zxDaveM
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Posts posted by zxDaveM
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Well, if ever there was an example of how to grasp the nettle of opportunity, there was a masterclass in it from Beatriz Stix-Brunell in Saturday's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. I can't recall a more assured debut in a 3-act ballet before, not even from seasoned Principals. Beatriz danced the whole 3 acts like this was her 3rd or 4th revival, not her debut. When she smiled, hers outdid the Cheshire Cat - but this was only one element in a multi-faceted acting performance; joy, fear, surprise, marvel, mystification, delight, annoyance, frustration, humour - all radiated out. Her dancing shone, the steps flowed naturally out of her, allowing a full on characterisation to come through, naturally through the steps, and a personality OF Alice. It was nothing short of astonishingly accomplished.
I can only add that I think we're lucky to have her here in London, and earnestly hope that the RB hang on to her. Hope to see many more performances, in many roles, from this young dancer, whose potential I reckon is almost limitless. As someone else said - we saw a star being born. I feel privileged to have been there to see it.
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here are a couple of samples of ENB's prog 1 - more to follow via DanceTabs:
Some pictures from the ENB: Beyond Ballet Russes (Prog 1)...
Firebird: Laurretta Summerscales (Purity); Ksenia Ovsyanick (Firebird); Adela Ramirez (Celebrity)
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
L'Apres-midi d'un faune
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
Faun(e)
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
The Rite of Spring - Erina Takahashi
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
See more here, before long...
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So, for future reference, would anyone like to help flesh the schedule out a bit? I'll do what I've picked up on, but it's not much:
10.30 Daily Class - including interviews with Jonathan Cope and Kristen McNally
11.35 Wayne McGregor interview
12.00 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland rehearsal - Stix-Brunell, Campbell and ??? doing the tea party scene
12.30 Dancers interview - Stix-Brunell, Choe, ???
13.05 Monica Mason interview
13:20 Prince of the Pagodas rehearsal - Nunez
13.50 Marianela Nuñez interview
13.55 Barry Wordsworth and Rob Clark interview
14.00 Polyphonia rehearsal - both casts?
14.30 Dancers interview
15.15 Street Stories - education project with East London dance students
16.10 Romeo and Juliet rehearsal - swordfighting, Watson & Avis
16.50 Dancers Interview
17.00 New Liam Scarlett ballet rehearsal - Cope, Soares
17.30 Liam Scarlett interview - surely he didn't get an hour?!
18.30 Carbon Life - including interviews with Wayne McGregor and Mark Ronson (Insights Public Event) - Watson, Cowley
12noon - James Hay was Doormouse, Liam Scarlett March Hare
14.00 - certainly looked like both casts, though with injured from original casting, can't be ceratin
17.30 - interview was 10-15 mins, then they started some highlights from throughout the day, until the McGregot bit (which I missed, as had to leave to go to the Coliseum)
@Sim - I think the plan is to put some highlights on their Youtube channel - though what, and how much of each, I can't guess
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Fantastic stuff. The live rehearsals fascinating, and the 'filler' clips are many I've not gotten round to watching before. Interesting interviews too (though George Lamb not a fave of mine, he nearly brought down 6Music!!) Not getting much work done!!
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We have just returned from the cinema after watching an amazing performance from the Royal Ballet Company, Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli were captivating as Romeo and Juliet and had myself 2 daughters and Nana in tears at the end. Its the first time we have attended a live link performance and were astounded by the extras such as backstage shots, interviews with Macmillans wife, Dame Monica Mason and Lauren Cutherbertson along with Federico Bonelli. We were also treat to behind the scenes of sword fighting and other feasts!!
We definitely look forward to the next performance!!
Thanks for the report - sounds FAB!
I was tempted to forego my back-of-the-amphi ticket to watch it at the cinema myself, sounds like I should have done so! Whenever they do these broadcasts, whether to cinema or to Big Screens outdoors, it seems they do like to do these extras in the intervals. A shame we don't get to see them in the ROH!
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There's this tweet from ROH earlier today which suggests that it will be available so you can watch it all night!
RoyalOperaHouse
If you're overseas and the timing of #RBlive means you can't watch live, never fear - we'll be streaming it in again directly afterwards!
well, I didn't need sleep anyway... :-)
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hope they are keeping those online somewhere after the event, so us working stiffs can see it too! Sounds really exciting!
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I would like to see
'Prodigal Son' Sergei Polunin
:-) very good!!
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I was going to mention that as well, but then thought it's not really *the* lead in that ballet in the same way that Alice is, just one of the leading roles.
