zxDaveM

Don't think I'm adding anything new to the list, but here's what is hopefully floating my boat (at least for the first 6 months of 2024) ENB's Giselle (the Mary Skeaping version - worth a numb bum on those coliseum 'seats') Alina Cojocaru's 'Strada', especially with Johan on stage too Yasmine Naghdi's Manon and Odette/Odile Fumi Kaneko's Manon and Odette/Odile Sarah Lamb's Manon and Odette/Odile The new choreography shows - could be fantastic (or rubbish!) Requiem in the MacMillan triple ALL of the Ashton triple bills The Americans visiting - NYCB and Sarasota Ballet Scottish Ballet's 'Streetcar Named Desire'

Have add my 2p worth in congratulating Annette Buvoli. A lovely, assured, graceful performance and an utter pleasure to watch. I do hope she gets to dance more lead roles

I don't use the tube as much these days, as I can use 'normal' trains all the way to Charing Cross - but when I did last, the RB poster seemed to be going extinct

Ditto. As an aside, I noticed Manon posters up in most tube stations I passed through, especially the Piccadilly line. Bit like the old days!

might be a browser setting - pretty sure it isn't the forum software - not had an update since November (or even October)

Tough one. Hard on the 'big' touring companies: when they do introduce "interesting rep" in far flung places - seems no one bar ultra-hard core ballet fans show up. Except for the Tchaikovskys and maybe R&J (or some well know story outside the ballet world, eg Cinderella) ballet remains a hard sell it seems. London has a huge catchment area for fans - especially as fans will travel for an hour or more to GET to London - so has potential for audiences no matter how 'obscure' the work is. So most companies in London, or visit London, do OK it would seem. But this hardly fair on all the fans out of travel range of London (without having to stay over) BRB's tie in with Black Sabbath a major coups, a somewhat genius idea, but how many of those are left to be unearthed? ENB are rather hit or miss for me - their Nutcracker utterly missable, but both their Giselles immensely watchable; their triple bills also vary hugely variable, from superb to 'meh'. Be interested to see what the new Director does to move forward I only see NB and SB when they visit London, so difficult to comment if they are 'there' or not. Usually enjoy their visits Ballet Black do wonders for a tiny company, touring everywhere it seems, but now seem to only do two pieces a year (importantly, two NEW pieces a year) More questions than answers it seems!

sadly, no! I had my reading glasses on and first thought, blimey, that's a big looking bird, until I switched glasses and so could see in the distance. Took a while to register what it was I was seeing, I don't mind telling you!

Well, that's a new one on me - just saw a flying T Rex whizzing along in the wind, some 100ft above the neighbours houses en route to Thornton Heath... Er, Happy New Year everyone!

Yes, for the wee lads as pages - but I have to say, I prefer the Arabian as a duet myself! 🙂 And just the two Chinese dancers - just those weirdly horrid cart-wheely steps they do to purge now...

can't be listening to the right radio station! 🙂

He was jolly good - certainly looked the part, very regal and elegant. Excellent partnering too.

I think it leaves at 11am, which isn't a time I often pass through Victoria (ie after 10am, when it's parked up)

The routes from Southern are going to Victoria Christmas week - but my route on Southern to London Bridge isn't! Darn it As an aside - saw the old 'Orient Express' (or whatever its called now) awaiting departure when I passed through Victoria this morning. One of those things where I do wish I had more money than sense! 😉

lol 'ok' I guess, but then not many can do them as well as Laura Morera. The rest of the variation was simply sublime

nothing wrong with that 🙂

Completely agree bridiem - I was coming on to say pretty much the same thing about the performance (though not the lift conversation obviously). Yasmine Naghdi never lets me down, and I really enjoy watching her SPF. She brings such assured majesty to it. Was also deeply impressed by Viola Pantuso's performance - full of character, joy, enthusiastic 'zip' - as well as being beautifully danced. And Gary Avis did what Gary does - masterful showing.

My understanding of the gargouillade (which I realise is a bit scant) is a 'rond' motion of the right foot in a clockwise direction (2-3 circulations), then do a rond with the left in an anticlockwise direction (won't concern the arms for this discussion) in the same jump. In the SPF variation, repeat twice more, then change diagonal and do 3 more, change, do 3 more. Most seem to do the right foot, then just flick the left out at an angle. What Sarah did was two gargouillades, then step out of the diagonal with a little bit of a hop (I think), then crossed the front shin with the one that had been behind. I thought it looked much prettier than the unnecessarily tricky and ugly gargouillade step, in this dance watchers personal opinion (and of course I know I'm wrong, cos 'that's not the choreography'...) Of course, it might all have been an unintentional wobbly on the first instance, which she covered by repeating it on all the others, and I'm embarassing her by being a numpty!

'googlies' make it look distinctly refined though...

I really enjoyed Sarah Lamb's SPF last night - exquisite is a neat summation. I have an observation/question though for her solo variation. When doing the Gargouillades (googlies!), instead of three runs of three in each, she sorta stepped out of the last googly, and did an elegant hop/step and crossed her lower legs. At first I thought it was a 'oops!' moment, but she did it on all three runs. It was an elegant, beautiful step, so much prettier than the googlies, putting a rather lovely full stop to the diagonal. Did anyone else notice it? Has any other SPF done this (ie it it a Peter Wright change)? Or have I just been blind to it all these years!

I think it's a colour cast from the spotlights, which are a blueish white (for the red runs). The general lighting for the stage curtain calls is more 'rosy' (and Rose's spot is definitely very pink). Our eyes/brains just naturally adjust; the camera tells it like it is though!

just preparing you, is all...

not that I'm biased or anything but the evening shows Tuesday and Friday will be brilliant! 😉

We were even luckier in London - when they perform in the Lilian Baylis at Sadlers Wells, Cerys will perform live with them. Which is doubly marvelous. I will always make every effort to see them when they do come to London, for sure (as you might be able to guess from my avatar!)

I'm with Sim on Strapless - think it has had its two runs, so obvivion awaits. Sorry Rob S!

Indeed - I always remember when Caroline Duprot was Clara there was always a kissy-lips imprint in lipstick on Drosselmeyer's cheek as he scurried into the wings 🙂 I remember being very envious! lol