Ian Macmillan

And there's this highly effective version, for just 11 dancers: http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_10/feb10/im_rev_bern_ballet_juliet_and_romeo_1209.htm And to prove it wasn't just me: http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_09/nov09/bk_rev_bern_ballet_1009.htm

Amelia: Many thanks - I have not seen that clip before but it's exactly what I had in mind, and it's still so close to the ballroom choreography that something of the kind must have been in Ratmansky's mind as he worked that scene. Simon: Pheromones??? A nice thought, but .......

Cathy Marston's Bern company will bring her new work "Witch Hunt" to the ROH Linbury next month. It opens in Bern tomorrow as "Hexenhatz" and its General Rehearsal is happening now, here: http://hexenhatz.tumblr.com/ Just refresh the page every so often!

GTL: Neat! In my five years living in Richmond, I used to see the evening procession on my way home, from the bridge above the railway station, and would often stand and watch for a bit - and I'd make a guess that this was filmed from somewhere very close to there. (You'll note the wheels coming down on the approaches. In my time in Richmond, the body of a stowaway - from Kenya, as I recall - tumbled out of a wheel bay to land in the Homebase carpark.)

As the company heads home, let me add that I was able to catch the final performance yesterday afternoon and I'd say that it was very warmly received. Personally, I found it admirable in many ways and would happily see it again to lock some of its features more securely in the memory. The strengths for me lay in some of the narrative detail, I did not find the choreography as fussy as some of the reviews had lead me to believe, and I was particularly struck by the increased prominence given to Friar Lawrence as a vital agent in the unravelling of the story. As it's a Ratmansky production, there were a couple of points that made me wonder if they came from his Russian background. First, the four chaps in the black and white harlequin costumes and with grotesque masks of the sort seen in Firebird - there's a Russian term for these that I can't quite drag from the back of my mind. Similarly, I've a feeling I've seen film of Russian folk dance movement with the fast footwork that, covered by a long skirt, gives the impression of moving on wheels, as seen here in the ballroom scene. If I have that wrong, then let it be - but these are the sort of thing on stages that strike me from time to time! As a PS to this and all other versions, is there anyone who can explain to me how a young girl falls so instantly, totally, and catastrophically in love with a chap wearing a mask?

Josephine: I don't know about what might be online - and I've looked in some obvious places without success - but the Dancing Times ran a feature on Zen in its May 2007 issue, if you can find it, headed with a lovely picture of her in Empress Elizabeth outdoor dress posed, I think, on the bridge between the ROH and Royal Ballet Upper School. The picture was credited to Angela Taylor.

Links – Saturday, April 20, 2013 Obituary – Maria Tallchief: Clement Crisp, Financial Times Interview – Peter Martins on 30 Years at NYCB: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Preview Feature – Royal Ballet, Mayerling: Laura Thompson, Telegraph Reviews– English National Ballet, Ecstasy and Death Triple Bill: Neil Norman, The Stage Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Zoë Anderson, Independent Judith Mackrell, Guardian Mark Monahan, Telegraph Reviews – National Ballet of Canada, Romeo and Juliet (Ratmansky): Clement Crisp, Financial Times Jann Parry, DanceTabs Graham Watts, Londondance Cristina de Lucas, One Stop Arts - Gallery: Dave Morgan, DanceTabs Preview – ‘Guess the choreographer’s gender ‘ experiment: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review + Gallery– Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Quad Bill: Victoria Looseleaf, LA Times Review – Vicky Shick, Everything You See (Danspace): Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Ballet Hispanico, Triple Bill (Joyce): Robert Johnson, NJ Star-Ledger Preview – Emmanuel Jouthe & Chiara Frigo, When We Were Old: Victor Swoboda, Montreal Gazette Sydney Preview – Lemi Ponifasio, Birds With Skymirrors: Tim Douglas, The Australian Announcing Encore Dance Company, a joint Tring/Ballet Theatre UK touring venture: Nicola Merrifield, The Stage Gallery – The Place Prize, 2013: Foteini Christophilopoulou, DanceTabs And having often remarked that it is a hallmark of the great classics that they can survive any treatment, I now give you Swan Lake Reloaded: Broadway World

There's quite a lot of general background concerning the RB production in this article by Laura Thompson for tomorrow's Telegraph and it will, of course, appear in Saturday's Links: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/10004071/Mayerling-a-dance-to-the-death.html

Spax: I agree entirely with Katherine, and I won't be cancelling our Sunday booking on account of any review thus far. I'm sure your son will find much to admire in Ratmansky's work - the world is not chasing his tail for nothing - and I hope that you do too.

