Ian Macmillan

Further to Wulff's post, above, the link is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/9053429/Sergei-Polunin-loses-right-to-work-in-UK.html It includes mention of an offer from ENB to do class there. And whilst we're at it, there were some odd Tweets, ostensibly from Mr Polunin, early this morning.

3 Reviews: NYCB All-Wheeldon Programme. Apollinaire Scherr Financial Times Robert Gottlieb New York Observer Deborah Jowitt Arts Journal Sergei Polunin to lose UK work permit? Telegraph Ethan Stiefel, AD of RNZB: mainly a style piece Dominion Post

Ann: Further to your post #6, thanks for your Thanks. Briefly, John and I have been exploring ways of doing Links in a session of some 30 minutes maximum and, if the site continues, finding an answer there could help ensure that they would remain in the longer term, and others might be happy to take a turn in doing them. So we're not at the stage of appointing a Coordinator just yet but, if all goes well, no doubt somebody would need to look after that side of things.

The statistics on 'views' of the Links threads on the site suggest that there is a fairly healthy degree of interest in them. What is not clear is the degree of use made of the links provided. To try and get some feel for this: Do users/visitors click on: a. 1 or 2 links? b. Most links? c. All links? I encourage as many users as possible to respond, especially those who are not regular posters or who have still to post at all. Additional comment on aspects of this would be welcome. For example, are your choices based on geography, companies/dancers concerned, or other influences?

I note that there have been 150 "views" of this thread since late last night, which suggests to me a fairly healthy level of interest. What that statistic does not illuminate is anything on the degree to which viewers have used the 11 links John has provided. I am about to start a thread in the Future Possibilities area at the top of the site frontpage that will try to explore this issue more fully, and I would urge users who might not normally post to go there and help us understand how useful this area of content would be to the community if it is continued in some way.

I'd be surprised if this departure was solely caused by a strop on Tuesday and would imagine that whatever happened then proved to be the final straw after behaviour or incidents over an extended period. And I did notice one thread of opinion in Tuesday's Twitter storm suggesting that this had been coming for some time.

A contribution, with a personal confession, to the "Is Ballet Dead?" debate: Feature: Mark Morris and Alexei Ratmansky Two Reasons The Patient Is Still Kicking by Alastair Macaulay "Today Mr. Morris and Mr. Ratmansky are the most important choreographers under 70…..Both are clever and prolific, with gifts for comedy and poetry, an intense awareness of historical precedent and a modern feeling for the sexes..." NY Times 2 Reviews: "Men in Motion" at Sadler's Wells Sergei Polunin is a man in motion byLouise Levene "Even if the Russian visitors had danced, I doubt they could have outshone Daniel Proietto whose mesmerising performance of Russell Maliphant's Afterlight was a welcome reminder that ballet does not have a monopoly on physical virtuosity" Telegraph Runaway Polunin bounds all too briefly into boys-only pop-up by Jenny Gilbert "But technical polish is nothing without good material. And that was in short supply in this peculiar venture. Of Putrov's own foray into choreography, a trio which seemed to be about a man who can't decide if he's gay or straight, the least said, the better." Independent Review: "Draft Works" - Choreography by RB Dancers and others by Luke Jennings " Given that seven of the choreographers are company dancers, there's an unsurprising tilt in favour of classically derived work, but this doesn't mean a shortage of original ideas." Observer Interview: Jorden Morris on Royal Winnipeg Ballet's "Moulin Rouge" by Molly Glentzer "Now there's lots of nudity and girls with snakes at the Moulin Rouge, but there wasn't in the 1880s. We keep it in context. Translating the cancan to pointe shoes was a big challenge." Houston Chronicle Interview: Actor Tom Skeritt on being Don Q for Pacific Northwest Ballet Ballet is a 'wonderful challenge' by Moira Macdonald " He knew that Ratmansky preferred to have actors, rather than dancers, play the roles of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza." Seattle Times If you remember when/things were really hummin': Chubby Checker awaits reward for life of twists by Joel Selvin "The 70-year-old creator of the twist, the greatest dance sensation in history, doesn't feel the respect he thinks he deserves." SF Chronicle

Further to my #35, I am no better informed after this morning's "Broadcasting House" feature than at any time since the news broke. His tattooing buddy had nothing substantive to add, but Ivan Putrov seemed to hint at having talked about "this" with him for about a year - however, I think that he meant the "Men in Motion" show rather than defection.

