Ellie

Hello ckswartz and congratulations ! I can't immediately answer your query, but when my DS went to WL SS he stayed with friends of mine who live in Richmond for the first night after his flight to the UK and who the took him to WL on the first day. I'll ask them the best way to get to and from WL and let you know - although I'm sure lots of other forum members will have lots of info. x

It's a dash and back on Monday but I'll do my best.

If you're at CCB for the opera you're very close to Pasteis de Belem ! 

"Our Artistic Director Robert Parker is running the 

2017 Virgin London Marathon in aid of the MS Society. 
We are all supporting him with a number of fund raising activities. 
Please join us by either contributing into the 
collection or through the just giving page 
robertparker-elmhurst. 
Thank you!"

Hope this helps.

I think there may be details on Elmhurst's FB page. x

Well thanks BBB for that info about the original fairy tale.....much appreciated will have to try and find this one as have never read the original

HOWEVER ........for balletic purposes ......this pas de deux has always been about birds!! ( Rightly or wrongly as it were)

I understood it .....that for choreographic purposes ....the female is being taught to fly by the male!! When originally composed ....but no doubt FLOSS or someone with more balletic history knowledge can enlighten in this respect.

Lin, your comment reminded me of a passage in Sir Peter Wright's book. (I had to search for it as couldn't remember exactly what he said), but here it is...

"The bluebird pas de deux is, strictly speaking, a demi - caractere number although many dancers do not understand that. She is a princess under the spell of a magical bird, which is all in the choreography if you look at it, but the nuance needs to be pointed out in performance. It is often done, at both Covent Garden and Birmingham Royal Ballet, too classically, just two birds twittering together"  ( Peter Wright, Wrights and Wrongs, pp 262-263)

May I ask any German ballet fans how the audience behaves ? I have no experience of German ballet going, but a few months ago my first trip to Germany was spent mostly stranded in Hamburg coach station (a tiny, tiny place) My connecting coach was due around midnight.At around 10pm all of a sudden a chap in a high viz jacket arrived shouting something ( I speak no German but gathered that the station was closing for the night). Everybody promptly got up and left the relative warmth of the bus enclosure (I followed) with not so much as an eye roll (it was -2 outside)....to wait for their coaches outside. I was rather surprised and impressed....

Never used him personally, but from graduate shots I've seen, Jack Thomson looks good. https://www.facebook.com/pg/JACK-THOMSON-Photography-245436452181842/about/?ref=page_internal

well he has a job! so I think that puts him closer to the crème de la crème than you are so modestly suggesting

Exactly ! Getting a job straight after graduation is a great achievement, many don't. Congrats to both of your boys and best wishes. x

Thank you meadowblythe. It's good to know that the 'evaporated milks' are also give support and advice and not just left to drift. x

Thank you very much CeliB. x

A few decades ago very few graduates from my cohort would be fortunate enough to be chosen after their final year of training for a spot at Sadlers Wells or London Festival Ballet. Others if they had the wherewithal and financial ability would trek around Europe (especially Germany) knocking on doors, hoping to be allowed to do company class and if lucky getting a contract.( I must say that many of the latter group enjoyed success and longevity in their careers) 

My question is how do vocational schools help their students with employment nowadays ? If you've not been handpicked from the school by visiting directors what advice are you given ? If you're talented enough do summer schools with international guest teachers associated with companies pick out dancers at that level ?

 Obviously it would be lovely to do the PDL ...but I'd be interested to hear strategies from parents with kids who have recently graduated , and who weren't considered the 'creme de la creme'... x

Thanks Ellie! In your opinion what's better APL or access course? Yeah I'm definitely going to give Rambert a try but I'm confused on the career prospects after you graduate because I'm more of a ballet dancer than contemporary and I will be 23 by the time I graduate so I won't be able to get into a ballet company so do you think it's worth it?

I did my BA a good few years ago and had already danced and at that point was teaching professionally (I did the BA Dance Ed) as it was a distance course. I have no idea about the access course, sorry. The chances of graduating and getting a classical contract are slim, for all ! I think most Rambert graduates (recent at least) who do go on to dance do so in the contemporary scene. Have a good look at the websites and see what kind of training and qualifications they offer and which would be more beneficial to you.

Thanks for your advice Kat09, yeah I have definitely looked at the RAD degrees but I don't have the A-Levels to support me as I only have AS levels and for Rambert you don't need a-levels. That's the only reason I was put off RAD because I would Have to take an access course or something to apply for it

It may be worth calling them for advice. When I did my BA I also didn't have A Levels, but they accepted APL. Rambert definitely worth a go, Laban too . Good Luck. x

Yes ! Just enjoy it ! Your muscle memory will kick in pretty soon ! Be patient with yourself, enjoy your strengths and don't worry about your weak points. Take it at your own pace for the time being. Do a well placed releve instead of a pirouette (for example) a single frappe instead of a double....And don't forget that you're taking class because you want to and not because you have to. Welcome back ! x

Almost all of Cinderella is written in minor keys, I wonder if that might be the reason.  I find it extremely melancholic myself.

