Ian Macmillan

Cathy Marston's "Jane Eyre" will have its World Premiere in Doncaster tonight - and, for too many reasons, I can't be there! I wish her and the Company every success and will finally catch up when they are in Richmond (West London) on 31 May/1 June. If I'm right, this will be Cathy's first major work in the UK since ending her term as Director in Bern - and the Company page for the show is here: https://northernballet.com/jane-eyre?place=homebar

Should she return to London, it does not necessarily follow that Ms Hamilton would do so as a Principal. Sarah Lamb was a Principal with Boston Ballet before crossing the Atlantic to join the Royal Ballet, initially as Soloist.

Melody: As a Scot, I do wonder about the 'Mondegreen' business and was quite surprised when I first came across it as a phenomenon for I'd never been in any doubt concerning those words of "The Bonnie Earl O' Moray." And as it's now ringing in my ear, excuse me whilst I assume a suitable heldentenor pose to declaim: Ye Hielands and Ye Lowlands, O whaur hae ye been? They hae slain the Earl O' Moray And ..... Lady Mondegreen???? Surely not? Is 'laid him on the green' so impenetrable? (But there are words that probably need footnotes later on!)

Well folks, regardless of what's been said here, sales of the doll have apparently done well. Barbie herself tells us so here, the pronouncement endorsed by Ms Copeland: http://twitter.com/Barbie/status/732296548017537025

Noting that the dancers thus far have all been Cuban, I note that the Royal Albert Hall is advertising the October run thus: "For this very special programme, he will perform with some of his closest contemporaries from The Royal Ballet with accompaniment from a live orchestra." So, will that be a substantially different show?

Ismene Brown gives the pot a stir in a Spectator blog (and she's maybe not a Deborah Bull fan?): http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/05/critics-must-be-allowed-to-discuss-how-performers-look-height-weight-hair-colour-race-bum-size-its-all-fair-game/

Bruce: Thanks for that, certainly confirming my impression. But I wonder also to what extent it helps that a number of the Balanchine pieces recur regularly over there, keeping them in the company muscle memory to an extent that the RB's scheduling perhaps doesn't permit here?

On rehearsal time, I was struck once again during my recent Links stint that the dancers of New York City Ballet seem to cope with a more varied repertory than any we're used to over here. It's as if they're coping with several mixed bills in succession most weeks.

It would probably be too much to hope that Ms Burton-Hill was effectively auditioning to become the presenter for the ROH streaming events. (She and Alison Balsom have been presenting the BBC Young Musician rounds on TV this year - a pleasing and knowledgeable pair, if I may presume to comment.)

Ladies and Gents, and for what it's worth, I give you this from "Russia Beyond The Headlines": http://rbth.com/arts/theatre/2016/05/10/is-natalya-osipova-set-for-a-return-to-the-bolshoi-in-the-new-season_591839

Links – Thursday, 12 May, 2016 Feature – Alexei Ratmansky: Russian Poetry and an American Pulse: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Speculation? – Is Natalia Osipova set for a return to the Bolshoi in the new season? Leyla Guchmazova, Rossiyskaya Gazeta via RBTH Reviews – New York City Ballet, Ballo Della Regina, Kammermusik No2, Vienna Waltzes, NY: Marina Harss, DanceTabs Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Review – American Ballet Theatre, Sylvia, NY: Marina Harss, DanceTabs Reviews – Rambert, Tomorrow, Terra Incognita, A Linha Curva, London: Clement Crisp, Financial Times Judith Mackrell, Guardian Rachel Elderkin, The Stage Mark Monahan, Telegraph Alice Westoby, Londondance Vera Liber, BTG News – Plans announced for major Dance Hub in East London: Lyndsey Winship, Evening Standard Review – Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Songs of the Wanderers, London: Graham Watts, Londondance Review – Cecilia Lisa Eliceche, Unison, London: Josephine Leaske, Londondance Review – Candoco Dance Company, Friday Late Spectacular, London: Ruth Mattock, Londondance Review – Malpaso, Why You Follow, 24 Hours and a Dog, Bad Winter, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Timesh Feature – Why everyone is jookin with Lil Buck: Susan Reiter, LA Times Review – Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Out of Keeping, NNNN, A Picture of You Falling, Solo Echo, Boston: Jeanne Denizard, Examiner.com Review – Burning Man Dance Company, Artimus, Auckland: Roxanne de Bruyn, Theatreview Preview – Ballet B.C., Bill, 16 + a room, I and I am You, Vancouver: Deborah Myers, Vancouver Sun News – 2Faced Dance Company to host Bench Equality Event: Denise Drake, Londondance Review – Newton Moraes Dance Theatre, Testosterone, Toronto: Lee Slinger, Dance Current Review – Swan Lake on Ice, Hong Kong: Kevin Ng, TimeOut HK And you may not want to miss Museum Dance-Off 2016: Steph Harmon, Guardian

I saw first saw Chroma on its third night in 2006, back in the ballet.co era. Later that night, in penning some remarks, I asked if anyone could explain to me one of the passages in Mr McGregor's programme notes. Nigh on 10 years later I am without response.

