Sim Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Dear Forum Members (and Lurkers!), On 23 December 2011, a little group of us took our first tentative steps in running an online public entity…and BalletcoForum was born! We are the offspring of Bruce Marriott’s ground-breaking ballet.co.uk, which he decided to close in 2011 in order to establish and grow Dance Tabs. Due to overwhelming public demand, he came up with the idea of having a public forum where lovers of ballet and dance could commune, discuss, debate, support, inform, report and generally participate in whichever way they liked (within reason, of course!). From a small and faithful core of ballet.co.uk members who have been with us from the beginning, forum membership has grown in ten years to almost 7000! It has been fascinating to watch how the world has changed for good or ill over the past decade, and how ballet and dance have been affected by such changes. We have all gone through good times and bad, especially during the past two years. The pandemic has affected everyone in some way or another, and as we all know the arts in particular have been seriously diminished. Just as a bit of normality was creeping back in, another variant has come and ripped through the world at large and has once again adversely affected the arts. More money lost, more artists and backstage workers suffering once again. However, the resilience of people far and wide will get us all through this incredibly difficult period in our lives. I want to thank forum members, and especially the prolific posters, for having kept this forum alive and well during the darkest times of the pandemic. When nothing was going on, you kept your chins up and kept on posting, discussing and informing. I really felt that it was like a group of friends trying to cheer each other up. We moderators weren’t sure what would happen when the world stopped…we thought the forum might, too. We needn’t have worried, and we would like to thank you all for your positive attitude in the face of negative times. We were so pleased that we have just been able to give a little something back by having a free prize draw, something that we could share with you. A huge thank you once again to all who participated, and to the generous prize donors. As I have said on many occasions, we try to make the forum a place of debate, discussion, and differing opinions. I know that some people think that we ‘over-moderate’; however, in the times in which we now live we have to be very careful about what we can allow to be seen in a public place (please remember that the forum is just that, public). We have learned this the hard way over the years, so please bear with us. Believe me, there are many times that we don’t want to hide what someone has said but in the interests of the forum we feel we have to. We moderators don’t always get things right, but we do our best. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, we were all a motley little crew whom Bruce had asked to bring up his baby. We had no experience whatsoever so have had to learn on our feet, as it were. And learn we have…sometimes the hard way, sometimes the fun way. This brings me nicely to John Mallinson. John started running the forum with us, and we sadly lost him in 2019. He made huge contributions to the start-up and continuing success of the forum; without his knowledge, expertise and quiet determination we might never have taken off. Aside from his contributions, he was an all-round lovely man: reliable, witty, sardonic, good-humoured, knowledgeable, intelligent, quirky, caring. I could go on…but suffice to say that John is still, and always will be, deeply missed and very fondly remembered. I would like, with my Chair's hat on, to pause here and give huge and grateful thanks to each and every one of the moderators. We have all worked together since Day 1…quite an achievement! I am so proud of this, and how, despite the odd disagreement or two, we can sort things out and come to a consensus. All of the moderators are deeply committed to the forum and its success and during easy times and trying times we all work together to keep things on track. We have had some very difficult things (and people!) to deal with but by working together and keeping calm we always manage to sort things out. I am immensely grateful to all of my colleagues and look forward to our continuing forum relationship. Whilst on the subject of thanks, we would all like to thank you, our members, who make the forum what it is. I have said it before and I will say it again: your knowledge, your support for each other, your reviews, your suggestions, your willingness to put yourselves out there and debate and report, and everything else that you do all combine to make the forum the thriving and lively place it has been for the past ten years. Our deepest gratitude goes to all of you. So…here’s to the future; to the next ten years and beyond. Let’s hope that normality and sanity return to our world soon, and that we can once again have a thriving dance scene everywhere that there are lovers of our beautiful art form. Until such time, please take good care, and have yourselves a very Merry Christmas and happy, peaceful and healthy New Year. With my very best wishes to you all, Sim Chair, BalletcoForum Committee 22 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Merry Christmas and many thanks to you all, always remembering John. Is there anywhere that I can make a donation to this always entertaining forum? xxx 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Fiz: A kind thought. If you look at the Forum Fundraising 2020 thread in this section, you'll find that the PayPal 'Donate Here' button is still live. We've had a number of donations that must have originated from there since the last formal fundraising drive was run last year - and we're always pleased and grateful to receive such gifts. (In case anyone doesn't know, these funds are used to pay the monthly invoice from Invision, the company that supplies our software package, and, every 3 years, to cover the fee that secures our Domain Name.) 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryrosesatonapin Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Thanks to the mods and happy and SAFE Christmas wishes to all the members. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Happy 10th Birthday to us!! And a huge thank you to all the moderators for the work you put in, day in day out, to ensure that this forum functions so well and provides its members with an informative, entertaining and stimulating outlet for our (comparatively) specialist interest. Not many people share our particular enthusiasm, so this forum is really crucial for being able to share and express what we see and feel with others who understand (even if they don't necessarily agree!). So thank you mods, and thank you members, and Happy Christmas to everyone. Let's hope that performances can resume early in the new year. 12 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 2 hours ago, Ian Macmillan said: Fiz: A kind thought. If you look at the Forum Fundraising 2020 thread in this section, you'll find that the PayPal 'Donate Here' button is still live. We've had a number of donations that must have originated from there since the last formal fundraising drive was run last year - and we're always pleased and grateful to receive such gifts. (In case anyone doesn't know, these funds are used to pay the monthly invoice from Invision, the company that supplies our software package, and, every 3 years, to cover the fee that secures our Domain Name.) Done. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Wanting to echo all the thanks. I well remember the time 10 plus years ago when a call was put out for people to run the forum. I wasn’t in a position to put my hand up then but the members of the moderator team did and have stuck with it and together for an incredible 10 years. Those of us who simply contribute from time to time are VERY grateful 😊 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 (edited) Yes very Happy tenth Birthday to the Forum Am so grateful it exists so thanks to the Moderators for keeping it all together and in spare time as well! Here’s to another ten years anyway 🎂🍾 🍷🎈💃🎭🍺🎉🩰🌟🥂🙏🙏🙏 Edited December 23, 2021 by LinMM 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCL Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Congratulations and happy birthday balletcoforum! Many thanks to the mods for all their commitment and hard work and to members for their knowledgeable and enthusiastic posts. I have learned a lot and been greatly cheered every time I’ve logged into the forum. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy Christmas! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmhopton Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Quite simply the Forum is my lifeline to all things ballet related. I love it and log in at least once a day. It was awful being without it for even a short space of time 10 years ago. I've never felt so cut off and bereft of information, communication and companionship. Several people I first 'met' on the Forum have now become good friends and it's as much a treat to meet up with such friends before a performance or in the interval, as it is to see the actual performance. A very loud Bravo to all the Moderators who make it happen (it's Ok to say this as I'm not in the theatre!), and as volunteers and in their own time. May all Forum users and Mods have a wonderful Christmas and here's to a better 2022 for everyone (especially all the ballet companies!) 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Many congratulations and thanks to all! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Happy birthday to the Forum and thanks to the Mods 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 15 hours ago, Ian Macmillan said: Fiz: A kind thought. If you look at the Forum Fundraising 2020 thread in this section, you'll find that the PayPal 'Donate Here' button is still live. We've had a number of donations that must have originated from there since the last formal fundraising drive was run last year - and we're always pleased and grateful to receive such gifts. (In case anyone doesn't know, these funds are used to pay the monthly invoice from Invision, the company that supplies our software package, and, every 3 years, to cover the fee that secures our Domain Name.) Done. Thank you everyone. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabine0308 Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Happy Birthday to the Forum and it's wonderful members who write so insightful posts. I get here so much info and I'm glad I found this place. 💖🌹 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHazell2 Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Hi there Happy Birthday to the forum and a huge thank you to the Mods who always do a spectacular job. Hope that you will all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, whatever you decide to do on the day. All my Best Wishes Chris 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynne L Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Hello all Such a life enhancing forum for those who love ballet. A huge thank you to founders and moderators who make it all happen. It has certainly helped me through the pandemic as my day job is at the sharper end of Covid. A brief almost daily escape into the world of ballet is so refreshing. Long may this wonderful site continue. Have a magical Christmas. Lynne 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Happy 10th birthday Ballet Co!! This forum is wonderful, with lots of kind, helpful people sharing their knowledge with others. Im not knowledgeable enough to post, but love reading everyone's posts and reviews. As other posters have said, a massive Thank You to the moderators for all they do every day to keep this brilliant forum running. Wishing all moderators and Ballet coers a very happy Christmas and New Year. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 22 minutes ago, Ruby said: Happy 10th birthday Ballet Co!! This forum is wonderful, with lots of kind, helpful people sharing their knowledge with others. Im not knowledgeable enough to post, but love reading everyone's posts and reviews. As other posters have said, a massive Thank You to the moderators for all they do every day to keep this brilliant forum running. Wishing all moderators and Ballet coers a very happy Christmas and New Year. One of the things that makes this forum so brilliant is the range of people who post, from the very knowledgeable and experienced to complete newbies. And we all learn all the time just from reading other people's posts. So please do post, Ruby! All that's needed is the wish to share your thoughts or reactions. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Thank you for the encouragement Bridiem. I do attend performances, and afterwards it's interesting to then read on this forum what others thought, but never felt brave enough to post myself!! When theatres open again I'll have a go!! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serenade Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Happy birthday to the forum and thank you to the moderators who run it and all the contributors. I have learnt so much over the years just from reading on here and of course enjoyed myself at the same time too, it's a really valuable space especially for the ballet obsessed! I really appreciate the wide variety of points of view, opinions, thoughts etc. Here's to the next 10 years and thanks again 😀 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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