John Mallinson

Anna, I was there last night, also at a rehearsal on Tuesday. I was taken aback last night at the beginning of the Pite that quite a few in the audience found it hilarious, something that I and fellow rehearsal attendees hadn't. After a few minutes the seriousness of the piece and the issues it deals with sunk in and there were no more guffaws. I found that an odd experience. Did this happen on other occasions?

And while you're in Tokyo you might like to take in this even starrier programme.

The Aud Jebsen scheme started in 2014 when there were 5 apprentices, 2 from RBS, 2 from ENBS, and 1 from Semperoper Ballett Dresden school. Since then they've all been from RBS: 5 in 2015, 7 in 2016, 5 in 2017 and 6 this year. !n 2015 there were 2 from the scheme who joined the RB, in 2016 it was 5, in 2017 it was 3. Before that there were apprentices but I don't think the scheme (whatever it was called) was as organised as now.

The first relays that I saw were on a screen which was jammed into a corner of the Covent Garden marketplace just outside the Opera House back door so it was easy for performers to come out and take a bow. I also remember one occasion when they appeared in Trafalgar Square but can't remember what or when it was.

Links – Tuesday June 26, 2018 Reviews - Australian Ballet, Verve, Constant Variants, Filigree and Shadow, Melbourne: Melinda Oliver, Daily Review Andrew Fuhrmann, The Age Reviews - Semperoper Ballett, All Forsythe, London: Debra Craine, The Times Alexandra Desvignes, Bachtrack Emma Byrne, Evening Standard Review - Houston Ballet, Swan Lake, Houston: Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle Review - Leo Butler, Roxana Silbert & Rosie Kay, Woyzeck, Birmingham: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Q & A - Paul Lightfoot, AD of Nederlands Dans Theater: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Video feature - Michaela DePrince, ballerina: Megan Decker, Refinery29 News - Deborah Bull, former Royal Ballet Principal, made a life peer: Georgia Snow, The Stage Reviews - Paloma McGregor, Building a Better Fishtrap, NY: Brian Seibert, New York Times Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Feature - Martha Graham Dance Company’s EVE Project: Peter Libbey, New York Times Review - Ahil Ratnamohan, Mercenary, London: Zoë Anderson, The Independent Review - Southpaw Dance Company, Icarus, London: Sanjoy Roy, The Guardian Preview - Amy Seiwert’s Sketch 8, SF: Leslie Katz, San Francisco Examiner Feature - Olivia Byers-Strauss, a dancer with Down’s syndrome: Guy Wathen, San Francisco Chronicle And finally… Marianela Nuñez and her 32 fouettés, Dance Spirit

Links – Monday June 25, 2018 Reviews - Semperoper Ballett, All Forsythe, London: David Mead, SeeingDance Jeffrey Taylor, Sunday Express John O’Dwyer, Seen and Heard International Review - Houston Ballet, Swan Lake, Houston: Natalie de la Garza, Houston Press Review - Royal New Zealand Ballet, Divertimento no. 15, The Last Dance, Petit Mort, Sechs Tanze, Palmerston: Tania Kopytko, Theatreview Feature/video - Wayne McGregor choreographs a fashion show for Cos, Florence: Sarah Maisey, The National Review - Women/Create! A Festival of Dance, by Karole Armitage, Jennifer Muller, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Carolyn Dorfman, NY: Joel Benjamin, TheaterScene Review - Sean Dorsey Dance, The Missing Generation, NY: Barnett Serchuk, Broadway World

Links – Sunday June 24, 2018 Review - Semperoper Ballett, All Forsythe, London: Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide Review - Royal Danish Ballet, Bournonville programme, Jacob’s Pillow: Gay Morris, Danceviewtimes Feature - Royal Danish Ballet, not spreading the message?: Eva Kistrup, Copenhagen Report Review - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Kin, Embrace, In the Upper Room, London: David Dougill, Sunday Times (scroll right down) Reviews - AϕE, Whist, a VR dance-theatre work, London: Luke Jennings, The Observer Ka Bradley, Exeunt Feature - Australian Ballet, David McAllister's production of The Sleeping Beauty: Sunday Mail Feature - Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui writes about his Jagged Little Pill: Broadway World Review - Clare Barron, Dance Nation, NY: Rachel Stone, Fjord Review Review - Pacific Dance Festival / Rako Pasefika, Cloaks of Protection, Auckland: Enya Lowe, Theatreview The Baltimore Sun, LA Times, Orlando Sentinel, NY Herald-Tribune remain inaccessible from Europe.