Lee, many thanks, most helpful and I'm now fully in the picture - one that seems remarkably short on female dancers. And once Wayne McG has grown the dark beard that he seems to have started, we can perhaps have another day full of comment on how well it fits with his shaven head. Such fun!

Links – Wednesday, 11 May, 2016 Interview/Feature – Liam Scarlett, inside the Royal Ballet’s Frankenstein: Guy Kelly, Telegraph Reviews – American Ballet Theater, Sylvia, NY: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes Reviews – New York City Ballet, Mothership, American Rhapsody, Gala etc, NY: Robert Greskovic, Wall St Journal Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal/DanceBeat Review – José Mateo Ballet Theatre, The Even and The Odd, Back to Bach, dark Profiles, Cambridge, Mass: Thea Singer, Boston Globe Review – Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Songs of the Wanderers, London: Gerald Dowler, Classical Source Preview – West Australian Ballet, Beauty and the Beast (Nixon), Perth: Nina Levy, West Australian News – Jayne Smeulders final performance with West Australian Ballet: Stephen Bevis, West Australian Feature – Re-staging MacMillan’s Sea of Troubles: Rachel Elderkin, Londondance Gallery – Wayne Parsons & Morgann Runacre-Temple, London: Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Preview – Gerard & Kelly, Modern Living, New Canaan, CT: Julie Baumgardner, NY Timesh Preview – Pilobolus, On the Nature of Things, Walklyndon, Extracts, Santa Rosa: Mary Ellen Hunt, SF Chronicle Preview – David Herrera Performance Company, The Least of Them, SF: Mary Ellen Hunt, SF Chronicle Preview – SF Conservatory of Dance Workshop: Lou Fancher, SF Classical Voice Review – Danzabierta, Malson, Miami: Jordan Levin, Miami Herald Preview – Miami/Lisbon Dance Exchange, Miami: Juan Carlos Perez-Duthie, Miami Herald And for the record: Teacup Storm News – Edward Watson deals with criticism: Yesterday’s Times via Guardian (and now elsewhere)

The papers continue to feed off one another - now it's the Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3582475/Royal-Ballet-star-hits-critic-s-ridiculous-obsession-red-hair.html

SBF, concerning your #15: For 'Grauniad' one needs to be of a certain age - though BBB is a good deal younger than myself. There was a time, back in the 1980s I'd say, during which the Guardian became infamous for its number of typographical errors in print ... and some wag came up with 'Grauniad' as a version of the title that will stick with some of us till the crack of Doom.

I have to say that the last couple of hours have again shown how ill-suited Twitter is to reasoned explanation. (And it's Mishal Husain, not Michelle Hussein.)

The article - also covered at the end of BBC 4's Today programme - is in today's Times and, thus, behind its paywall. And for the record, Edward Watson did not mention Mr Macaulay by name - that was an assumption made by the reporter.

Links – Tuesday, 10 May, 2016 Review – Royal Ballet, Frankenstein, London: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Reviews – Los Angeles Ballet, Romeo and Juliet (Ashton), LA: Lewis Segal, LA Times Steven Woodruff, SeeDance News Previews – Joffrey Ballet, Cinderella (Ashton), Chicago: Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Review – New York City Ballet, Belles Lettres, Mothership, American Rhapsody, Concerto DSCH, NY: Juan Michael Porter II, BWW Review – New York City Ballet, Ballo Della Regina, Kammermusik 2, Vienna Waltzes, NY: Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes Reviews – Washington Ballet, Bowie & Queen Double Bill, DC: Hilary Stroh, Bachtrack Pamela Roberts, BWW - Radio Feature - Septime Webre: Jason Fraley, WTOP News Review – Boston Ballet, Mirrors Quad Bill, Boston: Marcia B Siegel, Arts Fuse Review – Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Songs of the Wanderers, London: Shelley Pinto-Duschinsky, Bachtrack International Tour Preview – Ballet BC, All-female Choreographer Bill: Martha Schabas, Globe and Mail Review – Cecilia Lisa Eliceche, Unison, London: Sara Veale, DanceTabs Review – Liss Fain Dance, Tacit Consent, SF: Rita Felciano, Danceviewtimes Review – Glade Dance Collective, Voices – 8 Works, DC: George Jackson, Danceviewtimes News – BBO to be Bbodance, with The BalletBoyz as ADs: Matthew Hemley, The Stage News – Phoenix Dance Theatre moving to large-scale touring: Matthew Hemley, The Stage Interviews – 5 Graduates of Canadian Dance programs: Emily Holmes, Dance Current Late Review – Ailey II, All New Quad Bill, NY: Marianne Adams, Danceviewtimes

