Ian Macmillan

Links – Saturday January 26, 2013 Comment – Benjamin Millepied to be Director at POB: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Sergei Filin Update: Miriam Elder, Guardian Interview – Mikhail Baryshnikov, Art Collector: Marina Harss, DanceTabs “Critical Crossroads” – a Theatre Critic looks into the (his/our) future: Mark Shenton, The Stage Overview – NYCB’s Tchaikovsky/Balanchine Season: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Reviews – San Francisco Ballet, Gala Program: Mary Ellen Hunt, SF Chronicle Janos Gereben, SF Examiner Review – Suresnes Cités Danse, Festival Programme: Laura Cappelle, Financial Times Review – Ballet B.C., Herman Schmerman, 1st Flash, Petite Cérémonie: Janet Smith, Straight.com Vancouver Review – Yvonne Rainer & Group, Triple Bill: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Arturo Vidich, The Daedalus Effect and other dilemmas: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Reviews – Resolution! 2013: James Morgan & Keith Watson, The Place Fortu Angelini, Me-Dea Hanna Wroblewski, My heart became this monster Tamzen Moulding/Inverted, Last Dance Reviews – London International Mime Festival: Miguel Moreira & Romeu Runa, The Old King: Judith Mackrell, Guardian and Zoe Anderson, Independent Gandini Juggling, Smashed: Zoe Anderson, Independent Martin Zimmerman & Dimitri de Perrot, Hans was Heiri: Zoe Anderson, Independent News – New East London Dance Development Programme: Sarah Kearney, LondonDance Preview – Washington DC Area, Spring Dance Events: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Preview – Aurélie Pedron, Corps caverneux: Victor Swoboda, Montreal Gazette

So how about this one in the Telegraph? (Seems the same story to me.) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9827685/Bolshois-principal-ballet-dancer-interviewed-over-acid-attack-on-artistic-director.html

Other than stating that police have questioned Mr Tsiskaridze and other Bolshoi staff members, something that one might say was entirely to be expected, I'm not sure that this Moscow report in the Guardian adds much to what we know: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jan/25/bolshoi-acid-attack-police-question-star

John: During this week's Links stint, I've noticed what must be another change. On completion of posting on the Forum, pushing the Hashtag button to bring up the posting entry number in the URL now reveals a new, narrow window saying "Share Post #whatever," and this contains the URL for the post in question, plus various icons underneath. I've been highlighting for copy/paste to Twitter, but I rather suspect the Twitter icon might do that in some more direct way.

Something from this morning's Links: http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/birmingham-culture/music-in-birmingham/2013/01/25/birmingham-royal-ballet-sinfonia-orchestra-is-one-big-happy-family-65233-32653261/

Links – Friday January 25, 2013 Announcement & Selected Comment – Benjamin Millepied to be Director at Paris Opera Ballet: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Marina Harss, WordPress Wendy Perron, Dance Magazine Sarah Crompton, Telegraph David Ng, LA Times (taking a LA Dance project angle) And, perhaps inevitably: Chelsea White, Daily Mail Sergei Filin Update: Reuters, NY Times Review – Royal Ballet, Onegin: Neil Norman, Express Interviews with – 5 of The Trocks: Graham Watts, DanceTabs Review – NYCB’s Tchaikovsky/Balanchine Season: Leigh Witchel, NY Post Review – BalletBoyz, The Talent 2013, Serpent, Fallen: Sarah Crompton, Telegraph Reviews – Resolution! 2013: Graham Watts and Jessica Sabatini, The Place Arc Dance, A Sense of Beauty Tara D’Arquian, May our bodies become bodies again Sounding Motion, Naturale Reviews – Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Dorrance Dance, SOUNDspace New Ballet Ensemble & School, Memphis, El Rey de Harlem, The Swan Feature – Stuart Shugg/Trisha Brown Dance Company: Alex Witchel, NY Times Q and A Feature – SFB’s Sarah Van Patten: Sam Whiting, SF Chronicle Feature – The Royal Ballet Sinfonia: Christopher Morley, Birmingham Post And San Francisco Ballet had its Annual Gala last night. As ever, pictures of very fancy frocks come first, with reviews of the onstage action to follow: SF Chronicle

Very possibly: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2267660/Is-Natalie-Portman-quitting-Hollywood-Actresss-husband-Benjamin-Millepied-accepts-prestigious-ballet-job-Paris.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

A hopeful update on Mr Filin's condition and prospects: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/01/24/arts/24reuters-russia-bolshoi-attack.html?smid=tw-share

A quick check reveals - predictably, I suppose - that most press links since Roslyn Sulcas' NYT piece earlier all major on "Black Swan." Hopefully, there will be some more considered comment for tomorrow's Links.