The subject of major and minor keys reminded me of a clip I found on youtube a while ago regarding Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. From about 2.20..." Takes Paganini theme / Turns it upside down / Puts it in the major / Slows it down "........Ahhhhh

529015A....Earlier on in this thread I mentioned bursaries and although it's worth a try I imagine that even if you were awarded one and if you have to cover your DD's accomodation, food etc it may be a very high mountain to climb.....My non dancing DS has had to work part time since he's been at uni, it's been difficult, but he's managed so far, but to be honest I can't see how my dancing DS would have the time or the energy to do the same (although I do know students who have done it - but post 18). It is obviously a very personal choice, but perhaps (as has been mentioned) look at the courses which are eligible for student funding...I know that Rambert for example accepts students from the age of 16....Your DD would leave with a BA, and a student loan to pay back....but still possibly more economic than Tring. Once again good luck. X

I really enjoyed last night and it is great to have Nela back onstage...and Vadim, for that matter!  I still had their marvellous Giselle in my mind, and I think anything after that would be a slight let-down.  Not that this was a let-down, but with no real depth of emotion here, there is not an awful lot they could do except dance the steps well and prettily, and that is what they did.  So I didn't leave feeling blown away, but I just greatly enjoyed it.  Nela seemed very slightly tentative at first, but very quickly warmed up and did what she does best:  dance a beautifully executed classical ballet.  Vadim was exemplary in his partnering and his dancing, but I must say I agree with Anna above that James Hay moved me more in the solo, and his steps were every bit as well placed and held as Vadim's were.  The only reason I am not seeing him tonight is because it's my wedding anniversary and we are doing something else!  So sadly I only caught his debut.  I am sure that when I see Nela and Vadim again in a few days it will be even better.

 

Agree again with Anna that Yasmine Naghdi's Woodland Glade fairy was fabulous.   I loved Kirsten McNally's Carabosse....sexy and sarcastic and joyously wicked.  One complaint about the staging....in the awakening scene, the bed is angled such that no-one on the left-hand side of the stage can see the destruction of Carabosse as the mirror above the bed cracks.  The angle, and the curtain, completely block this off from the left side.  That is very poor.  As far as that side of the audience is concerned, Carabosse disappears behind the bed and that's it, she is never seen again!  What happened to her, someone near me was wondering last night.....I think this needs to be re-thought. 

 

Back to the dancing....wow, I was totally bowled over by Marcellino Sambe and Anna Rose O'Sullivan as Bluebird and Florine.  Judging by the loud and prolonged applause, so was everyone else!  Fabulous virtuoso dancing from him (the height of those jumps!  The amount of stage covered with his leaps! ), and very good technique from her, as well as a lovely stage presence.  I think this was one of the places that Capybara mentioned above, i.e. I found the tempo a bit strange in parts of it, but hey ho, they danced it brilliantly.  Anna Rose is, for me, another particularly outstanding dancer who will go far.  I was noticing her lovely, bird-like arms last night, and hoping that one day these will be swan wings...

 

It was clearly a good idea to have a break from this ballet as the company did indeed look like they were enjoying it a lot more than a couple of months ago.  Furthermore, for many of these dancers to have been dancing Woolf Works on Tuesday night, to then be dancing that most classical of ballets so well 24 hours later is a remarkable achievement.  Kudos to them all.

Happy Anniversary Sim ! I have seen Marcelino Sambe dancing the Bluebird and know what you mean ! 

"Dancing on Water" is absolutely one of the best ballet memoirs ever written. Tchernichova saw so much -- the Communist era of the USSR, the ABT under the Baryshnikov era, and her memories of some of the most famous names in ballet are priceless. Natalia Dudinskaya, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Alla Shelest, Natalia Makarova, etc. are all very vivid figures in her book. It's not just a ballet book, the memoir is also an unsentimental look at Cold War Russia. Really a great read.

 

Also this book benefited from some tight editing. It's one of those books where you wonder which stories got edited out because it's such a compelling read.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Dancing on Water', both the historical/political perspective as well as the artistic. I've only read it once so far, but it is definitely one of those memoirs, in my opinion, that is a 'keeper' - and deserves to be read more than once . In the meantime I've also ordered Sir Peter Wright's book 'Wrights and Wrongs'  2nd hand from Amazon. (under 10 pounds - there was a 'new' copy going for over 60 !!!) I know that the opinions have been mixed about this autobiography and am aware that a revised edition is being planned.....but I couldn't resist

I will do everything I can within in the next week but if nothing comes up then at least I can look back and say I have tried and dd completely understands that .

It's just a shame that she's good enough to get a place but can't take it .

I feel for you....Are there other options for her (CAT schemes, RAD BA, Laban, Rambert.... European Schools etc) which may be financially achievable ? x 

Have you asked if the school can offer a bursary ? Good luck. x

Of course it is important to rest, but as others have said this is a very crucial time for you. If possible research courses that have a faculty and offer dance styles which you identify with. Make the course work for you ! x

We have one near us. Although I've never been in I see from the outside that the cat section is partitioned off from the food section. If you want to spend time with the cats you pay a little extra. I must say that whenever I walk past the cats seem  contented. Lots of comfy beds, scratch poles etc and they have little 'cat holes' in the wall where presumably they can retire to if they want to be alone. They are all rescue cats and probably enjoying nicer conditions now than previously. Of course it all depends on the manager. I believe it is a trend which began in Japan.

Thank you all for the input, I will pass it on ! As a spectator at any type of 'artistic' event, be it cinema or theatre, I personally have to curb a strong desire to slap inconsiderate people who appear to be completely unaware/uncaring of their fellow spectators and indeed performers. I remember going to watch Les Mis at the cinema and the lady sitting next to me who began to unpack and consume a whole plastic shopping bag of food - during Anne Hathaways 'I Dreamed a Dream'. My husband had to practically hold me down....

I think I'd make a very bad usher. I'd probably be done for GBH......

How wonderful ! Congratulations and wishing him all the very best. Xx

Ailson, 'the management' suggested he shine a bright light in the offenders eyes and hope for the best.