This appears to be new and will, I imagine, be of interest: http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2013/04/ballet-theatre-uk-and-tring-park-school-set-up-joint-touring-company/ It looks like quite a bold venture in its planned associations, so here's hoping it does well.

Just filed, the heaviest hitter rates it at 2*. In advance of tomorrow's Links: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/88787c4c-a8e5-11e2-bcfb-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2QufopaVd

Lynette: Title altered.

Links – Friday, April 19, 2013 Review – English National Ballet, Ecstasy and Death Triple Bill: Ismene Brown, Arts Desk - Tamara Rojo interview: Brenda Emmanus, BBC News Reviews – National Ballet of Canada, Romeo and Juliet (Ratmansky): Judith Mackrell, 4*, Guardian Lyndsey Winship, 3*, Evening Standard Zoë Anderson, 3*, Independent Sarah Crompton, 3*, Telegraph Neil Norman, 3*, Express Sarah Frater, The Stage Laurad, Londonist … and watching from back home: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Feature – Natalia Osipova as she heads for London: Anna Goreyeva, Russia Beyond The Headlines Review – American Ballet Theatre, Le Corsaire Season: George Jackson, Danceviewtimes Review - Ballet Hispanico, Triple Bill: Leigh Witchel, NY Post Review – Finalists, The Place Prize, 2013: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Solo Review – Shantala Shivalingappa, Namasya: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Preview/Interview – Tom Dale/Refugees of the Septic Heart (Laban): Carmel Smith, Londondance Review – 10 Hairy Legs, Mixed Bill: Robert Johnson, NJ Star-Ledger Latest on the Filin/Tsiskaridze/Dimitrichenko Affair: RAPSI Izvestia/Ismene Brown France 24

Since this morning four of Bruce's 'heavy hitters' have now filed their reviews - all will feature in tomorrow's Links - with, arguably, the heaviest hitter yet to come. The star count is four in the Guardian, and three each in the Evening Standard, Indy, and Telegraph - with the Toronto Star back home keeping count!

I included a Scotsman article in this morning's Links, repeated here: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/performing-arts/ballet-carlos-acosta-on-his-life-and-edinburgh-show-1-2899037 From it I see that Carlos Acosta is putting on a show entitled "On Before" for two nights next week in Edinburgh. I note that it features Zenaida Yanowsky and a list of choreographers that together make the show sound like a re-working of his "Premieres Plus" at the Coliseum, London, some two years ago. This view is strengthened by noting on the theatre website that Morten Lauridsen's choral "O Magnum Mysterium" will feature in a 'moving finale.' There was no particular storyline that I recall back then, but I see that "On Before" will now tell the tale of a doomed relationship. I can't find any sign that the show is to be repeated elsewhere, so I'm wondering if anyone knows a bit more about what's involved here? I was greatly disappointed in "Premieres Plus," the more so as it involved Miss Yanowsky, a very particular, personal favourite (as I may just have mentioned on here before!). I trust that whatever reworking is in hand as "On Before" will improve things, and would urge anyone up there seeing it to let us know how it goes.

Agreed, and I'll see for myself at the closing matinee on Sunday (Elgar's "The Kingdom" is occupying the space until then) - but this thread has made it onto Twitter to a degree, I see.

Links – Thursday, April 18, 2013 Review – National Ballet of Canada, Romeo and Juliet (Ratmansky): Ismene Brown, Arts Desk Benjamin leaving, Osipova joining – all change at the RB: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Feature/Preview – Carlos Acosta/On Before: Kelly Apter, Scotsman Reviews – Ballet Hispanico, Jardí Tancat, Sortijas, Back to the 80s (NY, Joyce): Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – San Francisco Ballet, Programs 6 and 7: Paul Parish, Bay Area Reporter Feature – Fundraising for Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet: Laura Bleiberg, LA Times Interview – Jose Navas, Choreographer: Paula Citron, Globe and Mail Cashflow problems at Sacramento Ballet: Raheem F. Hosseini, Sacramento News & Review

And another from a different local paper: http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/lifestyle/theatre/theatre-review-northern-ballet-s-the-great-gatsby-1-5007243

