Yaffa

YBDY= Young British Dancer of the Year. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_British_Dancer_of_the_Year It's a rare chance to see the top British talent from different schools - but sadly, the semi-finals and finals have always taken place in such small venues (RBS for semi finals and Linbury at ROH for the finals) so that very few people get to see it. Yaffa

Apparently, a new 2-part documentary about Rudolf Nureyev ('Rebellious Genius') was shown in St. Petersburg in connection with the 75th anniversary of his birth on 17th March. There are plans to show it in European capitals... and a television series and feature film are also being planned: http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_01_31/Rudolf-Nureyev-rebellious-genius-of-ballet-stage/ Yaffa [edited to add title of film]

The RBS' electronic newsletter, which Friends received yesterday, listed a total of 5 students with RB contracts and one who'll be joining BRB. So I expect it's semi-official, though probably best not to put names here until details are on the RBS website. Yaffa

Not a stupid question - The website for the competition is at http://www.prixdelausanne.org The multimedia section has areas for pictures, videos, ipad/iphone app etc. The day-by-day 2013 videos are at: http://www.prixdelausanne.org/v4/index.php/Videoblog-2013/ Yaffa [edited to correct typo]

Daniil Simkin never went to vocational school - but most ballet students don't have the opportunity to dance with their father... and even he had to catch up on partnering experience when he joined ABT http://www.pointemagazine.com/issues/junejuly-2011/world-daniil-simkin

The competition starts tomorrow (27th Jan)- and as usual, they have good online coverage: http://www.prixdelausanne.org/v4/index.php/tickets-and-info.html#events_tv_online Yaffa [edited to add date]

Many 0870 and similar UK phone numbers have a local number alternative which generally isn't published. The best place to start looking for these numbers is usually: http://www.saynoto0870.com. On this page, click on the not-too-prominent link to 'Search for an alternative number.' Then enter the details of the company you want to call (also works well for train enquiries, airlines and much more) or give the expensive published number and you'll get a list of local alternatives. If that doesn't work (Sometimes the local numbers are out of date or take you to a switchboard which refuses to forward your call), I've found that a Google search for 'local phone number for [name of company]' often gives results - though again these are sometimes out of date. If you do need to call an expensive number, it can be helpful to use moneysavingexpert.com's UK call checker at: http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/ukcallchecker/ . Enter the type of number you need to call (0870 etc.), your landline provider etc. and it will tell you the cheapest way to call. It only covers calling from landlines, though you might also want to see http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/mobile-phone-cost-cutting if you're calling from a mobile. Also if the number you need to call has an overseas branch (e.g. airlines), it's often much cheaper (or free, depending on your calling plan) to call that number. Best place to start for that is moneysavingexpert.com's international call checker: http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/ Calls from Internet phone providers aren't covered here - I've found that these are sometimes cheaper. Yaffa

It's the POB School's 300th anniversary this year. So as well as a. 17th April (Wed) and 18th April (Thurs) - their annual 'Spectacle' performance, they also have the same week: b. 15th April (Mon) - 300th anniversary gala and c. 20th April (Sat) - a special performance involving several international ballet schools (including RBS - and nice to see on the RBS site that Anna Rose O'Sullivan will be taking part, even though she is now dancing for RB). Individual booking starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. UK time at the Paris Opera website. They have an English version at: http://www.operadeparis.fr/en/. Seats for all these performances will probably go very quickly. So if you are planning to book tickets for the first time, it's best to sign up for an account on the POB website before 8 a.m. They accept UK credit cards and usually now issue print-at-home tickets. If anyone's interested, I'm happy to send details of cheap ways of getting to France and accommodation for that week. Not yet sure if a group will be going from England. Yaffa [Edited to correct typo]

Just saw that WL will be hosting an episode of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow in September. Again there seems to be efforts to tie in the event to the focus of the school, and exposure via TV (2000 people visiting...) From the RBS site: It has just been announced that BBC One’s ever-popular Sunday evening programme, Antiques Roadshow, will be filming its 36th series from The Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge in Richmond Park on Thursday 5 September. This marks presenter Fiona Bruce’s sixth year with the Antiques Roadshow, and she comments: ‘The Antiques Roadshow isn’t just about antiques – it’s history, beauty, and drama all wrapped up in one’. Doors will open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm and the BBC expects that around 2,000 will visit during the course of the day with a further 9 million people watching the programme which will be broadcast later in September. More information from www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow..

