bridiem

I'd love to see it again. (And Checkmate too.)

Well of course most 3-act (or 2-act) ballets are made as such, with climaxes at the end of each act that would be greatly diluted if the action then just continued. And I think that 1.5 hours is probably the maximum to run without causing potential loo break issues. In a cinema it is after all possible to go out if really necessary in a way you wouldn't do in a theatre. I'd always prefer shorter intervals, as long as there's time for loo use if needed (inc queueing at the ladies, of course...). I don't understand the attraction (or advisability!!) of drinking during the intervals - I need to keep a completely clear head to appreciate what I'm seeing, and I think the performers deserve a fully sober audience! (I realise I'm probably in a minority in this opinion...). I also think that 1.5 hours is not very good value for money for a full evening show (unless the price is lower than usual, of course). I would only book for a show that length (unless the tickets were cheaper) if I was really confident I was going to like it and it was going to be worth it (e.g. some of Akram Khan's works, once I realised how wonderful they are). I know that in some triple bills the actual performing time is not much more than 1.5 hours, but at least you do get 3 different works and different sets and dancers, which is interesting and stimulating and would feel like better value even if still a bit skimpy on actual dancing time.

3 hours ago, Clara_f said:

Because of changes to some of Instagram's features, in conversation interviews will no longer be available for 24 hours through the live function, but instead will be made available indefinitely through Sander's IGTV (Instagram TV). In the app on a phone or tablet, the IGTV is the middle tab. 

Thank you! I downloaded the app but still couldn't see the interview with Leanne Benjamin, but I've just been able to watch it on his IGTV. It was wonderful! He's a lovely interviewer and she is SO interesting and illuminating.

If social distancing is to remain on public transport with the resulting drop in capacity, it's going to make the time/s and length/s of any performances of rather theoretical relevance to most people since it won't be possible to get to them anyway. At the moment the advice is to only use public transport if essential; that advice would have to change to make theatre-going possible even if/when it re-starts.

1 hour ago, FionaE said:

I love this phrase ....
 

“More than ever, we need to explore everything from the perspective of what we can do, not what we used to do.”

I'm afraid I don't love it. 😒

3 hours ago, Sim said:

I have spoken to quite a few dancers recently and they are all horrified at the thought of having to perform to half empty (or less) houses. 

And being a member of a tiny audience in a big venue holds no attraction for me either.

Besides which, how can dancers perform (or rehearse) and social distance?

18 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

 

The common factor is  Edward Watson !

Thanks, Richard LH!

14 hours ago, alison said:

 

And it goes on  

 

What am I bid for the next one?  Woolf Works?  Ondine?  Is it too soon for another Mayerling?

What are you actually talking about?! I haven't analysed what's been offered by the ROH so I've no idea what is 'going on'.

Not sure how plans for the season can be announced when no-one yet knows how long the season will be or when it will start.

I thought it was magnificent.

Very amusing! (Though I was a bit worried about the wicked fairy stabbing the doll etc in front of her teeny daughter!!).

6 minutes ago, Ian Macmillan said:

And you'll find articles on the Duchess of Cornwall's doings as a Silver Swan and her appointment as Vice-Patron of the RAD all over the place online and on Twitter this morning - not just in The Times.  See Links .....

Good for her! I may even look at the Silver Swans myself to see if there's anything I can do without doing myself damage. (I'm a lot younger than the Duchess of Cornwall, having only just hit 60, but 'exercise' is not something my body has ever understood. )

8 minutes ago, oncnp said:

 

Makes me wish they'd lose my email again as the begging for money was the first I'd heard from them since joining last June. 

That's awful, oncnp! Very unfortunate.

5 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

I have had this fear too, but I remind myself that after the closure during  WW2 the Lilac Fairy appeared and reawakened ballet at the ROH.

Yes, I've thought about that too, Richard LH! (I've even half hoped that we might have the same scenario again, to honour the SWB/RB's history at the same time as celebrating its present and future.)

To be honest, my main fear is that the RB may not survive in its current form. Large-scale indoor venues are likely to be at the bottom of the list in terms of re-opening, and I don't how long the ROH could continue with no performances and no audiences (and so very little income), and how long the RB (and its dancers NB) in anything like its current form could continue with no performances. My Friends renewal is due in October so by then there will have been 7 months with no performances, but frankly if the RB was starting up again at the ROH then I would be so surprised and happy that I would have no hesitation about renewing (whether or not I was able to attend performances myself).

