bangorballetboy

Well, someone told me yesterday whom it is to be (apparently) and I not sure I believe them.

Well they were available at the Alice matinée a couple of weeks ago!

I think "erotic" is too nice a word for it. She is downright dirty (it's a great, if small, role for her).

No. Sweet Violets is very watchable but has a few wrinkles to iron out. It is easier to understand who the characters are if one reads the programme note beforehand but, in my opinion, there is some intentional ambiguity about what certain characters represent. The piece contains some wonderful choreography and is a good step on for a young choreographer. Carbon Life is enjoyable but as usual with McGregor, contains more style and less (if any) substance. There is more lyrical choreography than in some of his earlier pieces but there is a complete lack of originality - very easy to cover off every square on the McGregor bingo board. Whilst I enjoyed it the first time I saw it (FGR), I enjoyed it less the second time and I fear that downward trend will continue on repeated viewings. Away from all that, there are some great performances from all the dancers involved, some of whom, I think, are underused in Caron Life. Lee McLernon

If I recall correctly, the dancers will be starting from next to nothing and adding bits of the costume as the performance goes on. :o/

The Telegraph has a picture of a costume from Carbon Life: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/phong-luu/TMG9183059/First-look-at-Gareth-Pughs-ballet-costumes-for-Carbon-Life.html

I find this a very curious thing to say. I thought it was very common knowledge that Ninette de Valois was a member of the Ballets Russes (when Alice Marks was still a young teenager). Also, if I recall correctly, wasn't the role of the Hostess in Les Biches created on de Valios?

There's no Insight Evening for the upcoming triple bill which includes Les Noces but that's not to say it might not be covered in a Royal Ballet in Rehearsal. And there's always the In Conversation with Monica Mason on 11 June...

Well, yesterday it worked. And it worked on the last day I used it before that when the waiting room was in operation. And the time before that.

To check casting when the waiting room is in operation, click on "What's On" from the ROH homepage. Brings up the listings for BP4 but there's a link near the top for BP2 & BP3. http://booking.roh.org.uk/

The reference to an "announcement" in the email is just a c0ck-up. It's the same announcement that happens for every show...

It's not the full casting for Sweet Violets or Carbon Life; there are some smaller roles/corps style bits where the casting isn't announced.

There's a story in The Mail on Sunday about a proposed tax on chilled champagne which is reasonably believable until they mention Babycham!

Yes, unfortunately Akane is off injured for the rest of the season.

If you ever fancy playing a little trick on a colleague (particularly one from the Antipodes), try Crlt, Alt and the down arrow together...

My understanding is that Claire Calvert is also in Carbon Life. However, seeing that's less than a week away, it's a bad show from ROH that we don't have casting yet (but, importantly, we know who the singers are...)!

Just to note that, according to an email I've just received from ROH, Sweet Violets will include "partial nudity". Another reason for moving it from the first piece, I suppose.

The running order has changed; I assume this is because Sweet Violets and Carbon Life contain "adult themes".

The letter to the Dancing Times is available online; here's the link: http://www.dancing-times.co.uk/dance-today-news/item/859

Hear hear.

I would say that in the current crop of RB principals there are a couple whose development of their own acting ability over time evidences this point quite nicely.

Of all the ballet forums in all the world...

Interesting to see that those behind the letter had so little belief in their convictions that they refused to put their names to it.

I'm struggling to see where I suggested that you were. All I have done is remind people (albeit in response to your post) that the comment on the Observer piece which has triggered much discussion is one which would probably not have been allowed on this forum.

The comment on the Observer article is unsubstantiated rumour posted by an anonymous person (which would probably breach this forum's acceptable use policy) and doesn't reflect (in my opinion) the reality on the ground. It would be worrying if it were the case but there is no evidence to suggest it is true!