13 replies to this topic

[Mel Johnson]

The Birmingham Royal Ballet used to be known as the Touring Section of the Royal Ballet, but now has its own Royal Charter, and an independent life in Birmingham. Ravenna Tucker was a principal with the company, and has been working in both dance and theater in the Australasian area, which takes in Singapore.

[Jane Simpson]

Ravenna Tucker was a principal of the Royal Ballet in London for several years before she moved to the Birmingham company.

She joined the Royal Ballet in 1979, and danced all the big classical leads. She was a lovely dancer, with a gentle, modest stage presence, but I remember her especially in a rather untypical role, as one of the soloists in the Shades scene from Bayadere - she did the fast, cheerful solo and used to get cheers every night.

[JaneD]

The Birmingham Royal Ballet used to be based in London at Sadlers Wells, and was known as the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet - it was, and still is - a sister company of the Royal Ballet. While it was in London, it was seen as the "Second" company, but the move to Birmingham (possibly 15 years ago?) has put that right.

Ravennas Tucker was originally with the Royal Ballet, where she was a great favourite with the audience, and rightly so. She came across as a very intelligent dancer, with a strong technique, but not flshy. When the Sadlers Wells company moved to Birmingham, she sitched to go with them as an experienced principal.

She is bound to be on some of the classic Royal Ballet videos from the late 80's/early 90's (Fille mal Gardée, Romeo and Juliet, etc.), where she was the same generation as Fiona Chadwick, Karen Paisey, Genesia Rosato, Angela Cox (became Angela DeMello), and Sharon McGorian (became Elizabeth McGorian. Males of the same era were Michael Batchelor (much missed), David Peden, Guy Niblett, Stephen Sheriff, Julian Hosking, Philip Broomhead and the young Jonathan Cope.

[Mel Johnson]

Wasn't Tucker RBS Class of 1979 along with Alessandra Ferri?

[Mme. Hermine]

I saw what I was told was Ravenna Tucker's first performance of Giselle at Covent Garden in 1985 or 1986; I recall that she was rather sweet and a nice little actress, good technique though not flashy. Don't recall who her partner was....

[JaneD]

Do you know I'd quite forgotten Alessandra Ferri? Amazing the tricks the mind can play ...... And now, all I can think of is "Okay, you can lift me now" spoken to one of a chain of partners.

Have just come back from a jazz dance class, taught by one of the same generation of RB dancers, Simon Horrill - an extremely dependable first peasant, superbly half-witted urchin in Manon (I can still see him stroking the fur trim of the cloaks), and delightfully sticky in A Wedding Bouquet after finishing all the cake crumbs on the guests' plates.

[Jane Simpson]

And he was an amazingly good Red King in de Valois' Checkmate at his graduation performance.

[JaneD]

He was indeed! And it's his birthday today!

He was also the onlyt messenger in RB's Nutcracker who took care to redden his cheeks and nose for his arrival scene - he had been out in the cold, after all.

[grace]

ravenna was a lovely sweet dancer, occasionally reminiscent of fonteyn. i remember her being partnered by bruce sansom, among others. i saw her (possibly both of them) in fille, notably, but also in other works. you are lucky to have her as a teacher, and possibly as a role model - learn and remember all you can!

[grace]

i don't know her age, but looking at the list of her RBS contemporaries, i would guess that she must be in her early40s. i'm glad to hear that she is a happy person, as perhaps this indicates she is happy doing her teaching, now. she was a lovely performer - really radiant.