Emeralds Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 3 hours ago, Tony Newcombe said: He danced Lescaut at a dress rehearsal a few years ago. He was a late replacement for Zucchetti. His Manon was Hamilton. They were absolutely superb together. Tony, that Manon dress rehearsal has acquired mythic status! If I had known, with a crystal ball perhaps, that Melissa and James would be dancing Manon and Lescaut respectively in it, I would have bought Friends membership that year and taken a day of annual leave just to be able to book and watch that one dress rehearsal.....and it would have been worth it too. 3 hours ago, alison said: Hasn't he already danced Lescaut? According to his bio, and it seems to be quite meticulously updated with the current important roles, apparently not (if you don’t count one dress rehearsal). I don’t recall seeing his name on the casting in the last few runs of Manon either. It’s a mystery as to why that is. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 Beautiful dancing from James Hay- I feel I really do not see enough of this wonderful dancer. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesrhblack Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 1 hour ago, Emeralds said: Tony, that Manon dress rehearsal has acquired mythic status! If I had known, with a crystal ball perhaps, that Melissa and James would be dancing Manon and Lescaut respectively in it, I would have bought Friends membership that year and taken a day of annual leave just to be able to book and watch that one dress rehearsal.....and it would have been worth it too. According to his bio, and it seems to be quite meticulously updated with the current important roles, apparently not (if you don’t count one dress rehearsal). I don’t recall seeing his name on the casting in the last few runs of Manon either. It’s a mystery as to why that is. I definitely saw him as Lescaut in ? 2017. Akane Takada was Manon with Alexander Campbell as des Grieux. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 12 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said: I definitely saw him as Lescaut in ? 2017. Akane Takada was Manon with Alexander Campbell as des Grieux. https://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=32631&row=0&character=Lescaut&person=Hay&searchtype=workprodperf&title=Manon 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annamk Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 I don't understand why James hasn't been given the opportunity to dance Siegfried or the Prince in Nutcracker; he is one of the company's finest classical dancers. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 I've always assumed it's been because of the amount of competition for the smaller ballerinas 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 James probably ‘suffered’ initially from the perception that he is ‘small’ but, in recent years, attitudes have changed in relation to the ‘suitability’ of dancers for certain roles. Sadly, however, this age of ‘everyone can do everything’ (and injuries) has also had the effect of squeezing James out. In my view, there have been roles (Prince Florimund; Rhapsody; Two Pigeons come to mind) where his beautiful dancing and characterisation have eclipsed virtually all of the Principals. AND some photos show that he is at least as tall as three of them. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 I am 5’7” and have chatted with James a couple of times. He is definitely a bit taller than me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJW Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 6 minutes ago, Sim said: I am 5’7” and have chatted with James a couple of times. He is definitely a bit taller than me. Given that would make him about the same as me, I would say that would be the perfect height! James is certainly similar in height to Alexander Campbell and Marcelino Sambe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 (edited) Thank you Jamesrhblack and Bluebird- I wonder why his bio hasn’t included Lescaut in that case. This might be pushing it, but would either of you happen to remember if he was originally cast in it or substituted for someone injured? (Only because I thought the original cast was Takada/McRae/Campbell that year, but I could be confusing it with a different season!) in that case, I wish they’d cast him as Lescaut again - or as Des Grieux. I think there was indeed, in the past, an assumption in the casting that he wasn’t tall. But when he appears on stage he is certainly not short. He can partner Naghdi, O’Sullivan, Hayward and Takada beautifully, and in the contemporary works he has no problem with the various tricky lifts and other partnering requirements. He does have that pure classical foundation - you can see it in the wonderful control in his spins- that many don’t have. It’s the same pure foundation that Muntagirov has...they are both elegant classicists (Anthony Dowell was also one). Many of the RB men are dance actors, which is another