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annamk

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Everything posted by annamk

  1. annamk
    So BBB must be right, oh dear. How embarrassing.
  2. annamk
    I wondered if it was done because of the tour ? But then I guess why announce it in the paper ......
  3. annamk
    I agree with you and I don’t think he used to do this. It seems to me that some dancers develop this way (McRae springs to mind) and it’s not wrong, it’s just not something I like but I’m perfectly happy that others don’t have any problem with it.
  4. annamk
    Are you sure he wasn't there ? I thought I saw him and his Instagram posts certainly suggest he watched the performance !
  5. annamk
    It's a very enjoyable triple bill. I don't love Firebird, it's fascinating for it's history but as an engaging piece of ballet it only enthrals me towards the end where all the groups dance fiercely. Naghdi was very good. In Month Hay danced everyone off the stage, Hayward showed great expressive and natural acting. Ball's looks the part and his acting was good but as someone said he isn't Dowell when it comes to movement. In fairness to him, he's had a heavy work load recently so I am sure he will develop in this role. Nunez danced beautifully but I thought her portrayal needed to be toned down - she was too melodramatic for me, no subtlety of expression or gesture anywhere. I wondered why Laura Morera had not been cast. I adore Symphony in C. It was generally well danced with stand out performances for me from an entirely regal Kaneko who owned the stage, Muntagirov (of course), the serene Sarah Lamb and the sweet Hayward and Hay.
  6. annamk
    Dear Rob S no ! Don't feel you can't comment if you would like to say something. There are many different levels of knowledge on this board, some people have been going for years but have never danced a step themselves (me !) and others it seems to me to me must be ex dancers such is their knowledge of the detail. Personally, I enjoy reading all the different ways of seeing !
  7. annamk
    There was plenty that I really enjoyed in this afternoon’s performance although it didn’t move me. Sambe was a terrific lead mandolin - first time in this run I’ve heard spontaneous applause - is there anything he can’t do ? Maybe he should have tried Tybalt too ! Ball’s acting was intelligent and interesting, his solos well judged, his partnering strong and he looks wonderful. But for me he still doesn’t show that internal fire that makes me unable to take my eyes off the main man on stage - Polunin in his prime, Shklyarov, and now Corrales. Maybe it was something to do with me not feeling the chemistry between Ball and Naghdi. I feel in the 4 years since their debuts they’ve gone in different directions, she is without doubt a beautiful classical dancer but on the basis of today’s performance I am less persuaded that she is a natural MacMillian actress. I’m sure I’m in a minority here and the live relay will be a very good performance.
  8. annamk
    Terrific review MRR, my experience was as yours, even down to failing to consult the synopsis beforehand .... when will I learn ?
  9. annamk
    I thought Reece Clarke Des Grieux was excellent - he has a beautiful line and his adagio was one of the loveliest, so very disappointed he doesn’t have an opportunity to repeat it. At least a number of forum members will be happy about Campbell 😢
  10. annamk
    On the basis of his Romeo (Hallberg) I can’t agree with this; but more importantly, there are few enough opportunities for the talented younger company dancers as it is and to fill a number of them with a guest star who is past his best is really disappointing.
  11. annamk
    I think the majority of people who post on here regularly are very well aware of Sergei's many years at the Stanislavsky. Like myself, I expect many ballet/ dance fans followed him with interest (and the hope that he would achieve success and find contentment) when he left the RB. That interest was only lost through disappointing experiences of watching him as his technique deteriorated. I could not describe much I saw in the Stanislavsky years as classical ballet brilliance. As for not having any idea what he is achieving with his current dance programmes, and needing to change oneself and ones perceptions to enjoy him, all I can say is that the last programme I saw in which he was involved was naive, excruciatingly boring, and poorly danced. There are plenty of other dancers who give the audience an emotional experience.
  12. annamk
    I re-homed downstairs and yes I agree it was fantastic !
  13. annamk
    Returned to the BO.
