Indigo

Could be. Though as well as major roles in Frankenstein, Dyer & Hirano are cast in Wayne McGregor's new Obsidian Tear. With Dyer also in Within the Golden Hour, so he's currently scheduled to dance in every performance of the mixed bill. Maybe the RB haven't had time to fully rehearse three Frankenstein casts. I just understood from various interviews I've seen with dancers, that being part of the creation & performance of a new work, especially a full length ballet with character roles, was kind of a "Holy Grail"; a greatly prized experience. Especially as Liam Scarlett seemed to be saying at the Insights event that various casts (both RB & San Francisco Ballet) had been involved in the creative process. Which was part of my surprise at Nunez & Muntagirov no longer being involved, alongside such a major cast change close to the start of the run of Frankenstein. But then I don't have the depth of ballet going experience others do to know how common such changes are, so it's possibly not that surprising at all.

I'm sad & surprised that Marianela & Vadim are no longer in Frankenstein (for whatever reason). After their recent Giselle success, I could really see them as Elizabeth & Victor, so was especially looking forward to it [Edited as I keep missing out words - need to get some sleep!]

Being the host for live broadcasting looks a tough gig to me & I like Ore too. When he fluffs a name or word I've often had the impression it's because his brain is planning several steps ahead, rather than carelessness. It's quite a skill set you need for these live ballet relays - calm under pressure, ability to improvise, keep yourself & interviewees to a time schedule, watch for instructions from floor managers or via your earpiece, look at the right camera at the right cue. Within an interview, respond appropriately to answers & link those to the next question, plus wrap up an interview in the timeframe. All this whilst being relaxed, welcoming & making it look effortless. I know much will be scripted or planned out before, but people do the unexpected & the host has to keep the show on the road. I was in the Clore Studio when the RB did the live broadcast online of the Frankenstein Insight event with Liam Scarlett (terrific evening) & it was also really interesting to watch what was involved from the studio filming side. I thought Kristen McNally did a good job but you could see how many distractions there were as technicians moved around the studio with cameras or set up the next segment whilst she was talking into another camera. She got countdowns via hand signals on how much time was left - which relied on her unobtrusively noticing them, including while interviewing. During the Q&A after the live relay had finished, an audience member asked Kristen if she'd done much presenter work & I recall Liam Scarlett commenting to the effect that she had the important ability to make people feel relaxed. I'd say Ore does too. Anyway, I enjoyed the lunchtime 'Opera, Ballet and the Bard' live-stream. Set me up nicely for more viewings of The Winters Tale

I've never even heard of the ballet piece the BRB danced yesterday evening so interesting to read the comments above about how well (or not) the dancers were matched & interpretation.

If the vote goes blue, I've got my eye on a gorgeous bluey-violet colour they do in enamel badges

Not quite the odd one out. As a result of the rather poor opening number & a camera shot of Charles & Camilla, Mr Indigo exclaimed in horrified tones, "This isn't Royal Variety Show Shakespeare, is it?" So we watched half of it (up to BRB) & based on the positive comments above about the second half being better than the first, we'll watch the rest! So far, some of the acting has left a bit to be desired IMO. The seven ages of man speech in particular felt flat - in the most recent staging I've seen of As You Like It at the NT, Paul Chahidi did a great job of making Jaques' speech sound more like thought becoming word, rather than a script. On the plus side, Judi Dench & Al Murray were a hoot. The opera was good too. Really enjoyed the BRB's Tyrone Singleton and Elisha Willis. I hadn't seen either of these dancers before & will look out for them when BRB's next touring to Southampton. It certainly was a small stage at the RSC & both the BRB & RB dancers did a great job adapting. Just loved Yasmine & Matthew's R&J - made me cry again reliving that magical matinee. As cavycapers says, it was a good idea to precede it with actors speaking the balcony scene words but unfortunately I share Bruce Wall's view that their rendition was rather stilted. So I was heartily glad when the ballet started - far more moving, uninhibited & expressive! As others have said, it would be wonderful to see much more of Yasmine & Matthew's partnership at the RB throughout 2016/17.

