Ian Macmillan

Links – Friday, September 19, 2014 Reviews – Mark Baldwin & Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Inala, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Mark Monahan, Telegraph Graham Watts, DanceTabs Samantha Whitaker, Londondance Vera Liber, BTG Feature – The glow that Illumines – Dance’s leading lights: Lise Smith, Dance Umbrella Reviews – BalletBoyz: The Talent, The Murmuring, Metheus, Mesmerics, London: Zoë Anderson, Independent Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Review – Martha Graham Dance Company, Voyage, NY: Brian Seibert, NY Times News – Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal, Carla Körbes retiring: Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times Review – National Ballet of Canada, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, NY: Michael Popkin, Danceviewtimes Review – The 7 Fingers, Sequence 8, London: Graham Watts, Londondance News – West Australia Ballet announces 2015 Season: Kristy Symonds, Perth Now

Links – Thursday, September 18, 2014 Reviews – BalletBoyz: The Talent, The Murmuring, Metheus, Mesmerics, London: Clement Crisp, Financial Times Sarah Crompton, Telegraph Judith Mackrell, Guardian Neil Norman, The Stage Vera Liber, BTG Hanna Weibye, Arts Desk Gallery – Dave Morgan, DanceTabs Interview – Emma Gladstone, Director for Dance Umbrella 2014: Carmel Smith, Londondance Review – Molissa Fenley & Company, Redwood Park, Dance an Impossible Space, Esperanto, NY: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Preview – Marissa Perel, More than just a piece of sky, NY: Jack Anderson, NY Times Preview – balletLORENT, Rapunzel, Edinburgh: Mary Brennan, Herald Preview – Joffrey Ballet, Stories in Motion, Chicago: Eloise Marie Valadez, NWI Times Review – Liss Fain, The Imperfect is Our Paradise, SF: Rita Felciano, SF Bay Guardian Preview – Judith Garay, 20.20.20, Vancouver: Janet Smith, Straight.com Feature – Parris Goebel, NZ Hip-Hop Choreo and Dancer: Staff, Dominion Post

..... and a pretty positive bunch of reviews piling-up for tomorrow's Links.

Links – Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Review – National Ballet of Canada, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, NY: Robert Gottlieb, NY Observer Review – Nederlands Dans Theater, Forgotten Memories, Solo Echo, Shoot the Moon, Paris: Patricia Boccadoro, Culturekiosque Review – Dutch National Ballet, Opening Gala, Amsterdam: Isabella Zijp, Bachtrack Feature – Australian Ballet rouses a classic for 2015: Andrew Taylor, Sydney Morning Herald Feature – Polishing Balanchine’s masterly Prodigal Son: Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune Reviews – Fall for Dance, NY: Bill T Jones, Hubbard St Dance, D-Man in the Waters, Gnawa, Herman Schmerman, Bend in the Road: Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Martha Sherman, Danceviewtimes Review – DANCENOW, 5-minute dances, NY: Rachel Rizzuto, Bachtrack Feature – Nordic Light at Sadler’s Wells, London: Carmel Smith, Londondance Review – BEAT Festival: Bed-Stuy Veterans, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Short + Sweet Dance 2014, Programme 1, Auckland: Raewyn White, Theatreview

Links – Tuesday, September 16, 2014 Review – Lyon Dance Biennial, Lyon: Laura Cappelle, Financial Times News – English National Ballet 2014-15 Season: PR Release, Dance Tabs ….. Some reactions on BcoForum News – Australian Ballet 2015 Season: Philippa Hawker, Sydney Morning Herald Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Video Clip: West Australia Today Reviews – Australian Ballet, The Nutcracker (Wright), Melbourne: Jordan Beth Vincent, The Age Melinda Oliver, Daily Review Review – Paris Opera Ballet School Annual Show: Patricia Boccadoro, Culturekiosque Feature – How London is embracing older dancers: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Review – Elixir Festival, KnowBody, London: Josephine Leask, Londondance Feature – RNZB and the Italian Connection: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines News – Momentous year for Orlando Ballet: Michael W. Freeman, Orlando Sentinel News – Former NYCB Principal, Patricia McBride, awarded Kennedy Center Honor: Mary C. Curtis, Washington Post News – Joffrey Ballet’s first Swan Lake for Chicago: Staff, BWW Feature – Top Ten in Dance around LA this year: Jean Lenihan, Arts Journal/Fresh Pencil Review – Trajal Harrell, Twenty Looks or Paris Is Burning at the Judson Church, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Ezralow Dance, 14-piece Mixed Bill, LA: Unattributed, NY Times Review – BEAT Festival, Crossing Over – A Performance Adventure in Green-Wood Cemetery, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Alesandra Seutin/Ayanna Witter-Johnson, This Is Not Black, London: Siobhan Murphy, DanceTabs Feature – Dance Place’s Reopening Gala, DC: Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post

