jmhopton

You and me both, Janet! This is my second attempt at a reply. First time I quoted Janet twice. It's a bit early in the day for even me to start losing the plot!

Someone sent this to me which I thought was amusing and with a dance theme. Hope it's not been posted already.

Thanks Bruce Between you and Janite I've no excuse for not getting it right in the future (apart from my gift for immediately forgetting really useful information which seems to be accentuated at the moment).

Thanks Janite. I'll look out for this next time.

BBC1 Tuesday 9th Feb 10.45-11.45 Alan Yentob. Imagine. Alan Yentob explores the pandemic's ongoing impact on performing arts in the UK. Featuring footage shot throughout 2020 documenting the ways people and organisations have strived to keep the industry alive, from ballet and opera to comedy clubs and live music venues. The film explores innovative new approaches to performance, from drive-in opera to world premiere dance pieces, as well as examining how the wider political backdrop of current events has shaped contemporary art. With contributions from Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, James Graham, Matthew Warchus, Roderick Williams and Vanessa Redgrave Also a reminder Australian Ballet Coppelia tomorrow SkyArts 7am -9 (Sorry, having copied and pasted the info I can't get out of this black background. Perhaps a mod. could alter it if needed.) Also the Nureyev film The White Crow is on BBC iplayer in case anyone missed it.

SkyArts and SkyArts HD is showing Australian Ballet's Coppelia. No details of date filmed. Thurs 28 Jan 7-9 am. Stars Ako Kondo and Andrew Killian.

A friend sent me this several days ago. I found it rather amusing.

Sat 23rd Jan 9.30pm-11.35pm BBC2 The White Crow. Great film about the defection of Rudolph Nureyev. Stars Ralph Fiennes and Oleg Ivenko.

Wow thanks oncnp. I haven't seen it, despite trawling YouTube every now and again for possible new clips of Vadim. Just confirmed my opinion he would be terrific. His portes de bras are to die for and he manages to look elegant and graceful even in that rather hideous pink 'onesie'. Definitely on my wish list and a wonderful, unexpected treat to see it. Thanks again.

According to the link given it is 5am. I've set a reminder but don't know if I'll be around at that time, especially as our computer is in the room where the dogs sleep!

Some great suggestions of ballets I'd almost forgotten about. Heard the music for Spectre de la Rose on the radio and immediately began to visualise Vadim in the male role! Ballets like this and those by Massine and Ninette de Valois (apart from her Coppelia) don't seem to be performed much. I've never seen Train Bleu live and it looks really fun. It would be great to see more unusual ballets but probably asking a lot just at the start of things. Not even sure if the dancers are currently allowed back in the ROH given the number of London infections. They may be confined to their homes for practice again. I too would LOVE to see Sarasota Ballet in the UK though that would probably have to be in the more distant future, alas!