style that is great to watch, but it is lovely to see pure classicism. And I agree with Capybara- he was our favourite Young Man in The Two Pigeons. The others we saw were brilliant, but James had brilliance and on top of that, moved us immensely (TTP has never made me cry prior to that.) Am still waiting to see his Florimund and Rhapsody! Edited February 28, 2023 by Emeralds 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJW Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 16 minutes ago, Emeralds said: Thank you Jamesrhblack and Bluebird- I wonder why his bio hasn’t included Lescaut in that case. This might be pushing it, but would either of you happen to remember if he was originally cast in it or substituted for someone injured? (Only because I thought the original cast was Takada/McRae/Campbell that year, but I could be confusing it with a different season!) in that case, I wish they’d cast him as Lescaut again - or as Des Grieux. I think there was indeed, in the past, an assumption in the casting that he wasn’t tall. But when he appears on stage he is certainly not short. He can partner Naghdi, O’Sullivan, Hayward and Takada beautifully, and in the contemporary works he has no problem with the various tricky lifts and other partnering requirements. He does have that pure classical foundation - you can see it in the wonderful control in his spins- that many don’t have. It’s the same pure foundation that Muntagirov has...they are both elegant classicists (Anthony Dowell was also one). Many of the RB men are dance actors, which is another style that is great to watch, but it is lovely to see pure classicism. And I agree with Capybara- he was our favourite Young Man in The Two Pigeons. The others we saw were brilliant, but James had brilliance and on top of that, moved us immensely (TTP has never made me cry prior to that.) Am still waiting to see his Florimund and Rhapsody! Will you be booking to see James in SB in May? I’m booked for the 11th 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 7 minutes ago, MJW said: Will you be booking to see James in SB in May? I’m booked for the 11th So am I. And for his other performance on the 26th. Both scheduled with Akane. If she has not recovered from her injury, I am curious to know who he will dance with... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJW Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 8 minutes ago, Sim said: So am I. And for his other performance on the 26th. Both scheduled with Akane. If she has not recovered from her injury, I am curious to know who he will dance with... I’m hoping Anna-Rose as they had a lovely partnership. I have them both performing in SB as my phone’s wallpaper! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 45 minutes ago, Emeralds said: Thank you Jamesrhblack and Bluebird- I wonder why his bio hasn’t included Lescaut in that case. This might be pushing it, but would either of you happen to remember if he was originally cast in it or substituted for someone injured? (Only because I thought the original cast was Takada/McRae/Campbell that year, but I could be confusing it with a different season!) I have the original cast saved on my computer and it was as follows: Saturday 28 April 2018, 7.30pm Takada McRae Hay Choe Whitehead 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 I'm wondering how much longer I should give this thread before I rename it to The James Hay Admiration Society 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 (edited) 19 hours ago, MJW said: Will you be booking to see James in SB in May? I’m booked for the 11th Yep, I have! Crossing all fingers and everything else that ASLEF & RMT don’t pick 11th and 26th to plan a strike on those dates. Better still, I hope they will have agreed on the pay and other matters long before May! 19 hours ago, Sim said: So am I. And for his other performance on the 26th. Both scheduled with Akane. If she has not recovered from her injury, I am curious to know who he will dance with... I don’t mind anyone as long as they’re happy dancing together and as long as James and Akane/Anna Rose/whoever she is get to dance. 😊 Edited March 1, 2023 by Emeralds 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 18 hours ago, Bluebird said: I have the original cast saved on my computer and it was as follows: Saturday 28 April 2018, 7.30pm Takada McRae Hay Choe Whitehead Thank you Bluebird! I’ll have to act quickly next time to book it. I think that year I could only go to one and thought I would pick Nunez/Bolle as he wasn’t here very often. Little did I know this cast would be a rarity also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 17 hours ago, alison said: I'm wondering how much longer I should give this thread before I rename it to The James Hay Admiration Society All threads with James Hay are by definition TJHAS! 😆- we really appreciate good classical dancing on this forum😊. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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