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Roberta

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  1. Roberta
    But MacMillan’s shorter pieces have challenged the art form in a greater variety of ways. They have arguably also done more to shape the collective identity of the company that he tried several times to escape but which repeatedly drew him back like a magnet. Every once in a while you read a perceptive piece and it stays with you, alters your own perception. Thank you Jenny Gilbert. https://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/macmillan-celebrated-royal-ballet-review-out-mothballs-three-vintage-works-marvel As with the previous piece on this programme, the work's creative thrust is the product of difficult personal experience. In 1976 MacMillan was processing the shock and grief of losing a close friend, the choreographer John Cranko, and the startling opening image – a phalanx of dancers shaking their fists at the heavens – surely springs from his rage and bewilderment. As the ballet progresses the mood turns to serenity and acceptance, working both through and against the Latin words of the Catholic mass for the dead – because MacMillan wasn't in fact religious. Remarkably, Requiem rises above such petty distinctions by being ecumenical, monumental and timeless. By the final number, "In Paradisum", as the entire cast step one by one into a space of pearlescent light, applause feels inappropriate and intrusive.
  2. Roberta
    It was a rather different competition then. It has changed over the years, focus has changed, and the RBS doesn't enter students as it feels they are already at a top school. Not much point in giving out prizes for places at senior vocational schools if you're already at one.
  3. Roberta
    Yes I think Viola is one who is being nurtured. As indeed is Joe Sissens.
  4. Roberta
    Via 'Links' https://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/macmillan-celebrated-royal-ballet-review-out-mothballs-three-vintage-works-marvel ... also worth noting that MacMillan, who himself suffered from depression and bouts of crippling insecurity, made this ballet in 1984, at a time when the words "mental" and "health" rarely appeared in the same sentence, and in the face of widespread opposition to work such as this on the Covent Garden stage. He was accused of being on a mission to "destroy ballet", and ballet fans felt obliged to decide whether they were for or against him. One only wishes he could have lived long enough to overhear the comments of punters exiting towards the bars in the second interval the other night. Young people in particular are bowled over by the work's conviction and dramatic power. I belong to the era when MacMillan certainly wasn't universally admired. I've said before, Lady MacMillan wryly declared he became a genius the day after he died and I have a great deal of sympathy with her on that one. She had to live with him and the effect of all the negativity which did surround him, no doubt affected him deeply. I'd say he was way ahead of his time, but perhaps he made the future for ballet what it is.
  5. Roberta
    Adam Cooper in his leather pants. Had a lasting effect on me I must say.
  6. Roberta
    it's a student competition though, prizes include further training / apprenticeships. Also, so young dancers can be seen. That's why the RBS doesn't enter students. It's not a professional dancer competition. Would you pay ROH prices to see the latest claimed wunderkind in their late teens with hardly any stage experience dance Siegfried? Which female principal would be happy to partner / nursemaid? I'm not saying they won't give a credible performance or that there haven't been prodigies in the past with long careers, but it's a gamble. Too much too young isn't always the best way in the longer term. I think Kevin O'Hare is carefully nurturing some he thinks have great potential.
  7. Roberta
    The ROH says: "All casts subject to change. For full up-to-date casting, find the full cast sheet online." That was on the ROH site linked online cast sheet, which yes does look a little Once Upon A Timeish. *shrugs* https://static.roh.org.uk/digital/cast-sheets/MacMillan-Celebrated/Cinema/MacMillan-Celebrated-Cinema-Cast-Sheet-2024.pdf I'm assuming there is another online cast sheet somewhere, though cinemas in my experience download in advance and print off early!
  8. Roberta
    I see @Jan McNulty today updated the LBC thread on the Dance News and Information forum with a press release detailing the LCB dancers. With regard to 12 graduates joining a company at once, it's a lot to assimilate in a smaller company and I can see audiences possibly wanting to see more established dancers. Tickets aren't cheap these days. I know you have to begin somewhere to get established, of course. I'm wondering why LCB went through all the rigmarole and time and yes expense of these auditions when clearly, it isn't going to be a company of inexperienced dancers, learning as they go, not with Alina Cojocaru guesting. It's a lousy way to treat young dancers though.
  9. Roberta
    There's a new thread on the 'Doing Dance' forum about company auditions with information about LCB which is really rather worrying, all things considered.
  10. Roberta
    Perhaps we all should invest in shares in Kleenex? Then donate the profits to keeping the orchestra alive? (It's a ballet that always makes me well up too.)
