SwissBalletFan

La Scala's new Artistic Director Mauro Bigonzetti, and new (first season planned since takeover) Intendant Alexander Pereira have suffered problems regarding plans for 2016/2017. Dancer's originally objected to the appointment of modern style choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti for not being classical or experienced enough to take over the company. Their worries have been realised with a season announced a few days ago. The only outside guest will be Marianela Nunez dancing Macmillan's Romeo & Juliet with Roberto Bolle. Around 50 dancers from the company protested to Pereira in front of press at the release of the new season, their issues being that there is not enough classical repertoire and the other 2 classical pieces: Balanchine's Midsummer's Night Dream, and Ratmansky's recreation of Swan Lake are at the end of the season. The dancer's said that it will be difficult to maintain condition until the end of the season. Source: GramMilano Perreira shrugged off concerns and said it would be impossible to change the dates due to tours and other commitments. Discussions are ongoing. To be honest, I would wish that dancer's at Ballet Zurich would follow their example and express concern about increasingly modern repertoires with their modern choreographer directors.

There is also a live stream of rehearsals tonight at 7pm BST. Which will be great to see the way in which Wayne MacGregor works in the studio. http://www.roh.org.uk/news/watch-obsidian-tear-in-rehearsal-live-streamed

Janet, and you have mentioned you loved it more times even. It isn't boring, but it was 2 lines, in larger threads and in context of a question. I think you are better than that, and to call someone boring for 2 lines is not kind.

My understanding Fonty, is that they are not paid for the days they are away (pro rata) and the dancer gets the fee.

Edward Watson has tweeted to thank his supporters of Ginger and that he didn't mean to offend anyone and doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him....he is very happy with how he looks and who he is. Indeed.

I am guessing that it must be something that has been arranged, but cannot be announced for other reasons. I wouldn't imagine that they would both leave without a solid offer. Something after October 2016. .....American in Paris starts in March 2017 in London. It seems a similar follow on to the shows that have been in NB recently. I guess the next question is whether NB have talent to promote from within, or will look outside. Any thoughts Janet?

Northern Ballet’s Premier Dancers Martha Leebolt and Tobias Batley are to take a leave of absence from the Company to pursue new opportunities. The pair, who have formed a dynamic dance partnership under the directorship of David Nixon OBE, will return as Resident Guest Artists to perform in Northern Ballet’s Wuthering Heights and Romeo and Juliet from September – October 2016. Full press release here It doesn't say where they are going, or what they have in mind, best of luck to them. It was my impression they were very much the stars of NB. Maybe American in Paris London? EDIT: I believe this is one of Janet's area of expertise.

sorry duplicate link who knew Grauniad = Guardian Please delete.

Actually its very much about the topic of 'ginger hair' and critics criticising personal appearance. It starts with Watson calling a critic a T*** who keeps referencing his red hair, and a description of a critic who always describes EW's features in a disparaging way. It then moves a bit onto his role in Winters Tale. It says that EW doesn't state it is Macauley, but that he is the likeliest critic he is referring to. It then contains a response from AM who says that EW has had lots of positive critics before, and shouldn't 'throw a tantrum' about a review that criticise his ability, rather than his appearance. AW also responds that he has no issue with hair colour, race, appearance etc. It seems more a stoking of a fire between the artist and the critic, and even has a pull out box referencing other artist/critic public spats.

This has also been raised on Twitter with some confusion. Graham Watts was describing the radio show. The links are here: Times today (paid) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/dancer-sees-red-at-critics-ginger-jibes-6df9qt2z0 The original New York Times review was in 2015: Another article is here referencing Watson in 2013 as (British, auburn-haired, with strikingly pale skin) Mcrae as 'flame-haired'. I think from the NYT link, the wording is very much as quoted in the FT. I think Mr Macauley just uses the phrase as a notable description, I think it shouldn't be an issue. However he is very critical of Mr Watsons technique and ability. Which I would find more distressing. He was very complimentary about 'Flame Haired' mcrae.

May I just take this opportunity to please request a little less 'objectification' of ballet dancers as things that should keep to the repertoire, but they are people, and artists that share their skill, art and passion with us, the audience. If it is indeed a medical issue, I wish Polina all the best, if she is as assumed by the people here, with child. I wish her, her husband, and her whole family the best. Prayers and thoughts are with her either way, and she is also a very lovely , and open person to the fans. I think she deserves some of that back.

I would say that it may not be fanciful for him to be cast, though far from certain. There is a big difference still in this case between being cast and actually dancing

Is there really no such thing as a telephone or Email directly in the ballet world these days? Must everything be discussed in the media rather than directly? (referencing Kobborg/ONB) I saw Polunin at the premiere of Strapless, Kevin OHare was there too.... as he spends so much time there, wouldn't it be more dignified to knock on Mr O'Hare's door and speak to him? Especially to make amends for how things have happened, including the other comments that Polunin made in the media about Opera Houses trying to keep him and Osipova apart. I am not sure that Kevin O'hare reading this in the Newspaper will make him run for the telephone.......sadly, .....but fairly.

I agree totally with what you say Janet. I was being a bit off, but the personal promotion of body type,vs life style, vs colour of skin, vs talent vs coverage. I would say that Michaela de Prince, the most talented, the most able to talk about a difficult life, the least column inches, would be my hero as coloured dancer these days. I also don't remember Carlos Acosta talking much about the issue. If you are going to release a doll, then in my opinion it should follow the body image of an african american body type Misty says is also suitable for ballet. Not a lightly tanned copy of a Barbie, to me it flies in the face of the whole reasoning she is 'famous'

Missed opportunity and Miss Copeland are not really things you hear together, even with her claiming to be the reason Prince liked ballet on the day of his death. As I understand the current situation, dancers with darker skins, use this for a few more headlines. Eric included. She is only known for one thing, and her doll isn't even coloured. It certainly doesn't even look like her physically. Which i thought was the whole point of all of her press.

