24 replies to this topic

[Helene]

Facebook has recently lifted its character limit for "statuses" -- the FB equivalent of posts -- which I think was 420.  It was always an interesting exercise to summarize immediate thoughts after a performance into such a small space.

[Pamela Moberg]

Very sad news indeed. To be honest I did not browse that frequently and didnt post much either - my ballet community time has been 90% devoted to BalletAlert.
Yet, as Natalia pointed out, reality of sheer economics play a part. I know that BalletCo had get togethers in London - never unfortunately attended a single one, why? Well, traveling to London, cost of hotel and meals, not to mention tickets for RB performances just made it too expensive for me.
Probably I come across as totally embittered, which in a way is true, but my local company does nothing but modern, TV doesnt know what the word ballet stands for - result: I am now reduced to staring at bits and pieces at Youtube.

So BalletAlert is a shining light in my life - one can keep track of what happens in the ballet world everywhere. Moderators and posters, you all have my very heartfelt thanks for just being out there - cant really say how much I appreciate all of you!

[Drew]

I, too, will very much miss Ballet.co--and I don't think Facebook or Twitter can fill the same role as the forums, nor play the same "gathering" function even when it comes to information...But I do understand that the cost and work of maintenance is huge.

[dirac]

Alexandra, on 18 December 2011 - 09:53 PM, said:

Helene, on 18 December 2011 - 05:44 PM, said:

He also mentioned expense.

We have had thousands of members over the years who have done nothing but read "Links" and have never contributed to the discussion or financially, and probably more hits in a day to "Links" than to the rest of the forums combined many weeks.

Yes, indeed, we do!!!!!

People are conditioned to pay little or nothing for what they get on the internet. Many of the publications whose articles we link to face the same difficulty.

It's not surprising that time isn't standing still and other forms of social  communication are becoming popular. I do think that sites like ours and Ballet.co offer something special and it would be nice if others felt the same way.

Quote

Even 'light maintenance' takes time & energy...and time is money.

That's right. And people's personal circumstances change and it gets harder to put in so much work.

[innopac]

Pamela Moberg, on 19 December 2011 - 04:13 PM, said:

So BalletAlert is a shining light in my life - one can keep track of what happens in the ballet world everywhere. Moderators and posters, you all have my very heartfelt thanks for just being out there - cant really say how much I appreciate all of you!

♥ I feel the same.

[Stage Right]

I am relatively new at Ballet Alert, and have so far only posted a handful of times, but I appreciate so much what is here! I didn't even know about BalletCo until reading this post--so sad to discover it as it is leaving!! But I will browse the archives. I agree that forums serve a different, and much needed role that FB and Twitter cannot really satisfy.

[annamicro]

the "old" ballet.co is moving to archive, but it is also still alive: thank you Bruce!
http://www.balletcoforum.com/

[dirac]

New developments.  (Thanks to innopac for sending in this link.)

DanceTabs is just going to be a magazine – no forum, no TodaysLinks (and its huge attendant database) – just Reviews, Galleries, Interviews  and News items. The contributors will largely be names you know already and to which I look to add -  I continue to want it to take a world view. It will use technology similar to the Balletco redesign but will be  hosted in specialist space I don’t have to worry so much about. The gallery area will be hosted differently. Time is short – the launch will be in early February and while I would like to do different designs I may just use the recent Balletco ones with a few light modifications.

[Amy Reusch]

Well, the gallery is a wonderful thing... I'm glad that is to continue!
Looking forward to the reviews.

[innopac]

Here is the new Links page for BalletcoForum:

Occasional Dance Links - Features, Previews, Reviews, etc

"A place for links to (hopefully) interesting articles, reviews and the like from across the global English-language press - but deliberately less comprehensive (and rather later in the day) than the "Today's Links" of old. Others are allowed to participate........."

http://www.balletcof..._1584#entry1584

edited a few hours later: they have changed the thread to a forum:
"This thread can now be considered closed to new messages as Bruce has opened up a new forum titled Dance Links - reviews & features in which to post links."
http://www.balletcof...views-features/