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One that is quite comprehensive is www.ballerinagallery.com/index.htm Another one which focuses on Kirov and Bolshoi dancers is For Ballet Lovers Only at users.skynet.be/ballet-lovers/index.html

The good news is that the Chacott site has an English site. The bad news is that the Vaganova videos are not on the site (for both English and Japanese sites), at least not from my quick search. But I think if you e-mail them, they can help you notwithstanding that it is not on the site. There are many of the Vaganova tapes though and they take up a couple of shelves in the Chacott basement shop. You may want to ask them to give you a list of the Vaganova tapes.

Yes, Chacott still has those tapes .... the whole series of them! For those interested .... Unfortunately, the whole tape is in Russian with Japanese sub-titling only. Thanks for the info. I have some of these tapes and have always wondered what became of those students, esp. the "favourites".

Thank you Marc. Not sure about the evening but the matinee still has single seats left. Still checking ..... I just read Clement Crisp's review of Le Corsaire by the Kirov in London. About Svetlana Zakharova, "so compelling in other ballets, tears into the role like an arrow, and kills it stone dead". The 2 male leads get better reviews though - "As the hero, Conrad, we had the unexepected debut of Vladimir Shishov, dancing handsomely and looking handsome, with the young and very gifted Leonid Sarafanov as his side-kick, Ali." This is the very same cast that will be doing the closing.

Marc, I will be in London from August 8. The only Kirov performances on from August 9 are Le Corsaire for both matinee and evening. If the casting is not changed (and assuming that there are still tickets), would you recommend the matinee or the evening performance? I am thinking matinee would be preferable? Thank you!

Hi Melodies, Thank you for the lovely photo. I am from Singapore. I think there are other overseas Chinese posting on this board since there are some other posters from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Great to have Ballet Alert bringing together ballet lovers from around the world!

Below is from the online edition of the International Herald Tribune (June 11, 2003). Who would have known that Ivanka Trump was at SAB? The School of American Ballet is inviting all those who danced as children in George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" over the last 50 years to a gala reunion this December. The school estimates that more than 2,000 of its students have played Marie, the Prince and assorted candy canes, soldiers and angels since Balanchine's "Nutcracker" premiered on Feb. 2, 1954. Suzanne Davidson, president of the school, said the alumni include the dancers Suzanne Farrelland Eliot Feld, the photographer Martha Swope, the actors Macaulay Culkinand Bonnie Bedelia, and the model Ivanka Trump. The school is planning a Golden Jubilee Homecoming celebration on Dec. 6 and hopes to have as many alumni as possible in attendance. Maria Tallchief, who was the first Sugarplum Fairy, will be the guest of honor.

Below is from the online edition of the International Herald Tribune (June 11, 2003): Eleven designs for a new $100 million building for St. Petersburg's famed Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater have gone on display. Among the entries are a glass creation by an American, Eric Owen Moss, a golden sarcophagus-like construction by the French architect Dominique Perrault and more conservative designs by Russian architects. The new building, which will seat 2,000 people and is being paid for by the state, is expected to be built by 2008-10. The winning entry will be announced June 28.

She's right here in Tokyo! She has been here for a few years already. Tetsuya Kumakawa (previously of Royal Ballet) has set up his own ballet company here called K-Ballet, and Ms Durante is a "guest principal". K-Ballet is presently doing Swan Lake and Ms Durante is Odette. If you are interested, K-Ballet's web-site has a little English too and it is at www.kumakawa.org.

I am Chinese, although not from China ...... Yu - you An - an (for eg, as in "an" apple) Pronounce the 2 together fast i.e. don't break it up into 2 syllables. Won Won sounds pretty far off to me, but as the poster said, is probably "acceptable" to Yuan Yuan Tan. It is pretty hard to describe but the above is the best I can think of for now.

Thank you for the information! I just checked out Koransha's website. Both Giselle and Don Quixote look interesting to me - have to start saving some money for that! Think Vishneva would be a good Kitri as she is such an exuberant dancer. Will post a review if I do go!

I am new to ballet performances and therefore from a layman's point, here goes: There was a change in the ballets being performed and the dancers.@It was actually as follows: Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty Elena Esveeva, 4 princes Pas de Quatre Oksana Shestakova, Irina Perren, Elvira Khabibulina, Oksana Kutcheruk Sleeping Beauty Grand PDD Diana Vishneva, Igor Kolb Romeo and Juliet (Balcony Scene) Svetlana Zakharova, Andrian Fadeev Don Quixote Elena Filipjeva, Denis Matvienko La Sylphide Nataliya Ledovskaya, Ilya Kuznetsov Cinderella Grand PDD Aurelia Schaeffer, Chris Roelandt L'apres-midi d'un faune Maya Plisetskaya, Charles Jude Raymonda Grand PDD Yulia Makhalina, Mark Peretokin Tchaikovsky PDD Diana Vishneva, Igor Kolb Giselle Act 2 Evelyn Hart, Farukh Ruzimatov I think I now understand the "emploi" discussion in this board (in other threads). Diana Vishneva just is not Princess Aurora. She does not come across as princess-like. It was a lot of high extensions and tutu flopping over the head. However, she was brilliant in the Tchaikovsky PDD@- definitely a highlight of the programme, with a standing ovation. She was vivacious and her pirouettes were just amazing. (Although the stage was rather small and she almost pirouetted right into the wings!). Svetlana Zakharova gave a very sweet and breezy performance in Romeo and Juliet. As for DonQ, Denis Matvienko had nice bouncy and energetic jumps. I thought Elena Filipjeva was not flighty and springey enough, as a Kitri, but her fouette turns notched up the excitement level in the hall and from there, she and Denis Matvienko livened things up. The DonQ was a very enjoyable performance. Maya Plisetskaya did not do much dancing, more like stylized walking. But I am glad she came anyway. Despite all the criticisms about Yulia Makhalina's style of dancing, I think she has very nice poses. Evelyn Hart brought back some gentle ballet. No high extensions or showiness, but very graceful and elegant ballet. Ruzimatov is Ruzimatov, of the high jumps and arched back. Again, a very enjoyable performance from Hart and Ruzimatov. After the perfomance, I stayed back to collect autographs. Evelyn Hart and Maya Plisetskaya very sweetly and patiently signed autographs for everyone! Because there were so many to sign, the people at Bunkamura pulled out a chair, and later a table, for Maya Plisetskaya to sit down and sign! Ruzimatov on the other hand walked right out, making no eye contact and not signing any autographs - even though the fans had waited out in the cold for over an hour for him (he was being interviewed)! Today's performance was taped by the networks! It will be shown on the following dates (in Japan, of course!): NHK - April 6 (Sun) 10pm BS-2 - May 24 (Sat) 12.00am (I think this means from mid-night of Friday) Also, the 4 ballerinas who did the Pas de Quatre have also shot an advertisement for Marche curries here in Japan! The advertisement will be released on Feb 17. Curry and ballet? :eek:

I will be going to the Muse performance tomorrow at Bunkamura. Can't wait! Thanks for the info!