Ian Macmillan

Well, many thanks for that link - though I know I saw something of that in a London theatre, and further back than 2015. I felt sure there had been something using the Lauridsen, as suggested here. We can let it rest there.

Hearing Morten Lauridsen's sumptuous setting of O Magnum Mysterium on the radio again, it got me thinking. Am I imagining seeing the much-missed Zenaida Yanowsky dancing to it in one of the Acosta and Friends shows some 15 years ago, probably at The Coliseum? Just asking, as folk say these days.

Links – Saturday 24 December Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater & Future of Jazz Orchestra, Night Creature, For Four, Pas de Duke, Revelations, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Photo Feature - Photo series imagines dancers performing household chores: Eric Raeber via PetaPixel Feature – introducing our 2023 "25 to Watch": Staff, Pointe Magazine Book Review – Mr B by Jennifer Homans: Moira Hodgson, Wall St Journal Opinion – Sexiest PDD in the classical rep? Ruth Leon, via Slipped Disc And with the day only hours away: Review – Northern Ballet, The Nutcracker, Leeds: Geoffrey Mogridge, Wharfedale Oberver Review – English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Vera Liber, BTG

Links – Friday 23 December News – Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky Is to leave American Ballet Theatre next June: Dan Bilefsky, NY Times Graham Spicer, Gramilano Jocelyn Noveck, Independent (and elsewhere) Preview – Ballet Lorent, The Becoming, Newcastle: Staff, NorthEast Bylines Preview - Akram Khan returning to Opera Ballet Vlaanderen with new production Creature: Stephi Wild, BWW Belgium Best of 2022 – Downtown New York: Candice Thompson, Fjord Review News - Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January: Graham Spicer, Gramilano News - Paris Opera Ballet to perform in Korea for first time in 30 years: Hwang Dong-hee, Korea Herald News - Northern Ballet prepares for The Great Gatsby tour: Staff, Ballet Herald Opinion - I’m an older man and I love to dance. What’s wrong with that? Phil Hilton, Guardian Today’s seasonal selection: Review – La Scala Ballet, The Nutcracker (Nureyev), Milan: Valentina Bonelli, Fjord Review Review – Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Neil Norman, Express Reviews – Northern Ballet, The Nutcracker, Leeds: James Ballands, BTG Yvette Huddleston, Yorkshire Post

Anticipating tomorrow's Links, I see that choreographer Alexei Ratmansky appears to be leaving American Ballet Theatre. From the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/arts/dance/alexei-ratmansky-american-ballet-theater.html

Links – Thursday 22 December News – Utah’s Ballet West to presents Les Noces in New York next year: Staff, Ballet Herald Review – Gauthier Dance, Swan Lakes (all different), Stuttgart: David Mead, SeeingDance Review – Australian Ballet, Romeo and Juliet (Cranko, 4 casts), Melbourne & Sydney: Deborah Jones, FollowSpot Review – Joel Brown & Eve Mutso, 111, Kolkata/Touring India: Jennifer Kishan, Guardian Feature - OU degree is ‘on pointe’ for Scottish Ballet star: Carly Sumner Sinfield, OU News Feature – Katarina Svetlova: In ballet class, ‘I want kids to be happy’: Martha Ullman West, Oregon Artswatch Feature – Giordano Dance Chicago’s Michael McStraw: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Streaming - The Ailey Organization's Opening Night Gala beginning December 21: Leah Putnam, Playbill And since it’s the season: Review – English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Matthew Paluch, Gramilano Review – Northern Ballet, The Nutcracker, Leeds: Laura Stimpson, Reviews Hub Review – San Francisco Ballet, The Nutcracker, San Francisco: Jo Tomalin, For All Events Feature/Review – What does a NYCB angel see in her future? Maybe a Sugarplum Fairy: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Video Feature - San Francisco Ballet debuts first-ever sensory-friendly Nutcracker performance: Betty Yu, CBS News News - A Thousand Tales ballet to premiere at Dubai Opera: Staff, Khaleej Times

Links – Wednesday 21 December Features: - Best West Coast dance of 2022: Victoria Looseleaf, Fjord Review - Best East Coast dance of 2022: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Review – City Contemporary Dance Company, Brown, Hong Kong: Natasha Rogai, SCMP News - Polina Semionova to guest in Swan Lake with Birmingham Royal Ballet: Stephi Wild, BWW UK Regional News - Royal Ballet's Like Water for Chocolate in cinemas in January: Graham Spicer, Gramilano News - Ukraine's ballerinas to defy war with Paris shows: AFP via France 24 News – ABT’s Incubator 2023 workshop to feature 5 choreographers: Staff, Ballet Herald News - Bookings now open for Cape Town City Ballet's Cinderella: Stephi Wild, BWW South Africa Preview: Installation & Performances - What do two fires have in common? It comes down to guts: Gia Kourlas, NY Times

