Ian Macmillan

Links – Sunday, March 24, 2013 Gillian Lynne - “Reality TV Harming the Theatre”: Vanessa Thorpe, Observer An Incident Reviewed – BGroup, Just As We Are: The Place, Luke Jennings, Observer Royal Ballet Backstage Gallery – Andrei Uspenski: Clare Geraghty, Daily Mail Review – Flamenco Festival, Sadler’s Wells: Jenny Gilbert, Independent Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Aladdin: Margaret Willis, One Stop Arts Review – San Francisco Ballet, Onegin: Janos Gereben, SF Examiner Review – San Francisco Ballet, Scotch Symphony, Within The Golden Hour, From Foreign Lands: Toba Singer, California Literary Review Review – Ballet San Jose, Program 2, Ashton/Welch/Tippet: Rita Felciano, Tri-Valley Herald Review – Ballet Arizona, Director’s Choice, Ratmansky/Cerrudo/Andersen: Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic Q&A – Australian Ballet Principal, Madeleine Eastoe: Adam Fulton, Sydney Morning Herald Review – Minnesota Ballet, Two Andantes, Harlequinade PDD, Firebird: Lawrance Bernabo, Duluth News Tribune Q&A – Choreographer Ivan Blackstock: Priya Elan, Observer Preview – Margie Gillis, The Light Between: Victor Swoboda, Montreal Gazette Film Screening – Nureyev/Australian Ballet, Don Quixote: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines

Angela: I'm aware of at least one change at Zurich Junior Ballett , and it looks to me as if there will be 4 dancers fewer next season (15 to 11). Happily, the one in whom I have an interest was snapped up at a first audition and will be just a bit more reachable from over here from next season!

Thinking back to the opening run of Alice in 2011, my recollection is that the critics were rather overwhelmed by the effects - as I was myself at times - but the reviews so far this time sound different in that regard. (By the way, Debra Craine gave the show a 4* review in today's paywall-protected Times.) Just a thought. And I'm delighted to see the reviews that Zenaida Yanowsky is getting as Queen of Hearts - it sounds as if she's in an even higher and more manic gear than back in 2011. Can't believe I'm missing her this year - even the cinema performance in Cambridge is sold out. And anyone else fail to recognise Sarah Lamb with black hair?

We've just done our bit to help by booking a multiple grandchildren outing for Sunday - but it's only been feasible for a group of 9 thanks to the Family of Four discounts and a number of unused London Theatre Tokens. But I've little doubt that they'll all enjoy it!

My answer is that I have no idea - but I have also noticed when doing my first day on Links that '0 views' stays in place for a bit, when I've checked back on things. Maybe the counting function only gets in gear after 10 or 20 - who knows?

Ann: All looking normal here.

Discouraged: I'm unsure of the point you may be trying to make, but the link rang a loud bell. Just a year ago, there was a lengthy debate here on the general question of British-born dancers in the world market and this Arts Desk piece arrived well after it had started, at post No 197: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/453-british-born-dancers-and-the-global-ballet-market/?p=6209 There may, of course, be something new and substantial on the subject this year ...... others can decide.

Links – Saturday, March 9, 2013 The Sergei Filin Incident : A previous attempt? Izvestia, via Ismene Brown Feature – Marie Rambert at the original Rite: Unattributed, Financial Times NY Review – Paul Taylor Dance Company, Opening Gala: Marina Harss, DanceTabs Review – Houston Ballet, Rite of Spring Program: Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle London Review – Ballet Revolución, Mixed Bill: Lynette Halewood, DanceTabs Feature – Nicolette Fraillon, Australian Ballet’s MD: Sharon Verghis, The Australian NY Review – Paul Taylor Dance Company, Mixed Bill: Gia Kourlas, NY Times NY Reviews – Ballet Flamenco de Andalusia, Mixed Bill: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Leigh Witchel, NY Post Robert Johnson, NJ Star-Ledger Melbourne Preview – Ashley Dyer, Life Support: Kath Dolan, Sydney Morning Herald Leeds Review – Northern Ballet, The Great Gatsby: Charles Hutchinson, York Press Tour Review – Scottish Dance Theatre, Second Coming: Sanjoy Roy, Guardian Adelaide Review – Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez, What the body does not remember: Jane Howard, Guardian SF Review – Faye Driscoll, You’re Me: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Q&A – Alicia Graf Mack/Alvin Ailey Dance Theater: Susan King, LA Times Tour Review – Ballet Black, War Letters Mixed Bill: Cristina de Lucas, One Stop Arts NY Review – Riedel Dance Theater & Ariel Rivka Dance, In Violent Circles, Vashti: Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes

