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Oh dear - I forgot to mention Crystal Pite's 'Polaris' at Sadlers Wells. That was sensational!

Ivan! its terrible!

yes indeed - would be much better to film (for the results that is) with a more uniform lighting scheme. Those cameras are incredible (if you see any outside broadcasts for example, it looks like a normal day, whne in fact its beyond dusk). What they struggle with, what all cameras struggle with, is high contrasts, which the human eye/brain sorts out almost instantaneously

Have to say - the Mouse Kings ears must still be ringing, after the clomp he got from Clara's shoe last night. Ms Maguire really gave him what for!

modern HD cameras don't need 'broad daylight' type conditions in order to succesfully film. I didn't see the broadcast, so not 100% sure where the problem lay - but generally speaking I'm guessing that in order for the spot-lit dancers/characters to appear NOT overexposed and so bleached out, the background would have been gloomy (this even happened in Fille the last run I noticed). I suppose upping the background's ambient light would bring this into view, but destroy the atmospheric, sepia-tinted, candlelit effect for those paying the big bucks in the theatre.

perhaps the bod who moderates that bit of the ROH site is on hols...

This drives me potty too. The director/camera men probably came through the live music route (rock and pop), where they find it physically impossible just to show the musicains playing/singing, without seemingly HAVING to put in snap cuts and zooms in and out. As if when you're watching a band, that's what you see. Well it isn't, and I wish they'd stop, as it may be 'clever' but is also intensley annoying

OK, here's my list: Yasmine Naghdi/Matthew Ball's Olga/Lensky - virtually stole the show in Onegin (RB) The opening night cast in Symphonic Variations were sublime. Sadly, they were only all together the once (RB) Ballet Black in the Linbury - I always seem to love what they do! The Ann Maguire gala at Sadlers Wells - really well done under difficult circumstances. Very poignant Woolf Works (first and third parts, and not just because of Alexandra Ferri, though that didn't hurt!) (RB) Dutch National Ballet's Cinderella. Really enjoyed thsi - perhaps cos no gallumping 'ugly sisters' Sylvie Guillem's 'Life in progress'. Maybe not the best thing she's ever done. but it was the last time I'll see her dance. ENB's 'Lest We Forget' trilogy at Sadlers Wells. 'Dust' alone worth the entry fee for me. Yasmine Naghdi/Matthew Ball again, this time in the leads as Juliet and Romeo. One of my favourite performances of the year - easily my fave R&J (possibly ever) BRB's 'Variations' mixed bill at Sadlers Wells (even though I'm not keen on Enigma Variations). Kings Dances was extraordinary in the flesh. Ballet Cymru (with Cerys Matthews) TIR mixed bill in Lilian Baylis studio theatre. Hearing the old songs did make me ever so homesick! Nutcrackers - first time I've managed to photograph all 3 'major' Nutcrackers in one season (RB, BRB and ENB). And I always enjoy the RB Nutcracker, no matter how many times I see it. oops - gone over 10, I wasn't counting when I started typing...

If you only saw RB, then yes. If your fave things for the year all happened to be RB, then yes. Otherwise, no. Hope that clears that up.

they may be the VIP seats...

yes - very sultry, but as she been had swopped in as it were, the partnering from the chaps wasn't perfect (as no doubt they'd been rehearsing with Tara Brigitte Bhavnani, and Tierney more used to her chaps).

ah! Miyako Yoshida. The part could have been made on her, as so wonderful in the role she was. AND - its that video (as shown on telly) that got me to the RB in the first place :-)

Yes, Alina was the last to go on from Clara to Principal (unless someone can correct me). Ms Naghdi would be an excellent Clara I have no doubt, but its just I see her more as SPF - and agree in the disappointment of not being cast as Giselle. THAT would be a debut to fight for a ticket! :-)

well, not really, as the young Clara 'transforms' into adult Clara for everything after the party scene. Best talk about that though, on the ENB Nutcracker thread

I was at the dress rehearsal the evening before opening night. Here are some photos: Snowflakes © Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr Rose Waltz © Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr Shiori Kase, Cesar Corrales © Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr See more... Set from DanceTabs: ENB - Nutcracker (2015) Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr

I'm not actually disappointed. They usually cast the 'wee' ones in that role, Yasmine more of a medium, as far as physical stature concerned. And besides, as I said before, Claras don't as a rule, go on to Principal - and Yasmine will (in my own opinion). You seem to get more Rose's in the top echelons (e.g. Zenaida Yanowsky, Laura Morera). Just my musings, I hasten to add.

Me too Janet!

As above (especially my own fave 'Infra') - plus 'Carbon Life' would be terrific to revisit, if they could assemble a similar lineup of rock stars. And I know many others didn't like it, but I really enjoyed 'Live Fire Exercise' too. As a general comment, I really like a lot of Wayne's duets, but once he has more then 3 dancers on stage at the same time, all doing vastly different things, I find it a struggle (even the pieces above - Carbon Life excepted, where he had them all co-ordinated in the opening sequence)

Stephen Wright was at the rehearsals taking photographs. Here are a few examples... Daniel Davidson (Choreographer: Pierre Tappon) © Stephen Wright. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr Liam Francis, Edit Domoszlai (Choreography: Simone Damberg Würtz) © Stephen Wright. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr Adam Park, Lucy Balfour, Antonia Hewitt (Choreography: Luke Ahmet) © Stephen Wright. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr See more... Set from DanceTabs: Rambert - New Choreography Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr

I'd have thought most senior dancers stop doing the extremely tough classic roles when they no longer feel they can do those roles justice, rather than 'being bored' with them.

That Max Richter/Vivaldi recomposed is awesome!

Then let there be another! :-)

I so agree with you on this - an opportunity missed i reckon. Ms Naghdi would have been particularly fine as her dance-acting is amongst the best in the company to my eyes. And both she and Ms Haywood would be more than technically able, I reckon

Well, there are parts that are not to my taste either (most of Act 3, and the 'business' in Act 1, the 'owl' costume). The white acts are glorious though, so I hope they don't tamper too much with those