Blossom

I think that's fair enough. I'm guessing that this will be quite a gruelling triple to prep for based on some of the things the originators said at the insight.

I'm sure that the Ashton will be equally pressured, so a long run of Swan Lake is probably not the best mix from a casting/prepping perspective, although lovely to have so many things I want to see so wouldn't want them to change things! What could have been more helpful all round is fewer Swan Lake casts and making it an either/or.

Having said that, delighted it gives the gorgeous first soloists a much deserved opportunity to shine - as well as to see what Isabel Lubach is made of!

Links, Tuesday 19 March, 2024

 

Review – Ballet Icons Gala, London Coliseum:

Siobhan Murphy, The Stage

Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

Amanda Jennings, Bachtrack

Charlotte Kasner, Seeing Dance

 

Review – Paris Opera Ballet, La Fille Mal Gardee, Opera Garnier, Paris: John O’Dwyer, Seen and Heard International

 

Review – La Scala Ballet, Le Corsaire, Hong Kong:

Kevin Ng, Hong Kong Economic Journal

Natasha Rogai, South China Morning Post

 

Review – Norwegian Ballet, Vildanden (The Wild Duck), National Opera House, Oslo: Graham Watts: Gramilano

 

Review – New York City Ballet, Quadruple Bill: Leigh Witchel, Dance Log NYC

 

Review – Boston Ballet, The Winter Experience, Citizens’ Opera House, Boston:

Nubya Filho, Her Campus

Selorna A. Ackuayi, Harvard Crimson

 

Review – Adelaide Festival: Maggie Tonkin, Dance Australia

Restless Dance Theatre, Private View

Streb Extreme Action, Time Machine

 

Preview - Video: Trailer For NYC Ballet's 2024 Spring Performance THE FUTURE: Joshua Wright, Broadway World

 

Preview - New Jersey Ballet to Celebrate 65th Anniversary Season with World Premiere of Lauren Lovette's "Jewel Box" at NJPAC: Staff, New Jersey Stage

 

Preview - Ballet Theatre of Maryland Will Perform SLEEPING BEAUTY Next Month: Stephi Wild, Broadway World

 

Preview – Ballet Austin Gets Macabre for Stephen Mills’ POE / A Tale of Madness

Kyra Laubacher, Pointe Magazine

And for the video trailer: TL Stanley, Ad Week

 

Article - Q&A: Misty Copeland on Ushering in the Next Generation of BIPOC Ballerinas: Eva Crouse,  Worth Magazine

 

News - Misty Copeland to speak in upcoming McFadden Memorial Lecture: Chloe McGowan, Indianapolis Recorder

 

Article - How Artists are Keeping Mountains of Dead Pointe Shoes Out of Landfills: Haley Hilton, Dance Magazine

 

Article - Marcella Hymowitz And Dennis Basso On Style, Ballet And The YAGP Gala: Nadja Sajev, Forbes

 

Article - Government to review Arts Council England to ensure "creative excellence": Georgia Luckhurst, The Stage

Links, Sunday 17 March, 2024

 

Review - New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, Sadler’s Wells, London: Joy Waterside, Everything Theatre

 

Review - Company Wayne McGregor,  UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey, Sadler’s Wells, London: Adam Stevenson, The Reviews Hub

 

Review – Company Wayne McGregor, Autobiography (v95): Maggie Foyer, Critical Dance

 

Review – San Francisco Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, San Francisco War Memorial Opera House: Toba Singer, Culture Vulture

 

Review – Ballet X, Spring Series, Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia, Lewis Whittington, Culture Vulture

 

Review – Australian Ballet, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Melbourne, Paul Selar, Arts Review

 

Preview – Joburg Ballet brings global talent to KKNK stage: Bernerlee Volmer, IOL

 

Article – Royal Opera House launches Chance to Dance in Bradford: Emma Clayton, Telegraph & Argus

 

Article - Going Dutch: A trio of Canadian women notch dance milestones in the Netherlands: Rebecca Ritzel, Globe & Mail

 

Article - Svetlana Zakharova performances in South Korea are cancelled: Graham Spicer, Gramilano

 

Feature - Misty Copeland: A life in motion: Staff, Afro.com

 

And paying it forward….

Article - Professional ballerina teaches Renton youth: Bailey Josie, Renton Reporter

Tickets spoken for.

I've decided to upgrade to a seat for opening night!