Links – Friday, March 8, 2013 The Sergei Filin Incident : Once again, a short sample only: Dimitrichenko in court: Reuters NY Times Opinion piece - Ismene Brown, Arts Desk Review – Paris Opera Ballet, Homage to Nureyev Gala: Laura Cappelle, Financial Times Review – Royal Danish Ballet, Chroma, The Unsung, Bayadère Shades: Jane Simpson, DanceTabs Debate Preview – Are Ballet and Opera ‘Elitist’?: Sarah Crompton, Telegraph Review – Paul Taylor Dance Company, Gala Opening Bill: Leigh Witchel, NY Post Australian Artist’s Backdrops for Houston Ballet’s Rite of Spring: Tim Douglas, The Australian Review – Nigel Charnock, Children, A Few Minutes of Lock: Alan Brissenden, The Australian NZ Review – Lisa Densem/Footnote Dance, We Have Been There: Ann Hunt, Dominion Post London Review – Ballet Revolución, Mixed Bill: Oddly, unattributed, Express NY Review – Tero Saarinen Company, Scheme of Things, Hunt: Brian Seibert, NY Times DC Reviews – Carte Blanche, Corps de Walk: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post George Jackson, Danceviewtimes Review – Toronto Dance Theatre, Everyday Anthems: Paula Citron, Globe and Mail Preview – Boston Ballet, All Kylian: Katie Eastman, Boston Herald Preview – Los Angeles Ballet, Balanchine Bills: Stephanie Cary, LA Daily News

A bit more on where Journalism might be headed vis-s-vis writing for websites: http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/206285/atlantic-case-raises-question-when-does-it-make-sense-to-write-for-free/ I don't know exactly where all of this is going in the longer term but, intuitively, I feel there are significant issues at play.

There is also a plan to have the event live-streamed on the Telegraph website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/the-big-question/9909513/The-Royal-Opera-House-asks-Are-opera-and-ballet-elitist.html Sarah Crompton of the Telegraph, who will be hosting the event, sets the scene: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/the-big-question/9914568/The-Big-Question-Are-opera-and-ballet-elitist.html

"The Future of Journalism - It's Time to Pick A Side" - A professional journalist sets out his case: http://pandodaily.com/2013/03/06/the-future-of-journalism-its-time-to-pick-a-side/

Links – Thursday, March 7, 2013 The Sergei Filin Incident: A few sample links from the worldwide coverage. A confessional video clip etc: Guardian Guardian 2 Court appearance today: BBC News Parsing motives? Ellen Barry & Sophia Kishkovsky, NY TImes Reviews – Northern Ballet, The Great Gatsby: Laura Thompson, Telegraph Judith Mackrell, Guardian Zoe Anderson, Independent Kevin Berry, The Stage Feature – Ian Soutar, Sheffield Telegraph Review – Paul Taylor Dance Company, Gala Opening Bill: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Review – San Francisco Ballet, Program 3 – Guide to Strange Places, Beaux, Rite of Spring: Paul Parish, Bay Area Reporter Review – San Francisco Ballet, Program 4 – From Foreign Lands, Scotch Symphony, Within The Golden Hour: Aimee Tsao, DanceTabs Review – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Aladdin: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Review – Royal Ballet, 24 Preludes Triple Bill: Louise Levene, Telegraph Seven Magazine Review – National Ballet of Canada, Nijinsky: Denise Sum, Danceviewtimes Preview – Faye Driscoll, You’re Me: Rita Felciano, SF Bay Guardian Adelaide Preview – Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez: The Body Does Not Remember: Jane Cornwell, The Australian

Oh dear, and breaking my self-imposed silence - but this is really taking on Black Swan dimensions. A translation from Izvestia, via an Ismene Brown (Arts Desk) blog, and all via Twitter: http://www.ismeneb.com/ismeneb.com/Blog/Entries/2013/3/6_Bolshoi_people_dont_believe_Dmitrichenko_ordered_the_Filin_attack.html

Looks like Press night was last night after all - more links in the morning roundup, I promise. (Donald Hutera may have had to go on Opening Night as I wouldn't mind betting that his copy for the Sunday Times 'Culture' supplement had to be submitted before last night.) Nobody hates it - the challenge has been in transforming a very literary novel into dance.

