Candleque

Both Ondine posters are so good.

I have never seen this ballet (except for the snip in the Fonteyn gala) and envy those who have. Fwiw, if I was a ballet management team trying to attract an audience raised on The Little Mermaid, this show would be on my must do list for sure. (Please 🙏)

On one hand, I am v happy to hear that the ROH are offering discounts to Friends — their most loyal (and deserving) customers 👍. On the other hand, am so sad I didn't receive this offer myself ☹️

And yeah — note to ROH — although I have already booked multiple casts, with a discount I would have been tempted to buy more tickets... 
 

Checking the website just to see what shows up to an unlogged-in user, Cinderella comes up on the page as a long scroll down number 12. Makes no sense marketing-wise, but the productions all seem to be listed in chronological order based on start date, whether it is an Insight, a Tour or a mainstage ballet or opera. Shows the flaws of the ROH site design. They really need to do some serious usability testing. One of the base principles of web usability is minimising how many clicks or scrolls any user needs to get to the desired content or action.

As always, it is hard to figure out what the marketing department at the Royal Ballet is thinking. Who is their target audience?? While I understand using the beautiful Marianela Nuñez in the key image for Cinderella, I'm rather befuddled by the background of photoshopped flowers. Tells me nothing about the plot or the production. Perhaps the flowers will be made clear in the new designs we haven't yet seen. As contrast, I think the BRB's key image for their new Black Sabbath ballet is brilliant. And their old Cinderella poster has a clear concept vs the ROH current one. 

3 minutes ago, MJW said:

Special shoutouts to Harris Bell and Marco Masciari.

Loving hearing that some of the younger company members are getting a chance to shine 👍

Very happy I got to see this show. I admire Tiler so much. Not just as a brilliant ballerina, but as the architect of her own career offstage. Author, curator, choreographer, designer; an amazing and inspirational woman.

The program was beautifully crafted imo (and executed). What a treat to see Roman Mejia and the other dancers live. I echo everyone who would love to see NYCB in London — unlikely I know, but we can dream.

While I enjoyed all the different pieces, the Forsythe was my grudging highlight (adore his choreography, not so much the music choice). While the evening was probably the best example of modern ballet I have seen in awhile, I do admit thinking throughout the show how thrilling it would be to see Tiler in a ballet like Sylvia. Another one added to the fantasy wish list 😆

On 20/02/2023 at 06:18, Don Q Fan said:

The finale of Le Corsaire was lovely and I didn't realise at the time just how  young Fernandez and Cassalinho are

Sadly, I didn't get to see this Gala. Was surprised (and happy for them) that António Casalinho and Margarita Fernandes got to close the show. Would this be unusual for such young dancers? 

Don't know much about how Galas are organised tbh. Do dancers choose the piece they want to do? How much input in general would they get? 

12 hours ago, oncnp said:

In an interview at the time, he said he wanted to join the RB but they were not hiring from the PDL that year. 

I didn't know this — have to say now it seems imo like the best thing to happen to António Casalinho since he won the Prix. Just looking at all the amazing roles he has done (including galas like this) at his young age. If he had gone to the Royal Ballet, would he still be in the Corps like other recent PdL winners?

Thanks to posters above for reminding me of this survey. The name of the page in the metadata is: Royal Opera House Pricing, so yeah I think they are mostly interested in how high they can go.

Whenever given a text box, I took the opportunity to add things they didn't ask, like my wish list of ballets (Sylvia!) and how I felt about the Diamonds evening.

I also suggested if they really wanted to understand their hardcore fans, they should just invite all SCS ticket holders to a focus group. Way simpler than that convoluted set of scenarios question 🤣 

2 hours ago, LinMM said:

I don’t really understand why Professional dancers would want to share some video taken on a phone by an audience member of their performance🤔

Cannot speak of course to any individual dancer's motivation. But on the social platforms — say Instagram — there are certain behavioural norms understood by frequent users. When tagged in a Story, for example, one gives the original poster acknowledgement or thanks by reposting. Instagrammers here will have observed how often the dancers repost each other. It is a common thing. If you are a just a fan and Marianela Núñez reposts you, that is a happy dance moment because you then know Nela saw your post and liked it enough to share it.

Please note, I am NOT saying audience members should film anything besides the curtain call. Just that a dancer might repost a video on Instagram (or wherever) as a way to say thank you to that loyal fan.

 

10 hours ago, Sim said:

Can someone please tell me what is so wrong with fossil fuel providers?  Genuine question. 

From National Geographic:
> When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which in turn trap heat in our atmosphere, making them the primary contributors to global warming and climate change.

Major energy companies have treated climate change as a PR or brand reputation issue rather than a global crisis. Hence the greenwashing donations to cultural organisations being a focal point for environmental activists. 

Obviously it is a complex issue. I'm not an energy expert or scientist. (Disclosure: I have had both BP and Shell as marketing clients in former jobs.) Don't know much of the UK's needs could be supplied by clean energy atm, but it could be huge if the big players like BP, Shell, etc, were to really commit and transition to renewable energy sources. In Norway, for example, 98 percent of the electricity production come from renewable energy sources. 

Like others above, I was mesmerised by Salenko and Frola and blown away by the stunning Corps. So good. 

And while I'm NOT excusing bad audience behaviour, a great performance makes it easier for me to tune out other people. Plus, having an excellent seat for literally 54% of a similar one at the ROH put me in a happy mood to start with. It extended to a feeling of comradeship with the mix of people around me as we experienced this gorgeous show together.

My favourite moment was after all the applause when the man sitting behind me said to his companion, "I didn't think I was a ballet person, but I guess I am."

