mijosh

Tamara Rojo's performance in M & A is exquisite, spellbinding and,as a compliment to it's creator, she has even changed her hairstyle to the way Fonteyn wore hers. It makes one realize that,together with the presence of the superbly passionate Polunin, that this ballet can survive with other carefully chosen artists,which certainly wasn't apparent when Guillem got her hands (and legs) on it.The memory of those performances makes me shudder,almost as much as the travesty she made of Month in the Country. And I have to say that,much as I love her,Marguerite is not a part that I feel Yanowsky should be dancing.Quite apart from her height, she doesn't have the feet for it,or the passion.When Germont departed, instead of being devastated she just looked rather cross. Bonelli.on the other hand was splendid.But then when isn't this undervalued artist first class. I really hope that,in the absence of Kobborg,the management give him the opportunity to fulfill his wish to dance Rudolph.

Interestingly, I had a conversation with Jean-Marc Puissant who had been a dancer with the Stuttgart Company in the '90s. He messaged me on facebook after we had both been to the General rehearsal on January19 saying that it all seemed to him as being too slow,especially the mirror pdd,but he put it down to the young and relatively inexperienced conductor.

Aren't we forgetting that Jason Reilly has already appeared twice before as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet; in Tetley's Voluntaries and again in his Pierot Lunaire.

Thiago was dancing on an already injured foot which was,although I didn't notice it,heavily bandaged. He felt he couldn't continue without further damage after his solo. Marianela wasn't aware anything was wrong until she entered for the coda and was rather surprised to be met by Dawid! Thiago is now awaiting the result of a scan,though the ROH website still has him down for Friday's performance.

I long ago gave up seeing the Bolshoi in Swan Lake. Among other aberations I find their propensity for taking calls at the drop of hat - even after Odile's fouettes - to be insensitive if not downright infuriating. While they have made such tremendous advances in repertoire and design in other ballets,they appear to be resolutely mired in atrophied old fashioned mustiness when it comes to Swan Lake so I stay away.

I have to agree,Bluebird. This is a bitter blow to our beloved second home and a very tough act to follow.

I think that the two 30 minute intervals are just to give Yuhui Choe a breather; she's was in all three ballets! Loved the evening,especially "Viscera".

If you are prepared not to wait for an official ROH announcement,but take the word of the dancer herself,then you should be aware that Lauren Cuthbertson will be replaced in Swan Lake by Alina Cojocaru partnered by Bonelli.

Brian Maloney is also blond.

To the best of my recollection,Ivan Putrov did the smart thing and always wore white tights in ActIII.

In the good old days when common courtesy in the theatre was a given - or so it seemed at the time - those in need of a gentle reminder had merely to consult their programme to see the entry: "ladies are kindly requested to remove their hats". On the other hand, back then smoking was permitted in theatres.So count your blessings folks; what is the occassional hat compared to an auditorium filled with noxious fumes?

I also question the need for some women to wear HATS in the theatre - HATS ???!!!! What about the person behind?!

After the ecstasy of the games came the agony of the closing ceremony.Ghastly! I could hardly bring myself to watch and most certainly would have preferred not to listen,but I stuck it out just to get a glimpse of Darcey et al.I needn't have bothered.However I was amused and somewhat startled to hear the terminally boring Huw Edwards announcing Ms Bussell and "200 hundred dancers from the Royal Ballet." Won't Kevin be pleased when he comes back from his hols to find this balletic bonanza awaiting him!

I first saw Richard Cragun dance Romeo with the Stuttgart Ballet in Paris in 1967.I first met him not long after when I had travelled to Stratford on Avon to see a performance by the Royal Ballet touring Co where my friend David Wall was scheduled to partner Fonteyn in Swan Lake.In fact David was injured and RC was flown in as a replacement.Following the performance I was invited to supper in the famous Dirty Duck by another friend and dancer with the company,Elizabeth Anderton.I was very surprised and delighted to find that we were joined not only by the conductor but also by Fonteyn and RC.Being seated beside MF was of course a great thrill ,being able to chat with her in such a relaxed atmosphere.I also spent a good part of the evening talking to RC and was immediately struck not only by his great charm but also his genuine and warm friendliness.This I was able to build on when,in 1973 after the sudden death of John Cranko,I chose to go and live and work in Stuttgart to offer support to a company so utterly distraught by that tragedy.Ricky remembered me and for the next three years not only was he incredibly kind and generous to me but became,along with Marcia,a very dear friend.Not only was I able to watch him and the company dance virtually every performance over those three years,but also he arranged for me to sit in the Opera House and watch them filming Romeo & Juliet,got me access to rehearsals and to watch class,and would invite me numerous times into the canteen, joining in with the company informally.He knew that I had gone to Stuttgart to support the company and was anxious to help me find work there,even,if possible with the company. Christmases were always open house at his and Marcia's home,and I was always a warmly welcomed guest and visitor The shock and sadness I felt when I learned from Paul Chalmer of Ricky's sudden death yesterday has really affected me,as I'm sure it has anyone who knew the man as more than just a brilliant dancer. Marcia,I know will be devastated,as will his legion of friends and fans,indeed anyone who had the priviledge of having their lives touched by this dear, supremely gifted and wonderful human being.The world has lost a great artist and I have lost a cherished friend.

The pas de quatre was created by Ashton in 1963 for the Robert Helpmann/Carl Toms production of Swan Lake for the RB.If I remember correctly it was danced originally by Antoinette Sibley,Merle Park,Brian Shaw and Graham Usher.Ashton also choreographed a prologue for that production showing Odile before her transformation.

Certainly Bugaku should be revived by the RB; a wonderful ballet last performed here by the San Francisco ballet in their ill-advised ROH season.A great role for Akane Takada.I still cherish the memory of NYCB performances of it here in the '60s with Mimi Paul and Arthur Mitchell and with Patricia McBride and Edward Villella. And of course the gorgeous Liebeslieder Walzer,but I've pleaded so often for that one and I fear I'm just banging my head against the wall. The one great work of Mr B's which has never been danced here, and yet would seem suit the RB perfectly, is Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet. And then there's Vienna Walzes,but no-one has ever been able to overcome the intransigence of the Richard Strauss trust to permit it's performance outside of the USA.

And we know how ill-advised that was.

Jabez and the Devil had choreography by Alfred Rodrigues and premiered in 1961.The cast was Antoinette Sibley,Donald Macleary as Jabez and Alexander Grant as Mr Scratch, the devil. It lasted it's original 5 performances and has become synonymus with gold-plated disasters with those of us present at it's inception and demise.Falling by the wayside is too good for it.Trust me!

Marianela Nunez is dancing the Fonteyn solo in her two scheduled performances while Tamara Rojo is dancing the Grey solo in her three performances.It remains to be seen whether she will also dance it in the other two.

It has been confirmed that Brian Maloney will be dancing Colas with Yuhui Choe.

I assume you mean contempt,Lindsay.

I now hear,with great pleasure,that Brian Maloney will repeat his wonderful Colas with Yuhui Choe on May 4 and 9

The words came to me from Sergei's own lips via his chief mentor and teacher at the school.He also said that he is going to do a Broadway musical (though he can't remember the name!!!) and that Ralph Fiennes has found him an acting coach.

According to the man himself,Sergei will be dancing his scheduled two performances of La Sylphide in June.He will also be guesting with the Royal next season. In his own words:"I have to eat"

Presumably one of those ABTII dancers performing,namely Aaron Smyth,is joining the Royal.