Blossom

52 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

Since every Principal was cast as Giselle or Albrecht this time around, if they were to only cast dancers who didn't get the lead roles for the next run then there wouldn't be any Principals cast, which seems very unlikely to happen.

 

I would love to see Alison McWhinney as Giselle. I hope she is cast. This run she was only just back from mat leave. 

58 minutes ago, capybara said:

I’m feeling very underwhelmed by the 75th Anniversary offering overall.

Come on ENB; you can do better than this. Excite me, please!

 

 

They have suggested on social media that they are responding to requests.

To me it looks like they are taking the opportunity to tour Skeaping Giselle but ensuring London doesn’t miss out - it’s only a 4 day run.

The opportunity for a refreshed Nutcracker is hugely exciting. A new Forsythe is hugely exciting.

The gala event sounds interesting and despite not being in theatre, the digital/filmed option provides an opportunity to really think about how it could be 

1. distributed to reach new audiences

2. get people to connect with ENB directly, solving the challenge they have of not really having customer data to build any loyalty due to sales happening through their theatres.

I certainly hope that they have such ambitions in mind. I have sent a note to ASW on the first point anyhow…

Booking open for Friends for Nutcracker - opening night is quite booked out in the stalls and first 3 rows of the dress circle. 
Got my tickets booked, can’t wait!

Aaron S Watkin's Nutcracker - some German interview in here but a good flavour of different bits of the ballet. Will we get our first UK Mother Ginger and Polichinelles? 

 

1 hour ago, Sim said:

Looks like it's just Giselle for me then next year.  Thrilled that the Skeaping is coming back again, especially if the RB don't do their Giselle next year.  I need my yearly fix!!

This is interesting. I will potentially skip Skeaping in Jan but very excited at the prospect of a new Nutcracker. Having written to Aaron S Watkin to plead for a new Nutcracker I am delighted it will happen and have already sent my thanks. I'd love it to be classical but either way, anything is better than the current production.

1 minute ago, Emeralds said:

 

 

Very, very pleased about the Forsythe premiere and I agree Playlist (EP) deserves another outing. Going to refresh my memory with Neue Suite on YouTube now. The anniversary plans and online provision sound great. Well done to Aaron and his team!

Forgot to mention this in my excitement. Love Playlist and glad it’s balanced with something new.

Delighted my prayers have been answered at least for a new Nutcracker and co-choreography by Arielle Smith. Interested to see what they will create. 
 

A nice mix of productions, happy with some of them than others, but hopefully will have wide interest/appeal. Feeling more optimistic than this time last year…

I sent my daughter today, age 16, with a friend who has never seen ballet before. The friend loved it- so hopefully will get similar love from those people attending for the first time thanks to the low entry cost for the ROH.

My  daughter also really enjoyed it but not had the full download yet. Key question is whether she thinks I would think it unmissable…

Out of interest, how old is Baby Campbell? Perhaps they are choosing to take Shared Parental Leave which would explain a lack of Alex as Claire comes back???

42 minutes ago, JNC said:

Sorry a tangent to booking specifically but does this confirm there won’t be a visiting ballet company at ROH this summer? They don’t have anything showing for August at the moment so wondering if there’s scope for an announcement still…?

 

Although as mentioned it will save me money! 

No info on Next Generation festival either although there is an insight for it

31 minutes ago, Lizbie1 said:

 

This is how I feel about Wheeldon's later work for the RB in general.

Me too! 

10 hours ago, capybara said:

So I ( Principal A) have been working with the management team I pay for myself to secure marketing opportunities which, yes, advertise products but also enhance my social media presence and, hence, my ‘brand’ and then the ROH swoops in to take advantage?

 

An understandable development for the ROH but a questionable move at what is a late stage!

Is this not perhaps more to do with junior dancers and facilitating use of a number of dancers for a specific campaign? There was one a while ago for skincare and there was a clothing brand they have teamed up with recently- All Saints -  which I think used quite a few young dancers. Pretty sure I’ve seen at least one similar partnership from ENB. My feeling is that this won’t be about individuals, it will be about the group. 

Realistically the challenge is that everyone from supermarkets to the ROH are struggling with profitability - or even to break even - and are looking for new revenue streams. If this sort of endeavour can contribute to the ROH coffers and help to manage the cost transferred onto audiences, I am all for it. 

2 hours ago, capybara said:

The Winter's Tale Casting is now available:

 

Winters Tale Casting 2024.pdf 178.34 kB · 84 downloads

Finally! Thanks so much for sharing @capybara

Thrilled that of the 2 dates I was contemplating, there's a choice between Yasmine Naghdi and Viola Pantuso as Perdita. What a choice to have to make!!!!

Perhaps I will have to try to see it more than once.

15 minutes ago, OnePigeon said:

Glad it’s not just me that found the music a challenge to get through.  It’s not unbearable, but I found it incredibly bland and lacking in soul and depth. 

