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Tristan Dyer has today announced that he has left the Royal Ballet.

The big premiere of Hubbe’s newest (3rd?) La Sylphide will be this Saturday! Has precise casting been announced? (The website indicates dancers of three potential casts.) Is a telecast or streaming being planned? Thanks for any & all insights.

Is everybody too busy watching to actually post about this yet? All I can say is, thank heavens for picture-in-picture mode! MAkes it possible to work and (sort of) watch at the same time!

English National Ballet Autumn 2020 Announcement English National Ballet to launch dedicated ENB at Home video-on-demand platform Emerging Dancer will be streamed live from ENB’s own production studio at London City Island A digital season of works for camera in development for Autumn 2020 Nine new commissions UK premieres of Tamara Rojo’s Raymonda and Creature by Akram Khan postponed Announcement of promotions within the Company and thanks given to those leaving Photo caption: The Emerging Dancer 2020 finalists (c) Photography by Laurent Liotardo, post production by Nik Pate English National Ballet today announces its revised plans for Autumn 2020, as the Company’s previously scheduled performances have been cancelled due to the continuing impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. An exciting new digital season of short works for camera from choreographers including Russell Maliphant, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Yuri Possokhov, Arielle Smith and ENB Associate Choreographer Stina Quagebeur will be created, rehearsed, and performed by Company dancers in English National Ballet’s studios within COVID secure guidelines. This marks the first time Cherkaoui and Smith have created work for ENB’s main Company, and the first time Possokhov has created work for a UK Company. Shown in a series of mixed bills, these new works will be available to rent via ENB at Home, a new video-on-demand service from English National Ballet. ENB’s digital season is currently in rehearsal and will premiere in November and December 2020. Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said: “It is testament to the talent of our dancers and the spirit and reputation of our Company that we have such incredible choreographers working with us on our digital season. I’m thrilled that not only will we have new pieces by renowned choreographers to share with our audiences, but that even in these challenging times we are also continuing to support young talent too. I can’t wait to see what they create.” Following the cancellation of performances at Southbank Centre, English National Ballet will now perform and stream its 11th annual Emerging Dancer competition from its own production studio at London City Island. Celebrating the bright future of ballet and the excellence of the Company’s Artists, Emerging Dancer will see this year’s finalists Ivana Bueno, Carolyne Galvao, Miguel Angel Maidana, Victor Prigent, Emily Suzuki and William Yamada perform a classical pas de deux followed by contemporary pieces choreographed by ENB Lead Principal Jeffrey Cirio, ENB Associate Choreographer Stina Quagebeur and Mthuthuzeli November. We will also see performances by last year’s winners Julia Conway and Rhys Antoni Yeomans who will be dancing a new creation by Arielle Smith. Emerging Dancer is produced by First Soloist James Streeter as part of ENB’s new dancer development programme, Dance Leaders of the Future. The Emerging Dancer finalists are now back in the studio, being mentored by their peers and preparing to perform in front of a panel of eminent judges including Edward Watson, Kerry Nicholls and Kenneth Tindall, on 22 September. Audiences around the world will be able to pay to watch this live streamed event for a fee of £5 and for the first time, will also be invited to cast their own votes by text and select a People’s Choice winner. In all, English National Ballet will present nine new commissions this Autumn Season. The new ENB at Home on demand platform will not only host filmed performances of new works and events, but will also be a home for additional high-quality on-demand ballet content beyond the stage, such as performances including Le Corsaire and Akram Khan’s Giselle, both of which were recorded specifically for screen, and selections from the archives following the success of English National Ballet’s recent Wednesday Watch Parties. Building on the popular series of classes which ENB made available online during lockdown, the ENB at Home platform will continue to give people the opportunity to actively engage with ballet-based exercise from home with a subscription-based class programme. Opting for either a monthly or annual subscription, users will gain access to over 100 hours of material including ballet classes, yoga, and fitness sessions. The launch date for the ENB at Home digital platform will be announced shortly. English National Ballet’s planned UK premieres this Autumn of Creature by Akram Khan and the Company’s new version of Raymonda, choreographed by Tamara Rojo after Marius Petipa, have been postponed owing to the closure of venues, and the difficulty in achieving the original timeline for the creation of these two new large-scale ballets under lockdown. Creature will now have its premiere in September 2021 at Sadler’s Wells, whilst Raymonda’s premiere date is to be announced. Plans for English National Ballet’s Winter Season 2020/2021 will be confirmed in due course. With changes in government guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic now allowing indoor performances with socially distanced audiences, English National Ballet is exploring options with partner venues. Tamara Rojo commented: “Our artform is vital to the millions of people whose lives are enriched by the performing arts. No matter how difficult the situation, I truly believe ballet can bring people together and be a part of the solution to this crisis. Whilst it is with great sadness that we have had to delay some of our planned Season, I’m so pleased that through our new digital season and ENB at Home service we have found a way to continue to create, challenge, and inspire our audiences and, we hope, go some way in boosting the morale of the country.” Patrick Harrison, Executive Director of English National Ballet continued: “Like so many of our colleagues around the country, we have experienced a devastating effect of