For people who occasionally need to book a hotel in the UK and are uncertain about the latest deals and options, I've found that the best place to start is usually moneysavingexpert.com's section on latest UK hotel deals: http://www.moneysavi...als/hotel-sales and general hotel search strategy (which outlines the basics of secret sales etc): http://www.moneysavi...el/cheap-hotels The above pages are basically without commercial bias, updated quite often, and generally in advance of moneysavingexpert.com's weekly bulletin, which goes usually goes online on Tuesday night and is distributed by email during Tuesday night/Wednesday - before the Top 20 deals of UK Travelzoo (http://www.travelzoo.co.uk) - which is updated online at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and is then distributed via email. But - there are other good resources around and the above don't typically focus on specific needs of ballet travellers. Yaffa [Edited to correct typo]

This week's moneysavingexpert.com bulletin has details of £19 and £29 hotels (Tunes - in Paddington and King's Cross). Booking starts on Friday at 8 a.m. for stays in Jan.. Might work out well for Nutcracker etc.. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/hotel-sales At the same URL there are details of some other cheap hotels over the holidays (including Travelodge £21), already bookable. Yaffa No connection to any of the above - just passing on info.

Agree that there's some great dancing here.... I'd also be interested to know what people think of the programme/competition itself. It's aparently a 'first' for Russian TV, and I'd suspect, internationally. (More details on the programme website at http://tvkultura.ru/...brand_id/22545/ - works well with Google Translate.) My own impression: Some of the glitzy stuff made me cringe. Also I don't know any Russian and haven't yet looked at translations of what's being said, so it's possible I've misunderstood what's taking place... But - wow! They appear to have done a great job of promoting ballet, and bringing it in a tasteful but more 'modern' way to people who might otherwise have no interest or worse - It's one of very few programmes I feel that I could watch together with non-ballet family/friends with all of us glued to the screen. As well as the first class dancing, they have very some interesting choreography and sets, a quite varied repertoire, an opportunity for ballet fans and casual viewers to get to know the next generation of upcoming dancers and a bit about what goes on behind the scenes... The environment seems quite supportive and collaborative, despite this being a competition... Interesting that top figures in the ballet world are not only judging but explaining their assesments. And the interactive component of SMS voting would presumably help to get the viewers feel involved. Great to see Sergei Polunin doing his stuff and apparently thriving. Too bad I don't understand what he's saying... Apparently it's the final tonight. Yaffa [edited to correct typo]

I believe they have audition days (actually more like a competiton) once a year. The primary one is internal - just for dancers from the school; though there is also a framework for external candidates. Within the company, they also have an annual competion to determine promotion for all ranks except etoile. Yaffa

Definitely tough. But I think that what happens at RBS for sixth form entry isn't primarily a matter of giving UK students a 'second chance' (though in rare cases this may happen). Rather it's a matter of having WL students compete for places at Upper School with top students from all over the world - something that is less of a concern for POB students who must 'just' do their regular annual assessments at 16. So in that sense, once you're in the POB system it is 'easier' to stay in it. Or rather there are fewer unknowns for having to leave. Yaffa

Indeed, though I recall RB sometimes offering contracts mid-year and then more towards the end of the year. Yaffa - delighted with what I've heard about the contracts, but hoping that RB will also have/make room for additional exceptional students from the graduate year.

