Ondine

Well this could be interesting!

A little late with this one. Good to hear from the next generation of balletomanes!

New on ROH Youtube

And in many cinemas in the UK according to that last link in my tweet, there is a list, however I suspect the 'encore' type showings will be more random so worth checking local cinemas. Eventually I presume it will be released on DVD or put on Medici TV etc.

I've just had email notification that Dutch National Ballet's Giselle is being shown in cinemas, February 2024 on the notification I have, I don't know if this is livestreamed or filmed. Worth looking out for this! Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi "Giselle touches upon great and universal romantic themes. Rachel Beaujean and Ricardo Bustamante’s acclaimed production pay tribute to one of the oldest and greatest works of classical dance." https://www.operaballet.nl/en/dutch-national-ballet/2023-2024/giselle/giselle-x-pathe-live This (with trailer) says Jan 21st so it's clearly not the same date in all cinemas. https://www.giselleballetcinema.com/

I don't subscribe regularly to any of the streaming services though I had no problems when the ROH was streaming during the pandemic, and tend to switch YouTube off HD as it eats through my monthly broadband (def not unlimited) allowance. Like you I'm rural broadband and not got mega speed, so, I think if I'm going to subscribe I'll do a trial month at first!

It's still around. A friend has just been quite ill with it. Caught in her office where people had been going in with 'a nasty virus', 'a bad cold' etc. She was the only one who bothered to test. Her husband, like many others, is immunosuppressed so she has the test kits still. Long covid is no joke, either.

I think I've seen this mentioned in a topic post but not as a topic, so here goes. FAO anyone with a dancer in the family looking for a job! Both corps de ballet and soloists wanted. Closing date 19th Jan 2024. Certainly worth considering an application, as we say in the north, shy bairns get nowt. https://northernballet.com/about-us/our-people/careers/company-auditions To Apply Applicants must complete the online application form and upload your current CV with a current video of the required listed long combinations done on both sides (adage, pirouette combination, battu, grand allegro, tours for men). This must be in leotards/tights and female dancers must wear pointe shoes. For those with 3 or more years professional experience, option to include current videos of studio material plus performances that demonstrate equivalent skills. THE VIDEO MUST BE HOSTED ON YOUTUBE.

This upcoming event is reserved for our subscribers. Get 50% off your subscription to watch it when it airs! Could be worth a punt! https://www.medici.tv/en/ballets/coppelia-delibes-alexei-ratmansky-la-scala-world-premiere https://balletalert.invisionzone.com/topic/47821-ratmansky-coppelia-for-la-scala/

There are further videos here (includes Sugar Plum Fairy) https://northernballet.com/the-nutcracker/videos Here is one about costumes.

I checked before posting and yes it's in LINKS Saturday 10th December. However, in case anyone missed it, this is a gorgeous piece and glorious photo essay in the Guardian so I thought it deserved its own post. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/08/dance-centre-kenya-nutcracker-ballet-photo-essay

I think the joy of Nutcracker is that it can be scaled up or down and I think down suits it well. While the RB production does need the 24 snowflakes, for that large stage, a smaller stage, with fewer flakes, if the costumes and choreography are right, can still produce the magic. https://northernballet.com/the-nutcracker/photos A flavour of the production, I agree gorgeous costumes and magical sets.

Yes. It was a wee jokelet really. There is a photo here which shows just how stretched some of the lacing is! One size doesn't quite fit all. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2023/nov/30/northern-ballet-nutcracker-grand-theatre-leeds-in-pictures Anyhow being northern it should be goose or mutton fat and brown paper around the chest and it wasn't cast off until spring. http://www.goosefat.co.uk/page/comments

No. It was this one. It's all getting very confusing! (Well I'm confused at least.) 😐

That thing that is no longer in the title of this topic? I'm not sure if we can mention that now. 😌

Saturday afternoon debut I think for Viola Pantuso and Daichi Ikarashi? Possibly others?

