jgoddard Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 I haven't seen this noted elsewhere, so in case it hasn't been ... Jose Martin had a solo curtain call on Tuesday evening after his Gurn, and was applauded by the other dancers on stage, which I take to mean that he is leaving the Royal and that he has now danced his final show. I've enjoyed many of his performances - Puck and Lescaut stand out, as well as Gurn - and will miss him. Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annamicro Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 He confirmed he is leaving. It was said that Tuesday Sylphide was his last "dancing" show, so I assume he could be on stage in less relevant roles again before the end of season. If I understood well, he is starting a career as Ballet Master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 I remember him as a masterly Jester in Cinderella- loved his pirouettes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl H Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 I was thinking on Tuesday how nice it was to see Jose Martin in a decent role, how ironic, I didn't stay for the later curtain calls, hope to see him dancing again soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 It was said that Tuesday Sylphide was his last "dancing" show, so I assume he could be on stage in less relevant roles again before the end of season. Presumably holding up a doddery Emperor in the rest of the run of Pagodas. Not what you'd expect for a First Soloist. Justin, I'd assumed the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 He confirmed he is leaving. It was said that Tuesday Sylphide was his last "dancing" show, so I assume he could be on stage in less relevant roles again before the end of season. Indeed, he was a "doctor" in Pagodas on Wednesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrZee Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 It saddens us greatly to learn that we will no longer be able to enjoy Jose's amazing technique and stage charisma at Covent Garden anymore. In addition to the many roles he brilliantly performed as noted in prior posts, we will add his breathtaking (both for him and for the audience) performance as the Bronze Idol in La Bayadere. We certainly understand that an Artistic Director's casting decisions embrace many factors and reflect her subjective assessment of who is "right" or "wrong" for each part. But, in recent years, we have searched high and low for a rational reason to explain Jose's absence in many, many roles that he could have performed very well (and, in our opinion, often mcuh better than those who were actually casted). In the end, we audience members were deprived of magical moments that Jose could have contributed to our cultural appreciation. We join others in wishing him every success in his future endeavours. He will be an outstanding Balletmaster and, unquestionably, a valued member of Tamara's artistic team at ENB!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueline Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I would also like to wish Jose Martin all the best. I have been lucky to see him a few times at the ROH and enjoyed not only his dancing skill but his very likeable personality. He also took time to speak to me at the stage door after a superb performance of Giselle last year. He was charming and interested in my opinion, which was much appreciated by me,as I havn't been to the stage door for a while,considering myself too old! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Hi Jacqueline, thanks for your posting. Welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabriole Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Could Mr Zee who seems to be a fountain of knowledge, tell us if the current Balletmaster at ENB knows he is going to be replaced by Jose Martin . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Cabriole, I can't comment on the situation at ENB but the news about Jose Martin was, rightly or wrongly, plastered all over twitter last week so it is in the public domain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 ENB has an exceptionally strong ballet staff that has wrought wonders since Wayne Eagling assembled them, hopefully Mr Martin is an addition to that team and not a replacement. Perhaps Mr Zee could enlighten us as to exactly what previous experience JM has had as a ballet master, I sincerely hope it is more than his new boss has had as an artistic director. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrZee Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Thanks, Janet, for sharing that the news about Jose's new position was relatively widespread before my post. I was mererly repeating what is common knowledge among some (many?) who're interested in ballet developments at Covent Garden and its environs. As for MAB's invitation to comment on Jose's experience, I prefer not to take the bait. My earlier post on Jose was meant strictly as a tribute to his dancing talents, as well as to express my disappointment that he was so under-utilised in recent years at the RB. It is quite disappointed that my well-intended sentiments have seemingingly been hijacked to repeat a debate on the ENB Board's decision to change artistic leadership at that company. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 It is a fact of life that whenever there is a change at the top of an organisation there are usually changes in management as well as in the more junior staff. It is not uncommon for a new appointee to bring with him/her people who s/he has worked with before and who share his/her vision for the organisation. I appreciate that, whilst many members of ENB welcome Tamara's appointment, some will be feeling apprehensive, particularly the coaching staff. I assume that those who are actually employed by ENB will have the usual employment rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 ENB has an exceptionally strong ballet staff that has wrought wonders since Wayne Eagling assembled them, hopefully Mr Martin is an addition to that team and not a replacement. Looking at the staff listed on the website, I though most of them dated back to Derek Deane's time? Incidentally, can anyone explain why, when I don't bother with the "www." I get a web design company's site and not ENB's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Arrowsmith Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 More to the point - he will be missed, a performer with personality and presence - as the blue boy, a Hungarian - but also in a more natural role in Dances at a Gathering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Looking at the staff listed on the website, I though most of them dated back to Derek Deane's time? Incidentally, can anyone explain why, when I don't bother with the "www." I get a web design company's site and not ENB's? I've also occasionally got the web design company site by mistake. However the addresses are different. ENB is www.ballet.org.uk. The web design company doesn't have the 'uk' at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 We saw Jose's 'farewell' performance on 12 June and regret his departure - another first soloist who has been scarcely used by the RB of late. We find it equally regrettable that news of his appointment at ENB has been promulgated informally via Twitter and in other ways. Unless, as MAB hopes, Jose's appointment in an additional one, the problems with information management which seem to beset ENB can only cause hurt to the existing Ballet Staff who deserve nothing but praise. [incidentally, Anthony Dowson (a former RB Principal) joined during Wayne's tenure some 5 years ago.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Williams Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Surely Anthony Dowson has been with ENB longer than five years? My impression is that he has been with the company (as ballet master?) since well before Wayne Eagling's appointment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 2007 it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 I think he was at the School before that, wasn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 We understood Anthony to have moved from the ENB School in 2007 to replace David Wall on the Ballet Staff of the Company. We once had the privilege of watching him coach Thomas Edur and Agnes Oaks in the Nutcracker Pdd. Together, they dismantled and built up almost every move in order to strive for perfection and the respect the two stars showed for Anthony's input and opinion is illustrative of the asset he is to ENB. The same applies to Ros Whitten who surely has no equal as a Ballet Mistress for the female corps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Williams Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 My misunderstanding, then. I have attended most of the ENB School's events over the last several years, and I was obviously thinking of his time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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