fantasy wish

[zxDaveM]

If I were to win the Euromillions, and so money no object, my fantasy would be a personal concert (myself, plus a few friends) in an intimate venue with Laura Marling. Have a few RB dancers doing a 'Pans People' for a few songs along the way... 🙂

 

 

[Dawnstar]

My version of this fantasy would be an improv evening with only me in the audience, so I could make all the suggestions. There are two improv groups who I've been seeing fairly regularly for a decade now so I'd hire both, given both the same starting suggestions, and get them to improvise a show one after the other. I'd be fascinated to compare the results.

[Fonty]

My fantasy wish would be my favourite seat in all the major opera houses held just for me until I make the decision as to what I wanted to see and who I wanted to watch perform.  Graciously, having made my choice, I would allow the venue to offer the days I don't want to the general public.  

[Sophoife]

Oh SNAP @Fonty!!

[LinMM]

Yes I would love to be able to reserve ….in Fonty fashion ….any one of these five seats at the ROH A.54-58 in the Balcony….with A.54 being absolute favourite as end of row and good to get to the “secret” loos up there in intervals! 
In fact I would like my name to be on the back of the seat….before leaving this Earth for the “afterlife” (which in fact better have a lot of ballet!!) 

 

[bridiem]

Mine would be to be allowed to programme a whole RB season (with no regard to box office, Arts Council or sharing the house with the RO... so a rather easier job than for KOH!). And to choose principal casting too, of course. And, as the final fantasy, a taxi to and from the ROH for every performance.

 

[LinMM]

Oooh yes a free taxi home at least would be a wonderful idea! 

[oncnp]

With the $1.15 billion dollars I'm winning in tonight's lottery (OK, around 30% of that with the cash option but I'll try to manage) I would financially future proof my favorite two dancers, bail out the Northern Ballet, and offer to fund the new John McFarlane designs for Sleeping Beauty for the ROH. 'Wouldn't have to worry about the last because I'm sure they'd turn it down.  (and he might as well as it was supposed to be with the late Liam Scarlett)

Edited December 27, 2024 by oncnp

[Emeralds]

We could be turning this thread on a Not Dance forum into a Dance one.....

 

I just glanced idly at how much the jackpot was for today's Euromillions and it was £33 million.  Assuming I'd bought a ticket  (I never do) and won £33 million, I'd set aside a set amount (3 million? 5 million?) to help people in really hard luck situations- homelessness, no money to pay for heating, etc.

 

With the remaining £28-30 million, my fantasy wish would be to set up a ballet company in Britain that could employ the numbers of talented British ballet graduates I've seen in various freelance jobs who want a full time post but don't seem to have the luck. I'd employ dancers with talent even if they don't "tick" all the boxes - beautiful lines but can't do multiple triple pirouettes, strong partners and expressive actors who are not big in the flashy tricks department, someone who dances beautifully but is constantly rejected for nit having the "right look" etc etc.

 

I'd have the company put on works that suit their strengths and the stories they can tell, (rather than cherry picking dancers with "perfect" ticking of all boxes), and give them a regular salary and stable income.

 

I'd put on great works that I love and many members and I miss (none of them require multiple 540s, triple pirouettes, endless Italian fouettes, 32 fouettes)  - lost or not seen for ages:  works by Tudor, Cranko, Ashton, de Valois, Stevenson, Bintley, Christopher Bruce, MacMillan, Lichine, Massine.

 

Most of all, it will have its own orchestra paid on proper salaries. Nobody will on a zero hours contract but part time contracts will be allowed/encouraged if dancers or musicians want to teach, guest, take time off to do another well paid/interesting gig  etc.

 

It will also perform around the UK as well as London - Wales, Northern Ireland included. No lavish sets and costumes so you will not see special effects or lots of ruffles and thick wigs. 

 

It will also include two fantasy managers or administrators to sort out paperwork and stuff that I don't enjoy doing, like permits, booking coaches, etc. Most of all, the company will do recordings so those ballets won't get lost again.

 

Oh, and the company must have at every venue a merchandise stand (because I like those), printed cast lists for patrons who order them in advance and pay a small amount, and cloakroom facilities (it might be a makeshift one that requires prebooking in a corner if the  theatre is small, but we will have one!). It will always publish advance casting too!

Edited December 27, 2024 by Emeralds

[Dawnstar]

8 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

We could be turning this thread on a Not Dance forum into a Dance one.....

 

I'm starting to feel a bit guilty that I'm not a good enough ballet fan because my fantasy wasn't a ballet one! It didn't occur to me to have as large a fantasy as trying to set up an entire new ballet company! The furthest I'd got along the ballet line was wondering if I could bribe the existing companies to do particular works that they haven't done for a while (RB Fille & lots of other Ashton, Bayadere, several de Valois works especially Checkmate; ENB Romeo & Juliet, Manon).

