SwissBalletFan

Royal Opera house have announced that they will be taking part with the same companies as in 2014 for world ballet day. I am disappointed that no other companies will be involved http://www.roh.org.uk/news/world-ballet-day-2015-to-take-place-on-1-october

A nice topic. Funny that it is a thought I have had for a while about ticket prices etc and the salaries that Ballet Dancers earn. Even in the best houses they would be paid very much Division Two salaries given what they go through. As much as I hate Misty Copeland's paid promotion to be one of the most talked about dancers, and gets ballet talked about. (short of marrying Kanye West) So should ballet dancers get agents and get film rights to change the pay for the top dancers, very much like football was 20 years ago. However as a parent, I would say I would prefer my daughter to be immersed in culture of classical music and discipline, rather than my son being anywhere the footballers of today.

Thats lovely to hear Lily. A lot of people in Zurich wondered about how Christian Spuck as a director would do as director and what he would bring. A lot of Swiss people have been very pleasantly surprised. The reviews have been pretty good too: 5 stars from the guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/aug/28/ballett-zurich-edinburgh-festival-review-wayne-mcgregor-christian-spuck-kairos-sonett 4 stars from telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/ballett-zurich-edinburgh-playhouse-review/

Hi All, I hope every one had a lovely summer I saw that Ballett Zürich will be performing in Edinburgh for the International Festival on August 27th - 29th. The programme will be Kairos, a choreography by Wayne Macgregor, new work for Zürich Ballet, to Max Richter's "Vivaldi Recomposed", with design by Idris Khan. This is an energetic piece with great design and staging. Highly recommended The other piece is Sonnett By Christian Spuck is a work based upon Shakspeare's sonnets, dark, but a great cameo by a person of smaller height, or dwarf... apologies to not know the political correct term, no offence meant at all. I would be interested to hear your thoughts if you are going. EDIT: Link: http://www.eif.co.uk/2015/zurich#.Vctru1boHwI

To be fair, the colour maybe a discussion and something that is noticed, but the point that all over dancers look identical and their costumes and bodies help this happen. Having heard a million different ways that a ballet dancer can be described, in terms of their body form, their lines, proportions and how they move is very important to how a ballerina is seen or noticed. I think it takes a very thick skin (whatever the colour) to listen to many people talking about every single thing about your body and how you move, that is without commenting on the view of beauty in facial features, which can be a very distressing discussion for a ballerina to hear.

To be honest, it may be something that most people wouldn't like to mention, but with a publicists eye for a good headline I think it's the reason it has been seen as such an achievement. Even though she is not at all the first black principal dancer at ABT all Desmond Richardson was the first to very little fanfare in 1997. With all of the stories for the past year on her and the social media stories, Misty Kardashian sorry Copeland has raised an interest in her....less so ballet as a whole.

The awards of 'best ballet dancer of the year' have been given in Zürich. As voted by the Friends of the Ballet of Zürich, a prize fund of CHF 10,000 was given for their performances this season, their impressions on the audience, and characterisation in ballet. The winners were: Best Ballerina: Viktorina Kapitonova, danced Giselle will Bolle and Vogel, and Anna Karenina (choreographed for her) and others Best Male Dancer: Denis Vieira, Pretty much all male principal roles due to injuries to the principals. Best Junior Ballerina: Clarissa Pace, a bit of a surprise but nice dancer Best Junior Male Dancer: Surimu Fukushi, danced Les Bourgeous in Galas and is a great 'jumper' Photos can be found here: https://www.opernhaus.ch/presse/detail/?themeId=3&sid=2 Video interviews (in German/ English) here: http://www.srf.ch/play/tv/redirect/detail/f96e1094-1e29-4c26-8997-c6a90f6a5285 Congratulations to all.

I think what is interesting is that she has gotten a publicist and therefore the world has paid attention. Could then, the ballet companies and other stars pay for more publicity and stories. As her stories aren't particularly more interesting than the back stories of what is going on with most dancers. So lets make them all know to the .mainstream public and let them find their favourite performers. They are like superheroes after all I think with more Cinema and TV coverage then the boudnaries of high ticket prices would not mean that the fans could not see their stars. Sorry a little off topic, but to be fair, there is an ABT promotions topic, and only Misty has her own one (for the reasons stated).