I normally start this thread on New Years Day and we have a pleasant few months wondering what the upcoming season will bring and what we personally would like to feature in it, before the new season itself is released, usually sometime in April. This year it didn't seem appropriate, and obviously the season itself (at least autumn) may well be in doubt and any possible announcement will be way past April. However, I've been thinking about it and I thought why not. This year has been depressing enough already and just the tiniest possibility that something better may be on the horizon, something to think and fantasise about other than the virus, and when you might be getting your covid jab must be a Good Thing (as Monty Python used to say). However, if mods feel it is in any way inappropriate please feel free to remove it. Personally, I usually concentrate on the Royal Ballet as that is the Company I see most and has the most varied repertoire to choose from but anyone feel free to add their own suggestions for other companies. At the moment of course it is all fantasy but just possibly, because of the vaccine, it might become a reality sometime in the next six months. I'm sure RB (like most companies) would prefer to start with a sure favourite like Swan lake for various reasons. 1. To enable all those wonderful debuts to take place at last. 2. To enable them to get maximum ticket sales money at a time when theatres may still not be able to be filled. 3. To start paying off the Govt. grant. However, with the theatre re-opening after a closure of several (many?) months they may well have to start small again and return to short pieces and dancers bubbles. So it's just a question of whether it's a series of solos/pas de deux and perhaps a short ballet in full like the previous concerts, or a double or triple bill. I would love anything by Ashton, especially A Month in the Country which doesn't have a lot of corps work. Also, some not seen for a while, such as Birthday Offering. That would be a good celebratory opening piece and isn't it for 4 or 5 couples which the RB could probably support. Les Biches or Facade would be good though I don't remember much about either of them but I'd love to see them. Also Rhapsody and Macmillan's Concerto. The clip in November made me remember just how good it was. My favourite full length ballet is Onegin but it's unfortunately too close to it's last staging, only a year ago but seems to have been in another life. Kevin O'Hare did say he wouldn't leave it so long again before staging it and all the dancers I spoke to at the stage door (especially the ladies) affirmed how much they loved it and how it is one of their favourite ballets. Think of the debuts here too; Matthew Ball and hopefully Vadim this time as Onegin for starters. Francesca Hayward as Tatiana and Yasmine developing her interpretation of this wonderful role. Would Anna Rose be given a chance as Tatiana or would she continue to sparkle as Olga? Alina is the only dancer I know who has played both roles in the same season and I suppose Kevin has too much choice of dancers these days for one person to take two plum roles. However, to move on, the success of Marcellino Sambe and Anna Rose O'Sullivan in La Fille in the Oct concert makes them a first night natural pairing and it's such a joyful, optimistic ballet it would be wonderful to have it somewhere in the first season. The only query would be whether or not they could have a pony backstage in the current health conscious climate. Not that I think ponies can catch or transmit the disease, it's just an extra health risk that may be too much, initially at least. I suppose the same thing might be said for Two Pigeons much as I love this ballet too. Another option would be Coppelia; another sunny, happy ballet. I didn't used to be keen on it but seeing the debuts just over a year ago and seeing Vadim and Marianela at the cinema made it more of a favourite, though I still don't like the second act that much. Nutcracker is an obvious choice for Christmas and a great favourite with the public for much the same reasons as Swan Lake, with the added attraction of attracting family groups so not so many singles or twos for filling the theatre. Also they've already pioneered a pared down version so it will be good to go again. Giselle would be great to see again, and think of younger debuts. Whether or not there will be too many corps on stage I don't know. May be Ok for after Christmas. Possibly the same could be said for Manon, much as I'd like to see that also. Anyway, here is my fantasy new season choice. I'll probably think of many more after I sign off but basically I just want the RB (and everyone working at the ROH ) and everyone else, to stay healthy until theatres can open again and we can all enjoy our favourite pastime, and this last year will recede like a nightmare (though like many nightmares I suspect it will have a habit of recurring when you least want it). But don't lets think about that now.

Hear, hear, Sim. You expressed my thoughts and feelings far better than I could have done, myself. Many thanks to you and to all the moderators. We wouldn't have a website without all your hard work and dedication. Lets hope 2021 will see us all keep happy and healthy and return to the theatre at some point. Like you say, we'll appreciate it all the more and will never take it for granted again.

I quite enjoyed the ENB version though not as much as BRB or RB versions. I watched it with my husband and thought the drawing/slightly animated introduction was a good idea to explain the plot and the settings. However, I realised fairly early on I'm not a fan of Wayne Eagling's choreography (in this version anyway). I suppose I'm spoiled by the Peter Wright versions but thought this an ideal Christmas to experience some different Nutcrackers and compare them with the ones I'm familiar with. After two minutes of actual dancing I was missing the Peter Wright choreography. However, I thought don't be ridiculous; it's far too early to criticise, only for my husband to articulate my thoughts about a minute later! Also I didn't like the Nutcracker not becoming a real person at the end of the mouse/rat fight; he kept his mask on for several minutes before going off stage and re-emerging a real person. Then later on in the second act he had his mask on again. I'm sure there's a good reason for it but I thought if I'm confused and I've seen dozens of Nutcrackers, will a small child understand what's going on? The dancing was wonderful and I loved the waltz of the Flowers, especially having been deprived of it in the BRB version. Did all three versions leave out the mirlitons? Is it such a tactile dance? Anyway, gorgeous dancing but I don't know if I'd pay to see it at the Coliseum, especially if the BRB or RB version are on offer.

But it says you're allowed to leave home for work if you have to and I thought that's what they would be doing, whether they're dancers, orchestra or backstage workers. It may not be possible to have even the few ROH supporters they had for the last lockdown streaming (though I hope they can manage a few). Even if it's just Kevin O'Hare and Christopher Saunders it will be better than the dead silence they had for the POB Bayadere. Fingers crossed it will go ahead, though if it doesn't I'll donate my payment to their fund.

