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Candleque

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  1. Candleque
    I think this is a super interesting and needed topic. Enjoying reading all the contributions above. The classic ballets like Swan Lake get altered all the time. If, say, adding more Benno is ok as an artistic choice, then altering offensive stereotypes should be ok as an inclusion choice. It would be fantastic to see what a brilliant Asian choreographer would do with La Bayadère for example. (My own sensibilities find rape and violence against women offensive, but I would never DARE to suggest an alteration in you-know-who's choreography 😆) I applaud Susan Jaffe for not ignoring the issues. And I suspect she loves these ballets, so wants to refresh them so they live another 100 years. In the article, Susan talks about doing research, listening to the audience and "opening up artistic processes to the public". How appealing that phrase is. My take is that her findings would be of great use to the whole ballet world, so hope ABT will share. For now, I'm tempted to volunteer for any upcoming focus groups. I feel they will be much more rigorous that the ROH post-performance surveys that just ask the basic 'would you recommend' net promoter score question and never ask what you really thought about the work.
  2. Candleque
    I am also sad not to be able to see Emerging Dancer IRL. Pre-pandemic, I had a tradition to go to this every year with a couple of non-balletomane friends. The variety of the program, passion of the dancers, and the excitement of a competition made it perfect imo for the casual fan or a new to ballet audience.
  3. Candleque
    Me too. She’d be gorgeous imo. Don’t understand why she hasn’t already been given this opportunity at the ROH tbh as I see Melissa often guests in principal roles at other theatres. But in general I find the line between first soloist and principal (and who gets cast and who doesn’t) confusing at the RB.
  4. Candleque
    Agree. Certainly proved it to the audience which was wonderfully appreciative from the start and clearly full of fans who knew what a special night this was. Also lovely to see all the support from their colleagues for Claire and Nicol. Calvin Richardson and Marcelino Sambé were in my row (🤩) cheering loudly and there's lots of love on Instagram.
  5. Candleque
    At the risk of getting chastised for speculating, this sounds like there will also be two sets of princess sisters 👯‍♀️
  6. Candleque
    Awesome. Thanks for this 👍
  7. Candleque
    Oh nice to hear that Harris Bell was a participant in the Insight. What is his role in the ballet? It was cool to see from his Instagram how much he valued being a part of 'A Month in the Country'; think he is a young artist to watch.
  8. Candleque
    Dancers in fine form for sure 👏 BTW: Does anyone know why the Beliaev character has a costume change of trousers midway? A small thing, but puzzling 🤔
  9. Candleque
    Spotted in the audience: Marianela Nunez 🥰
  10. Candleque
    Madison Keesler's post on Instagram >> "Thank You, San Francisco… Hello NYC! I am finally ready to make my big announcement... This will be my last season with @sfballet..."
  11. Candleque
    Seeing this again, it occurred to me that Marianela Nuñez seems born to dance Balanchine ✨
  12. Candleque
    My feeling exactly. What a joy to see Playlist; I wish I could have gone to every show. Like many here, I am v disappointed with the RB 2022-23 season, but not because I am prejudiced against living choreographers in general. Wayne McGregor in specific leaves me cold and I don't get why the Royal have nailed their flag to his mast, but I understand tastes differ. Have the Royal Ballet ever done a Forsythe work btw? He is imo one of the few choreographers that belong in the genius list along with Balanchine, Mark Morris, Ashton, MacMillan, et al. Speaking of the latter, I do agree that the RB could use a season or two without one of the MacMillan big three. Give us a chance to miss them! Happy for Cinderella, but would have been over the moon for Sylvia. I'm thrilled to see anything Balanchine, so appreciate Diamonds in the list for the Diamond Celebration. Not excited about the rest tbh (except Valentino Zucchetti), but I will certainly go if I can get a good seat. Since this show is supposed to mark 60 years of the Friends of the Royal Opera House, I think it is right and just that RB friends (both in loyalty as well as donation level) air their opinions. If I was Kevin O'Hare, I would be grateful to hear the views of such passionate and knowledgeable ballet fans, his heartland core audience. Tempted to actually write him a polite snail mail letter in case he's not listening here 😆
  13. Candleque
    Went to the matinee today. No Forsythe at the curtain call, but all the dancers in fine form. Their joy in dancing this show is palpable. And infectious. Wonder if Tamara will bring this to San Francisco? Would be a huge hit there imo. Speaking of Tamara, will there be any formal send off / celebration from ENB?
