Odyssey

Yes there are many gems in the archives including some wonderful documentaries containing rare footage. As an example, I came across an old video of an Omnibus featuring Irek Mukhamedov when he first joined the Royal Ballet . It contains some wonderful footage of him in rehearsal with Viviana Durante, Lesley Collier and Darcey Bussell. The Ballerina & Dancer series would be lovely to see too.

It's been a long time since the BBC devoted so much time and resources to ballet. Let's hope the ratings are good and this becomes a regular treat.

I found this link to the original production- if you scroll down there's a video extract. http://youdancefunny.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/rapture-over-rhapsody-part-one/

Returning to earlier performances of Rhapsody. I seem to remember the original costumes worn at the gala for the Queen Mother were rather fussy In particular, too many beads and bangles for Collier and gold hair and breastplate for Baryshnikov. Collier didn't seem comfortable in the role and indeed I read somewhere she found difficulties preparing it with Baryshnikov. The ballet certainly looks better for the makeover - did this happen in 2001 or prior to this? Incidentally, I saw Macrae dancing Rhapsody in a matinee performance in 2011 - his speed was breathtaking. I was excitedly anticipating getting my first glimpse of Cojocaru, but it was Macrae who has remained in my mind.

My first ballet was Swan a Lake at Coventry Hippodrome with Margot Fonteyn and Attilio Labis. It was birthday present (I think I was 8), and my dad had bought tickets for a box. I spent the entire performance draped over the edge - my eyes glued to Fonteyn. She actually curtsied to our box- unforgettable!

Enjoyed seeing ballet included in the Opening Ceremony. I thought the Swan Lake section worked well visually- particularly the crane shots. The War & Peace section was charming. I hope it was a sprung floors so no one picked up an injury as they were dancing their hearts out .

Thanks Alison. - I think this is the same as the Covent Garden database I referred to

Lucky you MAB. Yes she left in the 77/78 season - not sure what her last performance was.

I hope its okay to start a new topic here as I'm not sure where else to post this query. I have come across a photograph ( link here) of Ann Jenner - a previous principal of the Royal Ballet, as the Grand Duchess Tatiana in Anastasia. This is a role I have no record that she danced. I have looked on the Covent Garden Performance database and can find no record. I know she danced in Australia after leaving the Royal Ballet, but although I have found other roles she added to her repertoire,I have never found reference to this one. Does anyone know any more? My reason for enquiring is based on a long held admiration for this dancer, who, as has been reported in many articles, did not get the opportunity to really flourish at the Royal Ballet despite receiving many promising reviews. She also had several injuries which probably hampered her. The first time I came across her, was through photographs in the Princess ballet annuals which I had as a child. I then subsequently followed her career, and still enjoy the odd glimpses of her in a few filmed roles such as Fairy Autum in Cinderella, and in Symphonic Variations with Sibley and Penny. I gather she was a wonderful Lise - but never had the opportunity to see her in this role. Ann married Dale Baker and moved to Australia where she became a principal at Australian Ballet. She also danced with San Francisco Ballet. She became a teacher in Australia, and I gather she also choreographed a piece for the Royal Ballet School graduation performance. The Dancing Times featured her in a brief article awhile ago. If anyone has any memories of this dancer, I would love to hear them.

A partnership I would have loved to have seen was Karen Kain & Frank Augustyn. I have a book charting their partnership with some wonderful photographs and interesting interviews attesting to it being a special partnership, but sadly I didn't get to witness this first hand.

I'm interested to know if the audience clapped at any of the cinema screenings. I noticed there was quite a lot of "air clapping" where I was, particularly following Osipova's outstanding solos, but I was so disappointed that we didn't all join in with the show of appreciation for such a wonderful performance. I agree about the interview with Peter Wright & Kevin O'Hare being a wasted opportunity. I also found the situation distracting with folk taking pics on their phone - but hey, these are minor complaints in the face of so many good things.

I echo afds. Osipova is a remarkable dancer. I found her interpretation totally convincing and extremely moving. Phenomenal technique but the character is always uppermost in her dancing. It felt very special.

I just got my tickets for Giselle and there were only a handful left. I think this is most encouraging.

Faced with the ridiculous booking charges by ATG for the Oxford dates, I phoned up the box office and spoke to a very helpful lady who suggested I send a cheque with a self addressed envelope, and although she couldn't guarantee the exact tickets I requested, she would send the nearest still available. Which is exactly what happened- I did get my original request and I saved the booking fees. So it is always worth ringing a booking office to see if they will offer to do this for you.

Thank you Janet, you have spurred me to make a note on my calendar to get tickets for next year. I went to the first couple of these evenings when I used to live in a Birmingham, and then forgot about them. The event isn't widely advertised, so it is easily overlooked, but I remember how varied and interesting the programmes were with an opportunity to see many favourite dancers in one evening at the fraction of the price of a ballet gala.

Thank you both for your help with Rojo - I wasn't sure of Melvyn Bragg's pronunciation when he interviewed her for the South Bsnk Show:)

I'd appreciate some advice with the correct pronunciation of Rojo.

This is one of my favourite pictures of Fonteyn. It shows the wonderful proportions of her body and I love the pose. http://www.flickriver.com/photos/7158635@N05/6824023790/

An interesting article with some sound observations, but if I were the editor, I wouldn't have chosen an image from Black Swan to illustrate the piece!

I just did a little research and I think it might be Dying to Dance. (2001) I haven't seen it but the synopsis fits your description . It seems it was made for television rather than the cinema.

I think it was the first season of the BRB . And yes I was lucky to see both Yoko Ichno and David Nixon. I have just looked at my cast list from that performance and Miyako Yoshida, Karen Donovan and Ravenna Tucker were amongst the fairies. Happy days.

Although any ballet on television is welcome, I must admit to being a little disappointed with the dancing in the Prologue -a couple of the fairy variations and Act 1 where I agree about Laura Cuthbertson's Rose adagio - she didn't have an assured set of balances. However, overall I enjoyed her performance. I was interested in Janet's comment about Sandra Madgwick's ( BRB) Aurora, because I have similar memories of a very secure adagio, also Yoko Ichino who was guesting with BRB. The footage of Fonteyn is a treat to watch because although her leg in attitude is not so high as we currently see, she projects a confidence in that position which suggests she could hold the balance indefinitely. Dowell's solo in Act 2 ( thankfully filmed) is so beautifully controlled, it is the yardstick for me . Polunin I guess being a different type of dancer, didn't have the impact I was anticipating.

Nijinsky would definitely be in my list of favourite ballet films. It features Carla Fracci & London Festival Ballet with George de la Pena as Nijinsky . There are extracts from many of the famous Ballet Russe ballets with Kenneth Macmillan providing some additional choreography. Another ballet film not mentioned so far is The Children of Theatre Street - more of a documentary really, but some beautifully shot sequences of students from the Kirov and narrated by Princess Grace of Monaco.

I saw the production at Oxford & found it a sheer joy to watch both for the quality of the production with its wonderful set designs and costumes and the high quality of dancing at all levels in the company. I do hope there's a strong possibility it will be filmed - it has all the credentials for the traditional Christmas slot on BBC.

Sorry, this was the poser I was responding to when I submitted The Red Shoes. I now need to look back for the other teaser. Thanks for the welcome.