Links – Saturday June 23, 2018 Reviews - Semperoper Ballett, All Forsythe, London: Zoë Anderson, The Independent Sanjoy Roy, The Guardian Neil Norman, The Stage photos: Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Review - Mark Morris Dance Group, Pepperland, NY: Alastair Macaulay, New York Times Reviews - Royal Danish Ballet, Bournonville programme, Jacob’s Pillow: Robert Grescovic, Wall Street Journal Janine Parker, Berkshire Eagle photos: Christopher Duggan, Broadway World Review - Phildanco!, mixed bill, Philadelphia, Joel Benjamin, TheaterScene Review - Ishmael Houston-Jones, Chris Cochrane, Dennis Cooper, Them, NY: Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times Review - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Polarity and Proximity, Birmingham: Phil Preece, Lichfield Live Review - Ballett Zürich & Junior Ballett, Young Choreographers performance, Zurich: Sarah Batschelet, Bachtrack News - New London Theatre renamed as the Gillian Lynne Theatre by Andrew Lloyd Webber: Mark Brown, The Guardian Feature - The dancing shadows in Angels in America: Gia Kourlas, New York Times Review - Ahilan Ratnamohan, Mercenary, London: Anna Winter, The Stage Feature - The documentary film Danseur and the stereotyping of male dancers: Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle Preview - Balanchine: The City Center Years, October-November NY: Broadway World Preview - Ballet Manila, American Stars Gala: Anjie Ureta, ABS-CBN News Film review - Jamal Sims, When the Beat Drops: Geeta Dyal, The Guardian

How so? When I've returned tickets of either type I just email boxoffice@roh.org.uk giving details of the performance, booking reference and my name and address. No need to scan or return the tickets. Very efficient.

Rehearsal pictures by John Ross from Semperoper Ballett's all Forsythe programme consisting of In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Neue Suite and Enemy in the Figure. In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Neue Suite - Svetlana Gileva and Jon Vallejo More… John Ross - 26 photos Discussion of this programme is here

It's supposed to be a two and a quarter hour programme with two intervals.

Links – Friday June 22, 2018 Reviews - Royal Danish Ballet, Bournonville programme, Jacob’s Pillow: Alastair Macaulay, New York Times Liz Thompson, The Berkshire Edge Review - American Ballet Theatre, Harlequinade, NY: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, London: Anna Winter, Exeunt Review - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Polarity and Proximity, Birmingham: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Australian Ballet, Verve triple bill, Melbourne: Rhys Ryan, Limelight News - Wayne McGregor to choreograph Tom Hooper’s film version of Cats: Broadway World Review - Zurich Ballet, Swan Lake, Zurich: John Daly-Peoples, National Business Review Q & A - Janis Claxton, choreographer: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs Review - Alexandra Waierstall, And here we meet, London: Josephine Leask, DanceTabs Review - Bangarra Dance Theatre, Dark Emu, Sydney: Deborah Jones, FollowSpot Review - Citizen Lift, mixed programme by performed by male dancers of colour, Atlanta: Andrew Alexander, ArtsATL Preview/interview - Corian Ellisor, veraCity, dance works by artists of colour: Vanessa Alamo, ArtsATL News - Dance Umbrella launches a choreographer support initiative: Londondance Review - Rosie Kay choreographs Woyzeck in Birmingham: Phil Preece, SeeingDance Preview - Mark Morris Dance Group, Pepperland, New Haven: Susan B. Apel, The Arts Fuse Feature - West Side Story rechoreographed by Mija Garcia: Daniella Ignacio, American Theatre Feature - The Case of the Missing Harpist: Helen Chandler-Wilde, The Telegraph Feature - RB’s Francesca Hayward given her portrait painting by the artist: Robert Dex, Evening Standard Feature - Alexander Whitley Dance Company, Celestial Motion, a VR dance work: Shehani Fernando, The Guardian Feature - Emily Hansel, and the life of a freelance dancer: Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle News - 12th International Ballet Star Gala, Taipei: Diane Baker, Taipei Times Diary - 8 dance shows in NYC: Brian Schaefer, New York Times Diary - 3 dance shows in the UK : Judith Mackrell, The Guardian

And thankyou from us.

Various posts relating to an apparent leak of an apparent Royal Ballet promotion have been removed in line with our policy about unofficial announcements. Not long to wait for the official ones.

London performances are very well served by reviews, albeit your favourite performers may not be mentioned and some are pretty brief. The RB's Swan Lake had 24 reviews, mainly of the first night cast, BRB's Sadler's Wells season has had 20. I can't think of any other (anglophone) city that has such coverage.

