James Wilkie

Thank you ver much to everybody who sent me congratulations. As somebody mentioned Jonathan has started with BRB and I just heard from Guy the he has been offered a contract with The Royal Danish Ballet also he has been offred something in America but I am not quite sure as I dont know if he is back from the US yet. Once again many thanks James

I have recently bought Maurice Bejarts The Nutcracker and it is fantastic. It is not like the original it is more of of a biographical account of Bejarts childhood. I highly recommend it! Also The Kirovs 'Le Corsaire is fantastic on DVD the quality is amazing!

Why do I like ballet? How does one sum it up in words! It is all I have wanted to do at first it was because I wanted to be able to 'fly' in the air like Nureyev after watching a video, but then reality set in that I do not 'fly' in the same manner because of very different styles, body types to name but a few. Although this has not put me off. I think now as I have read more seen so much and I know this will sound odd but i like its simplisity. The moving with the music creating beautiful shapes and for a split second being something different. Also the grandness of it all, going to the ballet, taking part in the ballet just involoved is so special to me. I have had some wonderful oppourtunities and I hope to continue the way I am going, but at the same time to continue learning about other asppects of the dance world, theatre and the real world as well.

I saw Rojo and Acosta dance the pas de deux at the Anthony Dowell Gala and all I can say is that it was incredible. They really play on one anothers energy. For me I felt that Rojo shone more than Acosta as she pulled off some amazing pirrouettes that had both company members and students gasping in the wings. It was an amazing night! I hope to go and see their Swan Lake next week. :rolleyes:

Thanks to everyone and sorry I haven't posted for a while but I am preparing for the school's performance. To add to your list Alexandra,Ashton also choreographed the the Pas de Deux that Dowell and Sibley did at the Dowell gala I am unsure as to what it was called I think 'Soupirs' I can't find it in the casting. Sorry!

Will it be released in the UK?

Jeannie I have to agree with you I think Birthday Offering is fantastic. It's Ashtons use of the upper body that really appeals to me. For example La Valse has to be the most tiring ballet going as its use of the upper body and port de bras is massive.

Jeannie I have to agree with you I think Birthday Offering is fantastic. It's Ashtons use of the upper body that really appeals to me. For example La Valse has to be the most tiring ballet going as its use of the upper body and port de bras is massive.

I am very interested in Ashton's choreography as I think it is very beautiful and sometimes relatively simple, but as one of my teachers says 'Less is more'. I not sure if something like this has been posted before but I shall go ahead. As a British student dancer I am very keen to dance what I feel is my heritage. With Balanchine and Tudor there estates are looked after in Trusts and if the ballets are not up to scratch then the ballets are not performed. I feel therfore that there should be a trust for Ashton to aim to preserve his work. Now on a lighter note I would like to know what peoples favourite Ashton works are and who they liked dancing them or who the would like to see them danced by. My list: 'The Dream' with Sarah Wildor as Titania and Johann Kobborg as Oberon. 'Symphonic Variations' but I do not have a favourite in the role. I also like the choroegraphy that Ashton did for Swan Lake particularly the slow adage solos that put in for Dowell. Did anyone see the documentry of Dowell on BBC Knowledge as it had some wonderful footage of Dowell dancing in some of Ashtons greats.

I am very interested in Ashton's choreography as I think it is very beautiful and sometimes relatively simple, but as one of my teachers says 'Less is more'. I not sure if something like this has been posted before but I shall go ahead. As a British student dancer I am very keen to dance what I feel is my heritage. With Balanchine and Tudor there estates are looked after in Trusts and if the ballets are not up to scratch then the ballets are not performed. I feel therfore that there should be a trust for Ashton to aim to preserve his work. Now on a lighter note I would like to know what peoples favourite Ashton works are and who they liked dancing them or who the would like to see them danced by. My list: 'The Dream' with Sarah Wildor as Titania and Johann Kobborg as Oberon. 'Symphonic Variations' but I do not have a favourite in the role. I also like the choroegraphy that Ashton did for Swan Lake particularly the slow adage solos that put in for Dowell. Did anyone see the documentry of Dowell on BBC Knowledge as it had some wonderful footage of Dowell dancing in some of Ashtons greats.

Alexandra I would also be very interested to see the solo that Ashton did for Somes. Do you know of a video recording of it? I also have a copy of the SB with Zolymosi I shall also have a look.

Thank you Alexandra I shall let you know if I have any luck. James

I was wondering if anyone could help me in finding a video copy Anthony Dowell in Ashton's 1964 production of The Sleeping Beauty. As there is a wonderful solo that Ashton created for Dowell that I would like to learn.