the coronavirus crisis on our operations, losing over two-thirds of our income. The continued closure of the theatres in which we perform, cancellations of national and international tours and the ongoing uncertainty about when we may be able to return to full performance or vital commercial activity means we have to scale back our organisation to protect it for the longer term. We continue to create where we can and are investing in the areas which will be key to the post-crisis recovery. We have furloughed over 85% of our colleagues through the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and have introduced pay restraint across the organisation, whilst protecting the salaries of lower earners. I want to sincerely thank everyone in the organisation for their ongoing dedication and the sacrifices they are making during this time. ENB was successful in its application for a grant from the Arts Council of England’s Emergency Fund, which secures our survival through September. Despite this and in the face of continued uncertainty, we must reduce the scale of our activity and organisation in order to see our way through the current crisis.” English National Ballet also today announces promotions and changes within the Company. Our 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons have been greatly affected by the unexpected advent of the global pandemic. Our repertoire has been reduced, and our costs must be reduced as well. The Company are delighted to acknowledge members of the company with promotions this year, but sadly say goodbye to others who following discussions have chosen to leave English National Ballet to pursue other projects. Francisco Bosch, 8th Year Artist, after 17 years with the Company Fernando Bufala, First Soloist, after 7 years with the Company Barry Drummond, First Artist, after 10 years with the Company Shevelle Dynott, 8th Year Artist, after 15 years with the Company James Forbat, First Soloist, after 15 years with the Company Daniel Kraus, Junior Soloist, after 16 years and 11 months with the Company Adela Ramirez, First Soloist, after 22 years with the Company Maria Jose Sales, 8th Year Artist, after 6 years with the Company Jia Zhang, First Artist, after 11 years with the Company Earlier this year, ENB also said goodbye to First Soloist Crystal Costa and 8th Year Artist Joshua McSherry-Gray after 12 and 11 years with the company respectively. Jane Haworth, who joined us as a dancer in 1983 and then became Character Artist and Artistic Coordinator, retired in June. Artist of the Company Maeve Nolan also leaves at the end of the current Season. Tamara Rojo said: “I want to offer heartfelt thanks to these dancers for their contribution and dedication to the Company. Their talent and artistry will be missed by all, colleagues and audiences alike. I wish them all the best for the future.” Lead Principal Jurgita Dronina, who previously split her time between ENB and National Ballet of Canada, will not return to ENB next Season. Jurgita will continue to dance in Canada. Tamara Rojo notes that “we certainly hope to work with Jurgita again in the future.” Jurgita Dronina said: “During my time with English National Ballet, I have shared some of my best performances, and been able to witness and be part of the historical change and accomplishments the Company has achieved so far. I wish English National Ballet the best possible future in these difficult times, and I am looking forward to hopefully finding a different way to continue my association with the Company when times are more certain.” ENB also announces the following promotions which have been made within the Company: Gabriele Francesco Frola has been promoted to Lead Principal. Daniel McCormick has been promoted to Soloist. Precious Adams, Julia Conway, Anjuli Hudson and Erik Woolhouse have been promoted to Junior Soloist. Emily Suzuki has been promoted to 8th Year Artist of the Company. Matthew Astley, Noam Durand, Rhys Antoni Yeomans, Victor Prigent and Miguel Angel Maidana have been promoted to 6th Year Artist of the Company. Carolyne Galvao and Rentaro Nakaaki have been promoted to 5th Year Artist of the Company. Tamara Rojo said: "Congratulations to all of our promoted dancers, this recognition is well-deserved and I’m looking forward to seeing them all continue to develop and flourish in the Seasons to come.” -ENDS- Notes to Editors English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. The following English National Ballet performances have been cancelled this Autumn due to the impact of COVID-19. Ticket buyers will be contacted by the relevant box offices. Emerging Dancer 2020 – Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre (22 Sept 2020). Replaced by live stream. Creature by Akram Khan – Sadler’s Wells, London (11-14 Nov 2020); Bristol Hippodrome (18-21 Nov 2020). Raymonda - Palace Theatre, Manchester (15-17 Oct 2020); Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (21-24 Oct 2020); Milton Keynes Theatre (28-31 Oct 2020) Amended listings for English National Ballet’s Autumn 2020 Season: Emerging Dancer 7pm, 22 September 2020 www.ballet.org.uk/emerging Details remain subject to change. For the latest information, please visit www.ballet.org.uk About English National Ballet English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet's growth and evolution ever since. English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages including The Bolshoi Theatre and Palais Garnier; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet's Dance for Parkinson's. Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company's repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history with a move into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in East London which brings a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before. www.ballet.org.uk About Arts Council England Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people's lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk About NatWest, Principal Partner of English National Ballet NatWest serves customers in England and Wales, supporting them with their personal, private, and business banking needs. NatWest helps customers at all stages in their lives, from opening student accounts, to buying their first home, setting up a business, and saving for retirement. Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as manufacturing and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.