Indeed, and so, is this a welcome development for Ballet? That it turns into the world of celebrity in terms if coverage and news stories? Especially as the real stars of Ballet are not such media sensations, one might think for the reasons that they love the art, and the differences in press coverage can be quite divisive.

Herein lies my point. ​Should the dancers be highlighted because of their race? In my mind a dancer is a dancer regardless of race, and maybe on this forum our race should be noted, I wonder how many Black people are commenting and when the first Black forum member joined. Of course I am being facetious, but I feel it is better for the UK that these dancers race is not noted. As a dancer I would want to be the best dancer or a great talent, rather than my race being mentioned. I would however very much celebrate the case of the first white dancer at Ballet Black, and then it would be just a Ballet company and not a racial statement. EDIT: Carlos Acosta is Guest Principal at ROH, I am not aware, but was his race news? His Don Q has been touring in the US so you could say that he should be an inspiration as all dancers to the world.

I hope that I do not cause offence from this comment. I do however find the issue of 'colour' in ballet an interesting issue. We should all be 'colourblind' and all ballet dancers treated on their merits...unless you are the first 'black' principal dancer of ABT, most influential 'black woman' etc.. I congratulate Misty on her promotion as a dancer, and equally as much Ms Abrera, who is a post script to the whole 'black thing'. As a person who has supported EQUAL rights and with an African American US president, (also First Lady who is a big supporter of Ms Copeland), Sportsmen and other athletes who are of African American heritage. In short, I am shocked that where we fight for 'not observing a person's colour' isn't it all a bit backwards to report this news to such an extent? Especially when there is a lot of other good ABT news too.

You are a great man Bruce I do not mean to poke fun, but I just love the phrase 'Turing things around is my natural state' After watching the Imitation Game, I can only imagine what this means A genius at work.

I can understand exactly what you mean for some sponsors. I guess here the Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse would very much like people all around the world to see and bring their money here. But that is a whole different story I agree with you though that the success of last years event will help any money raising or projects this year. It may also mean that all of the companies last year also want to repeat their slot and therefore not have any new companies inviting us behind their doors this year.

I think most other companies could raise the $30,000 in the same way as SFB from Kickstarter. The one surprising aspect of the whole performance was the omission of any of the corporate sponsors in the background or in any of the coverage. I know that this would make a huge difference and make finances a non-issue without having a major effect on what is being shown. I was also surprised by the $30,000 fee, I wonder what the break-down of costs would be. Maybe just using the periscope app would work...the production quality with an iPhone 6 wouldn't be so different to what we saw last year

I do hope this is a joke (I am not sure ) Now this I know is a funny one

It has been confirmed on Twitter by ROH Twitter feed to Viktorina Kapitonova, also National Ballet have released the detail of World Ballet Day in their schedule for next season. There is nothing on the ROH website yet, as things are still TBC it seems.

I would love that the film would also raise the profile of Ballet in the 'outside' world in general and to bring the audience into the world of ballet in general, therefore it would be great to have a ballet star to gain new fans for today in Ballet. However, I totally understand the importance and challenge to try as beyt to replicate Nureyev the man, his charisma, and talent. I can't even imagine an actor that could pull of 'that smile' or his larger than life personality.

Dear Ballet fans, Royal opera house have confirmed on Twitter that the World Ballet Day 2015 will happen again this year in 1 October. Canadian National Ballet have also confirmed they will take part, but all other details are TBC. I obviously would love Zürich to take part this year to show our stars, but doubt it will take place here due to the lack of any rumours, also, the CET timezone would I imagine have many companies that could entertain the world between (potentially) Bolshoi and ROH, Paris, La Scala for examples too. I liked seeing Carlos Acosta showing his version of Don Quixote in rehearsals and all of the different classes throughout the day. I think I would have liked to have seen more individual flair in the rehearsals for fun, or maybe Guests from other companies to appear in the class - though I loved the event. How do most on the forum feel about the day? Did you watch it? Enjoy it? Or learn anything? What would you like to be different this year? Particularly any companies you would like to see?

Also, I was maybe expecting some ROH fans to maybe put forward Ed Watson? He doesn't look so different, though I am not aware of his dancing style.