Great to have the poll going - thanks, Don Q Fan. Decisions, decisions. Do I vote for red for reasons outlined above. Or for my favourite colour which is blue (no surprise there given my choice of forum name!) Next weekend, once the poll closes & the decision's in, I'll be poised online to get a badge ordered so it'll hopefully arrive in time for me to try out on my next visit to the ROH in early May

Perhaps if we chose a colour such as red, members could wear that colour in either a round or a star shaped enamel badge. So there's a bit of flexibility/choice? (Although a five pointed red star is associated with Communism, it's a common symbol which I don't think would automatically be interpreted as a political statement. Happy to be corrected.) Edited to add that I'm thinking of a well known beer brand!

If there is a poll function, unless we're going for a straight yes/no on a round red badge, it would be really good if whoever sets it up kept poll options about shape & / or colour to those which can be easily & inexpensively purchased online. I don't know what would be considered a reasonable period for the poll to be open. I'm just really keen to order my badge & start spotting members before the RB finish for the summer! For what it's worth, though red is definitely not a colour I would normally choose for a badge myself, I thought it was a good suggestion in terms of the outcome we ultimately want to achieve - spotting other BalletcoForum members. As thinking purely in terms of what colour is most likely to stand out across the crowded spaces of the ROH (or other venue) against the background colour of most clothing (which is often black, white, blues, greys) & help spot a BalletcoForum member, then it's probably a small red dot! But I'm more than happy to go with a majority decision.

I'm wondering if there's a glitch or delay with ROH emails as Alison posted the news at 6:21pm but my email about this from the ROH didn't come through till much later - after 9pm. I've noticed some of their other email updates take a long time to appear in my inbox too. So far as I recall, I'm just signed up for general ROH updates.

Liking this This is a very simple option & we could try it out to see how it goes. (If we find wording is needed, we can deal with the complexities of designing, creating & distributing an enamel badge with wording in the long term.) So there's this round & red plain enamel one on the website John flagged up: http://www.badgesplus.co.uk/red_enamelled-button-badge-round-badge_202.htm which shows as £3.90 including UK p&p when I put it in the basket. (19mm with safety brooch fitting) Or this round & red plain enamel one on Amazon for £1.99 including UK p&p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Enamelled-20-5mm-Round-School/dp/B015J2T9Q4 (20.5mm with a butterfly type back) Gives a bit of choice on the round & red theme & either of these (or similar) would be very easy for members to order & start meeting

I saw The Odyssey at Salisbury Playhouse last weekend. (It's definitely not as atmospheric a venue as Wilton's Music Hall looks to be, but it's a lovely small theatre with comfy seats, good legroom & excellent raking.) Had a great time watching this show & agree with much of what's already been said. Including Aileen & LinMM's comments about the choreography. The duets were the most interesting for me too, though I did wonder whether some of the other dancing was somewhat restricted by the size of the stage at Salisbury Playhouse. But although there wasn't perhaps as much dancing as I'd have liked, I was too busy enjoying what was happening on stage to mind. All the cast gave such committed performances & delivered an excellent show. I was especially impressed by Christopher Tandy. His portrayal of Odysseus as the increasingly battle-hardened, brutal warrior who becomes psychologically scarred was convincing & it can't be an easy role to pull off. At the interval, I felt the Salisbury audience were rather stunned & that they didn't know quite what to make of The Odyssey! There was much conversation as people compared notes & exchanged recollections of the story dredged from their memory banks. It's definitely worth mugging up beforehand! At the end of the show there was hugely appreciative applause for the dancers & hopefully, the Mark Bruce Company will return to Salisbury Playhouse on future tours: I'll be there

I think John Mallinson's suggestion could be a good, simple solution. I was talking about badges last night with Mr Indigo (he's an unexpected mine of information on badge sites - I hadn't a clue) & he said the same - does the badge need to say anything. Could members just wear a plain badge, or even agree on a colour & shape of badge (round or square etc), then choose their own style. Although wording does give reassurance that you're definitely approaching a BalletcoForum member, I think it unlikely that non-members would just happen to be wearing a badge like the design John suggested - I can't recall seeing any at the ROH or other theatre venues. One thing that occurs to me is the minimum size the badge needs to be so that it can be easily spotted, especially for those who have problems with their eyesight. Would 19mm be ok?