It's back https://www.roh.org.uk/news/worldballetday-returns-on-29-october-2020 https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_pzi_gL_i/

A thread for any thoughts arising from the BBC's "Proms" season this year: archive recordings until a couple of weeks before the end of the season, by which time we should be getting some live concerts, even if their current programmes are as yet unspecified. My first, rather random, thought: is Rossini's overture to Semiramide as reminiscent of the music for La Sylphide as I thought it was on Wednesday?

I hope it's ok to start a thread for 2020 auditions for The Royal Ballet School. I see there is an Elmhurst thread and it's been lovely to read. We're on the audition circuit this year for year 7 and always find it helpful and supportive to find a thread with people going through the same thing. Good luck to everyone auditioning this year and big hugs to the supportive parents who ride the rollercoaster with them! X

Northern Ballet has issued an End of Season announcement. The dancers leaving the company have been listed but they have stated there will be no promotions due to the C-19 pandemic and new dancers cannot yet be announced. https://northernballet.com/blogs/northern-ballet/20-07-01/2020-leavers I feel so sad for the dancers who have retired having missed their valedictory performances due to the pandemic. Of course this has affected many dancers in many companies. The leavers are Hannah Bateman (retiring), Nicola Gervasi (retiring), Nina Querioz da Silva, Abigail Cockerell, Ayça Anil and Ommaira Kanga Perez. I send them all my best wishes for the future.

ENB has just announced the finalists for this. As I have mentioned almost all these dancers in my posts over the last year, I am really looking forward to seeing their talents highlighted! "Announcement 🎉 Meet our Emerging Dancer 2020 finalists: Ivana Bueno, Carolyne Galvao, Miguel Angel Maidana, Victor Prigent, Emily Suzuki and William Yamada! Their colleagues voted for them to perform at the #ENBEmerging final on 29 May in London. Congratulations from everyone at English National Ballet!They will perform a classical pas de deux and a contemporary solo in front of a panel of judges (and an audience – book your tickets! 😉), before one of them receives the Emerging Dancer 2020 Award.Tickets: https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/emerging-dancer-2020/"

Starting this thread perhaps a little early, but I've just noticed that the first night tomorrow starts at 7 PM, and hope everyone who has tickets has realized this!

If anyone is in Hampshire and has a spare three hours, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake opened last night at The Mayflower theatre in Southampton. I won’t attempt a review such as the ones I read on here, but suffice to say it was thoroughly enjoyable. It received a well deserved 4 stars in the Guardian today. The ballet had a much darker feel to the productions I have seen previously. The sets and the costumes all adding to quite a sombre, somewhat oppressive atmosphere. I didn’t love Prince Siegfried, Principal Tyrone Singleton, his Prince was a bit dreary, but his lightness and control in the grande allegro enchainments were lovely. Celina Gittens Odette was gorgeous, her arms were delightful and her swan like quality was utterly believable. I thought I spied some Russian style arms and hands and indeed after reading the Guardian review I found out the production was from a 1981 revival by Peter Wright and Galina Samsova. My 11 year old son and I were most impressed by the swans, and the gorgeous cygnets. All their lines and formations were wonderful. The swans being slowly revealed from underneath the mist at the beginning of Act 4 was an audience ‘oohh’ and ‘ah’ moment. Carlos Acosta was in the same row as us watching the ballet, causing quite a commotion at each interval. Good to see him so visible as the new director of the company.

Has anyone heard anything about NYB this year? I’ve had a look at their website and it still doesn’t have anything up about the timing of auditions or even what it will be this year (apart from not residential) but I thought someone here might have some insider knowledge!

