Houston Theater is Transformed into a Vienna Dream Palace in a Sweeping $1.6 Million Ballet Ball Like No Other: Shelby Hodge, Paper City Magazine Feature – How Tiler Peck Learned to Trust Her Gut – And Recover From a Career-Threatening Neck Injury: Hannah Dylan Pasternak, Self.com Feature – Texas choreographer helps kids build confidence, dance away from screentime, Derek Turner of Corpus Christi Ballet: Barbi Leo, KENS5 Feature – New York City Ballet Dancer Christina Clark Is Celebrating Every Stage: Olivia Manno, Dance Magazine Feature – Paris Opera House dancers experience local culture before staging gala shows: Ma Yue, Shine Feature – Stir Q&A: Vancouver International Dance Festival’s Virginie Brunelle talks about strings, artificial grass, and beauty: Janet Smith, Stir Video Feature – Alonzo King on the LINES Ballet’s upcoming performance: PIX11 News, YouTube *** Revised times share token inserted

Thanks @Emeralds and sorry @Vanartus - I did delete the thread, as it was misleading, and I couldn't edit it as it was 32 minutes after posting. On carefully re-reading his Insta post, he is taking a break, not retiring for good (we all hope). Sadly yes, your excellent post and link went the way of all flesh...would you mind awfully re-posting it?

I do hope that's not looking in my direction 😘

He was offered the job after having been not cast. I believe the whole thing has taken only about three weeks - but I could be wrong!!

George-Murray Nightingale, coryphée with The Australian Ballet, has announced he is taking a break from life as a professional dancer. His Instagram post describes feelings of inadequacy and "impostor syndrome", despite nearly ten years dancing with English National Ballet, National Ballet of Romania, Royal Ballet of Flanders, and The Australian Ballet. The openness and honesty in his words are a rare thing in the dance world. I applaud him, and hope to see him back on stage sometime soon. His Bottom in last year's Ashton bill was a highlight, and he's dancing the Mad Hatter in Wheeldon's Alice in the current season. This is a new thread, replacing the one claiming he had retired, which implied it was permanent. George is looking to return to the stage in the future.

That's what he said.

Argh I'm so envious. We haven't even had the cinema relay in Australia yet! It's not on until 2 March.

Alexander Campbell was not cast in either Winter's Tale or Swan Lake, nor in the Ashton. So his departure has nothing to do with the casting delay. I know, I know, you all want to know, but at least this is negative but confirmatory news. My source for this information is the horse's mouth.

Links – Thursday 22 February 2024 Obituary – Hilary Trotter, dance writer, advocate and activist: Michelle Potter, Michelle Potter…on dancing Review – Ivan Putrov Productions, Dance for Ukraine II, London Palladium, London UK: John O’Dwyer, Seen and Heard International Review – Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, Liverpool Empire, Liverpool UK: Ellen Kirwin, Liverpool Echo Review – Joffrey Ballet, Studies in Blue, Lyric Opera House, Chicago IL: Hugh Iglarsh, New City Stage Review – Twyla Tharp Dance, Ocean’s Motion / Brel / The Ballet Master, Joyce Theater, New York NY Jocelyn Noveck, Japan Today Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review – Ballet Fantastique, Cinderella: The ‘60s Rock Opera, Hult Center, Eugene OR: Brianna Murschel, Eugene Weekly Review – Oregon Ballet Theatre, Peter Pan, Keller Auditorium, Portland OR: Martha Ullman West, ORArtsWatch.org Review – Taki Rua Productions, Hatupatu Kurungaituku – A Forbidden Love, touring Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Rotorua, NZ: Jennifer Shennan, Michelle Potter…on dancing Preview – Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Deep River, Rose Theater Lincoln Center, New York NY: New York Latin Culture Magazine Preview – Ballet San Antonio, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio TX: Macks Cook, San Antonio Current Preview – Marigny Opera Ballet, Água Mole Pedra Dura, Marigny Opera House, New Orleans LA: Saboor Bayat, BNN Breaking/The People’s Network Preview – New York City Ballet, Winter Season Jenna Adrian-Diaz, Surface Magazine Robert Greskovic, The Wall Street Journal (paywalled) News – Alexander Campbell Becomes Artistic Director Of Royal Academy of Dance: Stephi Wild, Broadway World Graham Spicer, Gramilano News – Principal dancer Guillaume Côté to retire from National Ballet of Canada: Nicole Thompson/The Canadian Press, Toronto Star News – Sara Mearns and Jamar Roberts to Be Resident Artists at Vail: Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times News – MU rejects using recorded music in place of live orchestra at Northern Ballet: Theo Elwell, Gramophone News – Ballet West ballerinas advocate for dancers of color: April Baker, Fox 13 Salt Lake City News – National Ballet of Canada Announces 2024-25 Season of Premieres, Faves, And A Poignant Adieu, Guillaume Côté is retiring: Anya Wassenberg, Ludwig Van Toronto Feature – From Pirouettes to Pop: Kazuha’s Daring Leap from Ballet to K-Pop Stardom: Saboor Bayat, BNNBreaking/The People’s Network Feature – When groove is in the art, Florence Peake: Victoria Woodcock, Financial Times Feature – Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Ingrid Silva Shares How She Feels Safe and at Home When Dancing Onstage: Dance Magazine Video Feature – Acclaimed Russian-Ukrainian choreographer brings the battlefield to ballet: Christiane Amanpour, CNN Video Feature – Behind the Scenes: Milwaukee Ballet: Mike Strehlow, CBS 58 Video Feature – Ballet West’s unique twist on the classic show ‘Swan Lake’: KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City, YouTube Video Feature – Utah’s Ballet West is reaching record attendance, this is why: ABC4 Utah, YouTube