Mr Polunin appears to have spoken to the "Telegraph" though not, I'd say, in any very revealing fashion: "Polunin himself told The Sunday Telegraph he planned to spend the next few days "alone" before coming to a decision about his future. "It's a confusing time at the moment, I have made a big decision and the next one will be important so I don't want to rush it," he said, breaking his silence." http://www.telegraph...orming-out.html

Review: Paris Opera Ballet - "Onegin" Canadian Outsider Dazzles As Onegin by Patricia Boccadoro "Physically, they were right together, McKie’s lithe, powerful frame contrasting with Dupont’s slight, delicate body, all poise, womanliness and shining movements. The chemistry passed between the two of them…." Culturekiosque Film Review: "Balanchine in Paris" by Patricia Boccadoro "… a loving demonstration of how he maintained close ties with the Paris Opera Ballet throughout his life, returning regularly for Ravel and Stravinsky ‘festivals’ and to stage the danced sections of the operas Orfeo and Eurydice and Faust. " Culturekiosque Review: NYCB - Balanchine and Robbins Programme Three Stars Flaunting Their Styles: Flirty, Serene and Mysterious by Gia Kourlas "For such dancers who last, ballet is a living picture: each performance takes on a different shade of color, of intensity, of alertness." NY Times 2 Reviews: "Men in Motion"at Sadler's Wells: The media storm around one of its dancers doesn't stop this tribute to male movement from leaping with playful charm by Judith Mackrell "This is a slender evening but it's also one of real intelligence and surprising moments of passion. And it makes a pretty wonderful case for the male dancer." Guardian Men in emotion a more apt title as Royal Ballet star escapee takes his first steps off the leash by Ismene Brown "… essentially the dance numbers are five variants on being all by yourself in the moonlight and not, to be honest, dashing about in the thrilling way that ballet chaps usually tend to do." Arts Desk

A place for links to (hopefully) interesting articles, reviews and the like from across the global English-language press - but deliberately less comprehensive (and rather later in the day) than the "Today's Links" of old. Others are allowed to participate.........

This BBC News item may be of interest to folk in the London area: http://www.bbc.co.uk...cation-16762176 "The Class Free School would be aimed at boys aged 11 to 16 who may have taken ballet classes while at primary school and want to keep dancing into their teens."

The Toolbar only appears after selecting "New Topic" or "Reply to this topic." Ot at least that's what happens here. And I've just realised there's a "Collapse Toolbar" arrowhead above the text panel, to the right. If it's pointing to the Left on your screen, you will not see the Toolbar till you press to expand.

Looks like they can be used via the Reply system! Beyond that, I haven't looked.

I'm sure I just heard a trail for BBC Radio 4's Sunday morning programme "Broadcasting House" (9am) claiming they'll have an interview with Polunin's partner in the Tattoo Parlour venture! If not the horse's mouth, then perhaps the stable boy's?

Preview:'Onegin' comes to San Francisco Ballet by Mary Ellen Hunt "It's so dramatic and different and will be a great challenge to the dancers, particularly those who do the leading roles." SF Chronicle Review: San Francisco Ballet’s 2012 Gala Performance by K.W.Jeter "Where the total forces of San Francisco Ballet, dancers and musicians alike, came together with devastating effect on the gala audience was in the penultimate performance, the pas de deux from choreographer John Neumeier’s Lady of the Camellias masterpiece." California Literary Review Joffrey Ballet documentary honors the revolution that was choreographed by Sarah Kaufman " In the company’s early years, the Joffrey built a following among audiences new to ballet by ending performances with, in the words of one performer, a work of “zestful crap.”" Washington Post Feature: Highlighting diversity of black dancers is the goal of Toronto event by Paula Citron "As members of the International Association of Blacks in Dance would tell you, “blacks in dance” and “black dance” are two very different concepts." Globe and Mail Review: Royal Winnipeg Ballet - "Svengali" RWB’s story ballet lacks death, love, drama and other essentials of a good story by Natasha Gauthier "There is no tension, passion or catharsis. Everything is sketched out thinly and vaguely, supplemented by hackneyed symbolism, patronizingly explained in the program, as if we were junior-high students." Ottawa Citizen 2 Reviews: David Dorfman Dance - "Prophets of Funk" Let this funky bunch take you even higher by Leigh Witchel "There’s a mix of dancing styles, as well: loose modern dance, courageous jumps and plenty of funky disco." NY Post Sly Stone's funk revived in sound and sight by Gus Solomons Jr "Choreographically, there’s a little too much of full frontal unison movement, with the eight lined up across the stage doing unadulterated disco dancing." Gay City News

And, dare I say, in light of the great story of the moment, how refreshing to hear of some dancers apparently so happy with their lot.