SCS 37 and 38 now available. £9 each.

Happy to sell separately.

 

Are you sorted? Decided to upgrade to a seat for this performance. I have central SCS, happy to sell separately.

A fantastic insight live in the studio and the first one my daughter has joined me for- she was a bit star struck. Love that one of my kids has the ballet big too.

 

The discussion and the rehearsals were a real treat, especially having not seen any of the works before. There is something really special about Kenneth MacMillan’s works and it was fascinating to see the dancers and coaches really breathe life into them. The conversation element is brilliant - a way for us as the audience to really get close to the genius of MacMillan and understand better that baton passing from generation to generation. 

Links, Tuesday 12 March, 2024

 

Review – Royal Ballet, Swan Lake, ROH, London: Maggie Foyer, Seeing Dance

 

Review – New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, Sadlers Wells, London:

Alastair Macauley, AlastairMacauley.com

Bruce Marriott, Lifted Leg

 

Review – New York City Ballet, Copland Dance Episodes, New York, Leigh Witchel, Dance Log NYC

 

Review – Pontus Lidberg, On the Nature of Rabbits, Joyce Theater, New York:

Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance

Candace Thompson, Fjord Review

 

Review – Various, Flamenco Festival, New York: Marina Kennedy, Broadway World

 

Review - Arno Schuitemaker, If You Could See Me Now, Janet Smith, Stir

 

Preview - Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company, Solera, Sadlers Wells: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

 

Preview - SF Ballet gears up for first full run of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in nearly 40 years: Garth Grimball, SF Examiner

 

Article – Royal Ballet Principal dancer Francesca Hayward nominated Lead Ambassador of Royal Ballet School’s ATAP: Graham Spicer, Gramilano

 

Feature - Artistry in seven shades of grey, Matthew Lawrence, Dance Australia

 

Feature - Wayne McGregor: ‘People think of me as an outsider, but I’ve never felt like one’: Kat Lister, inews

 

Feature - Yuri Possokhov: A Choreographer of Many Facets, in Movement: Aimee Ts’ao, SF Classical Voice

 

Feature/Preview - SF Ballet soloist Sasha Mukhamedov talks Balanchine, returning to ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: Lauren Harvey, The Daily Californian

 

Article/Preview - Robert Moses’ ‘New Legacies’ takes on the specter of censorship: Mary Carbonara, 48 Hills

 

News - Queen Margrethe to design set for ballet at Copenhagen Tivoli: Staff, The Local DK

 

News - Cincinnati Ballet names new president and CEO: Nikki Kingery, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

 

Is it worth considering that he mightn’t have danced in Don Q in order to concentrate on his family? 
 

Links, Monday 11 March, 2024

 

Review – Northern Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Leeds:

Lyndsey Winship, Guardian

Elizabeth Hayward, Always Time for Theatre

 

Review – New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, Sadler’s Wells, London: John O’Dwyer, Seen and Heard

 

Review - Far from the Norm, Until We Sleep, Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome & Ballet National de Marseille & La(Horde), Roommates, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London: Sarah Crompton, Guardian

 

Review – New York City Ballet, Quadruple Bill: Leigh Witchell, Dance Log NYC

 

Season in review – At City Ballet, 2 sparkling premiers and many moments to remember: Gia Kourlas, NY Times

 

Preview - Boston Ballet showcases classic ‘Cinderella’: Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald

 

Preview - Foreign travel and fresh repertoire inspire City Ballet’s ‘An American in Paris’: Marcia Lutrell, San Diego Union Tribune

 

Feature - Then & Now: Boston Ballet’s Cinderella: Alanna Love, En Face Magazine

 

Article - La Bayadère: Should it be cancelled? Karen van Ulzen, Dance Australia

 

Article - The ballet world is in transition: are dancers artists or athletes? Sarah Rainsford, BBC News (via Yahoo news)

 

Article - Leading drama, dance schools fight for survival after ‘decade of neglect: Linda Morris, Syndey Morning Herald

1 hour ago, Simone Whyte said:

Need advice for seats! 

 

My daughter and I are flying into London from Canada for a short trip and are looking at the triple bill Macmillan Ballets. Having never been in the ROH I need some help with choosing what tickets are left. There are a few left at the back of the circle stalls just off centre but they are very pricey! They are far enough for the rake to be helpful unless someone tall sits in front of us, as we are not tall! There are tickets left up in the first row of the balcony but quite far over and are considered a restricted view. (row A 16) the seats are loose so I expect people snug their chairs right up to the ledge of the balcony to look over?? Can anyone speak to this as the tickets prices are a little easier to swallow. Thank-you in advance for any information, I appreciate the insight!! 