  14. Candleque
    I was blown away by Playlist when I saw it last time. Just that work alone is worth the price of admission to me, although I totally understand why others feel differently about the shortened program. And I do agree with Mr. Forsythe about wanting to make ballet more popular. This is the perfect show for your non-balletomane friends and family. I hope to see lots of little kids at the matinees. You can imagine them asking for ballet lessons afterward, like the way some male dancers talk about being inspired by seeing Billy Elliot.
  15. Candleque
    Fyi, for Frola fans (myself included 🤩) he's doing a zoom talk alongside Emma Hawes for the London Ballet Circle on 14 April
  16. Candleque
    So much talent on stage tonight. So many emotions. My omg moment of pure joy was getting to see Marianela Núñez and Reece Clarke dance the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux together. They looked like movie stars. Too gorgeous to be true. Not to mention matching megawatt smiles. I am admittedly a big Balanchine fan. MacMillan reportedly said “don’t be afraid to be ugly.” I think Balanchine says “don’t be afraid to be beautiful” 🥰
  17. Candleque
    I do applaud this review for coming further down in the run. Every cast deserves a review imo, as each provides a unique experience for the audience. I wish there were professional dance writers looking at all the casts and writing a more in depth piece of this important ballet. Calling Hayward "Arguably the best British dancer of her generation..." is just a red flag for arguments, especially in such a classical role. I'm a huge fan (and have seen every one of Frankie's debuts in the last five years) but equally admire Yasmine Naghdi, a more experienced (and dare I say technically superior?) Odette/Odile. As someone who reads reviews simply to try and learn something, most articles seem superficial and under-informed. In sports, the journalists watch ALL the games — why do dance critics only seem to go to one show? I guess what I am trying to say is thank you to all on this forum who post their reviews of all the different casts. I learn a lot from you.
  18. Candleque
    I miss the anthem 🇺🇦. I felt it really united the audience and maybe motivated each in their own way to do something. It certainly made me feel so grateful to have the privilege of being here, rather than there.
  19. Candleque
    Benno is the gift that keeps on giving imo 🤩
  20. Candleque
    Fwiw, I asked for and received my free programme (Romeo & Juliet) with no muss or fuss the very next day after getting that email. Like all things I guess it depends who you ask
  21. Candleque
    Agree with this 100%. I would book just for a Benno I admire (yes, I feel the same about Mercutio). I am totally Team Benno. I find Siegfried hard to like (as a character, not the amazing dancers doing the role) and am happy Benno gets so much stage time. In general I applaud ballets with multiple showcase roles for more than the principle couples. It lets us get to know younger dancers and appreciate the deep talent at the Royal Ballet. Not to mention our chance to see incredibly talented first soloists like hazel eyed James Hay who — for whatever reason?? — Kevin O'Hare doesn't cast in the principle roles. My pet peeve with Swan Lake is not about the story logic or ending. Personally, I'd love to see the four foreign Princesses get more to do. Getting into those gorgeous costumes and make-up must take them ten times the minutes they actually get to dance. As they are usually wonderful dancers (i.e., Melissa Hamilton), I just think it is a waste of talent to use them mostly as scenery. I hope this is not considered speculation but I cannot help but wonder what a female choreographer would do with Swan Lake. If you have had the experience of actually dancing the parts, would these other female roles get a boost in your version?
  22. Candleque
    Btw: Music fans who enjoyed this and are Members of the London Ballet Circle might be interested in the LBC live event with Royal Ballet musicians Rob Clark & Kate Shipway (£5) on 29 March 🎹
  23. Candleque
    I spotted Stanisław Węgrzyn a row or two behind me in the stalls. (Hope to see his own Romeo debut next time 🤞 although I guess Benvolio might come first). Might be just my impression, but I felt there were more than the usual amount of accolades from other dancers for Mayara and Calvin on Instagram, including ENB's talented Francesca Velicu as @Dawnstar mentions. I love seeing the support for these emotional debuts from the dancer community. Also — again, personal reflection vs hard data — the ROH seemed to have a younger audience overall last night. Anyone else notice this?
  24. Candleque
    I'd love to see Jeffrey Cirio do Rudolf. (But acknowledge that is both a thread diversion and a fantasy.)
  25. Candleque
    This was the first time I got to see a female ballet conductor at the ROH. (I certainly don't get to see all the shows, so may have missed earlier ones.) Going by the cheers from the people seated around me, the audience was as as excited as I was to applaud Alondra. As much as I love the Royal Ballet, they could do so much more in terms of gender equality.
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