Don Q Fan

Thanks for the info, am looking forward to them both.

There have certainly been a few changes in the ballet world lately, Osipova & Vasliev, Polunin now Eagling. Sadly ENB have lost their appeal for me lately maybe he feels the same?

Looks good. can't wait to see what the other companies will have on offer as well. Look forward to seeing Grosse Fugue and Cinders very much!

Maybe it is time for Royal Ballet to regroup and sort itself out if all the rumours are true that there is "trouble at mill". 1 principal leaving should not be causing quite so much of a problem, dancers come and go elsewhere without such a hiccup. Really it shows poor succession planning especially as some of the top RB dancers are not exactly spring chickens any more. I am sure Gomez will be a fine replacement, I've seen him a few times and makes a change from the same old same old. Hopefully it will do the dancers good to have a guest dancer as well.

I wondered of Sergei could go to Birmingham Royal Ballet- Robert Parker is due to retire so there would be a vacancy and their rep is so varied I think that may suit him. I don't see him with ENB as someone said as that would potentially upset Vadim's apple cart.

I personally think Sergei should spend some time at home with his family - he has been without the guidance of his natural parents for a huge part of his formative years and it worries me that he has effectively had to be independent since he was 13. It must have some effect on him. Poor chap it sounds like he is in turmoil but the drugs (heroin) he talks about are not the answer. Oh dear.

Oh yes and congrats to Evgenia Obraztsova being appointed Principal at the Bolshoi.

At least we know now so can plan a summer. Maybe one or other will visit Amsterdam instead - I have gone there in the past to get my annual dose of Don Q! Let's hope so.

Oh OK!

Congratulations to Evgenia - a great addition to the Bolshoi about time we had some good news.

Interesting in the photos to see Sergei Polunin has several tattoos - wonder if that puts weight to the rumour of him opening a tattoo parlour?!

I saw Wednesday evening's show - Ambra/Tyrone - it was a nice show beautifully danced, but I won't be rushing to see Beauty & the Beast ever again for the precisely the reason of the lighting. I was front row circle but for me it was just too dark - would not have been so bad had the men's costumes been lighter colours but it was too much like peering into the "back of beyond" for me - brighter lights and the audience imagining it dark would be better! Thanks to bad lighting I felt a robbed of seeing properly the fantastic performance of Tzu-Chao Chou as the Raven he was brilliant and for me the best dancer of the night. I think he is definitely a dancer to watch. I've my Swan Lake tickets too - can't wait!

I agree it would be good to know either way so we can plan our summers! I keep checking the Hochhauser website but there is nothing on there either.

Interesting about Obraztsova - as for Denis M well he seems a bit of a nomad anyway!

I think a notice period can be waived if you forego your salary?

If anyone is going to see him at Sadlers Wells then maybe wait at the Stage Door and ask him about his plans?! Wonder if Ivan Putrov had an influence?

OMG I don' believe it I wanted to see him SO much in Alice wonder who'll replace him now? Unbelievable! If it is Mikhailovsky then I think they must be going for ballet world domination!!

Thanks for this info JMcN - I love BRB's Swan Lake and that is lovely start to the new season - I guess they are not coming in June then.

Thanks for the info - hope my ATH Mag is soon here!

Thanks for the info about the Lowry - what a blow! I did email BRB a while back but got no reply

Thanks JMcN, suits me:-)

Any idea which ballet(s) they will perform in the summer at The Lowry? Would be good to know so I can go to Brum if need be.

Oh that is a pity as I was looking forward to that especially being in April - I am really bothered that the Olympics will interfere with any Russian visits to London in the summer too making travel and accommodation very dear. Difficult to plan anything at this stage.

Do we know if there will definitely be any tours to the UK this year by the Russian Big 3? We've heard rumours of a Mariinsky short tour to the Coliseum in April but nothing else. Since the Bolshoi changed their website there is no English translation like on the old one (yes I know Google can do it but it's not so easy to navigate around the website) I can't find any tour info.

The new Light Cinema in New Brighton, Wirral is showing it.

Good to hear things are improving! Many thanks.

Thank you both for your thoughts I am very grateful - the younger dancers like Melissa and Davvid have to start somewhere I guess and they both seem very promising for the future so I shall watch with interest!

I'd be interested to hear views from anyone who saw Melissa Hamilton's debut in Nutcracker with Sergei Polunin. Would have liked to see it myself but the logistics were not good for me. Would be grateful for any news/views.

Thanks

Yes Alison it was Zakharova/Hallberg I guess it was the one shown in cinemas the other week - glad I didn't blow £15 for the cinema as I got it for free last night at home!! Agree ARTE is a good channel. I was surprised that a ballerina of Zakharova's calibre failed to raise her arm in the Rose Adagio and instead just took the next Prince's hand. I was really looking forward to seeing her do the Rose Adagaio only to find it was damp squibb - so hats off to our dancers in the UK and for doing it (IMHO) correctly. The Bolshoi's choreograhy is "cheating" The costumes were TDF though.

I think Cinders in on in New Year.