Helgi Tomasson was AD for 37 years. Not even Yuan Yuan Tan danced there for that long! The US-style gala final performance for a retiring dancer is just that - a US tradition. Some dancers don't want to do it that way. On another note, the promotion of another dancer to principal status the day following YYT's retirement is awkward, but some ADs have form for that. When Yosvani Ramos left AusBallet, David McAllister (who had introduced a new "tradition" of on-stage promotions) promoted Ty King-Wall the day before YR's final show. When Olivia Bell retired (final show Paquita as part of a double bill), Guo Chengwu was promoted after dancing James in La Sylphide at the same performance, making people unsure of whether the company party was to celebrate Bell or Guo! On two occasions McAllister promoted three dancers to principal at the same performance, somewhat diluting the effect.

As far as I understand it Mr Campbell was not cast in The Winter's Tale or Swan Lake, the RAD opportunity knocked on his door, and in order to take it up in a timely fashion, it was a choice between Des Grieux and Different Drummer as a final rôle. Just think of the influence he is going to have on how ballet is taught - the AD has serious input on syllabus work!

His name is Alexander, shortened to Alex. Not Alec, that's my late great-uncle who was the last of the Australians who fought at Gallipoli when he died in 2002. I first connected with Alex on Twitter many years ago now, because someone tagged me by mistake - I introduced myself as "the other cricket-loving A Campbell" 🤭 I actually knew his father through cricket and was vicariously thrilled when I heard he'd gone to RBS. I will miss his dancing but wish him all the very best in the new role.

Peter the Peregrine Preferrer 😘

...but it's Sunday night at the London Palladium! ITV and Bradley Walsh where are you?

...and I will remind everyone that AusBallet is not good for advance casting info - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland opens in Sydney on February 20 and the casting went up on February 15 2024. Booking for this production opened in October 2023. I don't have a choice - given that seeing the company involves travel by train or car to Melbourne (3 1⁄2-4 hours each way) plus a hotel if not squeezing in a matinée and returning the same day, or travel by plane (1 1⁄2 hours EW), train (8 hours EW) or car (6 1⁄2 hours EW) to Sydney plus a hotel twice the cost of one in Melbourne - I just book as early as possible to get lower cost preferred seats. Casting is a lucky dip and always has been. I can't just decide "Oh I want to go to the ballet tonight" and hop on a tram or suburban train.

