jcaguioa

I'm also a great fan of the pair and think they make a delicious pair! I agree that their DonQ pdd was Sensational but a little dissapointed that they won't get to perform the whole ballet together next season due to cast changes. Acosta also pairs up well with the powerful Marianela Nunez, another exciting latino in the RB's collection.

Thanks Drew for the brilliant reveiw! I really wish I could have been there. I wish that ABT would one day come to the UK. I saw Gillian on the ABT video and thought she lookd gorgeous but expressionless. Others who have seen her there in NY have said the same thing. If you have seen the video would you say that she was very much different? now from your reveiw that you describe her as playing it cool but this may be more obvious live rather than on tape. Jonny

I'm very Glad to hear that RB are so appreciated there in the US, and are doing o well. I'm also glad that Yoshida is really shining over there too. I feel that she's not given enough to do over here. I guarantee that Steifel and Wildor will give stunning performances as they did in London. I think they make a great couple and their qualities contrast nicely. I'd of like to have seen Wildor in Margeruitte, any other suggestions for the role? Jonny

This is rumor I hear but it's probably true. Three Ballerinas from Ausralian Ballet. We lose Nigel Burley and Rachel Rawlins who have recently left Austrailia!(?) Jonny

Do you think Darcey would live up to expectations now that we have Rojo a new virtuoso ballerina to the company? I know that they are extremely different but Don Q is really a big Showstopper. Darcey suits more of the Aurora and Odette type role "Princessy" if ya like. It's sort of like wanting to see Jonathan Cope do Don Q if you get what I mean?! Ross will also bring 3 ballerinas from Austrilia so he may showcase them in the main roles too. There's a lot to see but my opinion is that I'm not sure Darcey will take the first choice of many for Kitri. She did some performancs in 94 with Solymosi. Jonny

Yes Alina would make a perfect Amour! I saw her do Titana in the Dream last night and she certainly was a "Dream". Another Question, Anyone see diana Vishneva in her Debut as Nikya in Bayadere, She's my favourite Kirov Ballerina and i would have loved to hve seen her.Actully I'd love to see her do Corsaire, Gamzatti, and anything Balanchine! (she's that sort of ballerina!) Jonny

After the Matinee in the main house at the ROH, the whole school will continue to perform in the Linbury Studio from 11 to 14 of July. On top of the main Works will be a more varied progamme including things like the Sleeping Beauty Act3 Pas de Cinq and 'Upper School Contempary'. You'll also have a chance to see other casts have a bsh at the main roles there are so few of! Look out for Laruen Cuthbertson and the 15 year old Nutnatree Pipithsuksunt from Thailand who recently won a Gold Medal from the Adaline genee Competition. i think the performances coming up for the school and it's very new repetoire is extremely exciting forb both us and the Audience. I feel that it's ashame that it's not a chance for the school to show off any works created for us but will give us a chance to interpet the peices in a new light and show how versatile we are! (Hopefully!) Jonny

Intresting topic! Here's my dream casts: for Don Q, Kitri, Tamara Rojo Basilio, Angel Corella Street Dancer, Marianella nunez (RB) Q of Dryads, Alina Cojocaru For Giselle, Giselle,Altynai Asylmuratova (one more time!) Albrecht, Roberto Bolle Myrtha,Natalia Sologub P.S. How is Carla Blanco doing in San Fran as she was really beautiful in the Eurovision Dance Competition. Jonny

The bad news of the Royal ballet at the moment is that Jerry douglas the company's first black dancer from the U.S has left the company due to lack of "dancing Roles" in the company's productions. also Carlos Acosta will sadly leave as a resident member of the company and become a guest for simalar reasons. I am extremely saddend about both as the are both really wonderful for the company. I do think Carlos deserves more but the problem is that alot of the works the company perfoms don't suit him totally. This news is a disappointment I'm sure to many. Jonny [This message has been edited by jcaguioa (edited August 15, 2000).]

