Jump to content

emma-cann

Members
  • Posts

    30
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by emma-cann

  1. I know, just hoped it would be this year! Especially with a promotion for Reina this time around. Great pun by the way
  2. I am so pleased with the majority of these - especially Delia Matthews and Yaoqian Shang. However, my personal favourite Laura Day has been overlooked again which disappointing - but we can't have everything!
  3. MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 4 July 2016 BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016 At the end of the 2015/2016 season, Birmingham Royal Ballet is able to announce the following: Samara Downs is promoted from First Soloist to Principal. Céline Gittens is promoted from First Soloist to Principal. Delia Mathews is promoted from Soloist to First Soloist. Yijing Zhang is promoted from First Artist to Soloist. Feargus Campbell is promoted from First Artist to Soloist. Brandon Lawrence is promoted from First Artist to Soloist. Valentin Olovyannikov is promoted from First Artist to Soloist. Yaoqian Shang is promoted from Artist to Soloist. Reina Fuchigami is promoted from Artist to First Artist. Jade Heusen is promoted from Artist to First Artist. Max Maslen is promoted from Artist to First Artist. Lachlan Monaghan is promoted from Artist to First Artist. The following dancers will join the company: Gabriel Anderson, graduate of the Royal Ballet School, will join as an Artist. Tim Dutson, graduate of English National Ballet School, will join as an Artist. Aitor Galende, graduate of the Royal Ballet School, will join as an Artist. The following dancers leave the company: Elisha Willis leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet after thirteen years with the Company, twelve of those years as a Principal. Elisha is retiring from ballet and is going to pursue a career in costume making. Jonathan Caguioa leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet after fourteen years with the Company, four of those years as a Soloist. Jonathan is returning to London to undertake a Pilates teaching course. Steven Monteith left Birmingham Royal Ballet earlier this season after eighteen years with the Company, six of those years as a Soloist. Steven is currently studying for the Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma at the Royal Academy of Dance. Oliver Till leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet after nine years with the Company. Oliver was promoted to Soloist earlier this season. He is now moving to the United States to pursue different opportunities. Leticia Dias Domingues leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet after a year with the Company. Leticia is joining the Royal Ballet as an Artist. Luke Schaufuss leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet after three years with the Company. Luke is joining Scottish Ballet as a Soloist.
  4. Perhaps this move explains why he has been so absent from casting lists in the latter half of this season? I enjoyed watching Luke at BRB, particularly in The Nutcracker Russian Dances, but I can understand why it might have been difficult for Bintley to give him significant roles when he tours and guests so much.
  5. I'm constantly tempted to book more.. Shang as Juliet and Day as Titania sorely tempt me.
  6. I will be there on the opening night of each, particularly excited to see The Moor's Pavane with that amazing cast and Mathias Dingman as Hamlet. I always feel a sense of disappointment when BRB casting is posted, but only because I have too many favourites and couldn't possibly see them all in one performance!
  7. I'm going on Friday evening - bit gutted I won't be seeing Laura Day in lead roles but overall very happy with the casting!
  8. I forgot I hadn't posted here yet! I was lucky enough to make it to the Ashton Double Bill twice - seeing the Sakuma/Caley cast of The Dream on both occasions and catching both casts in A Month in the Country. The Dream was exquisite on both occasions for me, the perfect mix of classical romanticism and humour! The fairies were delightful, and I particularly enjoyed Miki Mizutani, Karla Doorbar, Reina Fuchigami and Laura Purkiss as the lead four on Saturday evening. Nao Sakuma and Joseph Caley were a wonderful pairing, both with such sound technique. I did crave a little more fire in the relationship, as I feel this must just be the latest in a long line of spats between Titania and Oberon and would love this reflected in the performances! Mathias Dingman was such a joy as Puck, he really stole the show for me. I was swept away by A Month In The Country on both occasions; the narrative and atmosphere is so absorbing despite the short performance time. Both Delia Matthews and Samara Downs were excellent as Natalia; I think Delia just edged it for me with the subtlety of her interpretation. Both Veras (Karla Doorbar and Laura Day) were fantastic - especially Laura's passionate acting towards the end. Despite Iain Mackay's beautiful dancing in the adage solo, I really loved Jamie Bond's interpretation - more of a loveable rogue!
  9. Thank you so much Janet! Now I can justify going an extra time to see Laura Day
  10. Romeo and Juliet casting has been announced for the whole tour. Shang was the only surprise for me. Totally biased but I think Laura Day would be wonderful as Juliet, so I hope she gets an opportunity like that one day!
  11. No surprises for R&J casting - Bintley has tested a few younger dancers in principal roles recently but I think Juliet is too much in demand. I am going on opening night so I'm looking forward to see Jenna Roberts again after such a long time! I will also be going to the opening night of the Double Bill, but I'm gutted that I'm missing Laura Day as Vera, so I might have to book for the Friday as well!! Edited: Just seen Yaoqian Shang is due to dance Juliet on tour - what a huge opportunity for her, following Odette!
