Sim

2 hours ago, Naughty Peregrine said:

Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just reporting back. I don’t know anything about the organisation or the organisers so have no ‘opinion’ either way.

How has PeterS morphed into Naughty Peregrine?!  🤔

Yes....very pleased that BRB is going to be doing Fille.  Bravo to them.  Does anyone know if Naughty Peregrine is still with us?

18 hours ago, PeterS said:

They did dance this together in the last run so it’s not completely from scratch. 

They did?  I saw Fumi with Bonelli but didn't realise she had danced it with Will also.  Dang, can't believe I missed it. 

 

I am with @Odyssey on this one.  If I leave SL feeling emotional and choked up, it is simply because of having witnessed such beauty, from corps, principals and soloists (combined with that perfect score).  It's not that I engage with these fairytale characters and get sad at the end because she/they die.  To quote Alison Moyet, I go weak in the presence of beauty.  That's it, pure and simple.   Like @Linnzi5 above, if I get emotional at the end of a MacMillan, or Onegin, it is because the characters are more real and I can relate to their weaknesses and tragedies.  With SL, it is sheer amazement that human beings can create something so beautiful.  When there is so much ugliness in the world perpetrated by humans, it always moves me when I am reminded in such a profound way of the good, positive side of our flawed species.

 

I have always preferred the versions where Siegfried and Odette die, and then have an apotheosis of some kind.  This is what the music is telling me at the very end......they will be together in eternity, and love has triumphed over evil (those final triumphant notes make this very clear).  For me, the music is taking them on their final journey, and leaves those of us back on Earth with that feeling of triumph and positivity.  That's why I loved the ending in Anthony Dowell's version.  

Thanks Trog for that informative review. Great to hear from you!  

10 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

Great review, thank you, @maryrosesatonapin! 

 

I wonder if the date can be changed to this year? 

Done. 

I love the white acts for their sheer balletic beauty. I find it very moving to see a beautiful corps dancing in unison. 

Gosh, just watching their curtain calls on Instagram almost makes me weep....I will be a mess when I see them perform the whole ballet!!  😄

@Ian Macmillan No, it has never happened to me, so hopefully Dave has now fixed the glitch.  

 

Much more importantly, I am so glad you didn't say "from whence".  That drives me nuts!!!  😂

4 minutes ago, Linnzi5 said:

William Bracewell has posted a lovely video of Fumi Kaneko rehearsing Odette/Odile on his Instagram account. I have to say, having only seen her in a rehearsal video with Bonelli, that she looks amazing and I can't wait to see Fumi dance these roles (I've seen William Bracewell dance Siegfried many times and know already that I will love him in this role). I am so excited to see Fumi's interpretation of the white and black swans - to see her dancing in a partnership I adore is something I didn't think I'd see this run - so I am feeling very, very fortunate. Fingers crossed all goes to plan tonight and that there are no travel issues! 

She was incredible in the last run.  Those Odile fouettes!  Those beautiful arms as Odette!  Sigh.  

Links – Friday, 15 March 2024

 

Review – Wayne McGregor Company, autobiography, Sadler’s Wells, Alastair Macaulay, Slipped Disc

 

Review – NYCB, Mixed Bill, Sadler’s Wells, Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Australia (paywall)

 

Review – San Francisco Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Balanchine), San Francisco, Jim Munson, Broadway World

 

Review – Houston Ballet, Bespoke, Houston, Adrienne Jones, Paper City Magazine

 

Review – Alberta Ballet, Hansel and Gretel, Calgary, Leonie O’Sullivan, The Gauntlet

 

Review – Carolina Ballet, The Little Mermaid, Raleigh, Megan Eesley, The Sea Hawk/

 

Feature – Czech National Ballet, La Fille mal gardee, Muscat, Staff, Muscat Daily

 

Featurette/Video - Wayne McGregor/Ben Cullen Williams, A Body for Harnasie, Festival Hall, David Stock, New Scientist

 

Interview – Kateryna Kukhar and Oleksander Stoianov of Grand Kyiv Ballet, Caedra Scott-Flaherty, Pointe Magazine

 

Interview – Daniel Reca of Sao Paolo Dance Company, Lottie Hood, Press and Journal

 

Interview – Simon Thew, New Music Director/Chief Conductor of Houston Ballet, Miranda Keating, Broadway World

 

Preview – Ballet Rambert in Aberdeen, Death Trap, David Porter, Grampian Online

 

Preview – Hofesh Schechter, Double Murder, Shanghai, Zhang Kun, China Daily

 

Preview – Tucson Ballet Closes Season with The New and The Old, Staff, Arizona Daily Star

 

News – American Ballet Theater Names Barry Hughson as Exec Director, Staff, New York Times (paywall)

 

News – Ballet Theater of Maryland Announces 2024-2025 Season, Staff, MD Theatre Guide

 

News – Salford Boy One of Only 12 Male Applicants Offered a Place at the RBS (coached by ex-RB dancer Tierney Heap), Paige Oldfield, Manchester Evening News

 

Article – Top 12 Ballet Films, Leah Marilla Thomas, Cosmopolitan

 

 

And the feelgood bit at the end…it’s never too late to learn something new!  Wishing you all a lovely weekend. 

 

 Article/Video – 90 Year-Old in Edinburgh Care Home Learns To Tap Dance, Daniel Lovatt,  Edinburgh Evening News

Just now, FionaM said:

 

he’s probably got his sights on the romantic lead roles first.  

