James Wilkie

I would love to get copies of anyhting recent(ish)of the Kirov or Bolshoi. Particularly of Uliana Lopatkina, Maya Dumchenko, Nadecha Gracheva, Anastasia Volochkova. I would be fantastic to have a copy of Gelsey Kirkland dancing in any role. I have be through my video collection and I have ballets that have been commercially releasd in Britain. I also have a lot of documentries on dancers young and old- Bussell to Markova. I have a few documentries on Natalia Makarova that was recorded over here in the 1980's, it has her dancing some of the usuallsto the not so. This is a small over view of what I have but if there is anything thet I might have that would interest you then please get in contact with me, and if you have anything then I would be extremly happy to swap with you.

Thank you all so much for helping me on this topic.

I was recently asked the question - How is the traditional version of Swan Lake relevant to todays audience and society? I would appreciate it if anyone could help me on this one.

Gone with the Wind as a ballet I don't think that it really could work. It is a great story and I am big fan of the film but as a ballet it would be too complicated to portray to the audience. Also perhaps a minor detail how would you get the big dresses tat Vivien Leigh wears on a ballerina if she has to through her leg around and forget pas de deux. All being said I would be very interested in seeing this as a ballet- it would be very interesting!

Thank you for telling me about Asylmuratova's performance of Giselle. I am only sorry that it was not as good as I had hoped and thought. Marc did you see Anastasia Volochkova perform Giselle? Did she perform it while she was at the Kirov? The Royal Ballet are performing Peter Wrights production of Giselle whos version do the Kirov perform and also the Bolshoi? I have only seen little bits of the Bolshois but I thought it to be very good, and she has already been mentioned, Svetlana Lunkina took the lead of Giselle. Did anyone get to see Fonteyn and Nureyev perform Giselle in 1963? Was it as good as everyone speaks of?

Well as promised I said that I would report back as to how some of the Giselle's are doing. Today in the general dress rehearsal Tamara Rojo danced Giselle and as I thought she was abrilliant Giselle in Act 1. She has got the innocence of Giselle perfectly right. In her solo for Bathilde she danced with such energy and her turns were beautifully pulled off- this comes from being taught by the Spanish teacher Victor Ulate, to name another was Angel Corella who also trained with him. I was not able to see her in the second act but I shall report back as soon as I do. Also to let you all know (confirm) Marianella Nunez shall be performing Peasant pas de deux on Saturday evenings performance. I strongly suggest that if any of you are able to see her then do, she is a beautiful ballerina with incredible gifts.

Well I am glad that everyone has taken so quickly to my thread. Alexandra I have to agree with you that Ropse Gad is a beautiful Giselle particularly in Act 2. Could it be her Bournonville training that gives her such lightness? Also Johhan Kobborg is a fantastic Albrecht also Bournonville trained. Wendy it is so wonderful being used as a student extra. I have found that all of the company are nice but you have to remember that this is thier turf if you know what I mean! It has been a wonderful oppourtunity for me and Giselle takes its first noight tonight and this will be the highlight of my Summer Season with the Royal Ballet. I have to agree with you that Svetlana Lunkina is a beautiful Giselle. Marc I think you have hit the nail on the head about Giselle being close to the heart which is why people like thier own Giselle. I have never had the oppourtunity to see Altynai Asylmuratova perform Giselle but I think that she for me would be one of the best.We have all been talking about Giselle what about an Albrecht as well? I think that in the Summer Season at the Opera House one of the best casts is Yoshida and Kobborg. Also if any of you get the chance to see Marianella Nunez perform peasant pas de deux then she is a treat instore for all of you. My last note have any of you seen Tamara Rojo in the role of Giselle because rumour has it thet she is replacing Darcey Bussell on Saturday and would like to know peoples opinions. I think she would be quite suited although I am not the biggest fan of Miss Rojo!

I am lucky enough to be used as a student extra in the Royal Ballets version of Giselle and have just watched Sylvie Guilliem portray Giselle. I think that Giselle is the Everest of ballets both for male and female. For the female you have to show the innocence and vulnerability in Act 1 and than the transition into Act 2, it is one that few ballerinas in my mind achieve. The male on the other hand has show his change from nobility to acting with in the peasant crowd although he has some difficulty in doing so which is why he has his trusted Hilarion. I think that this ballet is one of the greats. While watching from the wings some members of the company were commenting on the fact that Sylvie looks too old and tall to be a convincing Giselle. In Act 1 she danced beautifully and most of the Giselle quality was there.People may think that I am out of order by saying what I am but when people like the wonderful Larrisa Lezhnina danced the role then it is only right to look at the two Giselles. I am not comparing them because every Giselle has her own quality. Laurent Hiliare was her Albrecht and he was very good they played to one another that showed up a childlike humour that Giselle is often lacking. Act 2 was hard to see because most of the company were marking but I shall write and tell you what they are like. Back to the point- is there a perfect Giselle? Alessandra Ferri is a lovely Giselle in Act1 but for me she lacked something in Act2. Bruce Sansom is one of my favourite Albrechts he dances the role so convincingly, you are able to see and believe his anguish in Act2. If anyone has seen a very good cast for Giselle or who thinks that a dancer is destined to perform Giselle then please write. I shall tell you later who my favourite Giselle is.

Thank you everyone who have written kind comments on my performance at the ROH. For me it was not a good enough performance as many things were not satisfactory to my standards, but dancers are never pleased with their performance.I am glad that everyone enjoyed the performance. Anatole Grigoriev is a teacher at White Lodge. Jonathan and I both had Mr Grigoriev as a teacher for 3 and a half years. He was a member of the Kirov and he stages the ballets based on the Kirovs versions(when he was in the company). If anyone else saw the school performance what did they think of the programme? Was it too long, too short?

Alexandra I am a big fan of Ashton ballets and in my mind they are the true British style, although that may upset some people. His ballets are both wonderful to watch and very rewarding to dance, particularly his ballet La Valse. I heard that there is to be a foundation set up in honour of him, a bit like the Balanchine Trust. It would be wonderful if there was because his ballets need to be preserved for future generations like myself.

I have got a copy of this book, I got it when I was in New York in February. I am very interested in learning more about the Balanchine Technique and this book is a very clear guide to his style. I have seen the New York City Ballet a couple of times and visited SAB and I it is so good that The Balanchine technique is being passed from generation to generation it is a shame we don't do the same with our Ashton ballets.