Dale Thank you for giving me that insite to Zakharovas Aurora. I am looking forward to it. I am not sure as to whether I will like it because of her high extensions and I am not sure as to whether they are suited to the role of Aurora she has an incredible body that can do so much but I have my reservations, we shall what and see. I shall report back later!

Dale Thank you for giving me that insite to Zakharovas Aurora. I am looking forward to it. I am not sure as to whether I will like it because of her high extensions and I am not sure as to whether they are suited to the role of Aurora she has an incredible body that can do so much but I have my reservations, we shall what and see. I shall report back later!

Thank you Doug for opening up this thread it has certainly been a very interesting one. I am looking forward to seeing the Kirov do The Sleeping Beauty when they come to London again unfortunatly it is after my exam but it will be interesting to see it again. I would really like to see Altynai Asylmuratova do it again as in my opinion she brought something very special to the role. I am to see Svetlana Zakharova this time as I missed her last time. Who did you like in the role of Aurora? One thing I must ask is that when Rudolf Nureyev was staging La Bayadere for The Paris Opera Ballet it was said in a documentry that he wanted to stage a fourth act. Is this true? It would have been interesting to see what it would have looked like. Doug have you seen Perm State Ballets The Sleeping Beauty because this was supposed to have helped the Kirovs production? ;)

Thank you Doug for opening up this thread it has certainly been a very interesting one. I am looking forward to seeing the Kirov do The Sleeping Beauty when they come to London again unfortunatly it is after my exam but it will be interesting to see it again. I would really like to see Altynai Asylmuratova do it again as in my opinion she brought something very special to the role. I am to see Svetlana Zakharova this time as I missed her last time. Who did you like in the role of Aurora? One thing I must ask is that when Rudolf Nureyev was staging La Bayadere for The Paris Opera Ballet it was said in a documentry that he wanted to stage a fourth act. Is this true? It would have been interesting to see what it would have looked like. Doug have you seen Perm State Ballets The Sleeping Beauty because this was supposed to have helped the Kirovs production? ;)

This is an excellent thread to have started. I am currently studying The Sleeping Beauty for my A-Level exams and it has become apparent as to how many variations there are on certain aspects of the ballet. No two productions are the same in terms of choreography whether that be because a dancer or choreographer as changed a step to suit the dancers body type and facilities. I as a student dancer am very interested in the reconstruction of 'Original' ballets- Kirov Sleeping Beauty and Bolshoi Pharohs Daughter. I think it is a brilliant idea to restage these versions so that we can see what are heritage is, although this brings up other questions as to whether this is correct. For example in the Kirovs Sleeping Beauty they went back to their 1952 version when parts of the ballet were unclear, resulting in ballet of 1890 style mixed in with Soviet style choreography( which I do not have a problem with incase I may have offended).I must write a link, there has been a brilliant article written about this reconstruction on Marc Haegemans Web page.(Doug did you by any chance write this as I thought it was brilliant had has given a bit more background knowledge for my exam. Thank you!) Also one other ballet I find that has so many variations on is Giselle. If you look at the male variation in Act Two it is never the same. Recently I saw nearly every night of the Royal Ballets Sir Peter Wrights production and every different male had a different solo so as to what the choreographer had wanted has been lost. I am a huge fan of Giselle as I think it is one of the most taxing ballets for the dancers as there are so many feelings and emotions that have to connect with the audience. It is the one ballet that I long to dance. For me I would very much like to see a reconstruction of this ballet but I fear that this may not be possible. Also another final note on Giselle is it true that there may possibly have been a third act to this ballet that got lost on the way, as I have heard people disscuss that there was at one time another act. Fact or Fiction! [ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: James Wilkie ]