  14. annamk
    I have sent you a pm Linda. Anna
  15. annamk
    I have double booked myself so I'm selling D22 & 23 standing at the back of the circle £10 each. Message me if interested - they are e tickets. Anna
  16. annamk
    I know what you mean, it did that to me too. It's so rare but when it happens it stays with me for days afterwards, then I spend years going to performances, hoping for the feeling again.
  17. annamk
    I'm not going. I've given up. After he left the RB I saw him dance live in Moscow (Other Dances), Munich (Bayadere), Sadlers Wells for the show with Osipova and on live relay screening (Giselle). His dancing is a shadow of what it was, he isn't as fit as he needs to be and I find his choice of repertory poor.
  18. annamk
    Lovely review Sim I’m joining in your prayers ! Coppelia too !
  19. annamk
    Wow, what lovely lovely photos ! Thank you.
  20. annamk
    Raw, true, incredibly passionate, and utterly believable performances this evening just left me completely drained. Corrales, Hayward, Sambe, Hay & Ball were phenomenal. Probably the finest Romeo and Juliet I've ever seen.
  21. annamk
    Since we've drifted back on to Campbell here is the other view. I find him perfectly fine and he has a warm stage presence but he has never really moved me. I didn't think his acting in 2 Pigeons hit the right note and I really didn't enjoy his Albrecht, so I was not bothered that he wasn't cast as Romeo. I find his dancing and partnering is certainly a very good standard but not superlative. As thighs have been raised I'll say they don't overly bother me although his lack of line does sometimes.
  22. annamk
    I do see more of the RB than other companies but I also travel to watch dance and see visiting companies here in London and Paris. I absolutely don't agree that the RB style is "too reserved" .... could anyone who saw Matthew Ball's recent Tybalt call that reserved ? Or Marcellino Sambe's Mercutio ? Or Cesar Corrales Romeo ? Or Laura Morera's Mary Vetsera with Federico Bonelli's Prince Rudolf ? Or Lauren Cuthbertson's recent Kitri ? Personally, I think it's far more a question of what the individual dancer is about. Vadim Muntagirov is more often reserved as is Sarah Lamb but surely not the RB as a company. I haven't always found Osipova's theatrical style too much; I certainly think she has become more theatrical and I think last night was the most theatrical I've seen her but as I said I think it would have felt to me like a more balanced performance with a more charismatic Romeo.
  23. annamk
    I am as baffled by those who felt an emotional connection between them as you are by my not feeling it but I don't think the answer is about a "usual" RB interpretation, it's entirely about the individual pairs, I find some RB couples have chemistry and others don't. I think the performance would have worked better for me if Osipova had had a different partner - although I didn't really like some of the wilder aspects of Osipova's performance it did have a power and Hallberg was unfortunately not an emotional match for that. I was at the back of the stalls circle and I had binoculars which I used intermittently.
  24. annamk
    Exactly what I was thinking last night - and the possibility looms large that he might be invited back next season, I really hope not.
  25. annamk
    Another Romeo & Juliet this time the starry cast and fabled partnership of Osipova and Hallberg which I'm sorry didn't work on many levels. I've enjoyed Osipova's interpretations for years and I admire and like that she has always brings something of herself to the roles she dances, but more recently this individuality is in danger of being at the expense of faithfulness to the choreography. Her first scene tonight set the tone for the rest of the performance which although powerful in places was also sometimes wild, sometimes exaggerated, with fussy hand gestures and unnecessary embellishments. By contrast, Hallberg's Romeo was bordering on the bland end of understated (his princely demeanour would have been more at home in Swan Lake) so I found the partnership rather unbalanced and without chemistry. Hallberg danced and partnered well enough but his acting lacked depth and nuance, many of the small gestures were not properly finished. He failed to establish any sense of camaraderie with Mercutio (Hay, excellent as usual) and Benvolio (Dyer). Perhaps, he was nervous given his injury interrupted last performance. The audience gave them a huge ovation so I was clearly in a minority finding fault, partly I think I have been spoiled by the more genuine performances I saw from Sambe/O'Sullivan and Corrales/Hayward. What has happened to Osipova's pointe shoes ? It looked as though they'd been attacked by wild dogs !
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