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FionaM

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Posts posted by FionaM

  1. On 23/03/2024 at 22:13, Geoff W said:

    As Fiona did not like these fouettes, which had their bumpy moments, pushing technique to the limits, they were exciting in the spirit of the piece, and she saved any catastrophe, which was sadly not the case for the dancer in the Swan Lake Odile pas de deux earlier in the evening


    I actually preferred Skylar Brandt’s back up plan of pique turns and a grand jete en tournant, when her fouettés went off.  (I am guessing she was intimidated by the legendary status of the Icons gala, as she can perform phenomenal pirouettes as we saw earlier in her solo.)  I admire her for having a back up plan for the fouettés (every dancer should), and choosing in the moment (how difficult is that) to do something else to maintain form and purity of ballet style.  Bravo.
     

    My issue with Osipova is not only the fouettés.  Throughout the whole pdd, she was turned in, had bent knees, stepped onto bent knees, had raised shoulders, and chicken wing arms.  These are all examples of bad technique that have been seen in her performances for some years now.  I didn’t take to her over exuberant expression either. 
     

    So this performance was not classical ballet to me, … not like she used to perform it.  It made me feel sad and ashamed.  I shrunk in my seat in a futile attempt not to see it. 
     

    It is possible to give an exciting performance of this pdd whilst maintaining purity of positions and movements.  See Nunez/Muntagirov.   Cojocaru/Kobborg, Makhateli/Simkin… too many to mention on YouTube. 

    • Like 1
  2. Just now, Roberta said:

     

    I don't know how effective a strategy this is in the long term, though I suppose the ROH marketing team try to keep up with the times I can see no way of monitoring how many people do actually buy tickets as a result of these influencer postings. 

     


    this is what a survey to ticket purchasers should find out … not just where did you hear about the show, answer ‘via social media’ … but which type of entity on social media.   Their surveys aren’t clever enough yet. 

    • Like 4
  3. Regarding Swan Lake … all dates in the first run were sold out, so any availability now is returns.  I’m always grateful for these late returns, and have often taken advantage.

     

    I don’t have a problem with ROH using influencers to reach a new audience.  The marketing of Swan Lake will overflow … the psychology being that an interested person finding Swan Lake to be sold out will get the idea that RB shows are popular, and, that they better book the next thing quickly.  
     

    I also don’t have a problem with the influencer being glamorous.  The ROH is a place of beauty … both the building and the performances.  We all have enough grimness in our ordinary lives that dressing up for a night out is good for our mental health.  Young people are savvy enough to create their own look without going to the expense of the influencer’s products.

    • Like 6
  4. 7 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

    Full casting has been announced.  No PR yet but from the ENB website:

     

    https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/carmen/#cast-section

     

     

    Huge congratulations to Minju!!!!


    based on her brilliant dramatic performances at Northern Ballet I was disappointed that she came to ENB at the most junior level of the corps de ballet.  She should be a junior soloist at least!   Maybe it was the only way in.  But still I found it insulting to an artist of her calibre.  I’m really glad that she seems to be on the fast track.

    • Like 2
  5. 17 hours ago, art_enthusiast said:


    I do find this quite harsh. And clearly the RB doesn’t agree otherwise they wouldn’t still be casting her in the classics.

     

    Can’t speak for this performance as I wasn’t there, but I very much enjoyed her Kitri performance at ROH in November 2023.


    I was at her last Kitri performance.  It was that which confirmed my growing concern … flat footed, turned in, bent knees, raised shoulders, over the top characterisation.  
     

    I note 2 reviewers of the Icons gala (bachtrack and culture whisper) have said similar and another ‘seeing dance’ has omitted to mention her.  The latter is the usual formula of critics to poor performance.  It must be bad if critics are prepared to actually say it.  
     

    With regards to her continuing to perform at ROH in classical ballets … she does still sell tickets.  It’s the same as going to watch Nureyev when he was 50.  Glimpses of past glory is enough for those audiences.  
     

    It makes me sad and ashamed to see her destroying her reputation and that of the RB like this.  
     

    Time to move on to other types of ballet and dance.   Her Manon earlier this season was also not at her previous level. 🥺

    • Like 2
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