AnticaFiamma

According to his IG Polunin got two more Putin tattoos, I think it's safe to say he won't be dancing a lot in Europe in the foreseeable future

Well well well, Christopher Wheeldon just won a Tony Award

Thrilled for Sambé's debut as Rudolf and Calvin Richardson's Sugar Prince

ROH finally tweeted about it, reporting the Times article * sorry @Dawnstar, we must have posted it at the same time!

Are they promoted with immediate effect? Not that it changes anything, they've been principals de facto for the whole season

I saw the matinee today at Sadler's Wells, which was only half full -- or half empty? I thought it was a mixed bag tbh, it's essentially a Matthew Bourne ballet with Kenneth MacMillanesque pas des deux, although I did like how they integrated the scenery (and, particularly, tables) in the choreography. The main issue is the plot I think, there's too much of it and it doesn't go anywhere. The score is nice and the set is lovely, but its true asset is the cast. Joseph Taylor in particular is fantastic and holds the show together. He has surprisingly little to do in the first act, which is part of the reason why I liked act two better (although it is weaker in terms of plot) but he's truly wonderful and the role is definitely a juicy one for any dancer. Also great to see Javier Torres one last time with the Northern Ballet, he has great stage presence and lovely chemistry with Taylor. The rest of the cast is also very good, particularly Abigail Prudames, Sena Kitano (Manon Balletti? Really??), Minju Kand and Saeka Shirai. Definitely not a masterpiece, but very watchable and enjoyable. I'm glad I saw it and happy that the other performances in London sold much better than today's grim matinee

https://www.nureyevlegendandlegacy.com/ The unmatched impact of Rudolf Nureyev, whose performances touched the lives of people around the world, will be celebrated on stage this September in London over five performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - where Nureyev made his London debut - in a production curated by a former star of The Royal Ballet which will bring together an array of international talent both on and off stage. At Nureyev Legend and Legacy, audiences will enjoy a programme of nine classical ballet excerpts representing highlights in Nureyev's career, hand-selected by former Royal Ballet principal Nehemiah Kish and performed by 22 of the leading dancers of our times - William Bracewell, Yuhui Choe, Alina Cojocaru, Cesar Corrales, Guillaume Côté (12th September), Benjamin Ella, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Emma Hawes, Francesca Hayward, Daichi Ikarashi, Oleg Ivenko, Natascha Mair, Hugo Marchand (5th and 6th September), Maia Makhateli, Vadim Muntagirov, Yasmine Naghdi, Natalia Osipova, Xander Parish, Iana Salenko, Marcelino Sambé, Alexandr Trusch, Marianna Tsembenhoi - representing companies which include The Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and the English National Ballet. Performances of Nureyev Legend and Legacy will be hosted and introduced by former Director of The Royal Ballet Dame Monica Mason - who herself partnered Nureyev on a number of occasions - and Ralph Fiennes, the acclaimed actor and filmmaker who directed and acted in The White Crow, which tells the story of Nureyev's defection from Russia to the West. https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/Historys-Greatest-Ballet-Star-Will-Be-Celebrated-in-NUREYEV-LEGEND-AND-LEGACY-20220511

I couldn't find this anywhere else, but tomorrow Monica Mason will be in conversation with David Jays at the Royal Academy of Dance. Event available in person and online: https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/event/in-conversation-with-david-jays-featuring-dame-monica-mason-dbe/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Membership_InConversationWithDavidJaysFeaturingDameMonicaMasonDBE_Promoted&fbclid=IwAR2-vHhtSRWRrcUiA0f95dfcI6rs9hvrejgA6J-DLo4_pFwjElW5kbrFHzg

I walked passed quickly and don't think I saw Corrales, Kaneko and Magri, although I might be wrong!

BTW, the principals' portraits are back in the giftshop

Hello, first of all sorry for your loss. I wouldn't say I'm an expert on the topic, but probably your best chance is either eBay or some music bookshop. For instance, in London Travis & Emery Music Bookshop sells some old programs, but they're quite cheap (like 4£ each). The only slightly expensive program I saw was for a Romeo & Juliet performance with Nureyev and Fonteyn, and even that was around 20£. They might be interested in buying some programs, but I think it's a very small part of their sales so I doubt they'd offer you more than 20 or 30£ for a box of them. They also have a section for autographed pictures, so they might be interested in those, although to be honest you might get luckier and sell them for more on eBay. As for the shoes I have no idea - I'm sure someone on here would be interested, if not eBay or something similar might still be the better option.

www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/arts/dance/intimacy-directors-ballet.amp.html An interesting article on the use of intimacy coordinator in this production, if you've missed it in the links page

Just dropped you a line Re: Rehearsal ticket!

This is very last minute, but if anyone has a spare ticket I'd be happy to buy it

unsurprising but sad nonetheless. I'm so glad I saw his poignant Dying Swan at Dance for Ukraine a few weeks ago

Hi! I'm interested, I'll DM you

They put on sale loads of tickets for this!

Very curious about the casting for Mayerling. Surely McRae, Hirano & Ball, but debuts? I think Calvin Richardson could be amazing in it

Agreed! He has been dancing several solist roles very well during the whole season, I hope they remember him when promotion time comes

https://www.roh.org.uk/news/royal-opera-house-announces-special-fundraising-for-ukraine On Thursday 5 May 2022, at 7.30pm, The Royal Ballet presents an additional and very special fundraising performance of Swan Lake. In a Company first, Principal dancers of The Royal Ballet Lauren Cuthbertson, Sarah Lamb, Marianela Nuñez and Natalia Osipova join forces to share the role of Odette/Odile across the four acts of this iconic repertory favourite. Tickets range from £10 to £200.

She had excellent chemistry with Clarke in the Tchaikovsky Pas des Deux on Saturday, I'm sure it will be a very special night

Don't have much else to add. In addition to all the aforementioned highlights I also really enjoyed "Three Preludes" with the very fine Emma Hawes and Junor Souza, and I thought Fumi and William were so so so lovely in the Swan Lake PDD. They have such a beautiful chemistry, and I think the tempo was faster than what you usually hear at ROH – and all the better for that.

I wasn't at the matinee today, but just saw Fumi and William doing the act 2 ppd at the Coliseum and it was a real thing of beauty. I think the tempo was slightly faster than at ROH, which is really not a bad thing

Calvin Richardson is Benno tonight