Silke H

I just noticed a funny thing on the RB staff page. It seems there's a position named Zenaida Yanowsky 😆

Bennet is not allowed any lifting yet after his shoulder injury That's unlikely. Bennet is not allowed to lift yet after his shoulder surgery end of 2023. Papa Stahlbaum's only arm-raises are lifting the yellow handkerchief but partnering even the smallest of ballerinas is currently out of question.

@JohnS - they have indeed disappeared again. for a change, not Avanti's lack of service. hahaha

I am debating the same and I don't even have the same train journey as you, @Dawnstar I'm so sorry that you're having a tough time at the moment without those added disappointments. Should you decide to come, let me know if you'd like to meet up. I've got a seat in the Dress Circle

Oof. This is most disappointing. I had really wanted to see the scheduled cast. In fact, Angela Wood had already been a replacement of the originally scheduled Jung ah Choi.

I am going tonight. I was wondering whether running time really is 2:15 hrs. (I have a late call with our SF head-office and am wondering how late/quickly I'll be able to join it).

Alas, this is still the case, I'm Friends+ level and am struggling to get decent SCS by the time it gets to our booking period and am often relying on general booking still.

Some teaser pics from what was my last (scheduled) Nutcracker this season. But one never knows what cast changes in the final 2 shows might "necessitate" another viewing... Instagram 10/01/24 Facebook album (entire run)

I have sent you a PM

sending a PM now.

which is why I phrased it etiquette and not condition 😉

That was exactly my thought process. are there any meatier roles in Manon or Swan Lake where casting etiquette requires a certain rank? I'm delighted with these surprising news nonetheless.

Instagram 04 Jan 2024 Aiden OB's cape battle - IG 04 Jan 2024 (I have permission from Aiden to post these) Facebook album

I have see NYC Ballet in the Balanchine Nutcracker multiple times when I lived in NYC and I really only go for Dewdrop, Sugarplum, Snowflakes and Candy Cane but was very selective with the casts for those too. It's just not my thing to have a child Marie that in fact watched the 2nd act from a little candy throne in the back and that irate bed feels to me more like out of a ghost/horror movie and goes on for too long for my liking. The "birthing" of Mother Ginger's children was in parentheses on purpose as I know it's not meant to be as such but I just find it weird to have the children coming out from Drag-Queen-like Mother Ginger's massive skirt. The superior thing about Balanchine's Nutcracker is that it is only 2 hours (including interval). Haha I also don't like Ratmansky's Nutcracker that he created for ABT. I find that storyline of Clara/Sugarplum crossover (or not?) also quite weird, nor do I like Ratmansky's choreography. Just my opinion.

Aiden's Dross was my initial motivation to see this performance, then I found out that Sae would be dancing Rose Fairy so I was even more eager to go. And here we are. Sometimes the Universe responds kindly.

Sorted. A ticket just came up on ROH website which I managed to snag. Yay!

I personally do not like any of the Ratmansky work (new or re-constructed) and would be as disappointed with his appointment as I am currently over McGregor.

Ha! How tastes differ. The child Marie and dancing bed are exactly my pet peeves about the Balanchine version. And in the second act it's Mother Ginger "birthing" children that I don't like.

Bumping this up as I'm still in the market for a ticket. Thanks

I have just seen the news the Royal Ballet School's artistic director Christopher Powney will step down in July after 10 years in this role. RBS News

I think this might have something to do with the level of Friends or non-Friends, similar to rehearsal ticket allowance. And whether another Insight event ticket has been bought within the same booking period.

What a pity. Looking forward to this talk at a later date nonetheless. Thanks for the early heads-up of the change

I'm looking for a good Stalls Circle standing or central Balcony standing ticket for The Royal Ballet's Nutcracker on Thursday 4th January. I really would love to see Aiden O'Brien's Drosselmeyer. Thank you for any offers or leads. Silke

Facebook album Instagram 01/01/24

I agree with all of the above @Sim , even down to the Chinese synchronicity and Drosselmeyer's 4 dolls. May we see much more of Annette Buvoli in the classics. What a lovely way to start 2024. Start as you mean to go on.