Writer/critic Laura Cappelle has been tweeting over the past hour from the Press Conference in Paris. Some highlights: Season 2014-15 will be programmed by Mme Lefèvre to permit a transition. (NB: the handover is after next season, in September 2014) There's apparently no time limit on his contract. Surprising? He says Nureyev is part of POB's history but, in time, he might want to change some things. He's not bringing any new staff with him. Stephane Lissner, soon to take over as General Director at The Opera, said he met 9 candidates, in France and abroad. He (Millepied) wants to do Opera /Ballet collaborations. He wants POB to tour more and to open the company to his generation of classical choreographers. And his first new piece next season will be a Daphnis and Chloe.

Links – Thursday January 24, 2013 BREAKING NEWS - Benjamin Millepied to be next Director at Paris Opera Ballet: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Reviews – Royal Ballet, Onegin: Jann Parry, DanceTabs Margaret Willis, One Stop Arts Gallery - Dave Morgan, DanceTabs (Different cast) Interview – Liam Scarlett, the RB’s new Artist in Residence: DanceTabs Review – Merce Cunningham work at Philadelphia Museum: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Review – NYCB’s Tchaikovsky/Balanchine Season: Robert Johnson, NJ Star-Ledger Review – Fomenko Studio, Sailors and Whores: John Freedman, Moscow Times Reviews – Resolution! 2013: Esther Loxham & Josephine Leask, The Place Charlie Dixon Company, Long Road Elena Jacinta, Pieces of Mosaic AlottaFagina, We are made of stories …. Feature – Jirí Kylián & Australian Ballet: Valerie Lawson, Dancelines Preview – Kota Yamazaki, (glowing): Jordan Levin, Miami Herald

The New York Times has just posted this news under Roslyn Sulcas byline: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/arts/dance/benjamin-millepied-to-be-paris-opera-ballet-director.html

OK, folks - here's your chance, providing you live close to London, are over 18, and can fit in the necessary performances. A 150-word review of something seen in the last year is needed to support your application, so somebody on here must be in the running for this! Found on Arts Desk: http://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/publics-chance-be-olivier-awards-2014-judge Not much more info on the Olivier site at: http://www.olivierawards.com/news/view/item167027/olivier-awards-offers-judging-opportunity/ So go to it, people - the honour of BalletcoForum is at stake!

And Classic FM has just sent an email announcing a competition for 4 tickets + goodies: http://www.classicfm.com/win/birmingham-royal-ballet-aladdin/?cmpid=E.Classic_Commercial_Solus_(23.01.13)_(BhamRoyalBallet)%20(1)&CMP=EMC-SP .... and the story comes from Grimm's fairytales, dunnit??

Links – Wednesday January 23, 2013 Bolshoi London Season Confirmed: Ismene Brown, Arts Desk Sergei Filin - Latest Bolshoi Sitrep and Interview: Ismene Brown, Arts Desk AP news item: Guardian Review – NYCB’s Tchaikovsky/Balanchine Season: Robert Gottlieb, NY Observer Review – Dorrance Dance, SOUNDspace: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company, Dlamenco Vivo (NY): Brian Seibert, NY Times Feature/Preview – The Rite at 100/Compagnie Marie Chouinard: Spider Kedelsky, Crosscut Review – American Realness Festival/Miguel Gutierrez et al: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Reviews – Myriam Gourfink, Breathing Monster: Eiko and Koma, The Caravan Project: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Mikhail Baryshnikov Photo Exhibition: Viktoria Koltsova, St Petersburg Times Preview – Robert Moses’ Kin, Nevabawarldapece: Rita Felciano, SF Bay Guardian

Links – Tuesday January 22, 2013 Reviews – Royal Ballet, Onegin: Clement Crisp, Financial Times Mark Monahan, Telegraph Judith Mackrell, Guardian Zoë Anderson, Independent Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Graham Watts, LondonDance Review – Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company, Flamenco Vivo (NY): Marina Harss, DanceTabs Tour Reviews – BalletBoyz: The Talent 2013, Serpent, Fallen: Zoë Anderson, Independent Katie Colombus, The Stage Blog Review – National Ballet of Canada, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Wendy Perron. Dance Magazine Preview – Kremlin Theatre Classical Ballet, Beauty and the Beast (Eagling/Vangelis): Olga Bugrova, Voice of Russia Sergei Filin’s condition: Kirill Rudenko and others, Russia Beyond The Headlines An interview extract worth considering: Sir Antonio Pappano: Jessica Duchen, JDCMB (with link to the main piece)