It was certainly a co-prduction with the Bolshoi in the program notes of the premiere of the performance. I am not sure if you mean that as the time that bolshoi saw it, but just as an FYI.

Sim, the only reason I mentioned British contingent was really only because there were at least a couple of posts adding clarifications of the situation for those who were confused about it. I didn't mean anything other from my comment than that the people posting or contributing to the topic are not the 'usual' group of posters that comment more about the issues in Ballet regarding the UK. I wouldn't really read so much into my comment other than that. Anyway, I have reread the whole thread regarding the ONB, and I am confused about the 'bucket' of overall reasons for closing that particular thread. I don't in any way read 'nasty, insulting' posts, however I can understand in someway points about maybe legal aspects to protect the Forum. I believe I have learned from feedback about posts and experience on this forum, and I would respectfully ask that the difference between members' behaviour or language and legal aspects be detailed, otherwise other threads may be as abruptly closed as the ONB one.

How indeed would anyone post any new news on a locked forum? With respect also, if you read, the promotions thread, or most other threads there is quite a lot of back and forth regarding Mcrae/ Salenko and who is right & wrong, much more than in the thread regarding the ONB. There was also a lot more discussion about the topic, and where there was new activity pretty much every day regarding tweets/ Facebook posts that have been posted. Also, I don't think much was speculation at all, and that most of the developments were based upon a development in one place or another. The fact that google translate had to be used, which is also what JK was using to understand Facebook posts, isn't really speculation. To be honest, my impression is that the British contingent of the Forum, may not have had too much to add regarding the posts, and may not have been so interested in the views of other ballet fans, but to lock it when only one post was removed, and that actually even though there was debate....it was much more polite than in many other threads. Developments or 'news' that relates to the ONB have not really been enough to open a new thread, but would have most certainly been newsworthy. Like the fact that Alina posted an email on Twitter from the organiser of the ONB benefit Gala in New York to say that it actually went $90k over budget due to visa issues of the stars, and so apart from 3k raised after the event, no money was actually raised for the ONB at the gala. News which I certainly find interesting and would have like to discuss further. More than arguing over guest artists at the Royal Ballet which has gone around in so many circles it would make an owl dizzy!

its a sad development, but I was also nonplussed as to the reasons of why the original thread was locked....until the moderators felt they had news and they would let us know what it was (there have been a couple of developments since the thread was locked that we have not been able to discuss). Hmph

Not about the reason of leaving. However the reaction to O'Hare not giving a handshake or hug, and they had to get a bus to the airport, was made public in Facebook and with a message stating he felt mistreated and never wished to see him them again. A bit of an overreaction no? Similar maybe to name being deleted from the website? I like JK, and AC very much...I think they have done wonderful things. I just feel that the reaction of people trying to get prime ministers, culture ministers, ambassadors involved, followed by protests and public questioning of the whole Romanian system is somewhat an overreaction in my opinion. Considering he was offered a newly made AD role, and wasn't fired, I don't quite see what the 'people' are asking for....Soares has already been replaced and demoted.

I have just read the history and Facebook post about JK leaving Royal Ballet here May I ask the british continent on the forum why Kevin O'hare was not hung, drawn and quartered after his (sarcastically) 'terrible' treatment before JK and AC cancelled their last performance? How was it, that this was not mentioned in parliament nor that the Queen was required to get involved? All British subjects should be ashamed of themselves as non-action is a witness of not changing the shameful state of the management at RB? The fact that JK can say ' I wish never to see the staff of Royal Ballet again (excluding dancers).' I am not talking about the reasons behind them leaving, and it has been requested not to be discussed. I mention this just about the reaction of JK regarding management seems very similar to this situation now.

Sorry, I think I should clarify what I meant by my post. I think that although the culture minister intervened and tried to mend the situation, the obvious fracture of relations between the interim management and JK/AC is seemingly at a point where they cannot work together. I totally agree with the point that the dancers and ballet work in general would have loved for JK and AC to still be doing their great work at ONB. So my point is that the ongoing escalation of attention and social media hype, what is the expected/ possible outcome of the continued attention? Soares gets fired and JK is back as a totally independent AD to do as he likes? I don't see that happening with all of the information out there, with strikes and protests, people being called liars, corrupt or xenophobic. Unless there is a view in Romania, that there is chance of a change, and a change that would help ONB as an institution in total, I feel that its all going a bit public and not helping anyone really. So its best to leave it alone. in my opinion. Us Swiss cows eating our grass and making chocolate are also allowed an opinion I hope annamicro.

For me personally, the more I hear of this, the more protests, the more dignitaries getting involved, and more social media posts, it's too much! For dignity's sake JK and AC leave, walk out the door, don't turn around now.... you're not welcome anymore. its embarrassing now, and to a point that I really have lost some respect for them. Slightly off topic.... Alina doing this, Osipova and Polunin doing their own crazy things, Zakharova not prioritising Bolshoi tour...please ballet gods, who should be my heroine now?

I have bought my tickets and I am am very happy with the dates and well, the bolshoi is the bolshoi, so it will be great whatever. May I ask though, why the Donald Gordon Grand Tier (centre) is so popular rather than the orchestra seats? Is this where the dignitaries and the great/good sit?

Dance tabs have just put up a summary of casting for Bolshoi tour in London. Tickets are on sale from today. https://twitter.com/DanceTabs