  12. I got Vera too, pretty pleased but I would of course like to be a fairy queen! I'm going on the opening night of the Double Bill, just really want the casting now.
  13. BRB's Swan Lake - for the exquisite corps, Brandon Lawrence and Delia Matthews. The King Dances - especially the stage design Celine Gittens as Fortuna in Carmina Burana (accompanied by the stunning Ex Cathedra) Northern Ballet's Perpetuum Mobile and abridged Madame Butterfly (100% agree with Janet about Rachel Gillespie). I can't wait to see them perform again, as this was my first experience of the Northern Ballet. Rambert's Rooster, for the fantastic fun and iconic music! BRB's Nutcracker - in particular Momoko Hirata's Sugar Plum Fairy and Laura Day's Clara
  14. I'm so pleased to hear that about Karla, as she did start the solo so well on Wednesday. I would love to see Laura Day as Juliet too, but I agree that it is too soon unfortunately, especially as there is such a limited run of performances. Maybe A Month In The Country?
  15. I was also at the performance on Wednesday, as I made it a priority to see Laura Day as Clara! She's a lovely lyrical dancer and such a fanstastic actress; I felt that she wasn't just (!) dancing but really living every moment, and each move she made had a clear meaning and purpose behind it. I would love to see her in a more dramatically demanding role. Her musicality is incredible - I love the extra moments she finds in the music to linger between movements and really highlight important moments. I only felt sad that she didn't receive any flowers at the end, but I'm sure she got plenty for her opening night. The first pas-de-deux is always a special moment, and Laura Day and Tzu-Chao Chou made it even more with such a lovely partnership! I mentioned this last year, but Tzu-Chao Chou always looks like he's having such a great time as the Price that it's infectious. I would agree with everything said by Two Pigeons; we were treated to an excellent cast on Wednesday. I was so excited to see Karla Doorbar's debut. Two Pigeons is correct - the transformation was Clara to Sugar Plum Fairy was the most convincing I have ever seen! Karla's technique is so clean and elegant, with her pure line and the most exquisite feet, but I wonder whether the occasion got the better of her on Wednesday. She appeared to lose her centre and confidence towards the end of the variation and pas-de-deux, which was such a shame.
  16. As someone who works in the arts in Birmingham, this is incredibly sad and concerning! I have been amazed by the generosity of the public during the Big Give over the last four days, but it seems that art organisations must rely upon this more and more.
  17. I was at the Hippodrome on Friday 27 November for press night, and saw Karla Doorbar as Clara, Joseph Caley as the Prince and Momoko Hirata as the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Nutcracker marks the start of my Christmas every year; the music, the opening party and of course the snow create such a magical atmosphere which really gives me that festive cheer! My review for Broadway World goes into a lot more detail here, but the production was fabulous as always! I love seeing Karla Doorbar dance; she's so clean and precise with a beautiful line. However, in previous years (watching Laura Day in particular) I have experienced a sense of childlike joy and awe from Clara that Karla did not convey for me - but I think that might just be personal preference. Momoko Hirata and Joseph Caley are a spectacular pairing and gave a sparkling performance. Roles like the Sugar Plum Fairy and the lead in Theme & Variations feel like they were created for dancers like Momoko; so precise and yet also so effortless. The whole company are on excellent form, and special mention must go to that stunning Snowflake Dance! I'll be at the Hippodrome again on Wednesday 9th to see Laura Day as Clara, can't wait.
  18. This is exciting! Defintely going to catch both Karla Doorbar and Laura Day as Clara (hopefully with Chi) - but I really wish I could see all casts. Seeing Yaoqian Shang as Sugar Plum would be an absolute treat.
  19. The downloadable cast sheets for Birmingham Theme & Variations are online now: https://www.brb.org.uk/downloadable-castsheets
  20. Looked back over my notes from the season, and surprised myself by how often I have mentioned enjoying Yvette Knight's performances, so I should say I'm very happy to see her promoted as well! I'd also be interested to hear about other's opinions of Miki Mizutani. I missed her in Prince of the Pagodas and Sylvia. Her technique appears brilliant but I'm not convinced by her acting abilities. I guess this is something a lot of dancers 'grow in to' as they become more experienced. Some more thoughts about promotions and highlights of the season on my blog here.
  21. A review of Sylvia from my blog here. I went on opening night, Wednesday 24th June 7:30pm, and saw Momoko Hirata, Joseph Caley, Celine Gittens and Tyrone Singleton in the lead roles. As you'll see from my blog, I am a massive fan of Momoko, always blown away by how effortless and lyrical her dancing style is. I have previously seen her as Princess Belle Sakura in Prince of the Pagodas, in which her acting was exquisite. She was just the same in Sylvia, with such beautifully expressive eyes! It was a real showcase for the women, and totally showed off how impressive the BRB corps is. The story line is absurd, but I felt it didn't take itself too seriously, with wonderful moments including Sylvia teaching Orion and his minions how to make win, and of course those roguish pirates. Overall it was fantastic fun and a great way to round off the season!
  22. Many congratulations to all the promotees! As many have already said, this promotion has been long overdue for Celine. However, I had hoped for promotion for Laura Day alongside Miki Mizutani and Karla Doorbar.
×
×
  • Create New...