Thanks Mel! I'm sure we'll be seeking your help again near the end of this year when we will start performing again. We might also be working with the company of which will perform Swan Lake, Ondine and La Fille mal Gardee of which Ethan Steifel will be guesting with us! I'm really excited as Ethan is one of our favourutes!

HOORAY! For Alina! My predictions were spot on! Two well deserved promotions for two incredible Dancers! I too can't wait to see them perform in more exciting roles. Now they're not budding starlets at all, ther're well on the road to becoming our next principals. I hope the men I've mentioned will too get their big breaks. Ivan Putrov is really one who sticks out in the "artists" to me and I think at least "first artist" should be good enough a step for him so that he can sretch out his wings a little more and get more experience in the more advanced roles. His recent Holland Park performances were really a good time for him to strech out a bit and really show the public what he's got,(not forgeting Siren Song at the New Works program). I think he definately gained a few fans from these performances as I heard certain people from the public cheered him on and comment loudly on how neat, precise and fluid he was."I can't wait to see him in the futre!" one lady said. I certainly hope to see him there with Marianella and Alina up in the high ranks! Jonny

Basilio17, Kate did indeed look very promising when she arrived in London yet I did wonder a little about her physique. Some peolpe peered through the windows saying "who's that?" and were surpized when the reply was "the girl who won the prix". She had put on weight during an injury and looked a litte more built than the other girls. Her line was distracted by this and she sruggled to move her torso and get her legs up. Despite this she had a beautiful quality about her and everybody saw the large amount of potential she had. I think if she persisted she would have been sucsessful enough for Royal, but unfortuneatly she lost the passion to dance, she lost confidence and stamina and I agree that this story is an extermely unfortunate one!

Jane- Brill! James,Guy and I will certainly think of you at the performance.

Helena! Today I found out that James Wilkie (member on this site) will dance the lead in "Pas de dix" on the Matinee. You're lucky to see him as he is certainly next in line for a contract! But remember that he only found out today so he has only had a week to rehearse this role! Jonny

Jane, Being in London did you come and see the school's performances at Holland Park? Marianella danced Raymonda there last week. Are you coming to the Opera House to see the Matinee? Post me I'd love to Know! Jonny

Paquita, Persson is actaully scheduled to perform Prince Seigfried in Swan Lake next season with Leanne Benjamin! Thanks for the info, I'll certainly go and see him! Nunez's Promotion isn't that unusual. Jaime Tapper is fairly unknown to the british public, yet Nunez's recent gala will have certainly rased her profile. Mr Dowell (Director of Royal) actually promoted her in tears of joy, her told her how regretful he was of not noticing her before and she should be performing Sugar Plum in Royal's winter season. The gala has been a great step to her career and she will be remembered for her performance, (thanks to Carlos). Basilio17, Kate Cornish has actually left Royal (School), and gone back to Austrailia to open a Nightclub with a new friend she met at Royal. She has now unfortuneately given up. Jonny

Helena, In the matinee, the younger students will perform act2 of Don Quixote. Students to watch are, Laruen Cuthbertson (recently won 2nd prize at the Young Britih Dancer Competition),and Anniek Soobroy, both being petite and stunning little dancers with amazing qulities and abilites for 16 year olds. In La Valse performed by the older students of RBS simply look at the principals and Bethany Keating in the cops along with Kosuke Yamamoto the Japanese supreme of the school. Jonny

Recently the Royal Have been performing the New Works program at the Linbury Studio,ROH. Alina Cojocaru performed 2 of the works, Ad Infinitum and A new Christopher Wheeldon ballet. She showed incredible mauturity and a pure technique and wowed audiences. Ivan Putrov from Ukraine also wowed audiences in His performance of Siren Song. Has any body seen these performances recently?

