Peanut68

Can’t help but think if you can’t beat ‘em then you’re gonna have to join them!

They all seem extremely young mostly…. in the UK (rightly? wrongly?) we tend not to train to the level that a 15-16 year old can produce a principal standard solo from classical repertoire as part of general training… with more emphasis on classes rather than private coaching…. Which route is better for producing successful ballet dancers who can enjoy a long performing career I wonder???

Beyond exciting! I notice you can join as a friend with various payment points…just signed up! Wishing this venture every success as it does fill a void many of us on here I think feel there has been in the UK ballet scene! I always thought it was LFB I saw do La Sylphide at The Palace Theatre in Newark….but I’m now wondering if I’m fact it was LCB? Either way it was a totally transformative moment in my life…. Must’ve been early 1980’s? If anyone on here is able to clarify, that would be great! I vividly remember costumes (the kilts…the mini wings on romantic length white dresses with tartan sashes…am I remembering right?) & moody lighting & great storytelling from the dancers….and great dancing too of course! Think it was first time that I really appreciated the athleticism needed by male dancers!

Beyond exciting! I notice you can join as a friend with various payment points…just signed up! Wishing this venture every success as it does fill a void many of us on here I think feel there has been in the UK ballet scene!

That was my Dad’s thoughts too…. He did also pull off strands of lambs wool from barbed wire when he saw his much a box of ‘animal wool’ was in the Nottingham dance shop 😂 I recall bubble wrap was quite the new thing for packaging in the early 80’s….

Finally plucked up to ask for tickets for this for Xmas only to find there is not much left.... Would dearly love 2 great view seats - any price seats considered (including box share) or will go solo if can only get the one....but think this is one ballet the Hubbie would enjoy if view good! Nunez always my favorite and I've so wanted to see Bolle dance live...Fingers crossed you lovely Forum folk may help me with this!

Sounds like Musical Chairs plays out in the German Ballet scene!

Oh this would be fantastic! & I for one do see a space for a London based but with wider UK touring ballet company....& lets hope this provides more job opportunities for UK dancers also!

I used to use bubble wrap to fill in space between tights over toes & shoe & to protect rubbing at front top of the box…. Worked really pretty well (must say never had bare feet as seems to be todays fashion/dancer preference which I suspect would lead to sweat issues as PDQ suggests…) You did get the occasional ‘pop’ noise as a bubble came under pressure & burst 😂😂😂 It was my very non dance Dad’s suggestion (he came from an engineering background designing steel supports for underground tunnels….maybe shouldn’t got him to turn his design skills tl designing the perfect point shoe 🤔)

Ironic really that often the ones getting all the attention are the best….& often they get to be the best because they are supplementing their training with loads of extra private coaching (often kept quiet from schools/teachers/fellow pupils) So the schools & teachers pat themselves on the back thinking ‘wow, what good teachers we are to get such great results’ and then if there is general mediocrity it’s kind of hidden…. 3 monkeys approach…. If you or a funding body is paying for premier training you should not need to pay for extra outside of it… indeed, young bodies require care & rest time too & training hours should be enough in full time vocational training & more could cause burnout/injury not to mention the money drain…. Lots to consider. I assume the poster to be still be a dependant…. This is something to really discuss with them & they should help you with this battle…. I speak as one who never braved doing this for myself & wasted years in poor training environment (& it killed my love of dance) but also as a parent who has regrets that I didn’t kick up more of a stink over poor practises for own offspring in dance & other fields…. These type of issues are multi fold in education sadly

Apathy is bad enough…. Antagonism would be outrageous but I know first hand how this is all too real a situation in the dance training world. Isn’t it sad? I really do hate the insidious feeling of fear in this world of ballet….it’s what keeps the status quo & means things take longer to change for the better sadly. The whole industry power trip where ‘leaders’ all too often tell impressionable young dancers how ‘I/we can make you’ which sadly has the undercurrent & unsaid subtext of ‘I/we can also break you’ The power dynamic needs to shift back to ‘the client’ which is the student base. And they deserve to get the service as advertised & as contracted & paid for. Apologies to sound rather dark & fatalistic…but the dance world needs to get better at self regulation & indeed needs independent examination of practises IMHO

To be a bore….but just a note to also check the contractual terms & conditions as you may be liable to still pay the full course/year/or at least a terms fees in lieu of notice should you decide to leave - even if you have a government funded (MDS/DaDa in UK) or a school scholarship or bursary, the small print may mean if you decide to leave with no extenuating circumstances, you may actually even be liable to return any funding monies paid so far towards course. That not withstanding, happiness is key to being healthy both mentally & physically which is so important at this stage of your training & gut instincts can often be a good starting point in helping you to make informed decisions. One other thought that crossed my mind also is if you feel ignored is it the same for others or are there some dancers who do get focussed on & corrected? Beware the ‘favouritism’ that some teachers/schools show which can completely stifle others & can really mean a waste of time & money could be spent better elsewhere possibly. Definitely not a snap decision here but one to discuss with any parents/guardians/perhaps your previous teachers of mentors….&….deep breath…the current academy teachers/management. Do not be fobbed off with the old adage of ‘I don’t want to be seen as a trouble maker’ that has kept too many of us in a less than perfect situation & enables the continuation of bad practise by teachers in dance training. Safety in numbers too…. But again, it’s often easy to find others voicing similar concerns but getting them to all collectively speak up is never easy…. Good luck x

