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RobR

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  1. RobR
    C’mon guys, we’ve all seen this scene so often we’d be certain we’d seen monks even if they’d missed their cue and hadn’t come on stage. Seriously though, and with the greatest respect to those who perform this particular role, there isn’t really a lot to see whatever the lighting is like.
  2. RobR
    I really enjoyed the General and I’m now wishing I was going tomorrow for the same cast
  3. RobR
    Don't feel guilty. A simple rule of thumb is that critics compete with each other in a private race that has no real relevance to your/our enjoyment of what you see. Their taste may not be your taste, their experience may not be yours and their remarks should neither diminish your pleasure and elation nor, give profundity and validation to any performance that you feel is neither entertaining nor uplifting.
  4. RobR
    Thanks Dave, that clears that up
  5. RobR
    How irritating. That said, was he the Daily Telegraph photographer? I've just looked at Mark Monahan's review and am wondering when the photos (credited to Alastair Muir) were taken? It very much looks as if they were taken during the performance.
  6. RobR
    😃😃😃
  7. RobR
    Those of us who are vaccinated are protected as are those of us who’ve had Covid, and have the antibodies, and that’s the vast majority of us. If we catch anything it’s statistically likely to have little serious or long term effect. Of course we can wear a mask to protect the small number who have chosen not to have the vaccine or are unable to have it for medical reasons but my personal view is that the use of masks for protection is overrated although not wearing them is, as a consequence of the last 18 months, still counter-intuitive.
  8. RobR
    And, on a very personal note, can I say how nice it is to see Julia Roscoe back on stage after eighteen months of surgery and rehabilitation following a career threatening injury 😀
  9. RobR
    I’m really sorry if I sound pompous
  10. RobR
    Well, as I’ve always understood it, there are two basic reasons. First, it’s a rehearsal not a performance and, and I’m happy for anyone to disagree, elite performers distinguish between a rehearsal and dancing in an actual performance at the highest level to which they aspire. I can recall Darcey Bussell and her partner, walking out their steps in studio kit rather than costumes, at one general. Other BCPs may have similar recollections. Second, a General is often a chance for performers to put into practice what has been rehearsed in studio, with orchestra, lighting and in front of an audience. Corrections will often follow. Just as it might be invidious to single out a performer or group of performers for criticism, it seems to me to be equally inappropriate to praise dancers for dancing in a rehearsal.
  11. RobR
    We have always waited until after after actual performances and, historically, don’t comment on rehearsals, is why I didn’t comment on the dancing, dancers or production when I posted yesterday. I hope we can revert to this convention in future
  12. RobR
    I know today was only the General but soooooooooooooooooo nice to be back
  13. RobR
    And last night at Sadlers Wells, only a minority appeared to be masked in both the auditorium or the foyer (and on the tube). Mind you, the audience demographic at SW generally seems younger than that at the ROH. (Hopefully, as one of the unmasked, this won’t be my ‘last post’ 😉)
  14. RobR
    Just back from a really enjoyable evening watching Hofesh Shechter's double bill at Sadlers Wells. The first part is the company’s 2016 choreography, 'Clowns', described in the programme as 'dark, funny, macabre and murderous', and it’s all that; effervescent dancing, performed crisply by a very fit, energetic and well-rehearsed company of ten who coordinate intricate movements to a driving soundtrack of a drumming and choral combination. It was terrific. The second piece, 'The Fix', was calmer by comparison to the earlier performance, exploring (as I understood it) the relationship of seven friends, one of whom was alternately anxiously seeking his fix, enjoying his friends company and, finally, needing their support as he suffered a post-intoxicating withdrawal. Not as vibrant or amusing as the first piece but certainly thought provoking. My first taste of Hofesh Shechter but, like the character in the second piece, I shall certainly look forward to watching them again.
  15. RobR
    Sorry, but I’m still catching up. James was danced by Ivan Putrov and Rupert Pennefather in the original run. Kobborg wasn’t injured but opted to dance ‘The Lesson’ (the other piece in the double bill) with Alina Cojocaru and Deirdre Chapman.
  16. RobR
    And, to get back on topic - I shan’t be going to the stage door for the time being.
  17. RobR
    Thanks Alison, I've taken it to the 'About' forum. Apropos the streamings, I did my best at the outset of the first lockdown. I watched what I could, I dug out old dvds and even joined Marquee tv, but it wasn’t real and I also missed my chums in the Floral Hall, so ……
  18. RobR
    Hi Dave, I’ve missed the above mini-furore about badges. I’m afraid the lack of live ballet resulted in my less than commendable attention to the detail of the forum but now, armed with both tickets and anticipation, I’ve signed in again. I am puzzled by the little blue badges that you and other mods seem to be sporting on your posts and, having asked for clarification elsewhere, was helpfully referred to this thread. Although you say “bye-bye badges” they still seem to be next to your name and photo and the names/posts of other mods. in addition, you are described as 'moderator' or 'committee'. So, I’m just not clear why some of you have blue badges next to your names. Is it that you’re more important, that your opinions and posts are more worthy than the posts of other members without badges, or is it technologically akin to those little enamel lapel membership badges than some people wear I had thought, and hope that it is still the case that the Forum members are all equal and that their opinions and posts had equal value. Best, Robert
  19. RobR
    I’m afraid that in the absence of any/much ballet, I haven’t been following the Forum as often as I did formerly but I’ve now (re)started doing so. I seem to have missed the post about the little blue shields which now appear against some of your names. Perhaps someone could tell me the significance of these 😀
  20. RobR
    Sorry, Capybara, I may have missed something in the thread but I was in row J yesterday afternoon and from my vantage point I could see that the Stalls Circle seemed quite well populated.
  21. RobR
    Writing from the perspective of a parent, whose child attended ballet classes until 11 and a full time ballet school thereafter, and is now a professional ballet dancer, I can’t recall any parent (well connected or not) succeeding in promoting a less able child (at any age) to the disadvantage of more able pupils. Naturally, any parent will do whatever they might believe would assist but, after watching the progress of whole classes of children over a 12 year period, the better dancers always looked better than the others, they were the ones spotted by the schools, the companies and the directors. I didn’t know much when I started watching, but in the following 12 years, can’t recall seeing a poorer dancer selected ahead of a better one. The popular parental trope was that one should compare the dancing of one's own child with the dancing of the others in the class/year group to gauge ability. It seemed a pretty infallible approach. If I could see it, which I could, so could any professional appraiser watching the group.
  22. RobR
    Well, it all sounds very nice but who’s dancing ‘Little girl’?
  23. RobR
    You put it perfectly - I couldn’t have put it better myself
  24. RobR
    So, apart from Janet McNulty, this forum's membership must be predominantly from the South given that the MP for Rossendale and Darwen contends that Northerners prefer football to ballet https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-54908862
  25. RobR
    No one has mentioned the Hofesh Schechter opening - what a super start to a great evening. And how nice to see the all Company in Elite. The pas de deux were great, particularly Carousel, but I always think that without the rest of the company, particularly the Corps, and without the general narrative of a full ballet, it’s just two dancers in search of a role.
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