Some info and a video at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/20264585 Yaffa

No idea who did and didn't apply for the competition and why - but I doubt that the small number of competitors from British schools reflects a lack of local talent. The RB's graduate class, for example, has some amazing dancers. But there could be all sorts of reasons why individual students might have chosen not to enter (including other opportunities that are more likely to benefit them professionally). NB: No critisim of Lausanne intended- just meant that competitions, and this one, aren't necessarily the right move for all talented dancers. In fact, I think Lausanne has done incredible pioneering work - not just in giving exposure and opportunties to talented young dancers, but also in proactively taking steps to promote dancers' health, when some other competitions don't seem to care how their competitors get to the 'required' technical standard. See the Prix de Lausanne health's policy at: http://www.prixdelausanne.org/v4/index.php/health.html From the last paragraph: Doesn't responsibility for the health of these young dancers mostly lie with their parents and those supervising their training? That is absolutely true, but the organizing committee of the Prix de Lausanne feels that it is highly irresponsible to simply turn a blind eye to the health risks related to excessive thinness or to an injury due to excessive strain, as this compromises a dancer's long-term development. Yaffa

You can even get a Dover to Calais car ferry for free until 2nd Nov (as long as you come back the same day - you're charged if you don't come back at all): http://www.moneysavi...tickets#myferry But (as with the buses) you really have to look at the whole picture and the alternatives when deciding if it's worthwhile. Yaffa [edited to correct typo]

The link to the £15 Travelodge rooms isn't yet live on the Travelodge home page, but if you go to: http://www.travelodge.co.uk/saver_rooms/ you can already search for 'Price Fall' rooms Not too much in the way of £15 central London rooms, but quite a lot at £19 e.g. for folks going to the RBS Summer fair (15th June, 2013) - if you search for 'Richmond,' all of the hotels in the Richmond area currently have £15 rooms for the nights of the 14th and 15th June. If you prefer to be in central London, there are currently many rooms there at £19 for the 14th, but just one (Farringdon) with a cheap room for the 15th. (Availability will probably change very quickly.) NB: Depending on how you search, the default result may be for a double room. You can often change this to a family room (same sale price) instead. Yaffa

[NB: Edited to say that the Travelodge rooms are £15, not £12] Amongst the deals mentioned in this week's Money Saving Expert mailing: http://www.moneysavi....com/latesttip/: Travelodge (http://www.travelodge.co.uk) will be seling rooms at £15, for stays from 1st April to 30th June, 2013. This time all of Travelodge hotels will apparently have some rooms on offer ((including London - though probably not all for all dates). Further details at: http://www.moneysavi...es#travelodge15 The sale officially starts at 7:00 a.m. Wed. UK time, but Travelodge sale rooms are usually available a bit earlier than announced. NB: Travelodge has had financial problems - Before booking, you might want to look at: http://www.moneysavi...ells-off-hotels Also in today's MSE, Megabus (http://www.megabus.com) is offering free (just for 50p booking fee) Megabus tickets throughout the UK for travel on Mondays to Thursdays, 14th Jan to 28th Feb 2013. The sale is just for travel in England and Wales travel - doesn't include Megatrains and doesn't apply to the bus to France and elsewere in Europe, though those are very cheap too. From a quick glance, there appear to be lots of free journies coinciding with ballet performances in London and elsewhere. More at: See: http://www.moneysavi...als#freemegabus No ties to any of the above - just passing on info. Yaffa

Just heard that it will be on Sat.15th June, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yaffa

Thanks. Indeed I will do this when the school opens . Yaffa

I need to make some travel arrangements for June this morning and would be grateful if anyone knows about arrangements for the WL fair this year. Unlike in previous years, it's not listed in the online RBS calendar and wasn't yet announced to RBS Friends. Thanks, Yaffa

I saw that the link to the £20 Ramada Hotels (including London) is already live - without requiring a newspaper purchase: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/100000-ramada-hotel-rooms-at-just-20-per-room-per-night-8206793.html (It's not yet linked from the moneysavingexpert.com page.) Right now there's great availability - e.g. the London Ramada DockLands Hotel and Suites is available for almost all dates in July. There's a maximum of 2 nights per booking, 3 bookings per person. Breakfast isn't included. Yaffa

The deVere £10 hotels deal hasn't started as smoothly. From a note on the moneysavingexpert.com site: MSE update 12.15pm Thu 11 Oct: Unfortunately, the De Vere website is experiencing technical difficulties and bookings cannot currently be made online. De Vere has said it doesn't know when the issue will be resolved but we'll let you know here as soon as we're updated. In the meantime, you can book by telephoning 0844 980 8056.