Bruce Wall

Well, will wonders never cease! All best wishes to her (and not to the RB and the ROH for keeping their patrons up to date). The service I think can speak for itself. Enough said.

Then surely the RB could make an official announcement rather than leave it to a Dutch publication (assuming, of course, that this information is correct in the first place.) If it was able to be announced there, why I wonder has it yet to be announced here? Perhaps, of course, this is merely a rhetorical question and I should know better.

Sadielou you reminded me of something my mother, herself a judge, used to say: 'In England the concept of 'success' can often be seen as something rather dirty, much like 'filthy lucre'. I had always thought this remark was, in and of itself, somewhat peculiar to her (as opposed, say, to the then popular verbiage emanating from Mrs. Thatcher and her kind). From your well balanced comments, Sadielou, perhaps I was wrong in that perception. Thank you for (i) reminding me and (ii) making me think.

And now it seems - for the moment (well, last night's ABT Met gala at least) - Osipova (of the RB to come) is out injured as well. May ALL have VERY speedy recoveries. They are much needed.

That's a brilliant documentary. Thank you, Katherine.

Surely - and MOST crucially - the THREE resident choreographers at the Royal Ballet are ALL BRITISH BORN ... These are the people actually creating the dance. That was NOT true of the days when BOTH Ashton and MacMillan were in operation regardless of how many British born dancers there may have been at the time. Ashton was, of course, BORN in Ecuador. Indeed if Scotland separates then the UK will no longer be able to arguably claim MacMillan as their own given that he was BORN in Fife. I note too that MacGregor has been consistent in his use of Ed Watson. They are an excellent match which has proven most beneficial. That surely is a positive to be applauded.

Ah, yes, BUT SHE WAS AN ENGLISH WOMAN!!! .... lol ... and for all I know STILL IS!!!! (The above is written striving towards GOOD humour. Sadly that has, I'm told, NEVER been my particular strong suit. ... Still one can but try.) Mea culpa ... in advance

Some insights perhaps into the Osipova adventure via Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-12/bolshoi-runaway-osipova-hired-by-royal-ballet-s-director.html

James Hay and Francesca Hayward gave a very good account of Flower Festival. Clean, ebullient with excellent partnering by Mr. H. Looked as if it was very well coached by a certain Mr. Koburg. This for me was a (if not 'the') definite highlight.

I know there has been some questions raised about Ratmansky. Hope this profile might add a touch of clarity where such is felt needed. Surely it can't hurt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYDMsqX8tuw It was broadcast last night in the programme NYC-Arts (on the same occasion, as it happens, as the Southbank show on the glorious Tamara Rojo was featured on Sky Arts 1 in London, UK).

Lukina (listed as 'former' Bolshoi Ballet principal) is dancing in NBoC gala programme .... http://national.ballet.ca/gala/madhot/index.htm#repertoire Could this be a sign of things to come? Fingers crossed ... she would find herself in fine company as we recently were privileged to see in London.

Perhaps yet ANOTHER reason for the hiring of Osipova (and even possibly Vasiliev at some point for the future) with the Royal Ballet ...

Who could forget Merrill Ashley's last performances of Ballo Dello Regina for NYCB when she was 50!! Not me. No watered down choreography for her! A superb artist.

I would like to put forward names like Marcia Haydee, Richard Cragun, Martine van Hamel (by far and a way the best Nikiya I ever saw in Makarova's production of La Bayadere - including the good woman herself), Gelsey Kirkland, Lynn Seymour, Nicholas La Riche, Muhamedov and with NO hesitation, the late and very great Erik Bruhn.

Some true highlights available in the music here ... not perfect (the Eboli sounded rather stretched to me) ... and some of the production is rather absurd ... much SO MUCH to recommend it. Was glad I was there last night.

Another forum has very sadly announced that Frederic Franklin passed away yesterday. Still, WHAT an EXTRAORDINARY life.

I shall be rooting on Friday.

If the Royal Ballet were in the market for a dancing 'couple' to add a certain additional glamour to their already esteemed ranks .... I think money could not be better spent than on Leonid Sarafanov (a principal with the Mikhailovsky) and his beautiful wife - bringing a certain 'Julia Roberts' glow - Olesya Novikova, a soloist with the Mariinsky.. Here you can see Sarafanov in LA BAYADERE with the Mariinsky (where he was formally resident). If you pull through to 12.13 to 17.14 you can see him in an exquisite example of partnering in the opening segment of the Russian second act and between 25.48 to 26.50 in his most admirable solo variation as Solar. He has feet that would rival Bujones. (Sadly, while fully admirable, that could not be said of Matthew Golding I think.) Anyone who saw that Giselle with Sarafanov and those incredible 32 entrachat six at the Coliseum (quite the best I've ever seen - and that includes Baryishnikov) would know this - and would make him I feel the admirable partner of ANY RB ballerina. Moreover he could do both the classical and contemporary work NO QUESTION. This is someone who was born for Ashton in the Dowell adagio line mould. His stunning wife is seen here in a live taping of the rose adagio. She is a fine actress/ballerina with a humane aura which radiates. The feeling at the Coliseum in front of an audience who in large part did not know anything about her (no entrance applause for example) was, I felt, palpable by the end. They rose as one in very well deserved cheers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zAlq0V1i40

This is excellent, Alison. Thank you SO much.

I very much enjoyed Matthew Golding's performance. He partnered extremely well and his second variation in the second act quite rightly brought the house down. James Hay also made a distinguished debut as the Golden Idol.

Thanks, Alison. That is very kind of you.

DANCETABS has tweeted today: Sergei Polunin has joined Alina's Charity Gala, May12 @Sadlers_Wells. Doing DonQ FINGERS CROSSED THEN!!!

I felt oft during that screening that I needed to get my eyes examined. Somehow the 3D struggled with the speed of movement when it came. So happy to hear others were vexed. I thought the problem had been ALL mine. Feel better now. Bless you.

A good company to go to. Well done, Anais I say and send all very best wishes. I'm sure we'll chart her progress with excitement.

Perhaps she is not in entire good health, MAB. I'm sure there are many factors that could intervene.