Guy, Thankyou for your comments. Recently Marianella has been reahersing Diana and Acteon with the utterly amazing Carlos Acosta and she looks incredible. She dazzled the onlookers in the reahersal when during her variation she accidently pulled off 9 pirouettesand totally missed out a phrase of choreography only to fall into 3 triple lame ducks en de dons with the most stunning port de bras! Gasps and Cheers filled the atmospere yet Marianella seemed unphased by the whole matter! I really hope this performance is to be released on video as everyone must se this utterly incredible ballerina!

Both Ballerinas studied in their native countries,Romainia and Argentina. Marianella actually studied with the same teacher Paloma Herrera had- Olga Ferri. Marianella has also been asked by Julio Bocca to dance with him and his company- as a soloist of course!, yet she declined due to an engagement with Royal. I do also think Mara is stunning, and yes she is definately going to be the future of the Royal Ballet. She did perform Juliet in a special gala in London and was adored. Jaime Tapper from Canada is also one to look out for, I have often heard comment in the audience about her being a mini Darcey! Boys to look out for are Ivan Putrov,from Ukraine, Kenta Kura,from Japan, and Rupert Pennefather from U.K -Mara's boyfriend. (All from the corps). One boy who will leave from the corps to join ABT is the wonderful Jerry Douglas. Jerry started dancing at a late age of 15 (he did jazz before). Jerry was selected by David Bintley at 17 to be the lead in a new ballet 'The Spiders Feast' in The Royal Ballet School's annual Summer Performance Jerry being the Spider of course! He recieved rave reveiws along with a contract for the Royal Ballet. He made headlines in both papers and news bulletens about being the first Black dancer to join The Royal Ballet. Look out for him as he joins ABT!!!

We are well into The Royal Ballet's 'New Works' season and this gives a chance to the dancers and us a veiw of the best yet to come from the younger members of the company. They perform "new works" which may or may have not been choreographed on them in the Linbury studio at the Royal Opera House and tour Great Britan and perform for new audiences. There are some stunning young dancers from thr corps who get to perform exciting roles and really get to show themselves off. There are 2 ballerinas in the fort at the moment (my opinion). The first you may have heard of, the 18 year old romainian Alina Cojocaru. She won a prize at the Prix de Lausanne in 1997 at only 14 and stunned audiences in her contempary solo with backflips! Joining the Royal Ballet only last season she was chosen to perform the Lead Girl in Ashton's Symphonic Variation's partnerd by Principal Bruce Sansom after being in the company for only 3 months! She was stunning and got good reveiws in the papers. She has a stron techniqe and shows great mauturity for a young age of only 18. She performed Michael Corder's Masquerade at the New Works Program last week and show flexibility and again a strong and fast technique with neat and beatiful footwork and a stunning presentation, my bets are on her for the futre of the Royal Ballet. The Second Girl from Argentina,Marinella Nunez. Joining a company at only 14, she later joined The Royal Ballet school at 15 to dance the Lead in Raymonda act 3 for the school's annual summer performance. She stunned audiences with perfecion of techniqe. Her balances can only be described as amazing and she never fails to do five pirouettes on pointe. After joining the company later that year she was to amaze audiences again,as she performed the same ballet this time in the Pas de trois. She too has an amazing technique. She doesn't posses swollen insteps and Sylvie Guilliem extentions but the strength of somebody like Susan Jaffe. She has the gift of turning and can make even the Principals of the Royal Ballet Gasp at 8 slow an controlled pirouttes on pointe. This year she performs the Lead once again in Raymonda in The Royal Ballet School's performances at Holland Park and Carlos Acosta, Principal of Royal Ballet requested she dance the Diana an Acehton pas de deux with him at the White Nights Gala later this month at The Royal Opera House with Stars of both Royal And Kirov Ballet Companies. What an Acheivement! If you have seen either of these stunning ballerinas or would like to know more about them I would love to hear from you! Jonny Caguioa [This message has been edited by jcaguioa (edited June 28, 2000).]