Mandy Kent

Dear Peanut68, good idea to book well in advance , I always sit in first or second row as best view. Look up www.coventgardendance.com as they are already taking bookings for next year !

Capybara: In my report I gave Ksenia ‘Principal’ status at ENB which she was not given , my error, but that she rightfully deserved …and now has at Berlin.

Wonderful but chilly !

Hatch House 2023 Etoiles of Paris Opera Ballet & Friends ‘Ballet Under The Stars’ unfortunately became ‘Ballet Under The Clouds, Wind and Rain’ this weekend but no amount of inclement weather could dampen our spirits...we knew we were in for a treat and Matt Brady & his team know how to deliver! The evening was divided into three acts, in-between which the audience ate their dinner, drank their wine and chatted. Premiere act commenced with ‘Delibes Suite’ pdd by Jose Martinez, danced by Luna Peigne, a member of the Corps de Ballet and Pablo Legasa , Premier Danseur of POB, this was a charming opener to get us in the mood. Mara Galeazzi is one of my very favourite dancers and has been a regular performer at Hatch House. Her years as Principal dancer at the Royal Ballet are fondly remembered by many balletomanes and anyone fortunate enough to have seen her dance either live or on a recording will know what a tremendous dance actress she is. This weekend she performed her own work ‘Toujours’ which she told me afterwards is dedicated to her late father. She danced with Jason Kittelberger to music by Domenico Clapasson. This was contemporary dance with a mournful and wistful flavour, the many lifts reflecting the support her father gave her, the final scene where Jason walks away representing loss. (Jason is a freelance performer and choreographer who has worked alongside Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and many others) This work was absolutely beautiful and emotional to watch. Don Quixote pdd choreographed by Nureyev was danced by two Etoiles from POB, Valentine Colasante as Kitri and Guillaume Diop as Basilio. The latter is certainly one to watch, he has risen through the ranks rapidly and became Etoile at only 23. This was a lively and playful performance from them both. Another regular at Hatch House is the lovely Ksenia Ovsyanick (ex ENB principal) and her first pdd was danced with fellow principal at Staatsballet Berlin, Dinu Tamazlacaru . They performed Fanny Elssler which was new to me, it seems to be a dream...he is in a reverie and she appears ‘from nowhere’ in a very romantic long tutu, similar to La Sylphide but without the wings! It was beautifully danced. After some further refreshments (picnic-style this year... but sitting at tables) the Second section started with the ever-popular Balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. This was Nureyev’s choreography which I am not familiar with, so I admit to missing the McMillan version, however Guillaume Diop was a dashing yet gentle Romeo , and Luna Peigne danced Juliet. The central pdd from Within The Golden Hour by Christopher Wheeldon followed. Principal dancer from the Royal Ballet Francesca Hayward and First Artist Marco Masciari danced this stunning duet wearing the beautiful shimmering costumes. Watching the tricky moment where Francesca leans a long way forward while the seated Marco holds her back foot, allowing her to sway back and forth was spectacular. A very amusing piece by Bejart came next, La Porte danced by Ksenia Ovsyanick. The ‘music’ sounds like a squeaky door and it's actually a very tricky piece to perform. Ksenia was fantastic in this, balancing on pointe for what felt like 10 minutes.... she made it look easy and she was cheeky too. Another Nureyev work came next, his version of the classic Swan Lake, White Swan pdd. Performed by Mickael Lafon ( Coryphee) and Myriam Ould-Braham (Etoile) to the beautiful Tchaikovsky music we all know and love, it was splendid. After another break for dessert, the final act started with a modern piece by Benjamin Millipied called Nuits S’Acheve. (Music Daniel Baranboim) This was a light-hearted, modern contemporary piece danced by Mikael Lafon and Miriam Ould-Braham, in a summery mood...despite the heavy rain outside! Wayne McGregor’s Morgen came next (music Richard Strauss) Marco Masciari has absorbed the McGregor style and gave an excellent performance alongside Francesca Hayward. Dinu Tamazlacaru made us all smile, laugh and gasp with his excellent performance of Les Bourgeois choreographed Ben Van Cauwenbergh, music Jacques Brel. A great party piece which we all loved. And finally Renaissance by Sebastien Bertaud, music by F Mendelssohn, performed by Valentine Colasante and Pablo Legasa, both very pretty in sparkly outfits, a pleasant pdd to end the dancing. After everyone gave their final bow and received bouquets, there was an after-party at the covered bar, with a jazz band and singer. This was great fun and there was a chance to say hello to the dancers. Thank you Matt Brady and all who help make Hatch House happen, see you next year!

this is absolutely delightful and may I just say ‘ you don’t have to be Jewish !’ to enjoy this .. it’s lovely and heartwarming

For those curious to see Shale Wagman dancing live he is a first soloist dancing at Staatsballett in Munich .