I had no idea there were so many thousands of badge designs online!!! What about this 2 inch square badge at £2.45, available to buy individually? With the wording easily changed to BalletcoForum (or whatever's decided). The gold background colour can be changed too: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/d2_elegant_gold_damask_diamond_bridesmaid_button-145406791454095873

I know what you mean about the enamel badges. Thanks again for all your work on this, cavycapers. Maybe this design wouldn't pass the unisex test, but this ordinary round badge is customisable & may have more of an ROH smartness about it! http://www.zazzle.co.uk/customised_dark_elegance_6_cm_round_badge-145623427304153423 Otherwise, maybe the customisable square badges may have a smarter aura than ordinary round ones? Edit - just spotted that badge link comes in a square design too!

It's extremely kind of cavycapers to offer to deal with all the badge administration - thank you. I'm just concerned it may be a lot of work. Plus forum members may not be keen to reveal personal information, including home or work delivery addresses in order to get their badge. I mentioned websites that would allow you to create badges & also have an online shop to sell those badges (or buttons as the websites call them). Both these websites seem to do this: http://www.cafepress.co.uk/make/custom-buttons - they will just provide ones to you from your design, but also you can set up a shop there at no cost and put your designs in it, seems to be the same process in the one below … https://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/ - in the designer if you have to choose a product pick Accessories and then within that Buttons Both seem to be based in the US & accept payment by card, Paypal etc. I know nothing more about them & have never used them myself, so am unsure of costs. I also have no links to either of them! Another option would be to use a UK based website which allows you to create & buy individual badges, such as Zazzle or the one cavycapers suggests. But each forum member could use a posted link to order them direct from that website & would create their own knowing exactly what design / colour / wording to use. (Don't mind what badge shape or colour!) Edited to add that it looks like Zazzle do the shop element too: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/sell/designers

Fabulous. I'd read that the RB were to be involved & had wondered which dancers would be performing. Never occurred to me it might be Yasmine & Matthew - how lovely. I can now relive their wonderful debut & must remember to set the TV recorder...

Me too. I'm assuming that the BalletcoForum badge would be set up on one of those specialist badge websites. So that any individual could then purchase it directly from that website who would deal with the payment & postage angle which would be so much simpler. I think these specialist badge sites charge per badge so that they cover their costs etc. But if the BalletcoForum committee wished to, I gather it's possible to also set it up so that funds could be raised to keep BalletcoForum running by charging a small amount for the badge above the website's base charge. Just a thought. As I wrote on the 'Thank you BalletcoForum' thread, I think this is such a good idea & is such an easy, flexible way for forum members who wish to, to be able to identify each other & get chatting. Plus you don't have to be wearing a badge yourself - just spot someone who is! I hope it takes off. [brief Edit for clarity]

A simple, unisex-type badge sounds good. It would be lovely to have such an easy, informal way of spotting & meeting other BalletcoForum members. Especially as you'd be confident to introduce yourself, because you'd know that by wearing the badge, the BalletcoForum member was indicating they'd be happy to meet others & have a chat. Another plus might be that by meeting & getting to know other members a little in person, it will bring benefits to BalletcoForum in encouraging more people to de-lurk (!) or continue contributing. Or help avoid misinterpretations of posts which seems to happens from time to time, because you'd recall meeting that poster & know it was most unlikely they'd meant the post to come across in the negative way it could be interpreted (a peril of writing online). I really hope this great idea can be implemented & BalletcoForum badges will be sighted at the ROH & other venues in the not too distant future

I'm thinking of trying to get a ticket for the Bolshoi's Don Q in Covent Garden when general booking opens tomorrow, so would appreciate any more thoughts from the cinema relay too (which I didn't see). As I'll only be able to see one of their performances this summer, would others more knowledgeable recommend the Bolshoi's Don Q as "the one" to see, or recommend another production?

I'd also prefer no applause during Act II from the point of view of being able to totally immerse myself in the world of Giselle & the Willis, with no distractions. Though I'm wondering whether it would make the dancers feel like they were performing into a vacuum without audience feedback, or whether they'd prefer it too!

It was pretty much packed out at my local cinema & there was a first, as during the actual performance, lots of people applauded the dancers at appropriate moments along with the ROH audience! Normally, if there's going to be significant applause, we save it for the curtain call! As people left the cinema, it seemed everyone I overheard was buzzing with positive comments & saying how much they'd enjoyed it. Wow! It was fabulous. As this was the fourth time I'd seen them, I'm just trying to get it all fixed into my long term memory so I can replay Marianela & Vadim's performance whenever I wish. At the start of the cinema relay, was it just me, or did Kevin O'Hare sound like he'd been reading all the enthusiastic posts about Marianela & Vadim on BalletcoForum? He seemed to pretty much echo so many positive comments here, with the exception of one key thing - he failed to express his heartfelt desire for the RB to release a DVD of this performance Shame... [Edited to change the smiley face to better indicate my attempt at humour!]