Links – Tuesday 20 December Review – Sarasota Ballet, Les Patineurs, In the Night, Fancy Free, Sarasota: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Review – Gibney Company, Yag 2022, New York: Karen Greenspan, Fjord Review Review – Lucy Guerin Inc, Pieces – 3 new works, Melbourne: Leila Lois, Dance Australia Feature - Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Is a Classic now, but It was a disaster when first premiered: Robert Sandla, Playbill It’s beginning to feel a lot like …. Reviews – London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Anatomical, Snowed In English National Ballet, The Nutcracker Reviews – English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Anna Pujol Castiblanque, SeeingDance John O’Dwyer, Seen and Heard Oh dear - SF Ballet used AI art In Nutcracker promo and people are mad: Olivia Cruz Mayeda, SF Standard Review – Oregon Ballet Theatre, The Nutcracker, Portland: Amy Leona Havin, Oregon Artswatch Archive - Maurice Sendak's designs for Nutcracker: Staff, Ballet Herald

Exactly. Ms Homans made no such claim for herself - she was effectively plugging her latest book on Balanchine.

Links – Monday 19 December Obituary – Susan Kikuchi, Martha Graham dancer: Staff, The Times Feature - Meet Federico Bonelli, new artistic director of Northern Ballet: Yvette Huddlestone, Yorkshire Post Feature - The Nutcracker: The original story of a festive favourite: Rhiannon Du Cann, Express Review - Stuttgart Ballet’s new family-friendly Nutcracker: David Mead, SeeingDance Video Features: Steven Melendez overcame homelessness to lead New York Theatre Ballet: Stephanie Ruhle, NBC Today Program Bringing dads and their children closer through ballet: Staff, NBC News

Just heard this being announced:

Links – Sunday 18 December In today’s Christmas box: Review– English National Ballet, The Nutcracker, London: Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Photo Album – La Scala Ballet, The Nutcracker (Nureyev), Milan: Brescia e Amisano via Gramilano Feature - Jaime Santoro and the magical children of Philadelphia Ballet’s Nutcracker: Camille Bacon-Smith, Broad Street Review Reviews – Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Sleeping Beauty, London: Anna Selby, The Arbuturian Sarah Crompton, The Observer Meanwhile, elsewhere: Feature - Sarah Crompton’s five best UK shows of 2022: The Observer Review – Phillip Connaughton & company, Love Songs, Dublin: Emma Devlin, Reviews Hub News - At Bessie Awards, Joy and Diversity, and Gathering in Person: Rachel Sherman, NY Times News - Singapore Ballet 2023 Season: Staff, Ballet Herald Interview - NASA engineer Kelley Hashemi works weekends — as a ballet dancer: Victoria Looseleaf, SF Classical Voice And after last night: Interview - Motsi Mabuse: ‘You might grumble about the world, then you see Tony Adams doing a samba…’ : Michael Hogan, The Observer

I have to keep telling myself the thread isn't about some local company. 😊

Should anyone be having paywall trouble with the link Janet provided to this morning's Times news pictures with the dramatic King Rat photo (3rd one down), you could try this one with a Share Token that should get you in. Mind you, experience suggests it runs out after a couple of weeks or so: News in pictures: Tuesday December 13, 2022 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3e12091c-7a30-11ed-8486-22782b7fe87b?shareToken=ca73a1e95c78ba568ff0b2f6f1ee5e9b

OK , as I write, there's just under 24 hours left in which to vote. Closing time is midnight on Monday - ie tonight.

English National Ballet has released this. Dame Beryl was AD of London Festival Ballet, a company that later became ENB.

The Royal Ballet's announcement on Twitter:

Links – Saturday 10 December Reviews – Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Sleeping Beauty, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Rachel Nouchi, BTG Review – National Ballet of Canada, MADDADDAM, Toronto: Denise Sum, Danceviewtimes Review – Dorrance Dance, A Little Room, 45th and 8th, Rhythms of Being, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Tere O’Connor Dance, Rivulets, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Feature - Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Dance is an invitation. Be Weird: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Interview - Painting the Planet: Lita and Jasmine Albuquerque: Victoria Looseleaf, Fjord Review News - Portuguese ballet dancer Marcelino Sambé named ‘Personality of Year’: Natasha Donn, Portugal Resident In pictures - Inside a British Muslim ballet school: Nadda Osman, Middle East Eye

Links – Friday 9 December Reviews – Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Sleeping Beauty, London: Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack Maryam Philpott, Reviews Hub Deborah Weiss, Gramilano Debra Craine, The Times Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Feature - The ballet world entered a new Cold War in 2022: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Feature - Retelling Timeless Tales: How two choreographers remade classic ballets for today: Catja Christensen, Pointe Magazine Feature - Washington Ballet dancer Sarah Steele finds fitness on pointe: Ellen Sherberg, Bizwomen Review – BalletX, Fall Series 2022, Philadelphia: Merilyn Jackson, Fjord Review Review – Ballett Basel, Giselle (Lidberg), Basle: David Mead, SeeingDance News - Joffrey Ballet to remount Yuri Possokhov's blockbuster Anna Karenina in February: A A Cristi, BWW Dance Today’s seasonal fare: Review – Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker (Wright), London: Zoe Anderson, Independent Review – New York City Ballet, The Nutcracker, New York: Gay Morris, Danceviewtimes Review – Ballet West, The Nutcracker, Salt Lake City: Les Roka, The Utah Review

Any follow-up yet by the Guardian for those who have voted?