[oncnp]

14 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I'm starting to feel a bit guilty that I'm not a good enough ballet fan because my fantasy wasn't a ballet one! 

'Doesn't have to be ballet. Mine just happened to be. I'd like to know what yours was, if you don't mind sharing. 

[Dawnstar]

@oncnp I already stated it, the second post on this thread.

[oncnp]

13 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

@oncnp I already stated it, the second post on this thread.

Missed it. Sor-ry

[Emeralds]

2 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I'm starting to feel a bit guilty that I'm not a good enough ballet fan because my fantasy wasn't a ballet one! It didn't occur to me to have as large a fantasy as trying to set up an entire new ballet company! The furthest I'd got along the ballet line was wondering if I could bribe the existing companies to do particular works that they haven't done for a while (RB Fille & lots of other Ashton, Bayadere, several de Valois works especially Checkmate; ENB Romeo & Juliet, Manon).

Don't worry, Dawnstar- I think you had a far more modest budget! Improv is also important. I grabbed a huge fantasy 33 million - but I think I might also need a fantasy finance person to make sure all the accounting rules and paperwork are done correctly and that some of the millions are invested/saved wisely to have enough to pay all the salaries in future!

 

The imaginary company won't be staging the full length Fille (other than as a gala excerpt) or Bayadere. Could do the Shades pas de deux, and 3 shade variations. Checkmate yes, Leaves are Fading yes, Dark Elegies yes (I'd be OK with staging the ABT version if the Tudor Trust objects to the Rambert version.) Symphonic Variations, yes. Thais pas de deux and Awakening pas de deux yes! Also- the Ashton's beautiful Act 1 Garland Waltz from Sleeping Beauty. And more! 

 

I'm sure an ENB R&J will be back soon- I suspect it will be the Deane production in Royal Albert Hall, possibly the Nureyev one on tour. I hope they'll revive their Manon and cast Shiori Kase as Manon- she's been waiting long enough to dance it and I think she will be brilliant. I'm sure if you ask the companies repeatedly the ballets you would like will come back - I would like Checkmate to return too. 

[Emeralds]

2 hours ago, oncnp said:

'Doesn't have to be ballet. Mine just happened to be. I'd like to know what yours was, if you don't mind sharing. 

I think @Dawnstar asked for a private performance by two improv companies that she knows. 

[Dawnstar]

13 hours ago, Emeralds said:

I'm sure an ENB R&J will be back soon- I suspect it will be the Deane production in Royal Albert Hall, possibly the Nureyev one on tour.

 

I have everything crossed it's the Nureyev one in proscenium theatres. I do not really want to see R&J in the round.

[Jan McNulty]

13 hours ago, Emeralds said:

I'm sure an ENB R&J will be back soon- I suspect it will be the Deane production in Royal Albert Hall, possibly the Nureyev one on tour. 

 

6 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I have everything crossed it's the Nureyev one in proscenium theatres. I do not really want to see R&J in the round.

 

 

Oh please not the Nureyev production!  It is sooooooooo boring.  Up North some years ago we were treated to Derek Deane's production adapted for proscenium theatres - I really enjoyed that.  My preference would be for the Ashton production as it was performed in the 1980s.

 

BTW - it's BRB that has had regular revivals of Checkmate over the years.

[Dawnstar]

25 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

Oh please not the Nureyev production!  It is sooooooooo boring.  Up North some years ago we were treated to Derek Deane's production adapted for proscenium theatres - I really enjoyed that.  My preference would be for the Ashton production as it was performed in the 1980s.

 

BTW - it's BRB that has had regular revivals of Checkmate over the years.

 

I've only seen the Nureyev production once before, back in 2005, so I can't say I remember much about it. I want a proscenium production rather than an in the round one so if they can do Deane's in a proscenium version then I'd be happy with that too. Or Ashton, or MacMillan if the RB let them borrow it. Basically I just want to see Frola as Romeo in a reasonably traditional production!

 

I'd be happy to see BRB do Checkmate as long as they either brought it to Sadler's Wells or had matinees in Birmingham.

[Dawnstar]

I've just realised from the Balletgoing for Newbies thread what I should do for a ballet fantasy wish: fund a new production of Swan Lake that cuts most of the swan action!!

[zxDaveM]

51 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

I've just realised from the Balletgoing for Newbies thread what I should do for a ballet fantasy wish: fund a new production of Swan Lake that cuts most of the swan action!!

we’ll have to share a ticket; I’ll have all the Swan action, you can have the rest

[AnneMarriott]

16 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

 

 

Oh please not the Nureyev production!  It is sooooooooo boring.  Up North some years ago we were treated to Derek Deane's production adapted for proscenium theatres - I really enjoyed that.  My preference would be for the Ashton production as it was performed in the 1980s.