6 hours ago, zxDaveM said:

don't know about pets - but there have been plenty of racehorses - classic winners no less.

Such as Nijinsky (the last colts triple crown winner), Alexandrova, Nureyev, Balanchine (a filly!). And many horses named Dancing/something-or-other/Dancer, such as Dancing Brave

And one named Bryony Brind.

4 hours ago, Sim said:

Vadream looks like he is bouncing off a trampoline with those incredible entrechats.  I wish the RB production would let Albrecht keep going if he wants to, as the music does allow for it.  

I hope and pray that we will see him - and others - again as Albrecht before too long, doing entrechats galore. For their sake even more than for ours.

Very sad news. RIP

2 hours ago, capybara said:

 

The phone lines are not busy today. I got straight through to claim my refund.

Thanks very much, capybara - I've done the same now.

11 hours ago, Darlex said:

You could view the response of the RB and other companies in so many different ways. 

Is it right, for example, that a publicly funded company should suddenly be offering free classes online when there are so many teachers out there who will be struggling at the moment?

Perhaps we should take this as a moment to sit back, reflect, trawl through our books/dvds/collections /memories and engage ourselves rather than constantly 'be engaged.' 

I am very happy to patiently wait to see the RB again, when the time is right. 

I know what you mean, Darlex. Personally I seem to spend most of my time at the moment on my laptop, 'engaging' in one way or another with other people or organisations (far more than I normally do in fact!! Even if all online rather than in person). So it's quite a relief when I just watch a TV programme or read a book. There's a bit of an online frenzy at the moment which has negatives as well as positives.

9 minutes ago, jmhopton said:

I've had my email about the cancellations but having just followed the link the options still didn't allow me to carry out what I wanted. I wanted to donate one of my Swan lake tickets and have the other credited to future performances. But if you want to do a partial donation there is no option for a credit note with the rest (or not if it's on the same order No.). You just get the rest refunded back to your account. OK for me but I would rather have had the remainder at least stay in the ROH and earned a bit of interest for them and not so much capital outlay for me when we can book again. I was able to donate my Thurrock tour cost (disappointing to miss this as I'm not often in London on Friday mornings and this was arranged for the day after stopping over for the RB triple bill and BRB at Sadlers Wells) and got the reply thanking me for donating. Now I just need to cancel the hotel. One disappointment after the other. Just hope now all this is sorted we can soon hear plans for next season. I know it will have needed a lot of tweaking to accommodate performances we've lost this season but we all need something to look forward to and a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

I wonder if it would have been possible to deal with the same order number in 2 separate submissions, entering 1 ticket as a donation and then doing again for 1 ticket under the same order number as a credit? It doesn't actually say that you have to include all the tickets on an order number in one submission. Just a thought, in case anyone else has the same issue.

I hope you can get a refund from the hotel, jmhopton. And yes, it will be wonderful to look forward to the resumption of performances in due course; I think I will appreciate them even more now than I have in the past.

3 minutes ago, Lizbie1 said:

But I think there is some confusion here about whether it refers to NBC or SFB. Unless I’ve missed the point!

 

ETA: I think the NBC cancellation had already been noted on these forums.

I see what you mean! I think it is NBC saying its tour to London is cancelled and I had assumed the reference to SFB was a visit SFB was doing @ NBC (though maybe not).

(And yes, I realise that the NBC cancellation had already been noted on another thread.)

1 minute ago, Lizbie1 said:

If I read it correctly the bit about the ROH appearance is part of a statement from the National Ballet of Canada, though?

Yes, it is. But relevant to performances at the ROH later in the year which is I assume why Bruce posted it here.

19 minutes ago, alison said:

 

They were supposed to be appearing at the ROH?  Have I missed something, or is that why you posted in the RB thread?

Yes, they were doing Sleeping Beauty at the ROH in July.

7 hours ago, Bruce Wall said:

Not UK, but Boston and Houston Ballets have now cancelled the remainder of their 19/20 seasons and ABT has moved its 80th Anniversary Spring Gala to October.  I wonder if the ROH (Royal Opera House) is intending to cancel any more performances after 19th April.  Has there been a notification that I may just have missed?  My lockdown project I fear has been taking up a lot of time.  

As far as I know there's been no further announcement from the ROH, but I assume one must be imminent.