Links – Monday January 21, 2013 Reviews – Royal Ballet, Onegin: Judith Flanders, Arts Desk Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Review – National Ballet of Canada, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Houston Ballet announces its 2013-14 Season: Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle Review – Joffrey Ballet, Rite of Spring, Age of Innocence, After the Rain (Dallas): Margaret Putnam, TheaterJones Tour Review – BalletBoyz: The Talent, Serpent, Fallen: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Gallery – Dave Morgan, DanceTabs Review – Limón Dance Company, Mazurkas, Moor’s Pavane, Come with Me: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review - Parsons Dance, Black Flowers, Dawn to Dusk, Wolfgang, Caught, In the End: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature – DanceQuest at work in Edinburgh schools: Alice Wyllie, Scotsman Ballet and boredom for boys? Nicholas Lezard, New Statesman Reviews – Resolution! 2013: Mil Vukovic, The Place Georgia Tegou, Yet Another Day Anna Watkins, Inseparable Matthew Robinson, Vacant Skin Late Preview – Robert Moses’ Kin, NEVABAWARLDAPECE: Andrea Pflaumer, SF Examiner Feature – Greek Dance, spreading the word: Larry Schwartz, Sydney Morning Herald The Sergei Filin Assault: News of an arrest for email hacking: The Australian Some new nuances: Arts Desk Another operation: Russia Beyond The Headlines And now for Ballet in a pub: Alexi Duggins, Time Out London

The Arts Desk piece on all this vanished for a time today, possibly to allow inclusion of another update indicating that Mr Tsiskaridze has now described the attack as "monstrous." http://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/bolshoi-ballet-chief-attacked-acid-his-sight-threatened

Might we get cards on the table here before proceeding further? Is there a feeling being expressed that being British and being excellent in this particular field are in some way mutually exclusive?

Judith Mackrell (Guardian) caught the start of the tour in Watford: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jan/20/balletboyz-the-talent-review Sounds very good, indeed. I'll be hoping to catch them in Cambridge towards the end of the run.

Judith Flanders is first off the starting blocks for Arts Desk: http://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/onegin-royal-ballet-0 Not too keen on Reilly's portrayal, I see.

Links – Sunday January 20, 2013 Tamara Rojo on risks in UK visa rules: Jonathan Prynn, Lindsay Watling, Evening Standard Reviews – Resolution! 2013: Donald Hutera & Gail Shock, The Place Jordan Massarella, The #Visitors present a ‘# Visitorial’ Benjamin Ord & Paola Mangiola, Take me home and make me like it Interdigitate, Does My …. Do I Luke Jennings, Observer Joseph Mercier, Throb, A Cardiovascular Romance Ji-Eun Lee, Play. Back. Again. Then. Brian Gillespie, Independently Dependent Jeffrey Taylor, Sunday Express Chris James Pavia, Captured by the Dark Tom Bowes, Brute Annarita Mazzilli, For How Much? Preview/Feature – Doug Varone and Dancers, Stripped/Dressed: Joseph Carman, LA Times Reviews– Derevo, Harlekin: Neil Norman, Daily Express Jenny Gilbert, Independent on Sunday (+ Circle of Eleven at Mime Festival) Review – Parsons Dance, Dawn to Dusk, Black Flowers, Caught: Leigh Witchel, NY Post Preview – Marie Béland, Bleu-Vert-Rouge: Victor Swoboda, Montreal Gazette Q & A – Choreographer Olivier Wevers: Alice Kaderlan, Crosscut Review – Catherine Cabeen, Fire: Alice Kaderlan, Crosscut Film Review – Ballroom Dancer: Philip French, Observer Sergei Filin: I have not spotted anything materially new on this incident, but am adding this Sunday Telegraph piece as a summary of what has been published over the last 48-72 hours: Sunday Telegraph And if all that wasn’t bad enough, Darcey has gone up to size 8! Mail on Sunday

The context was a discussion/debate about "Making London Even Greater" or somesuch, so I think it was fair enough. There will be plenty of other occasions on which she may feel it's more appropriate to expound on the funding issue - and I'd guess we can count on her doing so when she sees the need arise.

Katherine: Those box seats certainly made an interesting change but, for a once ever visit, I might opt for the closer-up view of a stalls seat. If doing so, please NB Alison's advice about booking some rows back/up - you risk having a group of courtiers or somesuch parked in front of you at times and blocking your view if seated too close to the front.

Katherine: Whereas we had always previously seen ENB's productions in the RAH from Stalls seats, our most recent "Swan Lake" was viewed from the last Grand Tier or Second Tier box on the right of the seating plan, next to the Stage area, and I remember thinking that it conferred a wholly different, and thoroughly satisfying, experience. (And, taking Alison's point, I'm fairly sure we were in the second row of seats in the box.) A bit more distant than the stalls, but looking down into the mass of swans rushing in and then their formations worked very well - and I still recall Daria Klimentova emerging in a lift through a cloud of dry ice. Marvellous! (And now I come to think of it, this was early in her partnership with young Muntagirov, in the year when the rehearsals were recorded for that TV series with Derek Deane slating her and most everybody else.)