Royal Ballet School Summer Performances 2018

[LinMM]

Thankyou Capybara! As long as I'm still making some sort of sense!! 

[Springbourne3]

3 hours ago, LinMM said:

Am not sure how much to really comment on individual dancers as most are still studying so not sure what the protocol is especially on students younger than 16!! So if I overstep the mark perhaps the Mods can step in!!

First of all I had a terrific seat ( again thanks to a Forum member) Certainly the best have had at the ROH.

It was in row A in the stalls right over on the right hand side near the brass section of the orchestra( a few of which were a bit out of tune in the last number....perhaps the extreme heat? )

But great to be able to see the whole orchestra anyway.

I was told I might not be able to see the feet of the dancers but really only when they came right down to the front of the stage but more than made up for it with lovely close ups of faces and costumes! 

The two people sitting next to me were also the mum and a friend of one of the young dancers who had just heard she had got into the Upper School at RBS from White Lodge so all very exciting.....and what a lovely dancer she is too!! One to keep an eye on definitely.

The first piece Aurora's Wedding was beautifully danced just so professional.....and it was lovely to see Yu Hang and Harrison Lee as Aurora and Prince Florimund. Harrison partnered my friends daughter in Sydney ( who only dances as a hobby now) when they were about 11/12 at one of the big Eisteddfords they have there .....hence the interest from them on how he is progressing ....so can report all is extremely well indeed!! I could say two possible future stars in the making but then there were other dancers who were terrific as well.

The Bluebird variation was danced by Amelia Townsend ( another Australian) and Taisuke Nakao both really good with Nakao having amazing elevation. The Lilac Fairy was beautifully danced by Lore Zonderman and I was also impressed by both Katharina Nikelski ( who also has beautiful classical line) and Yu Kurihara in their fairy variations. One of the most delightful pieces though was the Little Red Riding piece by more junior members of the school ....the little girl had the most expressive eyes and face and the wolf really got into the part they were really  lovely together and both only in year 8 still. 

The next piece Toot was an amusing modern piece which may have benefitted from the close viewing I was lucky enough to have as the facial expressions were perfect for this piece just the right nuance ....I thought they got it just right. A little slightly "off centre" piece but very enjoyable and some excitement from mum to see daughter pulling of her part really well ( some lovely pirouettes from her!) 

 

Sea Interludes followed a rather nice balletic piece in flowing blue "chiffon" mainly danced by First Year upper students it seemed with a particularly nice duet performed by Marianna Tsembenhoi and James Large and again enjoyable and easy on the eye.

 

After the Interval came the Snegurochka piece performed by the much younger students .....they looked so young a bit of a collective "ah" as I'm sure the Holland Park stage doesn't swallow them up quite so much as the ROH but they looked as if they were enjoying it all and pretty confident dancing.. ....I was also rather pleased to see that a boy who I saw at YBSS last year had a bit of a role ....in Year 9 and will call him CL but I think he's one to watch definitely such a delightful presentation he has. I have to say though was not entirely sure exactly what was going on in this piece at times but lovely dancing anyway.

I cannot remember so much about the Pulcinella Suite writing this now but it gave a lot of opportunities to a large number of the middle school to be seen ...lovely for the many parents there! 

 

I really loved the duet Self and Soul ....just stunning I thought ...danced by Rebecca Blenkinsop and Harris Bell and was very moved by these two. Rebecca is going to join English National Ballet so can look out for her there. She is one of those dancers who I think will have great acting ability as she was in the next piece immediately after too and caught the comedy of that brilliantly. 

So we saw the senior Upper School Students again in Multiplicity ....another amusing and surreal piece which I think they caught the mood of exceptionally well. I particularly liked the Crinolin dance... Tsaisuke Nakao( excelling again) and Gearoid Solan and the Claves were all brill ...nice to see another side to Yu Hang but all were good and again impressed by Rebecca who got the comedy so well. But also brilliantly danced was the Chelo piece with Madison Bailey and Simon Regourd .....an incredibly difficult little piece to coordinate and get the right slightly off hand nuance ...they were really good. I did notice it doesn't say where Simon is going next year I hope he gets a contract somewhere if he is wanting to continue dancing. 

Not much to say about the Grand Defile it is always very impressive but as someone else said on here a little too short!! It's always amazing just how many dancers there are at the RBS when you see them all on stage like that But anyway ended a great  afternoon at the ROH. 

I love the RBS show there's always such a lovely atmosphere in the theatre.

Sorry I didn't get to see you Jillikins by the way ....hope you enjoyed it with your ex student.

Also sorry this has got so long!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Regourd had been injured and was unable to participate in any auditions - he’s returning to the RBS in September, so hopefully all will go well for him.

[Jillykins]

Thank you LinMM for your review of RBS performances, I agree with all of your comments. I also enjoyed the variety of styles and although I would not rush to see some of the pieces again it is good to see the students being prepared for so many styles of dance. I had such a wonderful afternoon with my ex student Andrew Warth  now director of Zama Dance School in Cape Town and previously dancer with Cape Ballet. He introduced me to so many interesting members of the audience. I felt very honoured. 

Auroras Wedding was a great start, I especially enjoyed Yu Hang and was impressed by Taisukes Bluebird and later Crinoln. Loved Tori Forsyth Hecken (crystal Fountain) Yu Kurihara (Songbird) and Lor e Zonderman (lilac fairy). 

I  enjoyed Toot and the contrasting flow of Sea Interludes.

So many talented dancers,  such a promising future for us! Looking forward to following progress of Rebecca Blenkinsop.The Grand Defile moved me to tears, such grace, virtuosity and discipline.  Sorry, typing makes me tired, so I may have missed out some things I would like to  say. I so enjoyed my day. Now to look forward to a big contrast Tommy Steele Glenn Miller story. Keeps me positive.