Links – Monday, 9 May, 2016 Interview – Natalia Osipova & Sergei Polunin: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Review – New York City Ballet, American Rhapsody (Wheeldon), NY: Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Review – Royal Ballet, Frankenstein (Scarlett), London: Katja Vaghi, Bachtrack Reviews – Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Songs of the Wanderer, London: Louise Levene, Financial Times Rachel Elderkin, The Stage Review – Boston Ballet, Mirrors Quad Bill, Boston: Jeffrey Glantz, Boston Globe Review – Smuin Ballet, Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino, Oasis, Return to a Strange Land, SF: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Report – San Francisco Ballet, Onegin, SF: Sylvia McCleary, Examiner.com Review – Company Chordelia/Peter McMaster, Nijinsky’s Last Jump, 27: Glasgow, Herald Interview – Australian Choreo Lucy Guerin on Macbeth and Tomorrow: Graham Watts, DanceTabs Review – Colin Gee & Angie Smalis, Chaplet of Roses, They Go Out in Joy, NY: Siobhan Burke, NY Times News – Ghenoa Gela wins 2016 Keir Choreographic Award: Staff, Daily Review And….. though it happened last year, it’s worth it for the pictures once again: Gallery – Australian Ballet’s Outdoor Swans: Mail Online

In advance of the Sadler's Wells show, both dancers have been interviewed by Judith Mackrell: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/08/natalia-osipova-and-sergei-polunin-interview I imagine that Mr Polunin's stated desire to return and guest with the Royal Ballet - "a conversation I would really like to have" - may cause some stir.

Off the top of my head: Cathy Marston has worked with Edward Kemp, Director at RADA, on the majority of her successful narrative works. Scottish Ballet brought in theatre director Nancy Meckler for its acclaimed Streetcar Named Desire. So I'm sure there is plenty of theatrical help out there. It just needs someone to ask - and, apologies if I'm wrong, but isn't this the second time that Liam Scarlett and the RB management have taken knocks on just this point?

Links – Sunday, 8 May, 2016 Reviews – Royal Ballet, Frankenstein (Scarlett), London: Luke Jennings, Observer Sarah Crompton, What's On Stage Jeffery Taylor, Sunday Express Feature – Balanchine’s Serenade: From primer to repertory classic: Robert Greskovic, Wall St Journal Review – Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Songs of the Wanderers, London: Lynette Halewood, DanceTabs Review – Washington Ballet, Bowie & Queen Double Bill, DC: Sarah L Kaufman, Washington Post Review – Rosie Kay Dance Company, 5 Soldiers, Edinburgh: Mark Brown, Herald Review – Diablo Ballet, Celebrated Masters Triple Bill, Walnut Creek: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Preview – Grand Rapids Ballet/Bruce Wells, Cinderella: Adrienne Warber, Examiner.com Interview – David Massingham, Co-Director International Dance Tesival Birmingham: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs News – New York dance troupe says shows banned over Falun Gong links: Alan Yuhas, Guardian Radio Preview – Rambert’s Dane Hurst, The Sprung Floor: Frances Byrne, Observer Review – Miami City Ballet, Heatscape, Viscera, Bouree Fantasque, NY: Oksana Khadarina, Fjord Review Review – Donald Byrd & Anna Deveare Smith, A Rap on Race, Seattle: Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times Review – Company Chordelia, Nijinsky’s Last Jump, Glasgow: Lorna Irvine, Fjord Review Interview – Cecilia Lisa Eliceche on Unison: Sara Veale, Fjord Review

Meanwhile, back in Bucharest, whilst we've been obsessing about Frankenstein, something stirs: https://adevaruldelaopera.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/press-release-of-ballet-department-bucharest-national-opera-house/ We might prefer that it had not done so, but it's another side to the story ...... Alternatively, there's this: https://despreopera.wordpress.com/english-versions/paul-curran-there-is-an-enormous-need-for-a-restructure-at-bno/

Just out of interest, did the chap who proposed the Boaty name (and later regretted it) have an entirely original idea - or was there something similar that may have sparked it in some other source - a film, book, etc etc? I make no claim to be au courant with all such things these days. (And I've just heard on BBC News that Boaty etc will be the name of one of the ship's submarine explorers.)