Sim

I thought Yuhui was quite underpowered as the Queen of the Dryads.

I completely agree with Clara’s excellent post above. I thought Fumi’s depiction of Kitri was fun, flirtatious, warm, elegant and technically excellent whilst all the time remembering that this is a classical ballet and not the place for vulgarity. For me, she ticked all the boxes to get this character right. Considering that she and Camargo don’t know each other and had little rehearsal time, and that he is new to the company, they had nice chemistry, flirting and joking with each other, and lots of eye contact. I liked him because he was a very likeable Basilio. I was also very impressed with Nicol Edmonds as Espada...he got the balance just right: a jaunty, tongue-in-cheek arrogance coupled with excellent dancing. I really liked Itziar’s Mercedes too. Isabella Gasparini sparkled as Amour, and I would have been happy if she had just stood still on the stage and flashed us that splendid sunny smile! Lukas B-B and Romany (apt name!) Pajdak smouldered as the gypsy couple. Gary Avis gave a very poignant account of the Don. For me, this was a wonderful performance all round.

Fabulous Fumi!!

A lovely dancer and a lovely human being. So well deserved!

The cast sheet does still tell you how many times a ballet has been performed.

Where are those?

I thought so, marked with an asterisk, but clearly we are both wrong! 😃

I have interviewed Ivan and will be posting it up this week.

The performances I have attended have finished by about 10:20 - 10:25. They have to finish by 10:30 in any case, so you will be out by then!

I seem to remember they did once upon a time, but I stand corrected.

Cast sheets used to say if if it was a dancer’s debut in a role. Why have they stopped doing that?

Yes we all know they were making their debuts, but that’s what TTP is commenting on; the first impressions.

Is that Mrs Ian by any chance?

Lukas B-B said on Instagram that Romany Pajdak had learned the role of the lead Gypsy Girl in one day. Bravo to her!

I will say it again....just make the cast change announcements before the curtain goes up! How hard can it be? They had cast change sheets when I went last night, but if there are any last-minute changes, or not enough cast change sheets, and the staff aren’t aware....announce them to the audience! This should be done as a matter of course because even if change sheets are available not everyone gets them. It’s a matter of informing the audience and showing the hard-working dancers the respect they deserve.

Bennet Gartside posted a picture of the crowd on Instagram. He said it’s the biggest crowd he has seen in his 25 years of leaving through that door. I haven’t seen that many since the Naghdi/Ball R&J! But I usually don’t go to the stage door so I wouldn’t really know. I think crowd numbers not only depend on the dancers, but also day of the week, weather, etc.

Springbourne is probably referring to the last run? I didn’t like Melissa’s Queen of the Dryads...I actually found it brittle and not very classical. I loved Fumi’s: so elegant and beautiful.

Dawnstar says she is sitting....

Welcome to London SMBallet! I hope you enjoy the show tonight. I also hope you all manage to meet up.

Good point Capybara, and I agree. We get a very well-rounded view here.

Such a winning smile! 😍

Me too. Keep ‘em coming Dave!

ToThePointe has looked back on some wonderful performances by the Royal Ballet in La Bayadere in November. She has brought them all back to life for me and, accompanied by some lovely Bill Cooper photos, the piece has revived some very pleasant memories! http://tothepointemagazine.wixsite.com/tothepointemagazine/single-post/2019/02/20/La-Bayadere-at-The-Royal-Ballet?fbclid=IwAR0AuStcGc_VRku5mqEwZ8UWg97SrDP907ETTOfVugh1f5czHOTj2qETzNs

Another wonderful performance tonight. I am liking Akane Takada more and more each time I see her. I will hold my hands up and admit that it took me a long time to understand why she was made a principal, but now I totally get it and am a huge admirer of hers. I thought she did embody the character very convincingly, and maybe this came through more in the theatre than on the screen. She is different from other Kitris in that her portrayal is perhaps more subtle...but she uses her eyes so well and so flirtatiously that it’s all there, but in a less overt way. Her dancing is sublime, so assured and so beautiful. Alexander Campbell was excellent...so much fun and a natural comedian. Fumi Kaneko once again was luminous as the Queen of the Dryads, pulling out those Italian fouettés like very few can (bring on Lilac Fairy!), and Anna-Rose O’Sullivan sparkled like a diamond as Amour. Valentino Zucchetti and Mayara Magri were fine as Espada and Mercedes, but they lack the sheer presence and chemistry of Hirano and Morera in the roles. The whole cast had lots of fun, and therefore so did I!

Yep!