Peanut68

Lots of good valid points…. Guess was thinking from ‘my viewpoint’ & life situation when a Sunday show to escape to would be great - ha ha! But totally take point about Sundays being valuable family time etc….

Emeralds-top idea… shift traditional weekend off to the ‘working week’! Afterall, more useful day off in many ways & defo widens opportunities for more people to become regular audience members…. Is this model already common in West End/Broadway shows?

I think good plan to get the enquiry actioned as otherwise there will always be a ‘what if’ (I defo regret not having my teacher action an enquiry after my exam…it was more the principle as genuinely felt me & my co-candidate were ill judged alongside the very young girls we were in exam with…..& indeed should’ve highlighted the perhaps not ideal practise if putting adults in with kids….not least there was clear safeguarding malpractice as we were left alone in a room with minors…. Just to add…. It was us adults at risk from their pre-pubescent snarky remarks about our ages/abilities & awful critical stares at yes - our tits & our asses!! What I’d hoped was going to be a joyous ‘we did it’ exam session was less so but I know we did not let it affect our dancing & actually in sone ways we were spurred in to prove ourselves nog just to the examiner but to the 12 year olds (clearly aiming at vocational training/careers) & their patronising teacher too! Defo felt we wiped smug looks off their faces in exam room as we had solid hood technique & mature performance & musicality. We both deserved way higher marks than we were given. But there was no video, there would be no chance to get it reassessed & it would’ve felt like sour grapes (& we didn’t want our teacher to be labelled a trouble maker as we were her first ever examined Inter students) So, we put up BUT clearly never shut up about it as I’m still banging on about it on here now 😂 Sorry folks…. Move on peanut…. Let it go… Don’t sweat the small stuff.. And breathe…..!!! Just dance 🩰

So it was a video exam? Personally I hate the idea of an exam solely being a video but can understand how the covid years led to it almost being a ‘new nornal’. But it surely does give opportunity to challenge with real potential for re-assessment & thus - no guarantees of course - potential to change the outcome. Yes, I imagine you have to challenge formally or request a re-exam or similar & if there’s an additional fee then that’s a bitter pill to swallow (I imagine that’s refundable if marks change??) And of course there’s the fear they’d just ‘close ranks’ & protect a fellow examiners integrity by marking exactly the same….so it could be money thrown down the drain….. I do often think who examines the examiners in this crazy ballet world? Who holds the bodies to account etc? I guess ultimately it is us - the ‘customer’….. I know I felt unfairly discriminated against in the only RAD exam I did as an adult & the experience sadly put me off going on to seek chance to continue progressing I would’ve considered tryinv similar level & doing exam with a different exam body to just to try find sone validation for where I felt I was at as opposed to where one (not very pleasant) examiner from one exam board felt I was at on that one day. I did get chance to try a few ISTD Inter & actually thought it was different & interesting enough to present a new challenge but sadly the classes ceased once the current cohort had taken exam….and travel distance made finding new ones impossible… but maybe another avenue yoj might have opportunity to explore? Wishing all adults dancing with exam aspirations the very best of luck!

“with the cellophane bags falling to pieces.” Reading that gave me goose bumps Ondine & I felt instantly transported back there!! Yellowed cellophane, gone brittle & so torn - yes, that’s just such an image you have bought out from my memory!! Thank you x

Have I remembered correctly being led down a spiral staircase with the rounded walls packed with dusty shoe boxes?? And a very elderly (like in her 90’s!) but feisty Russian lady who fitted me for the best shoes I ever had?? This would have been c.1982-1984

I wanted to give these posts 100’s of likes!! It re-confirms my memories to be true as did wonder if I’d made them more ‘interesting’ in my head!!

Personally I’m a little sceptical about this as yet another format of commercialisation of the RBS brand…I get it’s good to be ‘open to all’ but it can perhaps dilute value or worse give yet more the feeling that the RBS training is available to them….wonder if it’ll have an impact on increasing numbers who pay to apply to audition for all the many intensives/courses? Could be a good money spinner….🤔 No bad thing aiming to be a little more self sufficient perhaps….????

Just to add… was it an ‘in person’ or video exam? If the latter then I am sure you’d be within your rights to ask for a new assessment? And I’m quite sure if you posted your video on here very very many as well qualified to exam people would give you a completely unbiased fair judgement & it’d be interesting to see result! I personally think that for Inter F & above all in person exams should be videoed in case of dispute & tbh should have more than 1 examiner…. We pay enough in fees let’s face it!!

Oh gosh this seems so unbelievably unfair & frankly shows how a ‘points’ system can be overly clinical & harsh in outcome. I definitely would challenge…. And stay positive & ‘don’t let the b***ards get you down’ as the saying goes!! Huge respect to you (& your teacher) for having the courage & support & clearly skill to get to this amazing point! BRAVO!!! And keep the joy xx

I’m afraid I rather read that as “damning with faint praise” Made me wince…. But we all interpret things our own way & ‘Vivre la difference’ etc!!

Tried to edit out the word ‘selfish’ as that was not really what I meant & hope it didn’t offend anyone at all! Guess what I meant was longing for the day when I could legitimately put my ballet-going pretty much ahead of everything else… one day!