Which date are you looking at specifically?

Links, Sunday 10 March, 2024

 

Review – New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, Sadlers Wells, London:

Alastair McCauley, Slipped Disc

Nancy Brie, West End Best Friend

Vicki Jane Vile, Broadway World

Charlotte Kasner, Seeing Dance

 

Review – Northern Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Leeds: Christine Goode, On Yorkshire Magazine

 

Review - Wayne McGregor and Ben Cullen Williams, A Body for Harnasie, Royal Festival Hall: Nicola Claire, Seeing Dance

 

Review - American Contemporary Ballet, Jazz Review, Los Angeles: Jillian Verzwyvelt, Ballet Herald

 

Review - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Lunar Halo, Taipei: David Mead, Seeing Dance

 

Review – Ballet Philippines, Limang Daan, Cultural Centre of the Philippines: Yumi Pascual Paras, Phillipines Star Life

 

Preview – La Scala Ballet returns to China – on tour to Hong Kong and Shanghai: Graham Spicer, Gramillano

 

Article - Dancers get a turn as choreographers in Portland Ballet’s ‘New Works’: Megan Gray, Portland Press Herald

20 hours ago, lady emily said:

I have uploaded the speeches on YouTube! Apologize for any sobbing and whooping and shaky camera work! 
 

 

Huge, huge thanks for sharing this. In a way, I am rather glad to have seen this online and not in person as I am now looking rather red and puffy eyed.

The speech he made just reinforces that he truly is the nicest man in ballet. I do hope we get to see and hear so much more of what he is up to at the RAD- including a significant feature in World Ballet Day!

I can't imagine what it was like on the other side of the curtain last night before the performance - I certainly needed to calm my nerves in anticipation of Cesar Corrales being back on the ROH stage! It really was wonderful to see him back, although it did feel like he was playing it safe last night. Having said that, I really enjoyed his performance in terms of not just the dancing, but the quality of his acting. He seemed to be a particularly young and innocent Siegfried, which led to Odile's deception having double the impact.. I felt particularly in Act IV that Corrales deeply connected with Odette and was intensely regretful. 

 

Mayara Magri is one of my preferred Odette/Odiles - her Odette is a character of beauty and timeless classical style, contrasting with her sly, predatory Odile.  I do particularly enjoy her partnership with Corrales which I hope will get back to full, explosive power after a bit more stage time and a bit more confidence on his part.  It's such a shame that the next performance is Young ROH only - and would love to find a way to sneak in, perhaps I could be an usher for the evening?!

 

Also really enjoyed Sae Maeda and Leticia Dias as Siegfried's sisters but particularly Joonhyuk Jun's elegant and effortless Benno - amazed at the softness of his landings.

 

There was so much to enjoy in terms of the whole company last night from the beautiful swans of the company to the incredibly stylish character dances and the fun of Ashton's Neapolitan that I wouldn't want to do anyone a disservice by mentioning some names and not others. Last night was a reminder of exactly what puts this company on top.

 

I could easily watch Swan Lake over and over again with the rich set designs and gorgeous costumes, Tchaikovsky's incredible score and the talent of the Royal Ballet to boot, but unfortunately due to holiday clashes, I now have to wait a painful 2 months until my next performance, so will have to survive on all of your fabulous reviews.

10 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

The ROH have done another tweet about the MacMillan triple bill but I'm not sure it's that helpful in terms of information about the pieces given the text is fairly vague. I suppose at least it's some publicity (I'm not sure if the comments about a lack of social media posts are somewhere on this thread or the booking one).

 

 

I saw this ad with different copy which was much better. I can’t remember how to post pictures directly so just copied and pasted the words. 

 

Three unique works: the endless invention of a British ballet titan

Experience the many moods of 20th century ballet as The Royal Ballet celebrates the breadth of Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan’s one-act ballets.

Danses Concertantes is grand, geometrical and sharp; Different Drummer is complex and haunting; and Requiem, poignant and elegiac. 

Danses Concertantes / Different Drummer / Requiem open on our Main Stage from 20 March. 