Lovely. Here's hoping this is the first of many relaxed performances at the ROH and I'm sure everyone here is delighted you and your daughter had such a wonderful experience, alongside many others. It appears the ROH has worked diligently to make today memorable. I note that there are 'visual guides' produced of Nutcracker which others may wish to look at. Lovely photos, clear explanations, great for anyone taking children to other performances. https://www.roh.org.uk/learning/families/paul-hamlyn-christmas-treat Well done ROH. Well done the Helen Hamlyn Trust, in memory of Paul Hamlyn. Yes more of this, please!

We were the ones with the telly, and the neighbours came. Perhaps there should be a synchronised forum viewing with real time commenting on a new thread? 🌞

Huddled round the 14 inch screen in a darkened room? Did you have one of those magnifying things that stood in front of the screen?

Nice piece here today: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/08/benjamin-zephaniah-death-brilliant-life-progressive-views And of course the cars. https://benjaminzephaniah.com/photos/nggallery/personal/my-car https://www.readingzone.com/authors/benjamin-zephaniah/ Benjamin's passions include collecting money ('not money that's in use! I collect banknotes from around the world'), tai chi, kung fu and renovating old English sports cars. He owns a 'mixed race' TR7 'The engine is from the racing version of a Dolomite Sprint, the running gear is from a Rover V8 and the interior is done out in the Ferrari Boxer style'. 'When I really feel like freaking people out,' says Benjamin, 'I take the car down Green Street in East London, where there are gangs of guys posing with their BMWs playing heavy dub, and I blast out George Formby.'

An update: Results and photos via the link The onstage class was taught by @Susan Lucas FISTD https://www.cecchettisocietytrust.org/vocational-awards-results-2023-24 Congratulations to all who took part! The Cecchetti Society Trust welcomed talented young dancers from UK vocational training schools to the Vocational Classical Ballet Awards on Sunday 3rd December 2023 at Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham. The Awards incorporate the Fewster Cecchetti Scholarship and the Barbara Geoghegan Award. All competitors participate in an adjudicated ballet class onstage set at Advanced 1 Level containing unset work and specified traditional Cecchetti exercises. The Fewster Cecchetti Scholarship is adjudicated on the class only. The Winner’s prize is £2,000, the Runner Up £600 and there are two Promising Student Awards of £250 each. The Barbara Geoghegan Award is adjudicated on the class and the solo variation – the Winner’s prize is £2,000, the Runner Up £700, in addition there is a Musicality Award and a Promising Young Dancer Award of £600 each. The Cecchetti Society Trust provides these training Awards and is grateful to the Cecchetti Associates and private sponsors who have generously donated support. The onstage classes were taught by Susan Lucas FISTD, former Soloist - Birmingham Royal Ballet and were accompanied by Jonnie Gait. The Adjudicators were Rachel Hester, former First Artist Birmingham Royal Ballet and Lachalan Monahgan, Principal Dancer Birmingham Royal Ballet. AWARDS RESULTS Commendations Elizabeth Partridge - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Alexander Amiet - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Matteo Rollini - Moorland International Ballet Academy Fewster Cecchetti Scholarship Winner Leah Ellul Sullivan - Elmhurst Ballet School & Marisha Bonnici Runner Up William Roberts - CAT Northern Ballet & Simone Clarke Promising Student Awards Rebecca Johnson - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Maddison Thew - Moorland International Ballet Academy Barbara Geoghegan Award Winner Hannah Shutt - Moorland International Ballet Academy Runner Up Aimee Williams - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Musicality Award Vidya Cannonier-Watson - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Promising Young Dancer Caitlin Le Roux - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts

I don't see this as being all the orchestra? ...our principal Sinfonia players...

I don't think NB management is in any doubt is it, that a live orchestra is what is desired and is also what management would prefer? But if the cash isn't there, what can be done other than what is being done?

Sad to say, I suspect the local authority will have no spare funds for this, it will be stretched to the limit providing the basic statutory services. Careworkers or musicians? I can get very political about all this and the choices made by governments, re taxation and the distribution of 'public' funds but here is not the place.

Though very good news that the appeal brought in some cash, it really does appear to be a magic money tree if sixteen grand can stretch to funding all of that?