I agree that providing info - should an audience member wish to seek it out - is absolutely great to assist in anyone wanting to gain most form a production....though I do think in most cases the info at booking (online/advertising flyers/local advertorials etc), online synopsis or programs (yes - a cost I appreciate) & opportunities to attend pre/post talks are all generally provided....though I take the point that this is not always the case & yes, all feedback from audience members - including industry renowned critics - is useful to companies/theatres for future planning performances & any add-on events/activities/marketing materials/online info etc. IMHO - I personally felt there was a sniffy tone - suggesting a 'live compere warming up the atmosphere' was required....like it was an audience for a TV panel or talk show filming or a 'holiday camp' show. Has he never been to the environs of Peterborough or explored the many delights & culture available close by? And I am quite sure that many locals regularly travel in to sample the delights of the ROH & other cultural establishments with the (usually) good fast train link to London!

opinions are well, just that - opinions & personal to the individual expressing them.... I totally get that a reviewer is quite entitled to share these in his feedback of a performance & - not having seen he show - i couldn't possibly commnet on the performance/dancers etc... It was his baseline views & assumptions about Peterborough, the audience that were there & their abilities to comprehend what was on offer (!!! - I paste what I frankly find utterly offensve below!)& the potential audience that were not there.... Talk about trashing a place & people! An almost blanket assumption that the majority of the audience had never seen or heard of ballet before!! Rude, rude, rude! And it is the likes of this that falsely perpetuate any elitist aura around the open to all (with some effort of course !)world of ballet! wouldn’t it help to have a live compère warming up the atmosphere by introducing each number and providing some background (explaining, for instance, the dramatic context and mimed gestures of the 19th-century extracts)? Ballet can seem deeply encoded, a mystery enacted on an altar – a deacon is needed to initiate newcomers.

Anyone else on here long for the days when they could just be truly selfish & just timetable life & finances around seeing all the ballet they wanted around the world & online??? 🤔 A girl can but dream…. Bruce Wall - you appear to have it right!!! (Am I correct I assuming partly as work??)

Sadly won't get a chance to see this (& am familiar with a few dancers having seen some in their youth at things like YBSS over the years when in training so would be great to see their steps into the profession). Was intrigued to read the review that so many (rightly) have deemed poor.... Well, to start with the title as 'Patronising to the people of Peterborough' was one thing...but to then basically go on to utterly patronise & make baseless & frankly shameful judgmental comments about the city of Peterborough (calling it 'Troubled'....did I miss a recent newsworthy bout of riots there???? I think not!), about the dispersal of tickets (implied sold or given away or only marketed to certain demographics?) & thus suggesting that the theatre & the BRB marketing teams had not done their jobs properly 'Fulfilling its sacred duty to serve regions that higher culture tends to avoid, Birmingham Royal Ballet made a midweek visit to the troubled city of Peterborough' this is just ugh....it gives such a chill & it's these sort of words that inexcusably turn audiences away from ballet & theatre in general....lets face it, who would want to be alongside such a narrow minded & frankly rude individual as Mr Christiansen!! This all IMHO Clearly if ticket sales are low, then yes, maybe marketing teams do need to look again at how they work this for future shows....but to slam a city & also to suggest BRB short changed them anyhow? Clearly he didn't understand the brief of BRB2 (clues in the title....not BRB but BRB 2....so second....so add on company...not the main full shebang.....get it?? Yep, not nice to be patronised is it Mr Christianson? - deliberate spelling error to go along with the theme 😉

Oh is it in in RB programme again? I do easily lose track of what’s on/where/by whom!! Having said that, I did look at forum on computer rather than phone yesterday & saw the ‘upcoming events’ by date running on right hand side (which phone for obs size reasons does not show) & realise this just could help me with this & will use to try schedule in what I most want to/can afford to/can timetable in with life & family commitments & which I can geographically actually get to! As ever, thank you Forum….. though this isn’t perhaps as full as could be & do wonder at summer schools being included? Maybe ‘Doing Dance’ could list masterclasses/courses etc & ‘performances’ & ‘news’ strands list shows/talks etc? I do realise I’m potentially appearing a little pushy here & that mods/contributors etc probably are already giving up much time & energy to the forum - our collective thanks to all!!)

I'm intrigued.....same Irek Mukhamedov (b. 1960 I believe)who coaches etc? Have not seen Dante Project...always wanted to see him dance/perform as he has a real strength & presence - even when just standing still!

I too was delighted to discover this quite by chance!!

I seem to recall that ENBS had a deal with a hotel that looked budget but perfectly acceptable that I think was on Fulham Road (near Fulham Broadway certainly). Might be worth looking on their website (or calling) for their SI accommodation recommendations…. Also, make most of points/rewards schemes that can often give big discounts or earn enough points from a couple of week stay for a couple of free nights! Hotels.com reward nights have been used for many a dance stay….!!

I too have 2 tickets for sale…. I hurriedly booked when first announced without checking if it was feasible to go…Sadly impossible for me with the weekend Coronation activities….! I know where I’d rather be….but guess family must come first sometimes….

Can you clarify which date/performance is scheduled to be Morera’s RB farewell please…I too get lost navigating the calendar/cast info often…. thank you!

Yes I guess they must have…. Wonder if there’s a way that the FA lecture folks can see how many want to book but can’t as it’s already fully booked? Maybe that could give them confidence to book for larger zoom or could it be streamed via Facebook or YouTube or something?

Emeralds explains well….makes me wonder though how does the LBC send out their talks? I’ve attended a few & think thet were via zoom….I imagine they have more than 100 often? Also, I seem to recall to use zoom free it’s limited to a maximum of 45 minute duration (please correct me if I have this wrong) & certainly these lasted much longer (& very good they were too!)

True….. but I’d be very happy for time slots to be made available & book one… with international interest sone would want to be watching their day our night etc….no idea of tech allows for this or indeed if it should actually be an issue at all as surely lots of zoom events attract potentially 100‘s of 1000’s of viewers at any one time…. Could be limitations as free? Maybe as a charity it has a limitation on free use age? I’d be very happy to pay a fee…