  11. Roberta
    I'm unsure if this is Dance News or Doing Dance, or a crossover. Whatever. It's new. "We’re delighted to announce a new partnership with the @frederickashtonfoundation for our Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme 🩰 Dance students training on our recreational dance programme will now have the unique opportunity to learn and study Ashton repertoire including Les Rendezvous, The Dream and Les Patineurs. Here’s our Lead Ambassador for the Affiliate Programme, alumna and Principal of The Royal Ballet, @francescahayward, on the importance of Ashton’s work to the art form and to dancers in training." Short film https://www.instagram.com/royalballetschool/reel/C5YcA8Ss17n/ Further information here. https://www.balletnews.co.uk/heres-a-new-partnership-between-the-royal-ballet-school-the-frederick-ashton-foundation/
  12. Roberta
    No I'm not confusing anything, but it isn't really relevant as he didn't take up his PdL place, and clearly the Royal Ballet wasn't offering a contract at that point. It isn't as though the company is short of talented youngsters. As for Sellman, good for him, no idea if he was offered a contract with the Royal Ballet or if he wanted to be a big fish in a smaller pool so went elsewhere.
  13. Roberta
    Parachuting in someone I think it not so likely now. YAGP awards (to the RBS) and PdL as well as Aud Jebson scheme seem to be the route in for many young dancers. And no, Fernandes wasn't in the reckoning, really, not for a place at the RB. The place was only for the PdL apprentice and wasn't a dancer contract. I believe that was what Caselhino wanted. It's all quite convoluted.
  14. Roberta
    Yes it would perhaps work both ways!
  15. Roberta
    There is a surprising amount of Choe on YouTube, clips of soloist roles over the years, also clips of her guesting as Odette / Odile with Korea National Ballet. She's a lovely dancer, one who IMO should have been a principal, though it's always possible she enjoys being a first soloist, who knows?
  16. Roberta
    Nunez had to attend the RBS for a while I believe as she was too young for a full time contract. That was well over 20 years ago though. Also it was a job in her own right? She joined The Royal Ballet Upper School in 1997 and joined the Company in 1998, promoted to First Soloist in 2000 and to Principal in 2002 aged 20. Bringing a partner / spouse into the UK if you have a job in the UK nowadays is fraught with problems and becoming more difficult. The PdL apprenticeship is NOT a job. It is a one year training with the company. It won't have a salary commensurate with supporting a partner, and that partner will have visa problems and limited visiting rights. There is not the freedom to come and go! We are no longer in the EU!
  17. Roberta
    Where? Where would she have got a job dancing? Or a place as a student? It's not as though dancing jobs in the UK are plentiful! Or student places.
  18. Roberta
    That's all probably the case. However my understanding is he wasn't offered a contract with the Royal Ballet to dance, he was offered a year training as an apprentice (as with the Aud Jebson dancers) which is the PdL prize. I don't know how the funding works for that one totally, it won't be a huge amount to live on I'm sure, or indeed the accommodation provided. I seem to recall he did think it was or should have been a contract to dance which it wasn't, it's all rather technical! It certainly wouldn't have enabled his partner to come here with him for a year. She'd have not had any job or training place. They were very fortunate with Munich.
  19. Roberta
    UK law post Brexit is really quite difficult re 'freedom of movement'. Munich is in the EU and we alas are not... However, I think he didn't want to leave her behind for a year to come to UK and of course the PdL is a student prize and one year training placement for one dancer. There is no guarantee at the end of it of a job, and a partner is certainly no part of any prize placement.
  20. Roberta
    Matthew Bourne's background is Laban and contemporary dance really, I don't think he makes any pretence to be a 'classical ballet choreographer'. It's more 'dance theatre', a remarkable success story in its own right.
  21. Roberta
    Yes, and that was the second building on the site! We digress. Balanchine in Bournemouth made me laugh though. It's so much more Fred Ashton's sort of territory that one.
  22. Roberta
    Balanchine apparently wanted to make a piece called 'The Walk to the Winter Gardens' but sadly it was never to be. (Yes I made that up.) 🤭
  23. Roberta
    I think the 'Really?' was at the Bournemouth Fantasque!
  24. Roberta
    Missed this. Hmm. Tuesday, April 2 Drawing Movement with The Royal Ballet's Stanisław Wegrzyn A taught drawing class with Stanisław Wegrzyn from the Royal Ballet as a live model, at the Topolski Studio. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drawing-movement-with-the-royal-ballets-stanisaw-wegrzyn-tickets-873830369157
  25. Roberta
    The YouTube channel of The Royal Ballet Fan has a new half hour plus compilation of clips of Yasmine Naghdi dancing various roles. It's lovely, I'm not sure she gets the recognition she deserves really. Yasmine Naghdi ~ The Royal Balley Yes it is balley. Not my error!
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