 

The music drives a lot of the passion in and for a ballet. There is none in this music. I did find Like Water for Chocolate had more depth, but it’s all just incidental music and is not completely absorbing like Tchaikovsky or Prokofiev. Given Talbot can create more emotive music, is this driven more by Wheeldon? I do want to experience TWT so I can understand if it can feel emotive.

Like Water for Chocolate was very cast dependent- much preferred Naghdi cast, plus it worked excellently on screen having seen it on the stream.

I really can't decide what do do for TWT. 

I will definitely go once, but (as I have said often) I do not get on with Joby Talbot (although he worked on the Willy Wonka film and that was far more listenable) so it's not something I am keen to splash out on. If I can't pick up an SCS ticket I will probably wait to see what's available later on.

I'm also starting to think that I am not so keen on the choreography - unless significant changes have been made since the premiere season, which is when the filmed version is from.

The question is who to choose to see (if only we had the casting so I could make that decision) if I am picking a single performance.

It's going to be pretty impossible to get booking right as well if they aren't releasing casting... You'd think that they could at least explain why casting still hasn't been confirmed via the last Friends newsletter before the premium groups open next week.

15 hours ago, RobR said:

 

Do the cookies assume that because of my interest in ballet that I’m probably a woman?

 

Depends if you are spending time engaging with those ads. The more you engage/interact, the more you will see those sorts of ads - or even content. I engage with lots of cute dog videos, so my instagram feed is interspersed with more of those. I clearly have an interest in gluten free food content so I get targeted with this sort of information. On top of that, my registration data gives away my age and location. Plus meta (facebook and instagram) can also track you offsite (at the moment cookies), unless you have set specific conditions, so if someone else is using your device, you may be targeted based on this.

Firstly, it's algorithms not cookies...

 

To find out how it works, Everything You Need to Know About Social Media Algorithms | Sprout Social

Links - Tuesday, 13 February, 2024

 

 

 

Review- Royal Ballet, Dark with Excessive Bright, ROH: Nicola Rayner, The Stage (paywall)

 

Review- Sao Paolo Dance Company, Triple Bill, Sadlers Wells: 

Siobhan Murphy, The Stage  (paywall)

Lucy Carter, Everything Theatre

Matthew Paluch, Broadway World

 

Review - THE Dance Company, Rethinking Coexistence, Coronet Theatre, London: David Mead, Seeing Dance 

 

Review - Spanish National Ballet, Afandor, Teatro Real, Madrid: Cristina de Lucas, Bachtrack

 

Review - Alvin Ailey, Program B, Washington DC: Emily Berger, Broadway World

 

Review - Tribe, Black Hole, Boston: Debra Cask, Arts Fuse

 

Review, Acosta Danca Junior Co, Havana: Staff, Prensa Latina

 

Review – Akram Khan, Jungle Book, Perth, Australia; Isabelle Leclezio, Dance Australia

 

Review - Black Swan State Theatre Company, The Pool, Perth: Deborah Jones, Limelight

 

Preview- Ballet Nights, Spring 2024, London: Staff, Gramilano

 

Preview - Sao Paolo Dance Company, Triple Bill, Nottingham: Diane Parkes, Left Lion

 

Preview – Ballet Frontier, Romeo and Juliet, Texas: Stephen Montoya, Fort Worth Magazine

 

Preview – Ballet BC, ‘NOW’ triple bill, Vancouver:  Staff, Stir

 

Preview – Compania Nacional de Danza, Triple Bill: Victoria Looseleaf, San Francisco Classical Voice

 

Preview- Covent Garden Dance Company, Iconique Dinner Ballet Gala, Bahamas: Staff, Tribune

 

Preview- Joffrey Ballet, Cosmic Rhythms, Chicago: Oliver Sava, Block Club Chicago

 

Season Preview - Ballet Manila, 2024 season, Manila: Staff, Business Mirror

 

News - Northern Ballet replaces live music with recordings at upcoming shows

Siena Linton, Classic FM

Staff, The Strad

Mary Stone, Arts Professional (paywall)

 

News - Your February Roster Roundup - dancers and directors on the move: Kyra Laubacher, Pointe Magazine

 

Article- Knutsford dancer in English Youth Ballet’s production of Cinderella: Barbara Jordan, Knutsford Guardian

 

Article- Central New York Ballet Company makes waves with inaugural dance project, Ebenezer Mensah, BNN

 

Article - A tale of two ballets: Can CNY support Syracuse’s duelling dance troupes? Linda Loomis, Syracuse.com

Article- What it’s like to write for Dance Magazine: Haley Hilton, Dance Magazine 

 

Sponsored content - A day in the life of a Grand Rapids Ballet Company dancer, Lindsay Hoffman, Fox 17

 

Feature – As RWB launches grand romance, company couples talk about their own personal pas de deux: Jen Zoratti, The Free Press

Links: Monday 12 Feburary 2024

 

 

