zxDaveM

YIKES!

the glaring distinction between an education and mere exam prep

lol - you and me both Richard - though 15-20 years would probably see me through (cloggs would probably have popped after that time)

nothing wrong with a nice Christmas jumper for a Nutcracker show (ahem - ok, guilty as charged! lol)

Sorry, yes, on this forum that was a given I thought 🙂

Agreed. The contribution 'the arts' make to the economy (thinking back as far as Beatlemania in the 60's, and many other UK bands leading the way worldwide since, as an example) cutting out the foundations in schools, and colleges, of learning an instrument, starting to paint, or act, or learning background technolgies (sound, light etc), just to save a few bob now, seems a false economy for the future. Speculate to accumulate! - just not in the UK

surely this follows through on schools' arts budgets being cut to almost nothing

LOL - that's me

I think we should all remember the Interweb adage - if you wouldn't say something you're posting to the face of the person you're posting about - then refrain from doing so until you have had a good THINK, especially when posting under an anonymous username. So think 3 times, write/edit twice, post once On another note with my admin hat on: Raising reports using second accounts to 'disguise' yourself, won't work - we know who you are. Changing usernames with little good reason (again, disguising controversial posts?) is getting a little tiresome. It also changes all your old posts, so hardly an effective ploy.

still in the planning stage...

Don't worry - they'll play all the right notes... though not necessarily in the right order

well, that's killed the jest stone dead

I've heard that to revamp Bayadere, it will be aesthetically merged with Fille, killing two birds with one stoned hero. Solor will replace Alain as Colas' rival for Lise, and Nikaya and Gamzatti will make up and elope together. The Shades will be danced in chicken costumes, and the golden idol will lead the maypole dance with a red umbrella tucked under his arm

Yes, I usually try to avoid doing it, but as all the info in the post I was quoting (and I was rushing), I allowed myself to cheat just this one time 🙂

Muntagirov and Cuthbertson Yasmine Naghdi (as per quoting Mary's post...)

rape victims, whores/harlots, or dead

M&C - yes they were 🙂 Yas will make sure Calvin's up to scratch, with no doubt 😉

my thoughts too 😞

She wore her natural colour at the Vail Festival back in 2018 - unless that was just during the dress rehearsal that is!

Well, there are still loads of tickets left - so it is really only us hard core fans who love Ashton (as can be seen by the tickets that have been sold - 'fans' tickets!) that go for these triple bills, sadly.

First time I saw Song of the Earth I didn't much like it - but it really grew on me, no denying. Now a favourite I had been looking forward to seeing Judas Tree (from rumour, and the poster still on the stairwell leading up the right-hand side of the house). After two viewings I will not watch a third. Same with The Invitation - but apart from the deeply unpleasant aspect, what also ensures I will miss it were it to return, is the party 'entertainment' (giant chickens/cockerels or something - think my brain has tried desperately hard to forget the whole thing)

Well, to be fair, McGregor is the current resident choreographer, so you'd expect a lot of works from him (some of which I like a lot, some of which I do not) On a selfish note, I just wish the MacMillan overload included more of the pieces of his I like (such as the current Danses concertantes and Requiem, plus the likes of Gloria, Song of the Earth, Rite of Spring, Concerto). There are others I simply won't watch again - DD, The Invitation, Judas Tree

Attended five very different evenings this last week (21st - 28th March). First up was a trip to Islington, and Kidd Pivot’s Assembly Hall at Sadlers Wells. Dancing whilst lip synching to spoken words almost a Crystal Pite speciality. The decision by committee ruthlessly exposed, and throw in some superb solos/duets, plus Crystal’s astonishing way of moving groups of dancers around the stage, added up to an intriguing evening (apart from a break for a technical hiccup, which broke the mood rather, just as things were getting properly weird!) Next was a slide down into the Linbury to see Sydney Dance Company, with their triple bill Ascent. Loved the short opening piece by AD Rafael Bonachela, the near continuous flow of the two couples of dancers was fascinating, as they filled the space, and veritably bounced off each other. Bonachela came on in the 10mins pause to charmingly introduce the company and thank all involved etc, whilst they changed the flooring/set for ‘The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird’ (ch Marina Mascarell, plus her dancers). What we saw was as baffling as the title, with people swinging around on ropes, attached to torn flags/sails. I assume they were doing it right, as none were left marooned in the light rig above. Loved the score/forest soundscape (where the Lyrebird made its presence known) but apart from the odd solo, disliked this piece. After the interval (much needed to unscramble brainbox) came Anthony Hamilton’s Forever and Ever. The choreography was stunning and compelling, as the dancers stripped away layers (literally, in most cases, with costumes under costumes) with some couples ‘twinned’ in synchronicity for example - but the ‘music’ was just horrible. The opening solo to blissful silence (I came to relaise very shortly) seemed rather tagged on and as well as she danced it, I felt than an intro of 10-15 seconds would have sufficed. If I see it again, I will enjoy it even more with earplugs Perhaps the quiet highlight of the week for me was at The Place (near Euston) for Mark Bruce’s Frankenstein. After an appetiser of 6 short dances to Mark’s own music (grouped as 'Liberation Day') as a sort of intro to the six dancers (how lovely to some good contemporary dancing to actual music), came a short (50mins) retelling of the Frankenstein tale. Jonathan Goddard was at his most mesmeric as the Monster, though perhaps the star of the show was Guy Hoare’s lighting (despite a technical hiccup - am I a Jonah or something?) allowing maximum use of the space. Came away wishing I had at least one more ticket Wednesday was back to ROH for the MacMillan triple. Charmed by Dances concertante once again, stunned by Sarah Lamb in Requiem, sat out DD in the Floral Hall. (plenty already been said about this bill) Thursday was Sadlers Wells for ENB’s Carmen (ch Johan Inger). Minju Kang as Carmen looks like a star in the making, and surely won’t be a First Artist for long. Found the piece rather episodic, and not particularly emotional or passionate. The movable pillars that acted as scenery seemed more animated at times, than some of the choreography There were moments (mainly when Kang was on stage), but also an awful lot of rolling on the floor or walking about. And Francesca Velicu as ‘The Boy’ ?? The score wrapped around snippets of Bizet’s monumental tunes was well done I thought. Kept feeling there was a great work trying to get out, but it never quite made it. Enjoyable evening though, all told. This week was like recapturing my adventures when I first started to get into dance, when I went to almost everything I could. Sadly though, these days will now need a rest for 2-3 days! (Thank you Easter!)

once they have enough followers (on say tik-tok) they are showered with products to 'influence' said followers to buy. And following such 'trend-makers' is the only explanation I can think of, as to why so many young women these days have inflated lips that make them look like they've taken a punch to the kisser, and have painted on mono-brows

Just a thought - I can understand why they'd try and get newbies in to see Swan Lake (hence the marketing efforts) as I reckon that life-long fans are more likely to be acquired watching one of the big classics, than something like Different Drummer (think that's one for those who are die hard fans already!)