 

BTW - it's BRB that has had regular revivals of Checkmate over the years.

I didn't like the Ashton R & J at all.  How different we all are in our views!  Perhaps if I had seen it before I saw the Macmillan version I would have appreciated it more, but I found it rather bland and lacking in passion.  The Deane production in the round was very strange - one of my sillier memories is of the revolving balcony/staircase with Juliet clinging on for dear life.  The Nureyev?  A step for every note of the score, plus extra for luck.  But it did at least explain why  Romeo didn't know that Juliet wasn't really dead, so it scores a few points for narrative clarity.

[Jan McNulty]

3 hours ago, AnneMarriott said:

I didn't like the Ashton R & J at all.  How different we all are in our views!  Perhaps if I had seen it before I saw the Macmillan version I would have appreciated it more, but I found it rather bland and lacking in passion.  The Deane production in the round was very strange - one of my sillier memories is of the revolving balcony/staircase with Juliet clinging on for dear life.  The Nureyev?  A step for every note of the score, plus extra for luck.  But it did at least explain why  Romeo didn't know that Juliet wasn't really dead, so it scores a few points for narrative clarity.

 

The Ashton Romeo was my first Romeo and is one of the first ballets that I openly wept at so perhaps that goes some way to explaining my fondness for it.  My favourite production by a long way is Northern Ballet's Gable/Moricone production.

[LinMM]

@AnneMarriott “ A step for every note of the score plus extra for luck” 😂😂 

That’s always what I thought of his Nutcracker lol just so many steps!! 
I think the main thing we can thank Nureyev for regarding choreography is that he did give more prominence to male dancing taken more for granted today. 

I usually love Ashton however remember not liking his R&J that much ……though it’s years since I’ve seen it! 
Is my recollection correct in that he doesn’t use the Prokofiev score which is just so evocative so think that was the main reason the whole thing felt a little less dramatic? 

Edited December 29, 2024 by LinMM

[Pas de Quatre]

The Ashton R & J does use the Prokofiev score. His was the first version outside  Russsia, following Lavrovsky's creation.  I saw it many years ago and did enjoy it.  There are lots of versions around now as many choreographers are inspired by the music and story.

Edited December 29, 2024 by Pas de Quatre
Typo

[LinMM]

I must be remembering something else then as think it had music by Tchaikovsky ( who I usually like too!!) 

[Pas de Quatre]

There have also been many ballets choreographed to Tchaikovsky's R & J Fantasy Overture.

[MAB]

And to the Berlioz if I remember correctly, Bejart?

[Pas de Quatre]

Bejart used some of the Berlioz, but also lots of other pieces of music, both classical and pop.  I think  the Tchaikovsky was popular with companies as it could easily be part of a Gala or triple bill.

[LinMM]

Do you know if Ashton did any choreography to that overture? My memory is half remembering a poster that was used at the time …could have been London Festival Ballet? 

[bangorballetboy]

22 hours ago, LinMM said:

Do you know if Ashton did any choreography to that overture? 

 

Not according to David Vaughan's excellent book.

[LinMM]

No indeed!!  
Im thinking this has come up before on the Forum!! 
I think I’m definitely confusing that obviously at some point a very long time ago now I have gone to an R&J performance using the Tchaikovsky overture music ( could have been a gala or visiting Company) and been disappointed it wasn’t as gutsy/ passionate as the Macmillan version. And then somehow  thinking this was an Ashton version which it wasn’t! 
I think some smaller Russian Companies do a version using a mix of the Fantasy overture with a mish mash of other Tchaikovsky music… perhaps it’s one of these I saw. 
I’ve never seen Ashtons version using the Prokofiev music. 
The first R&J I saw ….also a long time ago now ….was the Macmillan version which is still my favourite one. 

[Pas de Quatre]

Festival Ballet did dance the Ashton version, I just did a search on Frank Schaufuss and found this from the Oxford Disctionary of Dance. 

 

Frank Schaufuss - After retiring he founded the Danish Ballet Academy with his wife, Mona Vangsaae, in 1970. From this emerged the Danish Ballet Theatre which he directed until it closed in 1974. He and Vangsaae were the parents of Peter Schaufuss. His last stage appearances in England were as Escalus in his son's 1985 revival of Ashton's Romeo and Juliet. 

 

Peter Schaufuss owns the rights to Aston's version as his parents Frank and Mona originally danced the leading roles.

[LinMM]

This presumably to the Prokofiev music though? 
Perhaps it was the Poster for this that I saw though!! So would have had Ashtons name on etc. 

 

If it was with Patricia Ruanne performing perhaps I did see it 

after all 🤔Some vague memory lurking! 

Anyway if I did see it then I didn’t like it as much as the Macmillan version! 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by LinMM