Review- Royal Ballet, Dark with Excessive Bright, Royal Opera House, London

Alastair McCauley, Slipped Disc

Matthew Paluch, Gramilano

Debra Craine, The Times

Sakchi Kandelwal, BNN

 

Review – Sao Paolo Dance Company, Triple Bill, Sadlers Wells, London

Nicola Claire, Seeing Dance

Vera Leber, British Theatre Guide

Lyndsey Winship, Guardian

 

Review, San Francisco Ballet, British Icons, San Francisco: Jim Munson, Broadway World

 

Review- West Australian Ballet, Metamorphosis: Ballet at the Quarry, Perth: Alana Kildare, Dance Australia

 

Review- Fernando Alonso National School, Young Talents Gala, Cuba: National Center for Arts Schools Staff, World Nation News

 

Article - The Royal Ballet celebrates new talent in choreography with edgy set design: Hannah Silverman, Wallpaper

 

Film review - Scottish Ballet, Starstruck, Emmanuel Abara Benson, BNN

 

Preview- Lowell House Opera,  The Unknowable: An Operatic Ballet in 2 Acts, Boston : Staff, Broadway World

 

Preview- The Trocks, Aspen District Theater: Staff, Aspen Times

 

Feature- We have MS and ballet together at the ROH - Not a bad date, right? Stefan Kyriazis, Daily Express

 

Article- Ballet Star Patricia Zhou: Passion, Resilience, Artistic Exploration Journey Unveiled:  Maria Alejandra Trujillo, BNN

 

Article- Dancing for Life: Staff, Dance Australia 

 

Article - Ralph Fiennes: West End theatre prices ‘worryingly high’: Charlotte Gallagher,BBC News

 

Article - Eddie Moffat: The unicycling ballet dancer on Austin, Texas: Geeta Pillali, BNN

 

And finally, an early Valentine’s story…

 

Interview - A (ballet) love story: La Jolla couple to share local stage in upcoming production of ‘Don Juan’: Ashley Mackin-Solomon, San Diego Tribune

There’s also a review in on Gramilano and BNN which will be in tomorrow’s links. Generally, reviews seem to be following a similar trend

I am somewhat hoping that the late casting is to have Corrales and McRae in mind for Rhapsody. The former is perhaps more likely as he is already cast for the earlier run of Swan Lake.

Links: Sunday 11 February,  2024

 

 

Review – Empower in Motion Gala, London- Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack

 

Review - Akram Khan, Chotto Desh, London: Alastair McCauley, Slipped Disc

 

Review – Sao Paolo Dance Company, Triple Bill, Sadlers Wells, London

Jonathan Gray, Gramilano

Marianka Swain, Telegraph (paywall)

 

Review - Varna International Ballet, Swan Lake, Norwich: Charles Bliss, Eastern Daily Press

 

Review –NYCB, Contemporary: Leigh Witchel, Dance Log

 

Review - Atlanta Ballet, Coco Chanel, Atlanta: Celia Wren, Washington Post

 

Review – Ballet West,  Swan Lake – Edward Reichel, Utah Arts Review

 

Review – Carolina Ballet, Rhapsody in Blue, Carolina: Megan Eesley, The Seahawk

 

Review – Pina Bausch/Sadlers Wells/Ecole des Sables, Rite of Spring, Los Angeles: Jillian Verzwyvelt, Ballet Herald

 

Review- West Australian Ballet, Metamorphosis, Perth

Staff, Out in Perth

Rita Clark, Limelight

 

Feature – Alexei Ratmansky: Marina Harss, New York Times

 

Preview Feature– The give and take between music and movement: A closer look at these unique challenges in Ballet West’s production of Swan Lake -  Les Roka, The Utah Review

 

Preview  - 52nd Annual Dance on Camera Festival, Lincoln Center, NY: Caedra Scott Flaherty, Observer

 

Preview – Houston Contemporary Dance Company, The House Chris Becker, Houston City Book

 

Film Review – ’10 Times Better’ – CeFaan Kim, ABC 7NY

 

News – Alternative funding plan for Suffolk proposed by Equity: Matthew Hemley, The Stage 

 

News  - Local stores offer ‘Swan Lake’ deals; fashion-show designers named: Helaine Williams, NW Arkansas Democrat Gazette

 

And finally, one for those of us taking in multiple casts/dates

Feature – For the Love of Theatre: These superfans have seen their favourite shows up to 800 times: Glenn Sumi, The Star

With booking open for some in only 12 days' time, it's disappointing that there still isn't any casting information.

There are so many clashes to manage over the summer season between the different ballets and RB/Sarasota that it would be helpful to have the information in order to prioritise.

 

In addition to lack of information on casting, there is just too little information on the programming to generate interest among non-balletomanes. I've had no interest from friends so looks like I will be going alone most evenings. The ads appearing within youtube when I have been searching for videos to try to generate some interest (only a couple of videos of Leanne Benjamin in Requiem) are completely blank of any still images or videos.  Definitely need some of the pre-cinema style clips and interviews to generate demand sooner rather than later.