Kate B

Darcey Bussell replied to a note I sent her. She handwrote on a postcard, and enclosed a signed photograph. I was really pleased with that!

On Saturday night I saw Harlem perform Balanchine's Apollo, Prodigal Son, and Agon. Next Saturday, I am going to see programme 3 (Symphony in C and Firebird, I think...) I'll post a review of both when I've been. I was blown away! It's the first time I have seen that much Balanchine at once... Has anyone else seen them recently - I'd like to know what you thought.

I got the pointe shoe appeal letter from RB. They must be sending it to everyone as I certainly don't buy expensive seats! I think it's OK to send a begging letter, but it is really naff to give a signed photo or shoes for certain amounts. My letter went straight in the bin. As did the raffle tickets they wanted me to sell on their behalf last Christmas, and whatever else. The ironic thing is I have never bought RB tickets directly - I am on their database for loving the Kirov! Plus, if you want a signed photo you can just write a nice note to your favourite dancer with a SAE and they will send you one!

I'm loving reading The Republic of Love. It is beautiful. As you say Shields had a talent for writing in order to make the ordinary extraordinary. Another way of putting this is there is always something in every chapter that is instantly identifyable - an emotion, an event, a relationship, even the details of a house or table manners. I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone who has not yet read it.

Oh, yes, I love Carol Shields' books too, especially Unless. It was so sympathetically written, what I mean is, I always thought Reta's feelings were realistic and I felt for her at every stage of the story. The Stone Diaries was good, but not as absorbing. I got some of her other books for Christmas, Happenstance and The Republic of Love, and I am waiting until I have fewer other things on my mind so I can really settle down and enjoy them. Her last novel was unfinished and they published extracts from it here: http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0...1112194,00.html Here is some other information about her work (including a biography oif Jane Austen): http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/ge...1001501,00.html http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/biogra...,438823,00.html

I went to see NDT2 this summer, in these: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/sto...,966632,00.html http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/stor...,967715,00.html NDT1 I have never seen but I have heard very good things about. I enjoyed these programmes, mainly for the dancers' wonderful vibrancy and super technique. They are very modern though - I would not call it ballet though, so if you go and see them, expect it to be quite exciting and exacting contemporary dance. Please do let us know if you go!

I hated the Life of Pi so much I threw it across the room at page 27 nad I haven't picked it up since. I thought it was written in such an awful, knowing, smug kind of way, I couldn't stand it! Anyway, I have just discovered Carol Sheilds - I came across 'Unless' in the recommended section of the bookshop and it was beautiful. I am now reading 'the Stone Diaries' which is also excellent; it's unsurprising that these books won the Pulitzer and were shortlisted for the Booker! I also just finished 'Memoirs of an ex-Prom Queen' which I liked for its historical value. I was right into this kind of thing when I was doing my history degree (it was very modern history) and I also wonder what's happened to all the young feminist novelists! I love the Tracey Chevalier books, Beckster - we will have to go and see the film!

Have we mentioned Carol Sheilds? Me and my mother both just finished 'Unless', which we loved!

Wow, a flat in Tottenham Court Road would be fantastic for getting around London! But it would be noisy. I've never looked at all the smilies on offer until now! I like the cat, too.

Love the 'Toot' smilie, Pamela! I'm glad you posted on this thread today - I'd missed it the first time round. I think it's because of BA that I've never felt strange for liking dance and ballet, despite not having any friends who like it like I do in 'real' life. Thanks!

I wrote my dissertation for my history degree from a postmodern perspective without fully understanding the arguments and got a First for my labours. I'm glad you asked this question Mel, some people have given very good definitions and I think I understand it better now.

It's not really an oxymoron though, is it? Modern is just a name, like zucchini could have been if they had chosen to name the period covered by the so-called 'modern' period, and post-modern's what comes after that. And didn't someone say that we'd come out of the post-modern period now, into something else?

Like here in London there was a big hoo-ha about some female artist who was displaying the description of a piece of artwork but there was no way of saying whether the piece even existed or not. I can't remember the details, but I'll try and dig them out. Also Kammer/Kammer by Ballet Frankfurt was kind of postmodern, and it worked because it was done so well. It contained 2 'plays' (one of which was an essay about a professor who pretends she is Catherine Deneuve working as a professor) and most of the dancing was done behind walls, but was filmed live and shown on screens.

Ah, yes, Alexandra, but I just think it means things are just less certain than they used to be. I'm a black and white kinda person, y'know? I need to know if I'm right! (I'm the eldest sibling...)

Is it just me or is it extremely difficult to feel certain about one's own opinion, within the postmodern context?

Paul, what was Antoinette Sibley like? I would have liked to have seen her do something. She has been my favourite ballet dancer since I was little, because a lot of my mother's annuals from the 1960s have her as a star and a role model (how different than today's Britney Spears!) I used to read her old books and wish I could go to ballet class and go and see a ballet. Sylvia Bonnell - I hope you have a lovely time!

I'd say that on a budget, the stalls circle seats were the best. Being at the same level as the stage was a new and wonderful experience for me - I loved being so close to the action. Balcony seats are also good, as are the front rows in the amphitheatre. I actually liked all these seats better than the 3rd row of the grand tier as they are, in my opinion, more fun as you can people watch as well as have a more intimate view of the stage.

Carbro! Also, we can't trust anything that happened in the past.

Sounds good Tracey. I saw Sarah McIlroy do a piece at the Dance Umbrella Gala night - she is a stunning dancer, really expressive and her technique is flawless but still interesting.

I saw Kammer/Kammer last Saturday night, as a matter of fact. It was fabulous - nothing like anything I've ever seen before. There's a pretty good review of it here (good meaning I agree with it) http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/sto...1069006,00.html and also: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/stor...1071131,00.html I don't know about the rock star - maybe there's more if you read the book some of the text in the performance comes from. I was worried that it would be totally pretentious postmodern nonsense, but it was done so well it worked and gave me a lot to think about. Are you going to go and see it?

I am going to see Kammer/Kammer at the end of the month (William Forsythe). Can anyone tell me what this will be like? It sounds complicated but interesting.

Scottish Ballet did some of their new work last night at the Dance Umbrella Gala at Sadler's Wells. Unfortunately it was not very strong or inspiring. I have written about the whole night in my blog. It was a disappointing night all along, but I was really sad for the Scottish Ballet who I have not seen perform for a long time. I do not understand why they don't seem to be able to get it right. They should!

I think our law entitles full time women employees six months on full pay, and then some on reduced pay, and you have up to two years' entitlement to come back to your job without it being given to someone else. I'm at the stage where I'm thinking I will never see her dance again! But I wish Darcy Bussell all the best.

Oops! I guess she would be happier if she was asked to play Aurora. She'd make a good Aurora, too! :shrug:

Thanks for the info, Marc! I looked at my prgramme again, and there is a biography for Elvira Tarassova! I guess I must have missed it because you're right, the photo looks nothing like her! I am also glad that you agree that she is a good soloist. I was intrigued by you mentioning that Tatiana Tkachenko made a very good Lilac Fairy. I can imagine her in the role and hopefully one day they will bring Sleeping Beauty to London and I will see her in it! Also, considering the fact she had not had very long to learn Medora, she did a fantastic job, and this only backs up my point that she is probably one to watch for the future. I love balletalert! You learn so much!