Angela Essex

Another vote for silky here. Much softer and stretchier than Bloch or Capezio and they’re inexpensive. They ladder quite quickly though. Capezio (the more expensive ones think they’re called ultrasoft) lasted ages without any ladders but not as comfy as Silky. 

I’m only on my second ever pair of pointe shoes - the heels of the first pair (grishko streampointe reinforced) popped off every single time I rolled through. Second pair are same style but half a size bigger and one size narrower and no popping off at all. Could a different size / width in the same style help at all? 

32 minutes ago, alison said:

Not to mention allegedly some £8 tickets ...

 

Thanks so much, Angela.  Since there's actually a very good-sounding cast on, I have for once splashed out and bought tickets to the RB Nutcracker for my birthday, since there wasn't anything of interest on at ENB.

You’re welcome, hope you have a lovely birthday. What a perfect way to celebrate!

D31 and D30 SCS £12 each

Hello, Just thought I’d give people the heads up that I’ve just seen this. Managed to book for Annete Buvoli on New Years Day Matinee. Lots of the January performances have popped up with these seats available now including Marianela Nunez on 5th Jan. 

13 minutes ago, emmarose said:

 

I think the reason why Nunez and Muntigirov were held back from the royal performance was for the simple fact that then everybody in attendance would realise who the true king and queen of the ROH were and they would be the ones performing. The king surely couldn't have that.

 

 

* This is a joke, before anybody gets on me for disrespecting Mayara and Matthew, both of whom I greatly respect. I probably did mean the slight disrespect to Charles and Camilla though... 

Yes facts 🤣 Also if Muntagirov and Nunez are the King and Queen of the ROH then Ball and Magri are the Prince and Princess, especially after Tuesday nights performance. 

51 minutes ago, Fonty said:

 

Which is the problem with freebies.  People often don't appreciate them as much as they should.  I have no doubt that people who didn't come had a very good reason for not turning up, of course, but if there were a lot of empty seats, that would have been a real pity.  

I wish the invited NHS staff was done a different way - I’ve worked for NHS most of my life and never been offered a ticket for an invited audience event. I looked on the ROH website to see how you qualify for such an invite and it said staff from a couple of NHS near to the ROH are invited. I think that is a shame as many NHS hospitals are commutable distance to London so idk why the ROH don’t offer the tickets to staff at other NHS hospitals in London and surrounding counties too, but prioritise those staff that actually like ballet or would appreciate the ticket. They may find more people actually turn up then, and if inviting NHS staff is about thanking the NHS staff why not thank those that would actually see the gesture as a thank you and appreciate it. 
 

Side note: I am an unapologetic enthusiastic whooper and loud clapper and think that the dancers deserve the fuss. They are amazing. I wouldn’t want to aggravate my fellow ballet goers but I do burst out into mid act applause and cheers quite often - I don’t think I can always control it either sometimes I get carried away by the amazement at what I’m seeing and forget myself - it’s  like ballet applause Tourette’s just blurting out at inappropriate moments 🤣

Side note: why did no one sing the National Anthem? The orchestra played it since their Majesties were in attendance and everyone stood for it, but nobody sang. 

1 hour ago, Missfrankiecat said:

No problems with live feed in N London.  Thoroughly enjoyed evening.  Shame that just as I thinking I'd finally seen Mayara not make a mistake in performance (I've only seen her three times in a leading role) she took a tumble again but otherwise it was a wonderful evening.  More anon but I have work tomorrow.

It seemed to me that the orchestra were going at breakneck speed in that part  - quicker than I’d heard in other performances of Don Q I’ve seen. I felt sorry for her as she was stuck between a rock and a hard place - turn at a safe pace and get off beat or keep up with the music and risk a fall. In the end the latter occurred. 
 

Anyway I loved the performance tonight - such chemistry between Mayara and Matthew Ball as Kitri and Basilio and those lifts in Act 1 - I’ve never seen a ballerina be lifted with one hand above her partners head for soooo long. Incredible strength on Matthew Ball’s part.
 

There was a real tenderness and sense of youthful love and sensuality between Kitri and Basilio as well as a little cheekiness which was a portrayal I’d not seen before, but I really enjoyed it.
 

The only other Kitri I’ve seen is Marianela who gives more sass and cheekiness as Kitri which I adore, but Mayara’s interpretation was equally lovely. The only way I can think to articulate my thoughts is that Mayara as Kitri was ‘Ok Basilio, I really love you very much, but I’m going to play a little hard to get’ whereas Marianela’s Kitri is ‘I’m cheeky, fiery and I might just let you adore me if you play your cards right, yes of course I love you and am secretly thrilled you feel the same, but I want you to remember that I’m the prize here’.

Isabella Gasparini as Amore was spritely and delightful and Annette Buvoli was a beautiful Queen of the Dryads. Hannah Grennell really came across as a fiesty Gypsy Queen - which was exciting to watch. 
 
I watched the cinema relay at Basildon Cineworld which went off without a hitch (sound and lighting fine and cinema about three quarters full) and included Darcey and Petroc doing some backstage interviews Carlos Acosta, The props manager (who knew there are 300 props in Don Quixote!) and KOH as well as showing rehearsal footage and interviews with Matthew Ball and Mayara. Fabulous evening. 