They are showing a National Theatre Twelfth Night on Monday 21 Dec at 9pm with Tamsin Greig. Also, Monday 28th Dec the NT Jane Eyre at 9pm. haven't spotted anything else much apart from some repeated musicals. Not too great really from our only named Arts channel, especially considering the NT cinema output if they want to go down the line of broadcasting them. Just had a reply from London Live who are broadcasting the Ballet Shoes ballet and they confirm it is only available to Londoners; outside London you can't access the channel numbers given, and it's not available online.

Checking out the ballet on the online tv guide Janite very helpfully sent me and I came across Ballet Shoes: The ballet. It is on Dec 29th 7.15am-9am on London Live. Not living in London I've never heard of this channel and I don't know if this is a channel other areas can get with smart tvs or not. it is an adaptation of the classic Noel Streatfield story by London Children's Ballet. it says it's Freeview Channel 8, Sky 117, Virgin 159 and BT 8 so maybe possibilities for other areas..

I haven't seen all of this production yet but found certain elements slightly strange. At the start and end there seemed to be audience noises and there were two twenty minute intervals that were timed on the recording as if there was an audience, yet bows and curtain calls were taken in complete silence. You'd think they could at least have done what the RB did and have a few socially distancing dancers /stage crew in the audience. Also the small girls and non dancers onstage were all wearing face masks. Not the dancers of course but it still looked a bit odd. Having said that I do love the production. The sets and costumes are so opulent I think they put the RB production to shame. Perhaps could do with some stronger lighting in parts but that often seems a problem with many filmed Bayaderes. They look great at the theatre but not strong enough lighting for film.

What a fabulous review Balletfanp. I could almost imagine myself there (I wish!) I do so agree with what you say about Vadim and Marianela. We are so privileged to have two such great artists choosing to live and work in London we should never take them for granted. Your attempt to get back to your seat made me laugh. I could just see me doing exactly the same. why have they done away with the bell? Is it to stop people going back to their seats all at once. Would your performance be the last one before tier three? What a shame after all the dancers and ROH staff hard work to make the building safe. I bet its a lot safer than many London shopping areas which seem horrendous judging by photos.

870 according to Mark Monahan (assuming he got that right of course)

I think you're right, from the balcony, when you say Mr Monahan doesn't understand the huge undertaking involved in staging a ballet in these difficult times. But that does rather beg the question as to why he is a professional ballet reviewer when so many non-professional balletgoers do understand the problems and are grateful they have been surmounted. Anyway, enough about him. Let's get back to the real joy of discussing actual live performances. I too am really jealous of those scheduled to sit in a theatre and watch a live performance. However, I'm really looking forward to Dec 19th when I can access the BRB Nutcracker and Dec 22nd when I can do the same with the RB version. Thank goodness for livestreams as I don't know when I'll be going to a London theatre again much as I long to. I hope the RB stream is still able to go ahead even if the London situation changes.

Yes, I'm with you Pas de Quatre about the wigs. Even though I love both Peter Wright Nutcracker productions I do have issues with the wigs. I know they do it to blend in with the sparkly pink/gold sets but I do find it spoils my enjoyment of the grand pas. That's why it was so great to see it performed by Vadim and Marianela so wonderfully in the Ballet Academy production earlier this week dressed just in practice clothes. For the first time I really appreciated the beauty of the pas de deux with no sparkly wigs to irritate me. (I also really dislike the blond wig forced on all Titania's with less justification as there is nothing really to blend in with here.)

Thanks bridiem. I thought of a lot more as soon as I'd posted it such as yes, ballet dancers are super fit but they still don't want to risk getting a disease that can leave them with long term breathing problems, not to mention the problems with transmission and widespread isolating that can result from even one dancer catching the virus. It just came over as an incredible petulant, self-centred review as if the performance was all about his enjoyment (or lack of it) and very little if any recognition of all the hard work and planning gone into making it possible at all. I could go on for ever but as soon as I do I find myself getting angry again. Sloooow down and deep breathing..... Think of the wonderful performance that gave pleasure to so many and not one idiot reviewer.

Thanks MJW. I thought afterwards I'd overdone it. It's good to know it's not just me who feels strongly that the ROH should not be rubbished for trying to protect its workforce and visitors, and to create an environment where people can feel comfortable returning to the theatre.

Ive just done a reply to the Mark Monahan Telegraph review. The more I read it the angrier I got about it. I hope I kept to the rules and don't get deleted. I finished with saying I'm glad I've just ended my online subscription if this is the level of ballet reviews in the Telegraph and I'm sure readers would get a much better impression of the performance by reading the Times review.