Fantastic! See you in Munich soon , dear Sabine xx

My new dance partner ( 🥰😍♥️)

Gala of the Stars Tel Aviv Opera House Sat 27th May A Protest March nearly scuppered our evening but we eventually reached our venue… no taxis so we power walked… and settled into our seats in the front stalls with seconds to spare! We were there to watch the wonderful Shale Wagman. And also Madison Brown, the luminous Polina Semionova and the legendary Kimin Kim. There was a mix of Gala favourites and more contemporary works in the programme. My highlights were : Shale Wagman and Toon Lobach in ‘Dying Swans’ choreo J Nunez (music Saint-Saens ) , two men supporting and intertwining and balancing and turning ( Wagman …wonderful pirouettes ) in unison. Polina Semionova and Dmitry Semionova in a gorgeous modern love story Face my Fears Choreo Stephen Delattre.. wistful, mournful but full of a yearning desire. Flames of Paris, a Gala stalwart that never disappoints danced by Brady Farrar and Madison Brown of ABT ... plenty of fireworks there though Farrar’s excellent manege slightly constricted by the relatively small stage here. Brown’s fouttes were snappy and precise, a sheer delight! Wagman and Lobach in Goecke’s Hungarian Dance is stunningly strange, with rapid repetitive movements, shivering , twitching but also elegant, in swirling black skirts . A team of 16 yr old Students from ICE exploded onto the stage in a modern hip hop variation which morphed into chachacha and tango as members of the audience were invited onto the stage including my dear friend who had sat on the end of our row…. I was very entertained watching her slow dancing centre stage when all the other invitees had melted away. A Star is Born ?!!! Various modern contemporary works by well regarded choreographers like Sharon Eyal interspersed the classics which were completed by Semionova and Kimin Kim dancing the Diana and Acteon pdd by M Petipa Choreo, music Pugni from the ballet Esmeralda This was the finale and the most breathtaking piece of the entire show, Kim appearing to be weightless as he powered so beautifully around the stage in a magnificent manège, Semionova yielding , feather light, and gorgeous but with plenty of spark to her solos. Thank you Tel Aviv, thank you Shale, thank you dancers for a performance to remember! shalom and lehitraot ( see you later in Hebrew)

I would like to attend please

Dearest Lindsay i am so sad and shocked to hear of your passing. The fact that it was Mara who told me says everything about your connection with ballet and ballet dancers. I loved your taste in handbags and glad rags. Lindsay you were a unique free spirit who loved travelling and sailing. You will be missed very much. Sincere condolences and a huge hug to Keith. With love Mandy Kent

Lovely amphi seat now returned to the ROH

I’ll try and exchange it with the box office if no one here takes it. I am seeing Nicol and Akane on Saturday matinee

1 ticket for Amphitheatre Cinderella Wed 19th April It's Fumi and William, breaks my heart not to go..... Amphi Row D good view, near middle, £70 Unfortunately I cannot attend but please someone go and see Fumi for me !!

An open letter to Johannes Radebe Dear JoJo Your show Freedom was fabulous! I came on Saturday night. What a wonderful atmosphere in the theatre.. pure magic on stage and everyone loving you ! Your talented fellow dancers and the exceptional singers helped create the high production value but it was your story, your life, your talent and you were beautiful. With best wishes Mandy ************* The above letter was something I felt compelled to write after experiencing the sheer joy of watching JoJo dancing. This show begins with his back story, the South African township, the boy who stood out because he just wanted to dance and not play football, the bullying, the tears. But then the teacher who saw him, understood him, nurtured him…. African rhythms, African costumes are the initial theme. The superb voices of Duane-Lamonte O’Garro and Ramelo were interspersed with the dance routines giving us the enjoyment of their vocal talents and giving the dancers time to change . JoJo also came on stage several times with a microphone to talk to us, to thank his team, to explain his life and how much ‘Burn The Floor’ and the Strictly family have meant to him … he and we became quite emotional! The second half was where the Strictly influence was most pronounced: pop routines, jazz routines, a Lion King moment and then the Heels ! First JoJo , then all the men and girls in heels, sassy and sexy and fantastic! This show is touring the world, if you get a chance to go, you will love it.