You should find a Brochure for 2014-15 here: http://issuu.com/englishnationalballet/docs/enb_seasonbrochure_201415?e=9686389/9314349&utm_source=Sign-Up.to&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=16158-248000-Season+Announcement%3A+General Oddly, Begoña Cao, the poster girl for Odette/Odile on the first pages, does not appear to be cast for any of the Swan Lake performances.

I don't normally post here but, following from Aileen's question, above, much might also depend on whether you hoped to enter candidates for exams of the major Boards. I'm aware of a teacher, qualified in many ways but who had not done a RAD course to register as a RAD teacher, who has discovered that she cannot now enter pupils for RAD exams - and I would imagine that the same might apply to ISTD.

Time may tell, but will his professional 'unpredictability' be any more welcome out West than back here? And from a situation in which a certain technical virtuosity gave him some advantages, he is trading it in for........?

Why use 'underchanged' and then the explanation of what it means? A needless neologism, I suspect - though it may have currency within the hallowed corridors of the RBS. As to 'assessed out,' I doubt that I've come across it anywhere but here in 'Doing Dance.' In my earlier RAF days, those who did not make the grade in training were 'chopped.' I can't say, but in these more PC times perhaps they're 'assessed out' now instead?

Links – Friday, September 5, 2014 Review – Mark Morris Group/Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra, Acis and Galatea, NY: Nancy Dalva, Brooklyn Rail Feature – Misty Copeland’s Swan Lake debut: Natalie Bochenski, Brisbane Times …. TV Feature – Erin Quinlan, Today Review – DanceNow Festival Opening Night, NY: Brian Seibert, NY Times Essay – Site-Specific Dance: Stormy Budwig, Brooklyn Rail Feature/Review – David Dorfman Dance & Korhan Basaran Company, Unsettled, NY: Gillian Jakab, Brooklyn Rail

Links – Thursday, September 4, 2014 Review – American Ballet Theatre, Swan Lake (Copeland/Hammoudi debuts), Brisbane: Deborah Jones, The Australian Review – American Ballet Theatre, Swan Lake (Seo/Stearns), Brisbane: Matt O’Neill, Australian Stage Preview – Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Swan Lake, Japan: Kris Kosaka, Japan Times News – Queensland Ballet to bring Schaufuss La Sylphide to London: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Review – Hong Kong Dance Drama Company, The Legend of the Condor Heroes, HK: Natasha Rogai, SCMP Preview – Houston Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Neumeier): Joseph Campana, Culturemap Houston News – Frederick Wiseman’s next ballet film: Claude Peck, StarTribune Preview – West Wave Dance Festival, SF: Nirmala Nataraj, SF Chronicle News – Kate Champion resigns as CEO of Force Majeure: Tom Decent, The Age Galleries - Southbank Unlimited Festival, London: Dave Morgan …. Claire Cunningham, Guide Gods: DanceTabs .… Katherine Araniello, The Dinner Party Revisited: DanceTabs Gallery – RAD 2014 Photographic Competition Winners: RAD

Links – Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Review – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Two Cigarettes in the Dark, Paris: Laura Cappelle, Financial Times News – Think Tank to ponder a future for Ballet: Michael Cooper, NY Times .... whilst a Dance Cube dominates new Performing Arts building: Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun …. and Colorado Ballet gets a new home: Stephanie Wolf, Colorado Public Radio …. as does Ballet San Antonio: Jack Morgan, Texas Public Radio Feature – Why Ballet San Jose stayed home: Janice Berman, SF Classical Voice Preview – National Dance Company Wales Autumn Tour: Vera Liber, BTG Preview – Northern Ballet Children’s Tour, Elves & The Shoemaker: Vera Liber, BTG Melbourne News – Malthouse Programme, 2015: Cameron Woodhead, Sydney Morning Herald

In advance of tomorrow's Links and as a postscript to the confusion back in May about who exactly was coming to London: https://www.sfcv.org/article/why-ballet-san-jose-stayed-home