I think some of you ‘been there done it, got the Tutu’ parents should set up as advisor/recruitment agents! It’s making me realise just how out of my depth & how naive I was….I kind of assumed the schools would actually deliver on what they say at open days - ha ha ha! Lifeafterballet puts it so well…the keeping quiet rings true! But there are those out there who do share info & opportunities do come up…. I do believe in Karma too… And the old adage of ‘be nice to those whilst on the way up’ as they will see you on the way down! And you never know who/what/where… Mine got a small one off gig simply by one person from a former school in another year recommending her because ‘she was the only dancer she liked’. Kindness goes a long way….might not pay dividends immediately but important for the long game… Sorry, but off topic… You are right to take it upon yourself to research….it should of course be the dancer themselves but they are terribly busy with school/exams/classes/ assessments/projects/shows (not to mention TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram etc etc etc 😂) Good luck!

I certainly would’ve seen that as better value for money!

2 hours of dance or did that include the interval?

And it’s not just about thd bottom line money in the till…. But goodwill & retaining loyal audience surely…. This leaves a very sour taste… It seems that ‘dynamic pricing’ has become the latest thing in so many fields…. Long been the accepted norm in the travel industry for flights/hotels etc and always leaves a bitter taste doesn’t it to see ticket one day is x amount & the next it’s at y - which is more often more expensive so you regret not booking sooner…The idea is surely to encourage quick buying decisions. So, getting more expensive is kind of win win but getting cheaper? I’m not sure I see this as anything other than making people hood off buying in the hope it’ll get cheaper…. A vicious circle. Not good. I definitely agree it’s a combination of poor programming - give an audience what & who they want to see & the tickets will sell & also have tickets at better price points.

Well be interesting to hear did anyone here who had bought a DQ ticket then also get the discount offer email? Either way it dies leave a nasty taste whenever one hears of someone paying less than you did for the same goods or services….

About pricing…. Does it not seem likely that with recent offers of discounts many might prefer to leave booking later in the likelihood that if there are fewer well in advance sales then this will necessitate discounting as show dates get closer….afterall who wouldn’t want to manipulate the system to save money in current climate?! I’d frankly have been gutted if I’d paid full price for a seat at DQ months back only to have then heard about seats selling at 25% discount… I can’t imagine for one minute that the (frankly rubbish) ROH booking system is sophisticated enough to only send out emails offering discounts to regulars which have not bought for a production so as not to make early bookers peeved…. And even if that was so one would surely hear if others got discounts? If things are priced correctly at the outset, then they will sell. Discounting should not be necessary. ROH - listen to your audience, ask them the right questions in these too often pointless surveys & - most importantly - judge by their absence. Selling more tickets at a slightly lower price has to be better than fewer at a high price. Even if the maths are close, a full house brings a feeling of success & I bet more advance purchases for future performances. Audiences are lemmings… we’ll follow where others go… word gets out about any sellout show & suddenly it’s the hot ticket everyone wants & future performances & shows sell better… all just MHO!

I am saddened that they are in Linbury only…. I’m sure with right marketing they’d sell out MainStage for some/all performances -esp. the Gala Almost think they’d be better being at the Coli or Sadlers…. Although I expect the string Ashton link of ROH made this the preferred venue…

Quick question - do you know when mere mortals will be able to buy tickets for these as o really want to go to all these 3 programmes….

I think any course where entry is via UCAS or that’s basically university only requires headshot…. I wonder if this is because of standard forms or also to be seen as non discriminatory…. Not sure that’s really the word I mean but I’m sure you understand…

Emeralds - if you are not running for Prime Minister can you at least set up a one person Ballet PR agency & take on NB?

Where was this Jan?

I don’t want to be bleak but I’d hate to think of a stunningly staged & dressed cast but dancing just to recorded music in some venues…. Cannot there be sone such fundraising drive to help support the costs of keeping orchestra/live music… Elsewhere Emeralds made very good points that Galas are a great way to raise funds & others do it very successfully…but that also you need to grab the punters to go to your event otherwise they may spend their dosh elsewhere! Look how quickly Dance for Ukraine was conceived & staged….NB surely could look to stage a ‘support our orchestra’ gala - maybe even tour it!! I’d definitely support…. And let’s face it people do like to get something for money…. What could be better than an evening of wonderful NB ballet snippets accompanied by their wonderful sinfonia!

I’ve said it before…. I vote Emeralds for Prime Minister!! You speak so much logic - I only wish I could believe that the decision makers of arts funding bodies & charity trustees & board members of organisations like NB hear & understand these very pertinent points….and adjust decisions & reassign funding & management efforts to better effect!