Links – Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Feature – National Ballet of Canada, The Realities of touring: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Preview – Tamara Rojo and ENB’s Ecstasy & Death Bill: Siobhan Murphy, Metro and once again Review – San Francisco Ballet, Program 6 Triple Bill: Aimee Tsao, DanceTabs New York City Ballet’s 2013-14 Season: Felicia R. Lee, NY Times Preview – St Petersburg Dance Open International Ballet Festival: Galina Stolyarova, St Petersburg Times Reviews – Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Rite of Spring, Petrushka; Gerald Dowler, Classical Source Katja Vaghi, One Stop Arts Review – Bebe Miller, A History: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Peggy Choy, The Greatest! Hip Dance Homage to Muhammad Ali: Brian Seibert, NY Times Preview – India Jazz Suites - The Fastest Feet in Rhythm: Elizabeth Hanly, Miami Herald Review – AXIS Dance Company, Mixed Bill: Rita Felciano. SF Bay Guardian The Filin Incident latest: Moscow Court Extends Dmitrichenko’s Arrest to 18 June: Interfax, Russia Beyond the Headlines

Links – Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Reviews – Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Rite of Spring, Petrushka: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Donald Hutera, Londondance Review – Exit 12 Dance Company, Sometimes, Silence: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Review – MC93, Les Apaches (Bobigny, France): Laura Cappelle, Financial Times Review – Alchemy Asian Dance Festival/Gauri Sharma Tripathi & Guests: Lise Smith, Londondance Preview – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Cinderella (Webre): Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh-Tribune Preview – English National Ballet, Ecstasy and Death Triple Bill: Lucy Walton, Female First As it’s a quiet day, and if your German is up to it, Cathy Marston looks back over her 6 years in Bern as her company prepares for her last premiere next week, “Witch Hunt” (Hexenhatz), coming to the ROH Linbury in May. Berner Zeitung

Links – Monday, April 15, 2013 Interview – Galina Stepanenko, The Bolshoi Soldiers On: Sharon Verghis, The Australian Reviews– Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Rite of Spring, Petrushka: Clement Crisp, Financial Times Graham Watts, DanceTabs Review – Dance Theater of Harlem, Gloria, Glinka Pas de Trois, Lark Ascending, When Love, Contested Space: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – San Francisco Ballet, Program 6 Mixed Bill: Janos Gereben, SF Examiner Review – Khmer Arts Ensemble, A Bend in the River (NY): Marina Harss, DanceTabs Review – Doug Elkins, Mo(or)town/Redux, Scott, Queen of Marys: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Preview – Miami City Ballet, ‘New Work’ Mixed Bill: Jordan Levin, Miami Herald Review – Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, Mixed Bill: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Interview – Bill T. Jones & Dr Oliver Sacks: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – LA Dance Festival, 8 Companies: Laura Bleiberg, LA Times Feature – Adventures by the fireside: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Feature – Esther Rabinowitz, Dancing Across the Decades: Corey Kilgannon, NY Times Feature – Preserving Royal Opera House Relics: Maev Kennedy, Guardian And, if not specific to ballet or dance, we mark the death of Sir Colin Davis: Guardian

This link, plus your postcode on getting there, may help in finding if it's on anywhere near you: http://www.findanyfilm.com/First-Position~51233 And it would appear to be available on DVD - scroll down for suggested outlets.

Has the visa problem mentioned way back there been solved? http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/immigrants-can-fast-track-entry-uk-1830589

Links – Sunday, April 14, 2013 Reviews – American Ballet Theatre: Hong Kong Festival Season: Natasha Rogai, DanceTabs Symphony in C, Moor’s Pavane, Symphony No 9: Alexandra Tomalonis, Danceviewtimes Reviews– Royal Ballet, La Bayadère: Luke Jennings, Observer Judith Cruickshank, Danceviewtimes Mainly about the score – The Rite of Spring – a rude awakening: Philip Hensher, Guardian Reviews – Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Rite of Spring, Petrushka: Matthew Paluch, ArtsDesk Jenny Gilbert, Independent on Sunday Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Gallery – Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Reviews – Peter Schaufuss, Midnight Express: Luke Jennings, Observer Jenny Gilbert, Independent on Sunday Review – Mark Morris Dance Group, The Office, A Wooden Tree, Jenn & Spencer, Crosswalk: Robert Gottlieb, NY Observer Reviews – San Francisco Ballet, Program 7 – Criss-Cross, Francesca da Rimini, Symphony in 3 Movements: Lauren Gallagher, SF Examiner Rita Felciano, Danceviewtimes Preview – Constantinople – Sinha Collaboration: Victor Swoboda, Montreal Gazette Review – River North Dance Chicago/Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Havana Blue: Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times London Openings - National Ballet of Canada, English National Ballet: Judith Mackrell, Guardian And does ENB know about this? Sunday People

No queue 15 minutes ago - in and out for my Bern:Ballett Witch Hunt tickets in under 5 minutes, having normally stayed away on previous first days of Public Booking. Will it last?