Links – Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Interview – Tina Sutton, Author of “The Making of Markova”: Jann Parry, DanceTabs Review – Australian Ballet, La Bayadère, Melbourne: Eamonn Kelly, The Australian News – Akram Khan to perform Desh in Bangladesh: Carmel Smith, Londondance Preview – Sadler’s Wells inclusive =dance programme: Vera Liber, BTG Preview - Sadler’s Wells Elixir Festival: Vera Liber, BTG Interview – Northern Ballet’s AD, David Nixon: Rich Jevons, Northern Soul Preview – Monica Bill Barnes, Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host, NY: Brian Schaefer, NY Times Gala Fashion! – Mary Katrantzou to dress NYCB: Katherine K. Zarrella, Style.com Galleries – 11th International Dance Competition: Sunkyung Reina Jang -- Winner’s Gala Technical Rehearsals, DanceTabs -- World Gala & Closing Gala Technical Rehearsals, DanceTabs

Links – Monday, September 1, 2014 Reviews – American Ballet Theatre, Swan Lake, Brisbane: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Jill Sykes, Sydney Morning Herald Natalie Bochenski, Brisbane Times Alison Cotes, Daily Review Feature – Wendy Whelan, A Singular Star: Susan Reiter, Playbill Arts Features – A smile reflects joy and radiates warmth: Dr Kevin R. Stone, SF Examiner …. And so Marriott Hotels give staff poise with ballet training: Rahul Odedra, Hotelier.com Review – Natalie Abbott, Maximum, Sydney: Jill Sykes, Sydney Morning Herald Review – KanKouran West African Dance Company, DC: Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post News – Steven Heathcote returns to Australian Ballet: John Bailey, The Age

Links – Thursday, August 21, 2014 Edinburgh Festival and Fringe: Reviews – Akram Khan, Polaroid Feet, Tarana, Unplugged, Gnosis: Alice Bain, Guardian Hanna Weibye, Arts Desk Young Critic, Eleanor Young, Herald Preview – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Sweet Mambo: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Review – Harnisch-Lacey Dance Theatre, Spin: Donald Hutera, The List Review – Jo Fong, An Invitation: Donald Hutera, The List Elsewhere: Review – Chunky Move, Keep Everything, Melbourne: Chloe Smethurst, Sydney Morning Herald Feature – The Helpmann Awards – winners and problems: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Review – Royal New Zealand Ballet, Allegro-Five Short Ballets, Invercargill: Kasey Dewar, NZ Theatreview Review – Doug Elkins Choreography Etc, Hapless Bizarre, Mo(or)town Redux, Jacob’s Pillow: Martha Sherman, Danceviewtimes News – Scottish Ballet to do Christmas in Edinburgh: Herald News – Boston Ballet to recreate 1970s Swan Lake moment: Yiqing Shao, Boston Magazine Feature – Hip Hop International in Las Vegas: Jevon Phillips, LA Times What’s On? – Bay Area, Fall 2014: Leslie Katz, SF Examiner Review – David Dorfman & Korhan Bașaran, Unsettled, NY: Rachel Rizzuto, Bachtrack

Links – Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Reviews – Downtown Dance Festival, Mixed Programs, NY: Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Brian Seibert, NY Times Robert Johnson, Star-Ledger Interview – Wendy Martin, Head of Performance, Southbank Centre: Matthew Caines, Guardian News- NBC announces New York casting for Wheeldon’s Alice: Staff, BWW News – David Hallberg withdraws from ABT Fall performances: Staff, BWW News – 2014 Deloitte Ignite curated by The Royal Ballet: Carmel Smith, Londondance Feature – Stephen Petronio, a new approach: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – James Lee Byars, Walk, MoMA, NY: Robert Greskovic, Wall St Journal News – Robert Curran, ex-AB Principal, becomes Director in Louisville: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Preview – A new Fille Mal Gardée for West Australian Ballet: Pip Christmass, West Australian Edinburgh Festival and Fringe: Reviews – Black Grace, Mixed Bill: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Mary Brennan, Herald Q&A – Akram Khan: Herald Review – Wings Theatre Company, The Duck Pond: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Micro Review – Nicola PIanzola, Made in Ilva – The Contemporary Hermit: Kelly Apter, Scotsman