Book your tickets today: https://bit.ly/4bAXRUz

📸 Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward in rehearsal

SO excited for Cesar Corrales' return to the stage tonight!

Finally, a proper preview piece on Gramilano. I’m sure @Jan McNulty will have this in tomorrow’s links!

16 minutes ago, PeterS said:

In light of the above, I wouldn’t hold your breath for much advance casting information beyond what we already have. 

Obviously there is quite a bit going on here. It's a long run of Swan Lake which is physically very demanding, so starting to understand why managing casts for triple bills alongside this could be rather stressful.

1 hour ago, Mary said:

Well I would book for this rehearsal cast again..

So would I - although I am not sure I can make their dates!!!

What's pretty incredible is that from what KOH came out and said before the performance, I don't think that Sasaki/Sissens were originally set to dance the rehearsal, after all, they aren't due to dance for 6 weeks.

I know we don't comment on the dancing from a dress rehearsal but can't not say that given the above or otherwise, the black swan pdd was very exciting to watch.

I was also reminded how stunning the designs by John McFarlane are.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Fonty said:

Having watched these clips I have an ear worm now.  Will be humming the music for the rest of the evening.  

😂 but there are definitely worse things than humming Tchaikovsky!

5 minutes ago, capybara said:

But not tomorrow 🤫

The cast sheet will be out very early 😊 as the rehearsal starts at 11.30am.

The RB dancers are having an overly busy time.

My guess is Fumi/Will. Close enough but not too close to opening night. Or possibly Anna Rose/Marcelino

In other news, any thoughts on who might be dancing in the General Rehearsal (Swan Lake) tomorrow?

40 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I confess I'm not actually sure which ballet it is that the photo is from. I'm guessing it's Danses Concertantes, given I assume Different Drummer will have individual character costumes rather than a group & when I saw Marianna Tsembenhoi dancing an extract from Requiem 2 years ago she was wearing a dress rather than a leotard, but I'm not actually certain.

Actually it's for Requiem

7 hours ago, Emeralds said:

 

 

That said, with 20 March looming in less than 3 weeks I don't really see how they can be fussy. In being unrealistically fanciful that 100 people will suddenly emerge from nowhere to pay over £50 for a ballet ticket when they haven't already done so ....that's basically cloud cuckoo land thinking.

 

As of this moment, there are still over 200 unsold seats for opening night. And opening night is usually well filled up because free tickets go out to critics to review and publicise your show plus tickets obtained for family, colleagues and friends of performers to watch debuts (some friends and relatives buy their own tickets) so to have so many unsold seats (even the slips!) means hardly anyone has bought tickets. 

 

Better to offer 30% or 40% off everything unsold to your most loyal supporters and fill up all the seats thah to sell just a small number at full price and a handful at a discount while huge swathes are left unpaid and unbought. I fear that nowadays the finance department doesn't have basic skills in arithmetic or are possessed of more optimism than common sense. Also- still no posters advertising the triple bill or advertising on social media at all this weekend. 

 

Fact: there has been only ONE post on Facebook about the MacMillan triple bill.since 2024 began and that was on 18 Feb. That's all! Nothing else since. I don’t subscribe to Instagram or Twitter but I doubt they're posting weekly about the triple bill if there are no emails or FB posts. The ROH Streaming service is advertised on FB 3 or 4 times a week. Manon has had posts at least once a week. The MacMillan triple bill is pretty much being staged iin secret .....what gives? 

 

I would return to the original topic of the thread- the issue is that the information is so limited that nobody really knows what these pieces are about or who MacMillan is. The challenge is selling something blind, offering discounts for first night has certainly filled most of the house but for sustainable sales, they really need to get some preview material out into the public domain 

6 minutes ago, Silver Capricorn said:

Tchaikovsky's Pas de deux is part of Balanchine's evening at the National Theater in Brno.  At last year's premiere, it was danced by Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov, with whom Diana White and Nanette Glushak of The George Balanchine Trust worked during the preparation, overseeing the consistent preservation of Balanchine's style.  That's why I think that Fumi and Vadim's presentation of pdd was very authentic.  Marianela Núñez and Reece Clarke performed in the same program this year.  I saw both performances and subsequently, by comparing the video recordings, I confirmed that especially the male part performed by Vadim Muntagirov was technically better, Reece Clarke danced his part at a significantly lower tempo.

Would have loved to see Fumi and Vadim!