This is an excellent thread to have started. I am currently studying The Sleeping Beauty for my A-Level exams and it has become apparent as to how many variations there are on certain aspects of the ballet. No two productions are the same in terms of choreography whether that be because a dancer or choreographer as changed a step to suit the dancers body type and facilities. I as a student dancer am very interested in the reconstruction of 'Original' ballets- Kirov Sleeping Beauty and Bolshoi Pharohs Daughter. I think it is a brilliant idea to restage these versions so that we can see what are heritage is, although this brings up other questions as to whether this is correct. For example in the Kirovs Sleeping Beauty they went back to their 1952 version when parts of the ballet were unclear, resulting in ballet of 1890 style mixed in with Soviet style choreography( which I do not have a problem with incase I may have offended).I must write a link, there has been a brilliant article written about this reconstruction on Marc Haegemans Web page.(Doug did you by any chance write this as I thought it was brilliant had has given a bit more background knowledge for my exam. Thank you!) Also one other ballet I find that has so many variations on is Giselle. If you look at the male variation in Act Two it is never the same. Recently I saw nearly every night of the Royal Ballets Sir Peter Wrights production and every different male had a different solo so as to what the choreographer had wanted has been lost. I am a huge fan of Giselle as I think it is one of the most taxing ballets for the dancers as there are so many feelings and emotions that have to connect with the audience. It is the one ballet that I long to dance. For me I would very much like to see a reconstruction of this ballet but I fear that this may not be possible. Also another final note on Giselle is it true that there may possibly have been a third act to this ballet that got lost on the way, as I have heard people disscuss that there was at one time another act. Fact or Fiction! [ 06-02-2001: Message edited by: James Wilkie ]

I have come to this thread a little bit late but this is my wish list: Altynai Asylmuratova: Giselle I would also love to see her do The Sleeping Beauty again as I thought she was wonderful as Aurora. Ethan Stiefel also in Giselle, maybe not dancing opposite one another as I don't know how this would work. Gelsey Kirkland in Romeo and Juliet with Anthony Dowell. I have two more wishes that I know I will knever be able to see apart from videos, Fonteyn in The Sleeping Beauty, in the Royal Ballets 1946 version with the Oliver Messell designs. Nureyev in Le Corsaire. Perhaps one of his greatest roles.

Helena The programme is still subject to alteration but this is what the Upper School is rhearsing: Christopher Wheeldon's Souvenirs Ricardo Bustamente Kreisler Variations Plus a Defile that the whole school shall take part in. I am not sure as to what the White Lodgers are rehersing but I think Anatole Grigoriev is staging a ballet called Dance of the Hours for them. I hope this is of some help.

Wendy as you guessed the atmosphere back stage was electric. For student dancers aspiring to be like the dancers you saw on stage it was wonderful to be able to watch them from the side of the stage was wonderful and then for them to come off stage and stand next to you. At one point I had Ethan Stiefel on my right and Igor Zelensky on my left was a definite highlight for me. Everybody was very friendly and excited to be involved in a gala for Sir Anthony Dowell. It was one of the best performances that I have been involoved in while a student at the Upper School.

Marc and to everyone else who has posted; As many may know I am a hugr fan of both the Kirov and Bolshoi. I did go and see the Bolshoi or 'the Stars of the Bolshoi' and I was saddened that the theatre was half empty. I thought that the level of dancing was as always brilliant although some pieces were not as good as i had hoped for. I went to the first programme which opened with Swan Lake. I have to say that this in my opinion let the company done (not entirely the company's fault) Anna Antonicheva performed Odette I was not keen on her as she seemed to be walking through the role as if it were a rehersal. She has a beautiful leg line with pleasing feet and she could have given more to the role. On another note the company looked uncomfortable on this stage that looked too small for them. When Antonicheva came on a nd danced The Adagio from Raymonda all was forgiven as she performed this role beautifuly and showed off her line to the maximum. The evening got better when they performed such fire crakers as Don Quioxte pas de deux. Maria Alexandrova was a real treat to the audience and a very good end to the evening. Regarding to the Kirov vs Bolshoi and the British critics I feel that we hear so much more about the Kirov that Ballet lovers are biased towards them. We have a St Petersburg Newsletter every month in Dancing Times and after last years success of the Kirov the Bolshoi have got a lot to live up to. I think the Bolshoi is a fantastic company with beautiful dancers that do not recieve the praise that they deserve. It will be interesting to see how the British take to them when they come ove to Covent Garden in 2002. I am already saving up for my tickets!

Thank you for putting up a post on the site about the Anthony Dowell Gala. As a student at The Royal Ballet School I was in volved on the two pieces that the school performed( in the all boys piece I was in the latter half when 6 boys come into a V shape I was the lead boy who started off the double ronde de jambe sequence. For those who went) It was a brilliant gala with fantastic dancing. Here are some of my highlights: Yoshida and Kobborg - Black Swan Pas de Deux the best I have seen them dance with such energy an inspiration to many a young dancer. The Pas de Deux for Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell. This was a very moving and poingent piece. I thought the evening was wonderful and truely magical. My brother also queued for 9 hours and I believe he met someone who posts on this site.

I have got a copy of the 'Red Shoes' that I keep closely guarded as it is one of my favourite old films. I am wondering if anyone can help me by telling me where I can get copies of her other films, Tales of Hoffmann, The man who loved Red Heads , and Peeping Tom.