Sim I need to seriously educate you in all things Strictly , especially the Italian pro dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima

The lovely and very talented JoJo Radebe

From Sadlers Wells site Following his sell-out debut tour, Strictly Come Dancing and international dance champion Johannes Radebe returns to The Peacock with his new show for 2023. Freedom Unleashed celebrates electrifying dance from around the world – starting in his hometown in South Africa and ending with some of his most memorable routines and choreography. Featuring live singers and a cast of renowned dancers, 2023 promises one of the ‘most fun, feel-good shows around’ So I am very excited to see Jojo's show tonight and I wondered if any other dance fans are attending tonight from this forum?

My pleasure see you there next time !!

I’m so glad that I inspired you Emily. And thank you for your recollections of Patrick Dupond

No visa requirement Lin, just took my UK passport and travelled with Lufthansa at very civilised time of day from Heathrow. And despite the fog induced delays… well worth any slight pfaff involved

I have posted a review in Performances Seen … hope you enjoy it !

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mandy Kent My Valentine’s Night’s Dream came true… I managed to book a front row seat for the evening performance on Feb 14th at the Bayerische Staatsballett in Munich. My main reason for attending , truth be told, is that I am an ardent fan of Shale Wagman, currently a First Soloist at the Staatsballett and showing a great deal of promise in his career within this company. Tonight, Wagman was dancing the role of Puck: mischievous, exuberant and funny, a role he danced with verve and virtuosity. In a previous performance he had danced Lysander. The choreography is by John Neumeier…and whilst classical, it is very different from the Ashton version danced by the Royal Ballet in the UK . The score by Mendelssohn is interspersed with very pleasant , more modern hypnotic music by Ligeti which the fairy sprites danced to, adding to the mystery and atmosphere of The Dream. The Mendelssohn was played by the Bayerische Staatsorchester , under the musical director Michael Schmidtsdorff, some of the other music was recorded. Classic fairy tutus are not seen… the fairies wore unitards in white shiny Lycra, the Fairy King and Queen differentiated by silver sparkling caps . The various courtiers and aristocrats were conventionally attired. The story begins with Hippolyta asleep on her chaise longue , a single long-stemmed fragrant red rose in her hand , dreaming of her forthcoming marriage to Theseus. Madison Young as both Hippolyta and Titania has a regal yet understated , very feminine presence, her playfulness only coming through in her scene with Bottom , here called Zettel ( Robin Strona … hilariously donkey-like) when in Ass’s form . The way she played with his Ass’s ears was hilarious . Jinhao Zhang as Theseus and Oberon had a stately authority tinged with the mischief which he shares with Puck. In the initial court scenes, Wagman’s quiet presence as Philostrat , Master of Ceremonies did not prepare us for his transformation into the naughty ,scene-stealing sprite Puck. His sheer ballon and athleticism were astonishing and his acrobatics resembled an India-rubber man. The audience were entranced. The young lovers Lysander and Hermia were danced with lively characterisation by Raphael Vedra and Carolina Bastos , whilst the handsome moustachioed officer Demetrius (Ariel Merkuri ) was very entertaining as he spurned the advances of desperate spec -y Helena ( a very witty performance by Bianca Teixeira )…excellent partnering and acting throughout . And then …the amusement that can be found from a pair of spectacles… mislaid by Helena causing her myopic confusion, and borrowed by Puck with much hilarity as he floundered around the stage… muddling up which lover belonged to which partner and sprinkling the magical love-inducing rose nectar with abandon into the incorrect recipients eyes ! This clever storytelling worked so well.. accounting for the bizarre disjointed happenings in the Dream. But let’s not forget the Mechanicals . I have mentioned Bottom, but all of the conga-line of simple artisans were beautifully portrayed by various soloists , accompanied by a hurdy -gurdy machine…and the tale within a tale of Piramus and Thisbe was gloriously enacted. Three cheers for the Non-Frightening Lion! grrr / miaow … It’s hard to top the gorgeous wedding pdd between Theseus and Hippolyta…however the final flourish of the rose by Wagman back in his green tail coat as Philostrat made you wonder where the real story ended …and the Dream began . With gratitude to : Shale Wagman Staatsballett Munich Lufthansa Airlines And my dear friend Sabine

I’m on the plane ✈️