I’d love shows to start earlier. I’m up anywhere from 5.30am onwards in the morning for work and finish mid afternoon. I avoid attending evening performances if at all possible as I’m ready for bed by 9pm most nights. 

On 17/10/2023 at 09:40, capybara said:

From various reports about last night, some supporters now think that the ‘Stage Door’ extends beyond the ends of Floral Street.

Their enthusiasm is great but there are boundaries and ‘following’ is disrespectful to the artists concerned who have a right to walk away and proceed quietly on their journeys home.

Blimey that’s creepy - I’d not like strangers following me one bit - even if I was a ballet star. Agree 100%.

5 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

Well that was just one more fantastic performance from Nela... perhaps even better than the first night, if that is possible. With the odd minor exception that was another tremendous evening of brilliant  dancing for the whole  Company. I would mention particularly Sae Maeda again as a charming, dainty Amour, and Annette Buvoli again conquered the difficult Queen of the Dryads solo with supreme confidence. And I so love the corps dancing in Act 2...just beautiful.

This is why I love ballet!

Yes Marianela was perfection wasn’t she? Not only an amazing dancer but a top notch comedic actress too. There were so many moments where her cheeky glances at the audience and interaction with other cast members really brought the character of Kitri alive in all her sassy glory. 
 

One of the beggars - I think it was possibly Marco Masciari gave a stunning performance - so energetic and vital. I really enjoyed watching Leticia Dias as one of Kitri’s friends too. Amazing night. 

22 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

While it'll vary between dancers, I'd say be prepared for a minimum of half an hour & quite likely longer. On Saturday Kaneko took over an hour to emerge after the matinee & Naghdi just over half an hour in the evening.

Thanks for the info @Dawnstar not sure I’d cope with waiting an hour on a school night. I’ll have to see how tired I’m feeling. 

Re starting this thread on the off chance that there is somebody going to Nunez/Muntagirov Don Quixote this evening that is planning to go to the stage door. I really would love to thank the performers as I’ve waited for ages to see them dance this and am sure it will be an amazing evening, but I’ve never been to the stage door before and I’m a bit nervous about it since I’m literally a stranger to those dancers I’d like to thank. I’m worried I’ll be too star struck to know what to say or do so I’m hoping someone from here is going. Also hoping to get some intel on how long after the performance they tend to come out as I’ve got an early start in the morning.

@Michelle_Richer maybe try just ballet or hobbycraft for the drawstring x

Glad to hear you’re both doing well. What amateur company do you dance with in London? 

4 hours ago, Dizzyballetmum said:

Thank you I’ve been in touch with her 😀 xx

Fab - glad you’ve got it sorted 😊

Leanne Bisson of Straight to the Pointe is a Grishko retailer and mobile pointe shoe fitter - she is on Instagram. 

Leanne of straight to the pointe ballet is a great fitter - she’s based in Essex, but does mobile fittings too. I got reccomended her from people on this forum and she’s fantastic.

I am there now with 2 ladies from one of my classes. I will report back shortly. Program looks amazing.

Breakfast:

Overnight oats prep in a jam jar and take on bus.

Greek natural yogurt, oats/granola/muesli, fruit & honey - bung in a Tupperware 

Fruit smoothie - freeze some chunks of banana and blend with strawberries & milk - take in a portable cup / mug

Fruit muffins - make a batch and keep in tin then can grab one on way out of door in morning 

Get a breadmaker and set the timer to wake up to fresh brown bread - I have it toasted with butter & honey - wrap in foil for bus

Lunch:

Buy a salad from M&S or wherever and have it with can of tuna/pack of prawns/cooked chicken breast/cottage cheese/hard boiled eggs (can be cooked in am whilst in shower and taken in Tupperware), mini babybels.

I have two recurring ballet dreams: being able to do front splits effortlessly and also doing multiple pirouettes en pointe with the most perfect balance (up to about ten or so where I can keep spinning round in retire for so long that eventually I just come to a standstill in retire when my momentum runs out). I love those dreams. 

Claire Hickles and Mrs Branwell also teach Cecchetti at Harlow Ballet in Essex. They are wonderful teachers. 

18 minutes ago, EverHopeful said:

I’m resitting grade 5, I was 3 marks away from a distinction last time and it’s my favourite grade, so I’m hoping to cobble together those 3 extra marks this time

Wow! Fantastic result congratulations! and good luck this time. 🙌🙌🙌

11 hours ago, BalletEnthusiast said:

Congratulations to you @Angela Essex! Have been skimming though this thread as i've liked watching ballet for years but never thought (yet) about doing it. Lots of flexibility is required I guess. So at what age is it just too late to start?

Aww thank you. It’s literally never too late - I started 2 years ago aged 45, but there are people in classes I’ve been to in their 60s and above who are new to dance. And no - no particular amount of flexibility is required to start. You will develop and improve that as you go along no matter your starting point.
 

Teachers of beginners or absolute beginners classes are very welcoming to all no matter what age, sex or physique. They are just glad you’ve turned up and are trying to learn.

What part of the country are you in if you don’t mind sharing? Forum members will most likely be able to recommend some local classes for you to try. 
 

Definitely don’t wait until you retire though - why put off having such fun 😊