Links galore - take your pick! http://news.google.com/news/rtc?ncl=d1kdZH8267lOsMM Unless something genuinely 'new' has appeared on this story by tomorrow morning, I'm not planning on adding further links.

Sim: I've just checked once again, and I can still get access to the FT article .... without having paid any subscription, so I've no idea why you're having problems.

Links – Wednesday, March 6, 2013 News – Sergei Filin Incident – Now 3 arrests: Miriam Elder, Guardian Courtney Weaver, Financial Times (& lots elsewhere) Review – San Francisco Ballet, Program 4 – Scotch Symphony, Within the Golden Hour, From Foreign Lands: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times NY Review - Martha Graham Company, Joyce Theater Season: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Preview – Mark Morris Dance Group, Socrates, The Muir, The Office: Robert Johnson, NJ Star-Ledger NY Preview – “Ice Hot” Nordic Companies: Rebecca Milzoff, NY Times Interview/Preview – Rosie Kay Dance Company, There Is Hope: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs News – English National Ballet ‘Emerging Dancer” Results: Press Release, DanceTabs Zoe Anderson, Independent Graham Watts, Londondance Canadian TV Series Preview – The Next Step: Kathryn Greenaway, Montreal Gazette News – Livestream next Monday of ROH ‘Elitism’ Debate + performances: Telegraph

This is the most informative link I've found as I shut down tonight - from the Guardian's Moscow correspondent. Names the male dancer, a suspected acid thrower, and a getaway driver. No girl mentioned. http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/mar/05/bolshoi-director-acid-attack-arrest

This must be catching! I see that today's Times 2 (if online, it'll be behind the paywall) has a somewhat similar feature to that in the Telegraph on Football Academies, with the first example a lad assessed-out at Age 9.

Janet: Still no sign of any reviews - save your own, of course! Do you know if there was/is to be a later Press Night?

I've just posted this BBC News link in today's roundup - many like it are appearing all the time now. No sign of a name thus far: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21666166#TWEET642880

Links – Tuesday, March 5, 2013 News – Sergei Filin Incident, Unnamed man being questioned: BBC News (and elsewhere) Reviews – National Ballet of Canada, Nijinsky: Paula Citron, Globe and Mail Dana Glassman, National Post Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Review – Miami City Ballet, La Valse, Steadfast Tin Soldier, Tchai PDD, Symphonic Dances: Jordan Levin, Miami Herald Galleries – ENB’s Emerging Dancer Competition 2013: Leon Neal, National Post Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Review – Diablo Ballet, The Blue Boy, La Covacha, Flight of the Dodo: Mary Ellen Hunt, SF Chronicle News – Joni Mitchell to work with Alberta Ballet: Marsha Lederman, Globe and Mail Review – China Gansu Dance Theater, Silk Road: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Ballet Black, War Letters Mixed Bill: Graham Watts, Londondance NY Review – Martha Graham Contemporary Dance, Mixed Bill: Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes Feature – Darcey Bussell Anecdotes: John Walsh, Independent on Sunday US TV Series Feature – Bunheads: Boer Deng, The Atlantic NZ Preview – Lisa Densem/Footnote Dance: Sophie Speer, Dominion Post Interview – Randall Chiarelli, Lighting Designer at PNB: Alice Kaderlan, Crosscut Feature – B-Boys meet Bach: Melissa Lesnie, Limelight Brooklyn Rail for March: Siobhan Burke & Cassie Peterson Brooklyn Rail Interview – Ulyana Lopatkina: Laura Cappelle, Pointe via Bella Figura Video Interview – Misty Copeland & Virginia Johnson: CBS New York

Some very different pictures: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/04/ballet-dancers-eternalized-in-painting-like-photographs/

Training to be a Critic? A link, possibly of some relevance here: http://danceistheword.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/keep-asking-questions/#more-381 Any danger in a Company being behind such training? Discuss .......