Suffolkgal

I have to say I feel Ross transformed how dance was filmed. To have someone who will gain the trust of the dancers as he was one of them for so long, has appeared in many of the works and also was in at the creation of some of them is surely a huge benefit? I can’t imagine the company would keep working with him on such expensive projects if they were not satisfied? In any case I respect him and the judgement of the company and also let’s not forget - broadcasters too. Just my opinion of course … it’s very subjective as with all the arts.

Thats all really distressing it’s awful when people are injured during a show. And awful to hear of the disturbance. I’ve seen a few people fall down the amphi steps, a couple of people passing out, a choking fit which necessitated a call for a doctor … all in 43 years of regular visits so not that frequent. Maybe 35 years ago an elderly man stood up right at the top of the amphi during a performance yelling obscenities and waving a walking stick. A few days later I saw him again climbing the amphi stone staircase. He had loo paper trailing out of his trouser legs, poor man. I mentioned it to an usher and they said they knew he’d caused trouble but he had a ticket! And i should write to John tooley. Sorry this is right off topic but it’s the only similar event I recall in all those years. It sounds as if the dancers were fantastic all round. Hopefully those hurt or poorly will recover very soon. That’s live performance for you … I think it speaks to their company cohesion

Always love an R and J for what it offers its dancers and the music. Not sure I want to see Cinderella again so soon though again love the tunes! Alice … doubt it I’m not enamoured. Onegin … now that’s tempting… and I’m hoping for Giselle, and not ashamed to say because I want to see Bracewell as Albrecht. Love Giselle anyway …

I miss the swan boat and the sailing off to the Elysian Fields! Or wherever…

Slightly tangential but regarding Ross, I did follow him a lot when he was dancing, and interviewed him once too at his home . MacMillan used him quite a lot - he created the beautiful young man (that’s what the character was called) in Isadora, and often played Paris. He did a lot of those secondary character roles and had a big on stage personality… you could not miss him. In the recent rerun of the Magic of Dance you can see him in class. With Robert Jude and Wayne Eagling he published a book of photos called the company we keep. I think he came to film through that… anyway … there we go

I truly think there are some one-offs and Fonteyn is one of them. And Nureyev. Olivier … I could go on but I think the effect they had in their time and continue to have must mean something. I think somewhere in Seymour’s biography (creating the Ashton dances) she speaks of the effect Isadora Duncan has on Ashton, as he described how he felt seeing her live.

Just a tiny and very personal observation on some of the comments on virtuoso moves - it’s not always what moves me or thrills me the most. I know that’s not what earlier posts were saying.

Fingers crossed for you I’m heading the other way at mo towards Cambridge.. honestly the state of transport has made me less keen to book so many ballets!

Oh dear lord. Fumi and William. All that chemistry and sparkle. Sort of makes you wonder if odile and Siegfried could have made a go of it!!

Monday for me! Exceptionally excited

I still miss the little powder puffs as the swans fold up across the stage and the harp gets going and you see the swan boat and oh oh oh 😪

Decades ago in Leningrad as was I saw the Kirov as was with Asylmuratova in SL. As we went to the theatre on the coach (shepherded) the guide was explaining the plot and saying: of course we are Russian so we have a happy ending. Take a moment there! Anyway it did … I remember the ticket cost three roubles.

The joy in that photo of them grinning at each other. If trains go up the creek on 1 April I'm walking

Thank you so much all who shared thoughts reports wonderful pics and so on. Marvellous to see the video thank you!! Wish I could have been there. I first saw him years ago as hans-Peter with Francesca H as Clara … I am so pleased the company is like this now and properly rewards and thanks its dancers as they move on. In no way do I wish to diminish this marvellous send off and all the sadness at his departure. But I cannot help thinking of the way Eagling and Mukhamedov departed so as I say thank you so very much for sharing this with us all. Absolute best for the future Alexander!

Surely Wayne Eagling, on whom the role was created, should be coaching? One does wonder sometimes about their coaching decisions when there are so many excellent retired dancers around who worked with our great choreographers? I saw six performances in a week once, with song of the earth. Not an experience I’d wish to repeat.