Links – Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Reviews – Mariinsky Ballet, Cinderella (Ratmansky), London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Hanna Weibye, Arts Desk Review – Mariinsky Ballet, Firebird, Marguerite and Armand, Concerto DSCH, London: Zoë Anderson, Independent Review – American Contemporary Ballet, Tchaikovsky Piano Trio, LA: Victoria Looseleaf, LA Times Review – Drive East Festival, South Asian Music and Dance, NY: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times News – Joffrey Ballet to stream Swan Lake rehearsal on Thursday: Miriam Di Nunzio, Chicago Sun-Times Feature – Choreographer Kyle Abraham: Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune Preview – Chicago Dancing Festival: Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Feature – Peter Sculthorpe’s music for ballet: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Feature – The Hong Kong Ballet Group at 50: Natasha Rogai, SCMP Review – Doug Elkins, Hapless Bizarre, Mo(or)town/Redux, Jacob’s Pillow: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal/DanceBeat News – Kara Larson is new Marketing/Comms Director at BRB: Stacey Barnfield, Birmingham Post Edinburgh Festival and Fringe: Reviews – Lemi Ponifasio, I AM: Alice Bain, Guardian Lucy Ribchester, The List Vera Liber, BTG Review – Lenka Vagnerová, Riders: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Micro-Review – DEN, The Sake: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Review – Le Patin Libre, This Is Contemporary Ice Skating: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Review – Lenka Vagnoverá & Company, La Loba: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Review – Bal Moderne, Escaping War: Lucy Ribchester, The List

Links – Monday, August 18, 2014 Reviews – Mariinsky Ballet, Cinderella (Ratmansky), London: Laura Thompson, Telegraph Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack Zoë Anderson, Independent Lynette Halewood, DanceTabs Feature – Justin Peck, Street Art & Miami City Ballet: Jennifer Kay, Miami Herald News – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Beauty and the Beast, Salford: Glenn Meads, What's On Stage Review – McDonald’s B-Boy Royale Competition, NY: Brian Seibert, NY Times Edinburgh Festival and Fringe: Review – Lemi Ponifasio, I AM: Mary Brennan, Herald Review – Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Mark Baldwin, Inala: Alan Morrison, Herald Review – Kkachidong Theatre Company, Like Fireworks, Like Butterflies: Lorna Irvine, The List Feature, mainly re Theatre – Where have all the Fringe critics gone? Lyn Gardner, Guardian

Over the last month or so I've seen three of The Globe's vibrant productions on a cinema screen and have been forcibly reminded how Shakespeare at school had nothing to do with 'performance.' It was purely an examination-related activity and, worse still, a source for 'lines' as a punishment. My mother, who by the end of primary school had me devouring Greek Myths and John Buchan, often used to say that she would never forgive my English teacher in secondary school for destroying all that she had done. By contrast, our French master would get through each day's lesson in relatively short order and the remainder of his periods would be spent talking about almost any subject under the sun. Teachers, good teachers, are what matter - and that was equally true when it came to learning the arts of Navigation in the RAF some years later.

Links – Sunday, August 17, 2014 Review – Mark Morris Dance Group, Acis and Galatea, NY: Martha Sherman, Danceviewtimes Preview – Downtown Dance Festival, NY: Jack Anderson, NY Times Preview – Jersey Tap Fest, Tap ‘N Time: Robert Johnson, Star-Ledger Feature – Boston Ballet’s John Lam: Steve Buckley, Boston Herald (Scroll down) Edinburgh Festival and Fringe: Feature – Pina Bausch, Sweet Mambo: Colin Robertson, The List Review – Bal Moderne, Escaping War: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Review – Playground Productions, A Thief On The Wind: Sally Stott, Scotsman Review – Black Grace, Minoi, Human Language, Mother Mother: Dione Joseph, NZ Theatreview Review – Taki Maori Haka Experience: Dione Joseph, NZ Theatreview

Bluebird: That link does not appear to be working. This is probably the same piece: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/14/internet-full-isp Edit: Just checked that link - not working for me - and it seems I can't get any other links to work from the Forum at the moment. Something adrift somewhere. Further edit: This appears to be browser-related. Nothing linking from Chrome, my usual one, but all OK using Firefox or Safari. Links from Mail system into Chrome seem OK. And the two Guardian pieces are not identical!

The BBC Radio 4 lunchtime News show has just run an item on the wider Internet problems earlier this week, pretty much confirming the link from Bruce, above, and your 'too big for its boots' remark, John. And it also seems that we ought not to be surprised if there are further breaks in service until more kit is in place to carry the increasing load.

Further to barton22's post, above, it may be useful to see this page from the Ashton Foundation website that outlines clearly the powers that lie with the various Owners of the ballets and not with the Foundation itself: http://www.frederickashton.org.uk/owners.html

Bruce: A very useful link, thanks, and the mention of the problems having started between 4 and 5 am EST chimes nicely with the Forum being accessible yesterday circa 0830 Local here, as it was, but not soon thereafter. And we may see repetitions ........ And we were not alone. I was unable to access another IP-provided site running a largely identical package to the one we use here.