Velvet

You make really good points here which I agree with. My other experience than ballet is of hockey which my son has played at national level. Very tough again going up the ladder through the selection process and kids axed along the way in the selection process. But somehow it does feel different. You are either good enough and match the standard of the other kids or not. In ballet there is on top of that process the whole area of aesthetics which in turn bring into the equation subjectivity. It is a mine field from the get go. I have no argument with the various schools end goal of producing the best set of dancers they possibly can each year. Dancers who can go out and get jobs which is ultimately the aim. My gripe is how they go about achieving it. In hockey for my son to get faster, lower on the ball, stronger were all achievable targets. In ballet for a boy to be taller is impossible and a girl less than her natural body weight is unhealthy. They all work so hard physically and sweat buckets so burn off calories at a vast rate. The recommended calorie intake for a dancer is high. It’s heart breaking to know that students are starving themselves to attempt “pleasing their teachers”. There just has to be a better way of ballet schools producing first class dancers without leaving the carnage of vulnerably aged students sense of self in shreds! Here endeth todays sermon 😉

There is more on R4 if you can stomach it (link below). Some more ex students interviewed and some very insightful words from Luke Jennings and various medical/psychology people involved with students. From my perspective I recognise everything that has been said as absolutely the case! The JA years were fine but full time training at RBS for 8 years was excruciating. Not the “body shaming” issue for us but my dc was surrounded by that going on. I have a list as long as my arm of phrases, comments slung at students to publicly shame them over their body shape and trust me they are eye wateringly cruel. But also over technique, facility, demeanour in class and on and on. The entire 8 years were spent mopping up fellow Mums traumas over the latest thing that was said or done to their child. Our particular type of difficulty was certain teachers hating my DC’s “wilful personality” with daily humiliation. Stopping class to publicly wipe the floor with them. For us the love of dancing won the day and we now enjoy watching our dc happily flourish in a Company. But I know we are in the minority and I completely understand why any other family would want to run as fast as they can in the opposite direction. The undercurrent is toxic and insidious and I don’t see how that can change in order to keep the standard they aim for. I doubt it’s any different in gymnastics, athletics, swimming etc. As we know they also have mental health issues and harsh training regimes coming out their ears. In some sports coaches use the word “beasting” to describe their rigorous training methods. That about sums it up for me! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001qdt6?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

❤️

After a notification to say there was a new message on this thread I was interested to see after watching Royal Swedish Ballet recently whilst on a work trip. But to my surprise the messages have been all about RBS students posted obviously by friends and family. Is there not an RBS thread somewhere else for promoting these students? It had been refreshing to celebrate other ballet going on in the world, particularly Friedemann who was astonishing! Sorry!!

Just about recovered from Mondays performance. It really is the most extraordinary ballet. It starts out being so light and frivolous but ends devastatingly. I feel almost traumatised! I didn’t think this production with Vogel and Keaveney could be any better, but I was wrong. The emotion and power of the story telling reached another level. They look divine together in my opinion. The experience and magnificent physique and lines of Vogel married with Keaveney’s delicate frame and fresh innocence was breath taking. This time the audience were out their seats before the curtain was even down. There were a lot of tissues about!!

Christine, I’ll see you there 😉

Ha, I don’t mean to be lurking, I just don’t visit here very often but this topic caught my eye!

I watched last night. It was the most stunning production. The orchestra are superb. Staging, costumes, lighting great. But of course the most important bit, the dancing. I have never felt so drawn in and moved by ballet before. Friedemann Vogel and Sarah Erin Keaveney have tangible chemistry. Their acting ability is off the scale so they captivate you with their story telling. Friedemann at 42 is majestic and magnificent. Sarah at 22 is tiny with a light ethereal quality. I was riveted from start to finish and have never experienced a ballet fly by before like this. At the end the audience erupted out of their seats into standing ovation, many of us with tears streaming down our faces. If you want to experience beautiful dancing and story telling then I highly recommend this production. So much so I have booked to watch again on Monday.