What happens if you make the window wider? The position of the right hand components shifts to the bottom when you narrow the window.

Finally made it!

Still looking.

Links – Monday June 11, 2018 Reviews - English National Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, London: Jann Parry, DanceTabs Jeffery Taylor, Sunday Express Review - American Ballet Theatre, Harlequinade, New York: Deborah Jowitt, DanceBeat Review - Boston Ballet, Obsidian Tear (amid a New York Philharmonic concert), NY: Seth Colter Wallis, New York Times Review - Australian Ballet, The Merry Widow, Melbourne: Jordan Vincent, Sydney Morning Herald Review - Ballet Preljocaj, Snow White, Sydney: Michelle Potter, …on dancing Feature - Susan Grinder of Danish National Ballet retires: Eva Kistrup, Copenhagen Report Feature & video - Justin Peck wins Tony Award (Best Choreography) for Carousel: Broadway World Feature - Alice Topp, Australian Ballet, dancer and choreographer: Jane Albert, Vogue Australia Review - Lydia Johnson Dance, What Counts, This, and My Heart Beside..., Trio Sonatas, Undercurrent, NY: Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes N.B. Some US sites remain blocked in Europe on GDPR grounds

Links – Sunday May 10, 2018 Review - English National Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, London: Luke Jennings, The Observer Reviews - American Ballet Theatre, Harlequinade, New York: Gay Morris, Danceviewtimes Sondra Forsyth, Broadway World Review - School of American Ballet, La Source, In Creases, Circus Polka, Western Symphony, NY: Carol Pardo, Danceviewtimes Review - Royal Danish Ballet, New Tones, Copenhagen: Eva Kistrup, Copenhagen Report Review - Royal Danish Ballet, Festival Gala, Copenhagen: Eva Kistrup, Copenhagen Report Review - Australian Ballet, The Merry Widow, Melbourne: Melinda Oliver, Daily Review Review - Boston Ballet, Obsidian Tear (amid a New York Philharmonic concert), NY: David Wright, New York Classical Review Photo gallery – Akram Khan Company, Portraits in Otherness: Foteini Christofilopoulou, DanceTabs Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Cinderella, Edinburgh: Kelly Apter, The Scotsman Review - A.I.M. (previously Kyle Abraham/Abraham in Motion), mixed bill, NY: Deborah Jowitt, DanceBeat Review - Hong Kong Ballet, A Day in the Life, Rush, Le Carnaval des Animaux, Hong Kong: Kevin Ng, Asia Times Review - SFDanceworks, The Old Child, Homing, Snap, Jardí Tancat, SF: Mary Ellen Hunt, San Francisco Chronicle

Taken.

Links – Saturday June 9, 2018 Reviews - English National Ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, London: Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide David Mead, SeeingDance Jim Pritchard, Seen and Heard International Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Reviews - National Ballet of Cuba, Giselle, Saratoga Springs: Eric Taub, DanceTabs Janine Parker, Berkshire Eagle Review - Akram Khan Company, Portraits in Otherness, London: Zoë Anderson, The Independent Review - Ballet Preljocaj, Snow White, Sydney: Emily Shaddick, Australian Stage Feature - ABT’s Stella Abrera, dancing Juliet for the first time late in her career: Gia Kourlas, New York Times Review - Antonia Grove/Probe, Now You See It, London: Graham Watts, DanceTabs News - Queen’s birthday honours, theatre and dance: Giverny Masso, The Stage Feature - James Whiteside, ABT Principal (and much else): Meryl Cates, Billboard Interview - Alexander Meinertz, biographer & reviewer, on the present state of Bournonville: Eva Kistrup, Copenhagen Report Interview - Danielle Rowe, Associate AD of SFDanceworks: Penelope Ford, Fjord Review …and, SFDanceworks third season announced: Broadway World Review - Rhiannon Faith, Smack That, London: Holly Williams, The Guardian Review - Hong Kong Dance Company, Dream of the Past: Ancient Chinese Court Dances, Hong Kong: Clement Lee, Broadway World News - Matthew Ball, RB First Soloist, joining Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake for London shows in December & January: Robert Dex, Evening Standard Diary - 3 of the best dance shows, UK: Judith Mackrell, The Guardian (scroll way, way down) N.B. Some US sites remain blocked in Europe on GDPR grounds

I'm sure this has been said before but it's entirely possible that he been offered honours and refused. Some do!

A friend, not a Balletco member, has just told me that he has Stalls Circle standing D5 available for this performance. Let me know if you're interested.