Mary

Jealous!

How especially nice to see both Dreams this year as well.

Why should it 'not being set in Spain' make me rush to see it ??

Completely agree, Dawnstar.

Looks like it.

it would be great to book my June holiday but the Ashton programme takes priority!

I just know if I arrange to go away for one end or other of the date range, I shall end up missing Muntagirov or something, and then no end of  holidays will make up.

It would be soooooooo helpful to know if casting is going to be in blocks, or dotted about, but- I can only assume they don't know.

But in a way Gary Avis has entirely  re-created the role of GM in recent runs, and especially in this one,  I think,  giving it a depth that never used to be there in anyone else's performances, turning a rather 2 nasty man into a fully 3D evil and twisted  real character. In particular the way he conveys the horrible idea of Manon as a thing, a possession, belonging to him, which he has paid for,  is very convincing and makes me shudder.

7 hours ago, li tai po said:

But what an amazing performance of the opening solo - no-one can deliver that challenging solo with such legato fluidity and stunning line.  It is so difficult, but he makes it appear simple and beautiful.

Absolutely  - and this is why Muntagirov's dancing moves me more than anything else, the sheer beauty of it:  this is my favourite moment in Manon, that innocent and sincere declaration of love, and the way it grows in intensity and difficulty as he tries to get Manon's attention and convince her  - it is acting through dancing rather than on top of dancing,- I can't express it but know what I mean - and noone does it like him.

Well she might fit in well at Andrea Chenier for example...

Or perhaps even Sleeping Beauty, but watch out for the consequences.....

I was told once by a doctor ( who was fitting a relative's hearing aid) that you should never, ever be in an environment where the noise hurts:  if it hurts get out. Even one occasion can cause damage to your ears that can't be fixed.

I merely pass this on- but really the venues have no business subjecting an audience to this risk.

Indeed- or Amnesty bookshop in Brighton- if the books are in reasonable condiiton Amnesty shops will sell online or move them elsewhere where there is a market for them.

My local Amnesty bookshop made a new shelf for my old collection from an old box! and they did all sell in time.

James Hay has danced Rhapsody superbly before. I am so much hoping to see him over the summer in some Ashton.

McRae was great in it IMHO.

1 hour ago, Richard LH said:

it was Alex and Francesca who really introduced me to this beautiful art form in their BBC "Dancing the Nutcracker" documentary, setting off my visits to live ballet

That's nice and I know others who have said the same. Just think how many more loyal ballet-goers there might be if we had a bit more such TV exposure...

All the best to Alexander and I am pleased he is staying in the UK.

It's not exactly an easy ride for one returning from injury...

Indeed - we really don't know the full inside story here, so perhaps it's best not to rush to judge anyone immediately.

Thanks Josette. I know nothing about it at all, my ignorance is total. I was just quoting the SF Chronicle article, so it's interesting to get a more accurate view!

It is just very good that Tamara Rojo is attracting funding and making a success of things.

I wonder what new works Ms Rojo will commission? She certainly looks radiant and happy in the photo in the SF chronicle!

I can't say I much fancy the piece inspired by AI that seems to have inspired the donation, but it is indeed canny to tap into the huge wealth of the tech business.

But isn't this thread about Rojo and SF ballet?

I cry a great deal more at Symphony in C!

Of course Jessica Lang is not a new choreographer but an established one who has worked with ballet companies round the world including BRB.

Wouldn't it be great if she became an associate choreographer for one of the UK companies for a year or 2 and gave us some more work made on the dancers. She really does use the ballet form, to be danced to music not against it, and to real, live music, not a 'soundtrack' - all designed with much style and wit. I can see her making something very lovely for Muntagirov  - and that is long overdue. If I win on the premium bonds that's what I'd spend the money on!

'Dream on'.

The set of Twinkle was very pretty but, those further back in the amphi won't really be able to see the lovely star in the sky...shame.

On 14/02/2024 at 18:14, Blossom said:

sent my daughter today, age 16, with a friend who has never seen ballet before. The friend loved it- so hopefully will get similar love from those people attending for the first time thanks to the low entry cost for the ROH.

My  daughter also really enjoyed it but not had the full download yet. Key question is whether she thinks I would think it unmissable…

I took my 16 year old nephew who has seen quite a few ballets with me. He liked it all, but, when asked which ones he would pay to see again with his own money, - some hesitation. But it was good to see a full house with lots of young people there, very well behaved and enjoying it.

Preceding each piece with a short film in which the choreographers introduced each piece was quite a good idea, especially for this audience, but- very few choreographers are good at telling the audience about their work in words: I guess that's why they are choreographers. The little films could have been made with more editing  I thought, to cut out a lot of 'I have worked with X for years and so I thought I would love X to do the lighting/costumes and I rang them up and they said yes' which adds nothing at all to our appreciation or understanding..

Ivan Putrov is standing in the street handing out leaflets?

I take my hat off to him.

7 hours ago, bridiem said:

Jessica Lang said that she always works with the type of dancer/s in front of her - their style is her starting point. And she used the classical technique and sheer beauty of the dancers in front of her to superb effect. Whereas two of the other choreographers imposed their style on the dancers in front of them - and extremely well they danced the works, but they could have been dancers from any other company with any type of training. Whereas Twinkle shone and glittered and displayed the multi-faceted beauty of classical ballet and of classical ballet dancers to joyful effect.

That sums it up, for me.

When I woke up this morning Twinkle was the one I thought about, - it needs to be seen again. I loved the way Lang wasn't afraid to verge on the twee, but pulled back and made the whole piece superbly witty and the apparently simple idea and music actually very sophisticated.

 It was classical ballet- but  original as well, and it showed off what these dancers can do and do best.

I did enjoy the November piece, but it is true a lot of dancers could do justice to it, it did not really engage with the classically trained dancer.

How funny Dave ...the only bit I liked in the Junker was the male duet!

The noisescape was painful...I hated it. 

On the train musing...

I enjoyed the second half: especially seeing some fun. M.November's piece was very joyful and colourful and J. Lang's  was pretty and witty - and used the beautiful Fumi Kaneko so well..the poetry of her arms...

First half none of the above.

28 minutes ago, PeterS said:

And Juliet too

Well exactly

You could say that Perdita is a role for a very young emerging dancer, as the character is a young girl on the threshold of womanhood, meant to represent new life, new hope, first love and so on.. I can see the logic there.

But then you could say the same for Aurora!

I do rather agree that we don't see enough of the Principals, all of whom are very capable of acting this role as well as dancing it.