No reason why he can't do both...as the company seems to be giving young dancers character roles, I can't see any reason why you can't be a Romeo and a GM, especially as it is unlikely that it would be in the same season.  Siegfried and GM?  Why not?!

18 hours ago, MildConcern said:

And I think we are in desperate need of new inspiration at the Monsieur GM role (Avis can’t be on every night!)
 

 

Having seen Lukas BB as a very sinister Von Rothbart and an evil Gaoler, I think he could make a very nasty GM in the next run.

Great news for Northern Ballet.  So happy to see what an impact Federico is already having on the company.  Now....to save its musicians.  

Someone who would definitely know has confirmed to me that Matty Ball is 5'11 1/2" tall.  So, five foot eleven and a half inches.

Links – Thursday, 14 March 2024

 

Review – Northern Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Leeds Grand Theatre, Geoffrey Mogridge, Wharfedale Observer

 

Review – Dutch National Ballet, Oedipus Rex and Antigone (Amsterdam), Eleanor Knight, Bachtrack

 

Review – NYCB, Mixed Bill, Sadler’s Wells, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Gramilano.

 

Reviews – Sao Paolo Dance Company, Mixed Bill, Lowry Theatre, Salford

   Danielle Roper, Manchester Evening News

   Flo Clifford, Mancunian Matters

 

Review – Sydney Dance Company, Ascent, ROH:  Theresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

 

Review – BalletLORENT, The Velveteen Rabbit, Sadler’s Wells,  Theresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

 

Review – American Contemporary Ballet, Jazz (Los Angeles),  Jillian Verzwyvelt,  Ballet Herald

 

Review – Dimitris Papaioannou, Ink, Sadler’s Wells: David Jays, Evening Standard

 

Obituary – Steve Paxton, Lyndsey Winship, Guardian

 

Feature – Artists or Athletes: Debunking Ballet Myths, Staff, South China Morning Post

 

Feature – Hip Hop and Breakdancing to Feature in Olympics Torch Relay, Olympics News

 

Feature – Chinese Street Dance Kemusan Going Viral:  Staff, China Daily

 

Previews – Ballets for Children at Easter:

Goldilocks – Kenton Theatre, Henley Henley Herald

The Tortoise and the Hare, Mansfield Palace Theatre,  Steve Eyley, Worksop Guardian

Ticket now spoken for.  

I am no longer able to attend this event. A very generous person kindly gave me this ticket and would not let me pay for it, so I in turn will do the same for anyone who wants it. Please DM me.  Seat is Clore E32.  

Now that a few days have passed since the emotional final night of Manon on Friday, I have been trying to collect my thoughts about the whole run.  Which was my favourite?  Which moved me the most?  The answer is...I can't answer!!  I saw seven of the nine casts and each of them brought something wonderful to the MacMillan table.  Both debutants and established interpreters of the roles moved me beyond measure, and each brought their own touches and interpretations to their performances.  Part of MacMillan's genius is that he leaves so much room for just such variances in portraying the characters that they are all interesting; none are right or wrong.  50 years after its premiere, Manon never fails to touch my heart, and the constant roster of RB artists who dance it never cease to amaze me with how deeply talented they are.  And I never stop being awestruck and grateful for how lucky we are to have these incredible artists in our midst.

Links – Wednesday, 13 March 2024

 

Reviews – Royal Ballet, Swan Lake, ROH London :

    Graham Watts, Bachtrack

    Fiona Maclean, London Unattached

 

Review – Pichet Klunchun, Cyber Subin (Taipei):  David Mead, Seeing Dance

 

Review – Alfonso Losa Flamenco Company (Boston) Espacio Creativo, Jessica Lockhart, The Arts Fuse

 

Preview/Interview – Mark Bruce, Frankenstein:  Sanjoy Roy,  The Guardian

 

Preview – YAGP Returns to NY for 25^th Anniversary Programs: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance/

 

Preview – 22^nd Chicago Flamenco Festival: Staff,  Choose Chicago

 

Preview – Seattle International Dance Festival, Staff,  Seattle Times

 

Preview – Strictly’s Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice in Spain: Alicia Liberty, Daily Express

 

News - 2024-2025 Season Announcements:

    Ballet West Announces 2024-2025 Season  En Face Magazine

    Atlanta Ballet Announces 2024-2025 Season En Face Magazine

 

News – Ex Student Reaches Settlement with Hammond After Body Shaming, Hayley Hassall, BBC

 

Article – Learning to Dance in the Bavarian Alps:  Steve King, The Telegraph

 

 

And here’s the feelgood bit at the end:

 

Video – CDK Dance Collective (Netherlands) Somebody That I Used To Know

Boing Boing

Gosh @Carol you don't waste any time....two minutes.  Must be a record!

I have booked for the first night.  

3 hours ago, LinMM said:

Would love to see Sambe’ and Hayward together in Fille 

They were brilliant in the last run.  Just as  I was mourning the retirement of Roberta Marquez, one of my all-time favourite Lises, along came those two and made me feel a whole lot better!

Alex has just posted a lovely tribute to Frankie Hayward on his Instagram.  Brought a tear to my eye.  

1 hour ago, Roberta said:

 

This one?  https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gray/hd_gray.htm

 

More about the work and a short video here.

 

https://www.nycballet.com/discover/ballet-repertory/gustave-le-gray-no-1/

Thanks so much, Roberta.  So the composer wrote some music to celebrate the photographer and Tanowitz liked the music so in turn made a piece on it.  I had never heard of Gustave, so this was very interesting (except the bit where he abandoned his wife and children).