Links – Saturday 17 February, 2024 Review – Jean Butler, What We Hold, Irish Arts Center, New York NY: Brian Seibert, The New York Times (paywalled) Review – Joffrey Ballet, Studies in Blue, Lyric Opera House, Chicago IL: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Kathy D. Hey, Third Coast Review Nitish Verma, BNN Breaking/The People's Network Review – Madison Ballet, Paquita / Armistice / Agapé / Farewell / Dance Odyssey / Recession / Something to Remember You By, Promenade Hall, Madison WI: Dan Van Note, The Cap Times Review – New York City Ballet, Solitude, David H. Koch Theater, New York NY: Gia Kourlas, The New York Times (paywalled) Review – The Royal Ballet, Festival of New Choreography, Royal Opera House: Jonathan Gray, Gramilano Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper David Jays, The Guardian Louise Levene, Financial Times Alastair Macaulay, Slipped Disc Mark Monahan, The Telegraph Siobhan Murphy, The Stage (paywalled) Joy Sable, The Jewish Chronicle Catherine Smith Perez, This is Local London Review – San Francisco Ballet, British Icons (Song of the Earth / Marguerite and Armand), War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, CA: Charles Lewis III, 48 hills Review – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Nelken, Sadler’s Wells, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Louise Levene, Financial Times Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Review – Twyla Tharp Dance, Ocean’s Motion / Brel / The Ballet Master, The Joyce Theater, NY: Christina Pandolfi, Broadway World Liana Wilson-Graff, Splash Magazine Review – The Washington Ballet, Jazz Icons: A Fine Romance, Eisenhower Theater, The Kennedy Center, Washington DC: Carolyn Keleman, MD Theatre Guide Celia Wren, The Washington Post (paywalled) Preview – The Australian Ballet, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, including discussion of 'blockbuster ballets', Capitol Theatre, Sydney NSW / State Theatre, Melbourne Vic: Hannah Story, The Age Preview – BalletMet, Asian Voices, Davidson Theatre, Columbus OH: En Face Magazine Preview – Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, touring to Birmingham, Salford, Sunderland, Plymouth, Bristol and Sadler’s Wells: Vivian Summers, ATV Today Preview – Cincinnati Ballet, Don Quixote, Music Hall, Cincinnati OH: Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Business Courier Preview – Dance for Ukraine II gala, London Palladium: Stefan Kyriazis, Express News – Cape Town City Ballet reveals repertoire for 2024: Tamlynne Thompson and Staff Reporter, Plainsman News – A new Nutcracker as English National Ballet’s 75th season is announced: David Mead, SeeingDance News – Nigerian star of viral video stars in MADU, a Disney documentary filmed at Elmhurst Ballet School: Graham Spicer, Gramilano News – S.F. Ballet receives $60 million donation, the largest in its history: Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle News – San Francisco Ballet Star Yuan Yuan Tan Gracefully Exits Stage after 29-Year Career: Eric Tanaka, Hoodline.com Article – Endnotes: ‘The Swans of Harlem’ by Karen Valby, how the book came together: PW Staff, Publishers Weekly Feature – Dancer Tiler Peck makes her choreography debut at the New York City Ballet: Brooke Lefferts (Associated Press), ABC News Feature – Career-ending injury didn’t stop Ballet Kelowna director, Simone Orlando, AD/CEO Kelowna Ballet: Brittany Webster, Kelowna Capital News Feature – Why Houston Ballet’s Gian Carlo Perez Lives for the Stage: Emma Love Suddarth, Pointe Magazine (paywalled) Feature – Dance artist Elle Sofe Sara draws on Sámiland roots in Vástádus eana – The answer is land: Janet Smith, Stir Arts & Culture Feature – Beyond the Exaltation of the Individual Dancer, How Thomas Forster reminds us of the social dimension of dance: Alice Courtright, The Hedgehog Review Feature – How the Choreographer for ‘Poor Things’ Uses Dance to Tell the Story, Constanza Macras, founder of the Berlin dance company DorkyPark, uses “dance as a function, as a language,” in her work, be it for the stage or the screen: A.J. Goldmann, The New York Times (paywalled) Book Review/Interview – Tammy Greenwood, The Still Point: Sophie Bress, Fjord Review

The high waistlines place them between about 1800 and 1825-30. The narrow sleeves with varying degrees of puff at the shoulder in combination with the high waistlines suggest 1815-20.

I am very envious of the Forsythe evening. Uh, judging by the costumes in the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker party scene, Julia Trevelyan Oman plonked it firmly in the Regency era (c.1795-1837). Perhaps you're thinking of John Macfarlane's designs for the Birmingham Royal Ballet, which, with Frau Stahlbaum's stunning red gown with a bustle, are more 1870s, perhaps even 1880s.

No, they're learning it for AusBallet's upcoming performances in Sydney, 10-27 April (I asked Jill). It makes sense for them to go to London to join ENB in learning and rehearsing the piece rather than for Inger and his team to spread themselves too thin and travel all the way out here. Ten or so years ago when AusBallet revived The Dream, a small group travelled to London to learn it from Sir Anthony Dowell (who apparently doesn't like flying). It would be extraordinarily disrespectful to the ENB dancers if Elmes and Harvey, in particular, both just promoted from the corps to coryphée a month or so ago, were to guest in lead roles.

Half a dozen AusBallet dancers (principals Dimity Azoury, Callum Linnane, Marcus Morelli and Jill Ogai, with coryphées Adam Elmes and Lilla Harvey) have been learning/rehearsing Carmen with ENB. The closest we get to advance notice of casting 🤣