In reply to Ms McNulty and MAB, I agree that which area of Nureyevs life has been chosen will very much impact on the actor chosen. I imagine too that with both the Kavanagh and Solway biographies being thoroughly researched, the event/time chosen will very much focus on Ms Kavanagh's sources and research. With the detail of footnotes and research shown in Ms Solway's biography, it would be easy to determine sources for any court case. Thank you Naomi, and I also understand MAB's choice of Malakhov, who could maybe still on camera be a very good choice for the role for the resin's of looks and style. It would be a fascinating challenge for Bolle to act like a bad boy, but I can totally understand how you mean, and could agree with you.

Dear Mr Macmillan, the film is I believe, Margot (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1473799/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_23I have not seen this, but will add it to my watch list. The actor is Michiel Huismann who is now famous for his role in Game of Thrones as Daario Naharis who is not really looking like Nureyev now

Dearest MAB, I agree, I probably have 'thin skin', but I understand that you could have been upset by the project of the movie, and maybe have suggested other dancers, or put forward that you feel Nureyev was unique and could not be represented by any of the current dancers, therefore developing the discussion in the forum. Though I agree this isn't something you have to do, and you have every right to your opinion. Now i hear your last line, you made me laugh, and I feel bad that I my think skin may have made me 'snap' at comments about dancers, all of which I admire for making their decision to pursue art...whether i personally like it or not. If you are EVil and I guess a genius...Can I apply to be one of your minions please?

Thank you Janet /Ms McNulty, I guess as well as informing the forum of the project, I was looking maybe also to learn more about how the ROH fans see who could represent Nuyreyev in the modern times. Outside of the film project, it was my thought that although few dancers do not look very much like him, his dancing style could still be seen in parts of Bolle's repertoire. I am limited to Switzerland and Italy, so though it might provoke a nice discussion

Apologies, I didn't want to ruin your day. Which I guess was a sunny one where you could summarise everyone you meet with a single word put-down without response, and feel 'on top of the world'. However, sorry again to be facetious, but... my love of discussion, ballet, and life itself comes mainly from respecting that there are so many people who can accomplish incredible things, that I could never even dream of, and they let me watch it happen. Regarding Ralph Fiennes, I think apart from the Harry Potter series, he has been very 'English' in his sensitive way of representing characters. Nureyev, I understand is not the most easy person to encapsulate, but it would be great for the modern world and those outside of ballet to (hopefully) gain a better understanding of how ballet, and the story of one of its amazing stars. In terms of your witty one word summaries of the two ballet dancers I mentioned; Sergei Polunin regardless of his faults was given the honour of being the youngest principal dancer at ROH; I would not dare to believe I know better than those reigning the ROH at the time in judging the inhuman amour of drive and hard work that he put in to reach his goal. As a human, I can easily understand that at such a young age, the nirvana of achieving so much at a young age can be a major disappointment, so he went of the rails a little, I think we have all acted inappropriately while young, and have matured to regret our early 'spoiled brattishness' http://www.gramilano.com/2015/06/sergei-polunin-im-tired-of-being-a-rebel-i-want-to-be-a-role-model/ Then we come to 'the poseur' Roberto Bolle... fair if you maybe judge him by the pride of his fantastic physique at the age of 40 which is of course also part of his attraction as a ballet dancer in terms of form, and for those that are 'into that kind of thing'. As an admirer of ballet and in depth analysis, I think no person on a forum or otherwise can summarily put down an artist that is so accomplished, and more importantly been described as the best partner and the totally opposite of a poseur when it comes to making his partners shine. But, I wouldn't like to darken your day any further with a glimpse to the sunny wonderful world the rest of us live in

It has been announced to day that Ralph Fiennes will direct a new movie about a part of Nureyev's life. No star is announced yet, but I wonder...if it is a ballet movie, I wonder if an existing ballet star would make a great move into acting. I would personally love to see Sergei Polunin in the younger years (brash and arrogant) or Roberto Bolle (charming and reflective) in his prime. Any thoughts, ideas or wishes? source: http://www.screendaily.com/news/ralph-fiennes-to-direct-rudolf-nureyev-drama/5089637.article?blocktitle=LATEST-FILM-NEWS&contentID=40562