Ondine

https://www.balletbristol.co.uk/

Good to see the TUC banner being given an outing. Newcastle TUC was formed in 1873. https://newcastle-tuc.org.uk/history

An Ashton ballet and delightful frocks!

Yes it's the £1 ad I was interested in considering the free offer is still here! https://www.roh.org.uk/stream/offer

ROH tribute Remembering Richard Farley (1935-2023) Farley is remembered for his charismatic dancing and evocative photography of The Royal Ballet https://www.roh.org.uk/news/remembering-richard-farley-1935-2023 https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/395261304777709520/ His wife was interviewed in 2022 for the Ballet Association and talked of him and their life together. Sad news that he has died. Johanna Adams Farley Senior Stage Manager, The Royal Ballet Ballet https://balletassociation.co.uk/pages/reports-2022-johanna-adams-farley She’s married to an ex-principal dancer of the company (Richard Farley) who is older than she but sadly suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and though mentally so brilliant is very frail. He was a beautiful dancer and also a wonderful photographer who worked before digital photography came along. He stopped dancing in 1968 and worked for a lot of magazines, being sent on difficult assignments because he was very diplomatic and could get the photos. Johanna recalled an occasion when he was sent to take photos of Richard Burton who was playing Tito at his villa in Yugoslavia. After three days waiting, eventually he was summoned to the villa in the early hours of the morning but after four frames, Burton said that’s it. Richard asked to be given more time to do justice to Burton and himself. His tact worked and he was fabulous in the way he dealt with them. He was invited to stay for lunch, and Liz Taylor appeared looking beautiful though he wasn’t allowed to photograph her. In 2002 she and Richard went to a small medieval village called Lagrasse in SW France and by the end of the week they’d bought a medieval pile of stone. She thought it would be wonderful to bring some dancers to perform in the Abbey grounds and in 2009 village friends said why not? At the start of the next season Johanna approached Marianela Nunez asking if she and Thiago Soares would come – she said of course and many of the dancers were keen to join. Harlequin loaned the floor and agreed to transport it for free and have done it ever since. A lighting rig came from a French company and they also put up seating. Johanna brought along an advertising poster for 2018 featuring Ed Watson who, along with Marianela, Thiago, Sergei Polunin, Yuhui Choe, Matt Ball, Frankie Hayward, Marcelino Sambe, Gary Avis, and Mara Galleazi, put on two shows, this time on the rugby pitch! This was their last show before the pandemic brought them to a halt but they’re determined to go back in 2023.

I do wonder to what extent the cine relays influence the theatre programming. I have no idea how much the RB / ROH makes from these, and of course the filming is the basis for the online paid for content and the DVD sales.

Yeah. It's still a) a pretty small stage for ballet so yes works chosen need careful consideration and b) a delightful little theatre. One of its designers was George Dance. Lovely name. The usual fires, rebuilds, redesigns etc http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Bath.htm (I once found myself alone in Bath Assembly Rooms and couldn't resist a few figures. I was possibly on CCTV but no-one came and said to stop, that I couldn't dance on the dance floor. Memorable.)

Oh yes it's a lovely theatre, but not the place for large scale danceworks with a big corps.

Theatre Royal Bath... not a very large stage. https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/main-house-360º-virtual-tour/

I think the fact they are on stage and performing the entire piece. It's relentless! See the Henry Danton interview above.

Well I am obvs but the wee video is too, it's an old one on YouTube. From lockdown times.

An oldie but worth the time If anyone didn't see this when first 'broadcast' it's worth watching. Annette Buvoli comes across as such a lovely person! Great to see her progress since then!

Forum member (and Cecchetti expert) @Susan Lucas was one of those who danced Symphonic Variations with BRB. It would be interesting to have some recollections / revelations on how much stamina it requires! Photo here! https://danceworks.com/susan-lucas/

Update with route map for the peace march, which will not be anywhere near the Cenotaph. Any group going to 'protect' the Cenotaph may feel a little lonely. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/10/counterprotest-groups-plan-to-confront-pro-palestine-marchers-say-met-police I suspect police will be kettling any group which is seeking confrontation and trouble.

Yes but small scale I think. Latest on Saturday's march is here. Get into London as early as you can and as near the ROH as possible is my advice! https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/10/pro-palestine-march-will-be-one-of-uks-biggest-ever-protests-organisers-predict

The published Insights for the Associates for 2024 take place in various locations and Booking will open on Wednesday 29 November 2023 https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/train/dancer-training/associate-programme/associate-insight-days/ The audition Insights was yes Floral Street and has been and gone! https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/participate/insight-days/audition-insight-day/ Not seen anything about a White Lodge based Insight that took place recently!

'Insight days' are publicised on the RBS website. https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/participate/insight-days/

I'm having computer / internet probs today and didn't think this had posted and so redid and now I see there are two posts! Gah! 🤨 Pretty please can the mods remove one?

Pas de Deux Dance Masterclass, with Matthew Ball and Mayara Magri Free! Matthew Ball's official YouTube channel link

New on YouTube (presumably from the cine relay)

Not so terribly long ago. ('Pure Cecchetti ' as it has been described... and it is.) You'll have to hum for this. A gem from the BFI

It was performed not so long ago? I recall a cine broadcast?

Ermine I think. To denote high status, restricted to high nobility & royalty. Many small creatures died to make up the his n her costumes. None of which has to do with ballet or the ROH, royal visits are rather more toned down these days.

Sim asked why, I answered, as I said, let's not all fall out. I do wonder about that cloth of gold though. We still had sweet rationing in 1953 I recall! Official visits certainly aren't what they were. I wonder if the smell of mothballs (the furs) was overwhelming?