Edit: there have been a couple of recent "near misses", though: I think Akane Takada would have been in Sleeping Beauty had she not been injured, and Yuhui Choe in ... something-or-other, but I think they were both promoted out of artist status between the casting being announced and the scheduled performance. (At what stage does a dancer stop being regarded as "corps de ballet" - when they make Soloist, or later?)
Akane was Sugar Plum in Nutcracker...
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Who wouldn't bring joy to the stage and light up whenever she dances Dave when - as a Corps dancer - one gets such an opportunity!!!! I think they all would have a very big smile on their face
She ALWAYS dances with a smile! :-) Its not that big a surprise really when you think about it, as Chris Wheeldon knows her well. She danced for him in his Morphoses company, so would be a natural choice I'd have thought. But yes, a big opportunity whichever way you look at it, and one I'm sure she'll grasp
(have a look at the Ballo de regina pics on the old balletco galleries, and you'll see what i mean)
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She's not.
Just Itziar and Laura? Or is there another?
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I think the 'tweaks' have greatly improved the pacing of the piece - I liked it before, and like it even more now. Still a couple of sections a bit too long (the caucus race for example, though nice to see Emm-Jane win it!) but I can live with that.
Enjoyed both casts Saturday, both the Friends Rehearsal, and the opening night. The two Spanish ballerinas dancing the Queen of Hearts were both terrific (Itziar Mendizabal, who particularly made me laugh, and Laura Morera) which means a clean sweep for Spain if Tamara Rojo still doing it (you could count Zenaida Yanowsky as Spanish too, as memory serves). What is it with these mad Spanish ladies!! :-) Loved both Sarah Lamb and Lauren Cuthbertson as Alice, and Federico Bonelli and Steven McRae as Jack/Knave. Mr McRae excels as The Hatter too - giving the role an extra hint of creepy malice, as well as blistering tap dancing. I think the flower waltz scrumptious, and the cards 'shuffling' as dizzingly fast paced and energetic. The jokes and classical parodies may wear a little bit after repeated viewing, but then I don't suppose any gag continues to be laugh out when you see/hear it loads of times - as meant really only to be seen the once. Mind you, I still lauged like a loon at the 'Tart Adage'.
Really looking forward to seeing Beatriz Stix-Brunel's debut on Saturday. She brings joy to the stage and lights it up whenever she dances.
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Some pictures from the Alice Photoshoot...
Sisters (Sarah Lamb as Alice, with Leanne Cope and Samantha Raine)
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
Drink Me - and Alice does (Sarah Lamb)
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
Flamingo used as a croquet mallet (Romany Pajdak)
© Dave Morgan. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr
See more...
Dave Morgan's Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland photo set - 32 images
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Sisters (Sarah Lamb as Alice, with Leanne Cope and Samantha Raine)
© Dave Morgan.
Courtesy of: DanceTabs / Flickr
See more...
Dave Morgan's Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
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Alice Adventuring in Wonderland
© Dave Morgan.
Courtesy of DanceTabs and Flickr
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I wish they were doing the dress rehearsal (for some pics). Much as I love Sarah Lamb, we had her last year for the Friends rehearsal, so would have been nice to get someone different.
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... has a feature on Sergei Polunin. Blink and you might miss it - but they might be using one of my photos (claims a vague attachment to <15secs of fame)
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R&J last night (with Alina/Johan) was magnificent. Though some 'liberties' taken with the choreography, i'm sure MacMillan would have approved, as it added to the emotional mangling we took from such a performance. They used the steps as a pure vehical for the story telling and dragging out of us all, the sensations and feelings of love's abandonment. Superb!
The rest of the cast rose to the occasion too - Kristen McNally a playful, vibrant 'harlot' for example - the brooding, spite-ridden Tybalt magnificently played and fenced by Ben Gartside, the teasing, acrobatic Mercutio from late sub Alexander Campbell was a joy, then a sorrow in his protracted death; some of the townsfolk I wouldn't want to get into a fight with! And Olivia Cowley did a mean 'Purple Haze' air guitar on the spare mandolin too! ;-)
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excellent news - can't wait!
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The Box Office told me that it is a charity gala. Unfortunately, I omitted to ask which charity and there's no further information on the LJCC website.
Perhaps its the same charity as last night's gala at the Coliseum...
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The Royal Ballet starts its run of R&Js today, with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru making a very welcome return to the Covent Garden stage in the lead roles. I have to wait until their performance on Wednesday evening to see them.
Me too! Think I'm just about within telescope range! :-)
Song of the Earth by 
ENB Casting for Beyond Ballet Russes???
in Ballet / Dance news & information
Posted
You won't (unless lucky) get a ticket for Alice now anyway, as its sold out. But yes, go see the ENB Beyond Ballet Russes bills - they are terrific. I love 'Alice' too mind - all 3 dancers playing the lead are, in their own ways, utterly superb