Links – Thursday 8 December In London: Reviews – Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker (Wright): Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Marianka Swain, Telegraph Debra Craine, The Times David Jays, Evening Standard Donald Hutera, The Stage Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack Reviews – Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Sleeping Beauty: Maggie Foyer, SeeingDance David Jays, Evening Standard And elsewhere: Feature – Les Grands Ballets Canadiens: How to guide 160 kids through The Nutcracker: Jim Burke, Montreal Gazette Review – New York City Ballet, The Nutcracker, New York: Robert Greskovic, Wall St Journal Review – Norwegian National Ballet, Hamlet Complex Redux, Oslo: Maggie Foyer, SeeingDance Feature – Jacquelin Harris: An Ailey Dancer’s career blooms, at the Company and beyond: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Preview – Rennie Harris/Puremovement, Rome & Jewels, Philadelphia: Eileen B Fisher, Broad Street Review

Links – Wednesday 7 December Reviews – Ben Duke/Lost Dog, Ruination, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Neil Norman, The Stage Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper & Interview Culture Whisper Jenny Gilbert, Arts Desk Mark Monahan, Telegraph Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Zoe Anderson, Independent Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In a Sentimental Mood, Are You In Your Feelings?, Revelations, New York: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Review – Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Program B Mixed Bill, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Feature - Michelle Dorrance’s former student takes over as Composer: Brian Seibert, NY Times News – In New York, The Joyce announces a diverse Spring Season: Rachel Sherman, NY Times Timeline - Gargouillade Gate: Everything you need to know about the American Ballet Theatre and Dutch National Ballet feud: Nadia Vostrikov, Ballet Herald Today’s bag of Nuts: Feature – Nutcracker is heart-stirring ballet, but also an industry: Janos Gereben, San Francisco Examiner Catchup Review – New York City Ballet, The Nutcracker – Sterling Hyltin’s Farewell performance, New York: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Review – Joffrey Ballet, The Nutcracker, Chicago: Hedy Weiss, WTTW News Review – Houston Ballet, The Nutcracker, Houston: Miranda Keating, BWW Houston Audio Feature – Cape Town City Ballet’s Nutcracker: Pippa Hudson, Cape Talk Video - Tiler Peck breaks down her scene in The Hip Hop Nutcracker: Playbill And this takes me way back: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker meets Its swinging Jazz version at Disney Hall: Richard S Ginell, SF Classical Voice

Don't just bang on here - the Guardian has given you a chance to vote for your favourite UK show of this year. The vote closes at midnight on Monday 12 December , and the details are here: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/dec/05/choose-your-favourite-uk-theatre-show-of-2022

Links – Tuesday 6 December Feature - 7 choreographers on how dance changed in California in 2022: Steven Vargas, LA Times Tour Review – English National Ballet, Raymonda (Rojo), Southampton: Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack Review - Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, The Winter’s Tale, Mythologies, New York: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Review – Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Program B Mixed Bill, New York: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Review – BalletX, 2022 Fall Series, Philadelphia: Melissa Strong, Broad Street Review Review – Sydney Dance Company, New Breed Mixed Bill, Sydney: Geraldine Higginson, Dance Australia Review – Joel Bray Dance & Chunky Move, Garabari, Melbourne: Lee Christofis, Limelight Review – Voxed, It’s not me …, Newcastle: Dora Frankel, BTG Archive Feature - Cancel culture and the ballet: Staff, Dance Australia Over to you: Choose your favourite UK theatre show of 2022: Staff, Guardian Alone in the seasonal corner: Review – Queensland Ballet, The Nutcracker, Brisbane: Denise Richardson, Dance Australia

Links – Monday 5 December Review – Israel Galván: La Consagración de la Primavera, London: Sarah Crompton, The Observer Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Busk, Are You In Your Feelings?, Revelations, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Co3 Contemporary Dance, Beta, That Was Awkward, If, then: Alana Kildea, Dance Australia Preview - English National Ballet, Swan Lake, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - New Melbourne dance festival: Staff, Dance Australia And over in the seasonal corner: Review – Queensland Ballet, The Nutcracker, Brisbane: Olivia Stewart, Limelight Review – Joffrey Ballet, The Nutcracker, Chicago: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Review – Washington Ballet, The Nutcracker, Washington DC: Katie Gaab, MD Theatre Guide News - Alberta Ballet updates The Nutcracker for the first time in 15 years: Angela Johnston, Edmonton Journal