As this saga has worn on, the thing that has rather got me simmering is Ivan Putrov on TV describing himself (and Polunin, of course) as 'artists,' in some way on a higher plane than other dancers who belong to companies, but who are simply 'craftsmen.' I fear that the dear chap may have, as they say, got somewhat up himself.

Ignoring all the coverage of Sergei Polunin carried by overseas papers and, indeed, whatever has appeared here on that today: Review: NYCB -"The Concert" by Apollinaire Scherr "The dancers’ timing was impeccable and their comic touch light enough that you felt as if you were being tickled for half an hour straight." Financial Times Sylvie Guillem to Make Rare New York Appearance Sylvie Guillem will bring her production “6000 miles away” to the David H. Koch Theater this spring, in a rare New York appearance. by Daniel J. Wakin NY Times, Arts Beat Review: San Francisco Ballet's Opening Gala by Paul Parish "It was a nuanced mixed bill….This gala gave an unusually thoughtful portrait of SFB and the community it serves, and what our values are." Bay Area Reporter

The piece on tonight's Channel 4 News: http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/display/playlistref/250112/clipid/250112_4ON_ballet_25

TV's Channel 4 has now chimed in with an article, "How hard is the life of a professional ballet dancer?" http://www.channel4....l-ballet-dancer as Polunin's departure "has once again raised the issue of the pressures faced by professional dancers, highlighted dramatically in Darren Aronofsky's 2010 film, Black Swan." Oh dear! I'm beginning to think that maybe he was an a spy all along, that his cover has been blown, and Moscow Central has recalled him. No less likely than the Tattoo Parlour explanation?

The rest of the world has not stopped completely on account of young Mr Polunin: Feature: BRB's Robert Parker and "Beauty and the Beast" Ballet star dances in The Duvet by Natalie Anglesey "“Initially, the great head of The Beast had restricted vision and the costume was really heavy. This newer outfit means I can see fairly well but, because you can’t see my face, I have learned to act with my whole body."" City Life Review: BRB's "Beauty and the Beast" by Glenn Meads "The Birmingham Royal Ballet turn their attention to the classic Beauty and the Beast and it fits them like a glove as it's a magical tale, full of all of the ingredients that make a fine ballet." WhatsOnStage Flickers of Dance: Lincoln Center’s annual Dance on Camera Festival is a must-see by Susan Reiter "With 14 programs packed into its five days, the festival includes films exploring a wide variety of dance styles, artists and institutions." CityArts Review: Monica Bill Barnes & Company Suddenly Summer Somewhere, Mostly Fanfare, Everything is getting better all the time by Marcia B. Siegel "In these three dances Barnes isn't just clowning around. Starting with subtle, nearly inert shadow-gestures, she assembles material from vaudeville, TV gags, cheerleading, rickety hand-me-down stunts — an encyclopedia of useable gambits." Boston Phoenix Preview: San Francisco Ballet and Cranko's "Onegin" by Andrew Gilbert "The ballet has been on Helgi Tomasson's wish list for years, and when the opportunity to add it to the repertoire arose, he didn't hesitate." MercuryNews (There's also a Smuin Ballet preview in there.) Ottawa Preview: A gothic tale from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet The classic story of Svengali is transformed to the world of dance by Natasha Gauthier "Instead of being a “dirty old Jew” like in the xenophobic book, Svengali is a young dancer desperate to escape his overbearing mother’s strict ballet school." Ottawa Citizen And on Burns' Night, via the New Yorker's Culture Desk: Wordnik

The Evening Standard has caught up: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/article-24030891-tattoos-tutus-and-tantrums-at-royal-ballet.do from which it seems his Mum has no more idea than the rest of us. And the traffic on Twitter continues apace ..........

Dave: I see that Judith Flanders has done so on Arts Desk: http://www.theartsde...-linbury-studio I like the sound of the Kristen McNally and Valentino Zucchetti pieces - and I was sure I'd read somewhere that Miss Rojo was supposed to have one on show? Tonight, perhaps? Edit: Scouting for anything new on L'affaire Polunin, just spotted the Indy piece that Lee has since added, below - and I see that miss R did, indeed, have something to show.

More in today's papers, though I think they are largely re-hashing each other's guesses in a general display of knowing not a lot about what's going on: Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/9037829/Sergei-Polunin-felt-constricted-at-Royal-Ballet.html Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/jan/25/royal-ballet-sergei-polunin-quits Over on Twitter, which others of you will follow more closely than myself, there appear to be hints about who knows what in the background and that this has perhaps been a long time coming. If so, and if it genuinely all blew open yesterday afternoon, I'd be a bit taken aback. Has he been taken on by an Agent, or is it all his own doing? And is there no Notice Period in a theatrical contract?