I saw a very pleasant performance of Swan Lake this afternoon at the Liverpool Empire. I got tickets for my favourite seats at half price in the sale so for £17 inc fees I had a lovely afternoon! The company now uses a projected back- screen instead of scenery and I thought this worked well, although the flying swans were a bit amateurish and distracting. Anyone who knows the Liverpool Empire will know it has a pretty large stage, but somehow RSBS managed to make the stage look too small for them?! I felt the dancers were a bit tight for space at times when all they needed to do was pull the red curtain type side drapes (see pic below) they had at the sides back into the wings a bit and they would have had another 2 meters to play with. Or maybe they keep it tight so they dance to the same spec at every theatre seeing as they are touring to a large number of venues? Odette/Odile was very competently danced by Anastasiia Belonogova - she had very expressive arms and a rock solid technique when it came to the full set of fouettes and more in Act 3. Her Prince Siegfried was danced by Francisco Gimenez and he was very nice, even if he did land rather heavily from his jumps. Rothbart wasn't quite menacing enough for me but well enough danced by Egor Oskoin. They have a Benno in this production and this was nicely danced by Marcello Pelizzoni. I must single out the Act4 black swans for praise, my goodness they were SO precise in their moves and timing, dancing as one and when the "block" of dancers moved across the stage they kept their lines perfectly, not one put a foot wrong. Dare I say they were as good as the Mariinsky for precision this afternoon, amazing to watch them. In general all the swans kept very straight lines and moved pretty much together and the 4 cygnets did their dance really well. I particularly enjoyed the Spanish Dance in Act 3 and Odile's fouettes were just fabulous she hardly moved off the spot and knocked them out at speed as the orchestra really played fast! The ending to this Swan Lake is a bit sad as Siegfried jumps into the lake with Rothbart, leaving Odette all alone at the lakeside. Ahhh. It was a pity that the house was not full but it is fuller this evening, however they got plenty of applause and, in true Russian style, really milked every last clap out of the audience throughout the show LOL! The costumes were very pleasant and colourful and Odile's sparkling black tutu and red tiara were beautiful. The orchestra was only small but played really nicely, and at times (Act 3) really fast, under the baton of Anatoliy Chepurnoy who also had a sense of humour - he conducted the audience's applause when he came on at the start 🙂 His long frock coat had some black diamante on it which I thought was a nice touch! I like that this production combines Acts 1 and 2 into one half and Acts 3 and 4 into the second half with only one interval so total run time was 2.20. There are loads more performances in the Tour around the UK throughout this winter/spring so catch them if you can I would say. A few curtain call pics. Ensemble Egor Osokin, Anastasiia Belonogova, Anatoliy Chepurnoy and Francisco Gimenez Anastasiia Belonogova Anastasiia Belonogova and Francisco Gimenez

Cast for today's General...Nunez, Takada, Hirano, Edmonds, Braendsrod. Plus McGorian as "A Widow", Murphy as "Nurse". Very pleased to be here!☺

Any sign of Spring casting yet? I think it was due to go up early this week.

The Viviana Durante interview in today’s links launches this programme in February, with dancers including Durante and Begoña Cao performing Duncan’s Dance of the Furies, Ashton’s Five Brahms Waltzes and a new work. More here: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2020/event/viviana-durante-company-isadora-now

Registration was this morning and the first classes, one for girls followed by one for boys, are now being live streamed on Facebook and presumably elsewhere.

The casting is on BRB's website for the whole of the Spring Tour of Swan Lake!!! https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/swan-lake?utm_source=brb-facebook&utm_medium=post-video-casting&utm_campaign=swanlake-brb-tour#dates-and-times

The Gala was meticulously planned and brilliantly executed. Stunning, sumptuous, ravishing, scintillating and exhilarating from start to finish. A veritable celebration of dance. It deserved a standing ovation and I among others gave it one. I hope that it was recorded for wider viewing.

Scrolling down the ROH website just now, I noticed that the new Cathy Marston ballet, now entitled 'The Cellist' , is to be shown with a revival of Robbins' Dances at a Gathering rather than the previously-scheduled but otherwise undefined Scarlett ballet. Does anyone have any further information regarding this change in scheduling and, for that matter, when the casting is likely to be released?

wow the list is out...interesting reading australia puts forward 62 candidates and they take 12 ( one from our dance school ! ) USA puts 60 forward and they take 9 Japan had 78 and they have taken 13 only 7 from UK put in an application and none selected ....... is this down to different training system in UK where most high level dancers already tucked away at royal/elmhurst so dont often compete at these big comps do you think ? .... which schools have the 7 UK candidates come from?...... 377 applications and took 76 in total .... love watching this every year whilst sat at work ( with my door closed of course lol)

Details are out now. Includes a new programme from Alina Cojocaru, new work from Crystal Pite, Ballet Boyz, final Richard Alston performances, new Khan for ENB, Northern Ballet, Rambert with DV8's Enter Achilles and lots more.

The Australian Ballet 2020 season - A Month in the Country makes its TAB début, Alice Topp from strength to strength, co-productions with the Joffrey and American Ballet Theatre...David McAllister's final season as AD. Queensland Ballet 2020 season - Dracula was a success in WA, Stevenson's Nutcracker now a company staple, and new work including one from HNB principal Remi Wortmeyer. West Australian Ballet has not yet announced their 2020 season but I will add it here when they do.

Just announced for next June: https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/swan-lake-round/