As my interest in ballet is relatively recent & still developing, there are many dancers being listed as favourites (both in the male & female thread) where I have little knowledge of what they were like in performance, as they're now long retired. It's motivating me to start searching out some good recordings online & get better acquainted over the quieter summer months. Of current female dancers, I keep hoping to see Alina Cojocaru (ENB) when they're on tour at the Mayflower, Southampton. But at the rate it's going, I'd better book a London based performance instead! From the RB, who I see relatively regularly now, I greatly enjoy performances from Marianela Nuñez, Laura Morera, Lauren Cuthbertson, Yasmine Naghdi & Francesca Hayward. Also Sarah Lamb, Yuhui Choe & Natalia Osipova (but in specific roles). Although I don't have a favourite female dancer, I have to make a special mention of Zenaida Yanowsky: she's been wonderful in a variety of roles I've seen, but also for another reason. Back in October 2012, I was looking for a way to remember a very dear, very close family member on an anniversary of their death. They had reminisced about doing ballet into their teens (a highlight of which had been dancing as a cygnet in Swan Lake), so when I spotted that the RB were doing a live relay of Swan Lake at my local cinema the evening before the anniversary, it seemed ideal. I'd not seen any ballet since primary school, but felt sure the RB would deliver a good performance. The anniversary is always a raw, emotional time for me & through Acts I & into Act II, I thought about my loved one, especially as the cygnets danced. But something happened as the ballet went on & I became totally immersed in the world of Swan Lake. It was a shock when the curtain fell at the end of Act IV & I found I was crying - but over the fate of Odette & Siegfried. I had no idea ballet could have that power to move, or be so beautiful & involving. So thanks to Gary Avis (Von Rothbart), Nehemiah Kish (Siegfried) & all the cast, but most especially Zenaida Yanowsky (Odette/Odile), I left the cinema that night feeling uplifted & knowing I'd found an art form I wanted to see more of. My love of ballet has gradually progressed from there.

Before the start of this run of Giselle, I thought along similar lines to some of the posts above about what would & would not work for me in Giselle. But seeing Marianela & Vadim's slightly different interpretation completely won me over. Personally, I'm finding that I enjoy seeing the dancers who play Giselle, Albrecht etc portray the interpretation that works for them, tying it in with other key cast. I feel the leeway permitted brings an extra dimension to the performances & have wondered if it may help to keep developing the dancers as actors too. The possibility of slightly different interpretations - whether it's Albrecht as a thoroughly selfish cad or as a man who becomes more in love etc - is one of the main reasons that will keep bringing me back to the RB to see different casts in Giselle in the future. It also makes for interesting discussion on threads like this. As inevitably, not everyone will agree with or like a particular interpretation. It's similar to the theatre, when actors portray classic roles in plays such as Hamlet, King Lear, Othello & bring their own "take" on the character. So I can appreciate why others prefer Giselle performed / interpreted in a particular way. I may well find I feel the same about other ballets in the future!

My ballet going has only been for the past few years. Dancers who have made a good impression on me from seeing them in a performance when the touring companies visit near me: Brandon Lawrence (BRB); William Bracewell (BRB & also from 'The King Dances' on YouTube); Jonathan Goddard (Dracula); Tobias Batley (NB). The company I've seen dance the most is easily the RB. I'm regularly impressed & moved by performances from Federico Bonnelli, Ed Watson, Ryoichi Hirano & Alexander Campbell. Also Steven McRae in specific roles. Among the younger generation, I've been consistently impressed by Matthew Ball - I think he has great stage presence & fabulous potential. It's always an extra pleasure to find he's on the cast list. I also particularly enjoy seeing Marcelino Sambe & Luca Acri, who are great dancing together. Gary Avis is superb. He has such artistry & I find his performance on stage mesmerising. So much so that during Manon when he was Monsieur G.M, I once became so engrossed watching his character play cards, that I completely forgot to look at the main action / dancers on stage!!! My favourite male dancer though, no contest, is Vadim Muntagirov.