Barnes2

I understood that The Arts Council wants BRB to do more mid-scale touring which the Company is now planning. So an increase in funding is almost certainly tied to that request/requirement.

Yes. I noted the rather petite "butch" warriors too. It is a small company and though it did its best it is not an international troupe. Agree about the lighting.

I was very suspicious of this Triple Bill of Petrushka, Les Sylphides and Polovtsian Dances at the Saturday Matinee as, in the past, Andris Liepa's promotions have promised much but delivered nothing of great value. Petrushka lived down to my expectations. It was supposedly choreographed by Fokine but it contained steps which Fokine would not have countenanced - particularly steps of virtuosity for Petrushka which were a vulgar travesty of what Fokine was trying to do. There were even new characters introduced into the Fair scenes just to enable two dancers to show off their (limited) virtuosity. The characters in the fair emoted wildly to little effect and the Coachmen seemed to think that if they shoved their hands up the nursemaids' skirts at every opportunity they would be displaying character. The sets for scenes 2 and 3 were a travesty of Benois' designs. Horrible. Things improved greatly with a beautifully produced "Les Sylphides" and The Polovtsian Dances are rarely seen nowadays so were rather a treat, though it was the fabulous Opera Chorus and the Orchestra rather than the dancers, who generated the excitement. It was interesting to see how repetitive and sometimes rather desperate Fokine's choreography could be. The standard of dancing was of a level that failed to ignite excitement and relied, in The Polovtsian Dances on a lot of grimacing and flourishes to make an effect.Georgi Smilevski was rather good as the Poet in Les Sylphides and the three female soloists and the Corps had genuine style and fluidity. The audience, largely new to ballet as far as I could tell, were whipped into enthusiasm by the Polovtsi and, in the end, my bad temper, created by Petrushka, was assuaged. But Mr Liepa really needs better dancers than these to attempt to live up to what Diaghilev achieved.

I am enormously relieved about Northern and BRB. Birmingham has been asked to do more split touring so it would have been outrageous if it had not been protected. I gather that it is looking at Norwich as part of that commitment.

Surely the revised "Birmingham Royal Ballet" with excellent photography by Bill Cooper should be on your shelves.

Fille at Nottingham was superb. I saw 3 performances and was enormously impressed by the Company, not least in the way it dealt with the consequences of many injuries in the Company and the restricted stage space. All performances had life, commitment and a wonderful sense of fun, as well as the highest dance standards. In the Thursday matinee cast I was bowled over by the intelligent attention to the detail of performance. Nao, Cesar and Michael (O Hare) were so in control, not only of the dancing but also the truth of characterisation. Nothing came over as false or forced and Nao Sakuma especially seemed relaxed in the role. James Barton's Alain reinforced my belief that he is one of the best I have ever seen in the part, and over 50 years I have seen many ! He gets all the humour in the role but also manages to create a rounded character, and one whose distress in Act 111 is truly moving. Congratulations also to Kit Holder for a very intelligent and personal reading of the role. Finally how superb Maureya Lebowitz was in her (second?) attempt at Lise. Wonderful footwork, glorious self confident dancing and a really sunny but feisty interpretation. She was beautifully supported by Chi Cao, nursing a wrist injury but relaxing into the role. Just one small criticism. I think Rory Mackay needs to soften Widow Simone in the early scenes. We must see the generous person behind the crotchety old dame, or the later Widow seems to come from nowhere. Above all what a wonderful company this is. It is such a pity that so much of the "National"(?) press ignores it. It is good to hear that BB is going to make Nottingham a regular venue.