Tango Dancer

My understanding is that the female dancers have quite a bit of say as to who they dance with. I think if she didn't like him that would be listened to. Ryo seems like a very solid partner and while not the flashiest of the male principal dancers, he has a warmth and depth to him and I think he'd be nice to dance with. I also really liked him as a guest with the Northern Ballet Great Gatsby where he seemed to be a really considerate partner.

Interesting, I saw them the other way around. I saw Creature first and really didn't like it. I thought the music was awful and there was zero chemistry between the protagonists (none of this being the fault of the performers). I really wasn't sure if I wanted to see his Giselle and was very apprehensive but I am glad I did because I think it works a lot better as a piece (the music helps). So I was glad I gave Akram Khan a second chance and it definitely was something I'd enjoy again as long as you don't expect it to be a traditional Giselle. The other thing that defied my preconceptions was Ballet Black in Pioneers. I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it as someone who loves Nina Simone's music but wasn't sure it was very danceable. I was absolutely blown away by Mthuthuzeli November's choreography and the dancing worked far better than I expected. Isabelle Couracy was amazing. I think it was one of the best things I've seen all year.

Oh this will be good. I loved Georgia. I went to Tbilisi on a business trip before Covid and loved it, such a beautiful city and lovely food and wine. I saw the company performing while I was over there and they were amazing. I don't remember who I saw but I was very impressed by the corps and the musicality. It's a shame they're not doing something else as there's a lot of Swan Lake on. I'd definitely prefer their version though as I've seen RB do it a few times.

I think they're a lot stricter about this at the Wigmore Hall. Also it's a smaller venue so easier to police. I've never had a problem with the audience misbehaving at the Wigmore. I found the audience behaviour really poor at the Leeds Theatre Nutcracker on Friday night and the ushers did nothing about it. Smaller venues are better at this I think. I've seen Northern Ballet in their own small theatre and people behave significantly better.

Bartok is generally awful as I've yet to hear anything of his I've actually liked. I went to his opera of Bluebeard as a concert performance and it was really boring and went on far too long. Never again!

Sarah and Kevin were really amazing so if it makes it south, I'd definitely recommend the production. I'm not sure how old the baby was (I'm rubbish at guessing ages) but it didn't look very ambulatory although it did have hair. So probably 2ish I guess? I wouldn't take children to a 7pm Friday showing either, one of the ones in front of me nearly fell asleep (although that may have been the sugar rush wearing off from all of the sweets). Strikes me as a waste of money to take 3 children to a show they won't enjoy (and they weren't the cheapest seats). When I was a child I was taken to the matinees of Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty etc and made to sit still and behave.

Another one from my wonderful Saturday morning ballet class. "Move your arms in the port de bras like you're making dough, smoothly and evenly." I'd never thought of it like making dough before but I rather like the visual of kneading and stretching pastry out.

Just back from the theatre. Well that was rather lovely, at least the dancing was. It was a shame about some of the audience. It's the first time I've seen this version and I really liked it. The cast worked beautifully as a whole and the numbers for the corps were beautiful especially the party scene. I also really liked Kevin Poeung as James / Cavalier. He had a lovely light technique in the jumps and solos and partnered Sarah Chun sensitively. She had some lovely port de bras and was a delicate fairy. I also really liked the Spanish dancer (great jumps) and the Cossacks. I thought the costumes on the Mirletons were beautiful and loved the delicate choreography. The mouse king was really good in the battle scene. On the whole I thought it was a great version. The audience in contrast were terrible. I had a family in front of me with 3 young children who didn't stop moving, talking, eating sweets and drinking and when they got bored kept putting the light on their watches to check the time. I had a family with a small baby behind me and it cried (what felt like) the whole evening. There was also someone somewhere snoring through the Sugar Plum Fairy solo. I know there are more families present during the Nutcracker but I wish people taught their children to sit still and didn't bring babies somewhere they won't enjoy.

Yes. I mean Amsterdam is quite a pleasant place to live and I think slightly cheaper to live in than London (rents definitely being lower). It has good public transport, good shops and the Netherlands is compact and easy to reach the rest of Europe from. It's one of the places I'd probably choose if I were looking to live abroad. So I'm not surprised someone might choose Amsterdam over London.

Yes I do his ballet classes when I'm in London and he's been signed off from performing for a while to recover. Also I'd love to see a Gary Avis one man Nutcracker. I could watch him do anything. He's so interesting and funny. I thought Aidan was really enjoying himself as Drosselmeyer. I also love watching Marianna Tsembenhoi. She always looks like she's having such a good time.

I think one should always dance on a dance floor if one possibly can Hope they make it to the north as well. That would be lovely. I hope they get good sales in Bath and do well.