Well done ENB 🤍 

On 03/01/2023 at 20:26, Diandri said:

In my email inbox this evening was a ROH marketing blast regarding a 25% discount for Sleeping Beauty for shows 17, 18 & 19th Jan so it looks like they've overpriced this run as there are lots of empty seats & the code appears to apply to any price bracket (but I haven't tried the really cheap seats).  Code is AURORA25.

 

 

I want to thank @Diandri again for sharing this Sleeping Beauty code 🙏. Because of the discount, I was able to see Frankie + Alex this week, as well as Mayara + Cesar  (previously booked full price). I don't usually go two nights in a row so it was a real treat, plus a learning experience sitting in different areas to watch such a visually sumptuous show. 

If anyone has tips on how to get on these email lists, I'd be grateful.
(I'm a ROH Friend+ but have never ever gotten any ticket offers from them) 

Tiler has such a charismatic personality, along with her buckets of talent. She's my fave ballerina on TikTok (think she cross-posts many of the clips on Instagram) as she does both ballet and cheeky collabs with dancers of all kinds, proving her reputation for versatility. I imagine her Sadler's Wells show will incorporate this infectious fun attitude. 

Claire Calvert doing Lilac Fairy tonight. So pleased 💜

44 minutes ago, Sim said:

Rant warning....why doesn't the ROH let us know wider casting until one or two hours before the show?  This doesn't give us time to buy flowers for the non-principals should we wish to do so, and it's a shame, especially for a debut (which again, they don't mention in the cast list).  In the 'old days' they used to give wider casting information in advance, and they would also let you know in advance when someone was debuting (with an asterisk and a 'debut in role'.)  Why have they stopped doing these things??  Ok rant over....

Totally agree. Makes no sense.

For tonight, Calvin Richardson announced on Instagram that he is making his Bluebird debut. Dancing with Melissa Hamilton, which is a treat I didn't expect 💙

Fwiw, I got the article to show by plugging its url into printfriendly.com (a tip I think I learned from someone here a while back)

On 03/01/2023 at 15:26, Diandri said:

In my email inbox this evening was a ROH marketing blast regarding a 25% discount for Sleeping Beauty for shows 17, 18 & 19th Jan so it looks like they've overpriced this run as there are lots of empty seats & the code appears to apply to any price bracket (but I haven't tried the really cheap seats).  Code is AURORA25.

This is great; thank you @Diandri

Given the price of the seats, I'm delighted the ROH is doing this promo. Fwiw, I'm a Friend and have never ever had an email with a discount. Is there a special list or way to know about these? 

Post-pandemic, are Royal Ballet dancers doing more guesting? Or just posting about it more? — or am I just noticing more 😆

It does make sense for dancers at the top of their game to enjoy other opportunities if they have only 2-3 shows throughout the Nutcracker months.

Sylvia tops my wish list every year. So many Royal Ballet dancers would smash the title role imo, so hope the powers that be hear my prayers 🙏

Rather than have a year without Nutcracker — I'm a forever fan, plus it gives so many opportunities to all ranks — I'll risk blasphemous behaviour by hoping against hope for a year off from the MacMillan big three. It would free up a slot for something from the vault I've never seen like Ondine 🧜‍♀️

Hearing so much about how important daily class is to a dancer, it is great to be able to observe. However, I do wonder why there were so few senior level dancers. Noticed this previously as well. Do the principals/first soloists tend to do their own thing instead of company class? Just curious.

Loved the whole thing and totally agree James Hay is perfect in the title role.  Maybe because (imo) he isn't getting the principal roles he deserves, but my heart was so happy to see him on stage.

For ticket price reasons, I was limiting myself to one RB Nutcracker. But may need to go again just to see him shine.

Feeling a bit jealous of the lucky audience in Japan tbh. Why couldn't the RB have given their home fans that Friend-pleasing programme?

But yes, where is Alex? He is a wonderful Romeo

41 minutes ago, art_enthusiast said:

I've invited non-ballet fan friends to more modern works this year such as Light of Passage, which was received very well by them. I was thinking of inviting one to Mayerling, but was wondering if it's the right one to bring ballet newbies to? Given its complexity.

I took two culture loving but non balletomane friends to Mayerling (Ball / Morera / Magri). We try to meet for a night of theatre whenever we can. After it was over, they politely suggested that one of them should pick the next show 😂
 

13 hours ago, jmhopton said:

I have written to Alex Beard,  expressing my concern over ticket increases

I applaud you for this action and smart suggestions. Will follow your lead. I think the ROH needs to hear from as many people as possible.

They like to send surveys out (I got one about the Diamond gala) but typically are only after the Net Promoter Score ('would you recommend...'). They never ask for open, detailed feedback. 

Yes, they have to balance their budget. So do their most loyal customers. I think they are trying hard atm to promote the Friends scheme, as it is an excellent way for the ROH to earn cash. However, the rewards for Friends are more nice to have (early booking) than a proper loyalty scheme with financial incentives as @jmhopton suggests. 
 

16 hours ago, Linnzi5 said:

I like the lines of the costumes, which show off the dancers' fluidity and grace. 

Totally agree. And matching the colour top and bottom is so flattering to both dancer and choreography. In the RB version I felt the light top and dark trousers cut the body in half so to speak, especially the show I watched from the Amphitheater 

Thank goodness for Diamonds. Needed that joy to make the modern medicine go down. Like others have said, it isn't much of a celebration of our Friendship if the RB insists on force feeding me pieces I would not choose to see on their own.

I saw the rehearsal so won't comment much except to say: Melissa Hamilton & Lukas Brændsrød WOW. She is such a beautiful dancer and they looked great together. Made me (almost) like that piece. 

And really enjoyed Valentino Zucchetti's Prima. Why not make him a resident choreographer (if he wants) so he can make full act or full length works.