I'm very glad you said they were Morris Dancers @Sim as I would not have realised this otherwise when I saw it last night. I had assumed they were representing The Muppets or the importance of recycling due to wearing costumes comprised of strips of litter. I went with a friend who likes more avant garde things than I do and she absolutely loved it and thought it was a lot about the importance of migration. and the challenges people faced getting to the UK. I didn't get this at all. I am not sure the plot worked for me but some of the dancing was very pleasant to watch and some of it was a bit of a mess. I did zone out at points because it wasn't hugely engaging. I would agree that it would be better if they lit the stage properly. This was the second time I'd seen something by Balletboyz and I much preferred the previous piece I saw them do which was inspired by a zen garden.

I like the bit where they call him a "chiselled wunderkind" I mean that's not the first description that springs to mind because it kind of makes him sound like a very young statue. He's a very good looking chap but honestly that's such a silly description.

Agreed. I've no desire to see the royal family, they don't do a lot for me and I'm a republican. I have also passed on opportunities to see them. I can see a dancer not being that bothered about it, especially someone who grew up overseas.

Managed to snag a balcony for £10 which is great because I'm always short of money after Christmas. Thanks so much for letting us know.

I think I'd agree on the Birmingham version being slightly better in terms of set design. I loved the way they made better use of the windmill to show you how Don Q saw it.

Well that was very lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cinema was fairly empty but never mind. The picture froze and blacked out twice but came back very quickly. Gary Avis stole the show for me. He has the most amazingly captivating eyes and tells his story through them. I can see why everyone was so well disposed towards him. He just looks so appealing I wanted to give him a cuddle and help him. Liam Boswell was also really sweet as Sancho Panza. Mayara was a lovely Kitri, charmingly flirtatious and amusing and the role really suited her. It was such a shame she slipped towards the end but it didn't matter. Matthew Ball was great and his jumps were very impressive. I particularly loved Calvin Richardson because he was slaying it. Espada has definitely won the lottery on costumes he looked really handsome (with legs that went on forever) and had plenty of swagger and dash and I loved his technique in the jumps. It's the first time I'd seen him in a major role I think and I was impressed. I also really liked Leticia Dias as Mercedes she was so sultry and had amazing port de bras and looked positively feline. I thought she was fantastic in the character. My other favourite was Annette Buvoli as the Dryad Queen, she had such elegant technique and beautiful movements. She always looks so poised in everything, it's a joy to watch her. Overall a great evening.

Yes, fit and preparedness is very important. I'd say Vadim is probably a better dancer for having taken the job at ENB and dancing lead roles there because he matured into the dancer he's become. Also it can be quite attractive the idea of being a lead dancer in a slightly smaller company rather than a more junior dancer in the biggest company. Eighteen is very young to make career decisions so it's remarkable how maturely young dancers can think. Perhaps Monica Mason thought Vadim was a better fit at ENB in terms of where he was in his development. While ADs can be selfish they can, like any of us, also think what would be better for the dancer in question and while I don't know Monica Mason personally, she strikes me as someone who cared about her people as individuals. I've interviewed people for jobs in my field and thought sometimes that they wouldn't suit perfectly the job I had, but they may suit my colleague in a neighbouring team with a vacancy really well.

I would agree. I think they both benefited from taking more leading roles in other companies allowing them to grow and develop and brought what they learnt back to RB when they moved there. Some times it's good to go away and progress and then bring the lessons back with you.

I saw this on Wednesday night and thought it was exceedingly well performed and very engaging. I liked the first piece as the dancing was lovely. I wasn't very keen on the poetry as I prefer dancing to music but I loved the choreography and all the dancers were amazingly good, well together and some lovely performances. The second piece was amazing. I think Isabelle Couracy was amazing as Nina, she was great in the role. Mthuthuzeli November also shone for his excellent technique (as well as the choreographer). I also really liked the chap with the shaved head (whose name I didn't see on their website) as I thought he moved beautifully and was extremely graceful. The other dancers were also excellent. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and well put together programme.

This looks really good. I hope they tour some interesting classical repertoire that we're not seeing as often. Ballade looks lovely. I am keeping fingers crossed for a decent tour to plenty of venues.

Yeah that's what puts me off individual box seats, you don't know who else will be there. I've booked one for Opera North for a special occasion where the seats are sold individually and I bought all of them (even thought it's one more than we need) to avoid being in a position when some poor stranger has to put up with my family celebrating.

Wow a more exciting evening in Salt Lake City than mine! Last night I went to a concert by the Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra on their national tour. The audience was excellent, really well behaved and silent during the music and then loudly applauding when appropriate, also some shouts of "Slava Ukraine" at the end of the encore from the Ukrainian attendees which were understandable. Also nobody appeared to feel compelled to bring popcorn, wine bottles etc, into the concert hall. Clearly civilised behaviour still is possible which gives me hope.

ENB's Carmen might be worth it but that's the only thing that really grabs me that I can't see elsewhere. I might see Mehek at the Lowry if I've nothing else on and I'm going to see Romeo and Juliet in Leeds.

For me cinema popcorn is the sort of thing I do watching blockbusters, so the latest Star Wars or James Bond film, something with a fairly loud soundtrack and lots of explosions and a fairly thin plot. I don't eat it if it's something more intellectual or involving subtitles but if I want a loud blockbuster for escapism then I will definitely have popcorn with it.