Guy Fletcher

Thank You so Much, unknown poster! And thank you Alexandra for passing on the message. Hopefully now they will have the video in stock! From what I remember, I urgently recommend this video, as the dancing in it is on such a higher level from what we are accustomed to seeing from even the world's greatest dancers, it's just incomparable. You understand how beautiful ballet can be, from watching Malakhov, who on this tape is chillingly perfect, from top to bottom, as pure and honest a dancer as he is rich and extravagant.

Thank you all for your help! 'Malakhov-True Prince' is not at all the video I am looking for- which is not a documentary at all, just dance after dance after dance, there's no talking whatsoever. I wonder if i'll ever be able to find it...

Hi everyone! I had 3 queries I'd like to share but the 1st one is by FAR the most important. I appreciate greatly in advance any assistance given. I am looking for a video I saw once by chance and was never able to relocate although I imagine it may have been put together in Japan. It is a video entirely of Malakhov in countless solos, pas de deux, such as spectre de la rose, La sylphide and much more. It was so inspiring at the time and I am desperate to get hold of this video gem for keeps. Does anyone have any ideas whatsoever? Also, was wondering if anyone had seen the teaching videos of David Howard, or dimitri roudnov (Partnering- secrets of russian training) and would be able to tell me if they were worth ordering. One last thing-Where can I get the balanchine dance in america series on video? Amazon is out of stock or way overpriced (100$ a tape)

Not sure that I follow about the back arch: Do you think the back should be arched all the time when you're dancing? You think dancing with a straight torso is stiff? Or are you just talking about having a flexible arabesque? Because I don't think Whelan has a stiff back, she just keeps it straight. I'm sure if fhe were doing shades corps she would get her leg up very high indeed. please someone explain.

Hello Friends, I don't know if this is the right place to post this message but anyway; I didn't get a corps contract with the San Francisco Ballet, so... I decided to accept an offer with the Washington Ballet!!! Am very excited, though I have no idea where i'm going to live yet! It'll be cool to maybe meet alot of you in person, I already introduced myself to Victoria Leigh last week when I was in town auditioning. If anyone has any ideas about housing in the area of the ballet please contact me: guyfletcher17@hotmail.com (I hope i'm allowed to do that). Anyway I just thought I'd share my news with you guys, since I consider you all old friends (at least those of you who know who I am!).

Hi Friends! Yes I am now in San Fransisco as an apprentice, and yes it is good news. Yesterday I watched the SFB perform at the Sterngrove festival, and sat next to a friend of yours, Alexandra. Her name was Allison and she was reviewing the show for one of your publications. I have only been here for three weeks and so far am having a great time.

Hi Alexandra, I am now dancing with ABT studio company! It is a dream come true and I am enjoying it very much. The reason I haven't been here for so long is because I always used to spend too much time on it, This site is so good it's addictive. Unfortunately time and computer access are both sometimes equally hard to find in the studio company. Now that I have a vacation though I have allowed myself the pleasure of returning briefly. The site has improved tremendously, btw, its even more awesome now- congratulations!

To Vagansmom and Amy, I'm glad you enjoyed Kirk's Nutcracker, I certainly had fun dancing it. The audience was a real pleasure to dance for, they were so appreciative. May I ask what you thought of the Russians? I am curious as to why the audience in general didn't seem to like it very much although every show they did get a little bit more receptive. Please don't hesitate to say if the dancing just wasn't very strong, or not quite strong enough to keep up with the choreography. I just am really interested what the reason was and promise I'd take it constructively.

For ABT, Marcelo Gomes has been holding the company up recently, and of course Julie Kent for consistency and perfection. For the future: David Hallberg and Michelle Wiles.

Thanks! Now where can I find out what is on offer during the month of August?

This is slightly off the subject but: Are performances in San Fransisco generally sold out? ie since i'm going this summer do I need to book in advance or am i likely to get tickets on the night?

Beth, what do you mean "Suzanne Farrell's bad knees"? what was wrong with them?

Wow that is such an inspiring story! Definitely something to pass on to the grandchildren. shame there isn't any video footage - thank goodness for people like you to pass on these treasured memories and images that would otherwise be forgotten.

A performance I would have loved to attend is one described in Bernard Taper's Balanchine biography: In the 1930's Balanchine created the role of Nightingale in "Le Chant du Rossignol" for petite 14 yr old Alicia Markova, but on one occasion she was ill, and since noone knew the steps except for Balanchine, he stepped in to perform the role himself, much to the surprise of the Monte Carlo audience and the Princess of Monaco, who later remarked that Mr. Balanchine was very good but that she still preferred the little Markova girl. I would have loved to see Markova perform, along with Tanaquil le Clerq and Alexandra Danilova. Could anyone who saw these dancers (whether live or on video) comment?

I haven't seen her dance the role, but from seeing her do other things, I have the feeling that Svetlana Zakharova is a perfect Giselle. I saw Malakhov dance Albrecht on video, and I think with his combined gifts of superb acting, beautiful lines and flawless technique he is a perfect Albrecht. Allesandra Ferri is also stunning in the role, and totally convincing in both acts. I admit, I don't think Paloma Herrera would be suited for the role, though I adore her in certain things.

I'm glad you enjoyed the performance, Helena and Anne, the comments you made were really interesting and well put- I agree with everything you both said! Helena; Bethany Keating has just finished first year upper school, and has been promoted to third year next year (a kind of apprentice year in which you get more performing oppurtunities), so obviously the school administration shares your view on her being a first rate dancer. I didn't mention her before because I forgot she had a Pas de deux in "time to dance", but she truly is a dancer to look out for, so much so that Deborah Bull finishes off her book "dancing away" with a description of her dancing (in her graduation piece from White Lodge) as what inspired her to have a positive outlook on the future of dance! (basically, she doesn't really need to worry about future employment!She definitely has the potential to be the next Sarah Wildor- both are stunning blonde beauties oozing with pure British glam.)

Well I am writing after the performance and I must say I am both exhausted but with a 'sense of fullfilment'(as Mr Carr, the repetiteur said we would be after dancing 'La Valse'). All went well for me, though I hope it didn't look too messy from the audience's point of view- I was however, very nervous because my partner was unexpectedly replaced yesterday with a new girl who had never before danced in that place. Talk about last minute changes! I think, under the circumstances we fared alright. To answer your question, Leigh, the three of us were all involved. Jon and me were in La Valse, and James of course danced the lead in 'pas de dix' (after only one week's rehearsal! Watching from the wings, I thought he fared excellently). We all also came on for the 'Defile' at the beginning. It was a thoroughly uplifting experience! To all who were there, weren't Leanne, Lauren and Grace simply breathtaking in Don Quixote's dryad scene? Can you believe they are only 15?

Jon, Ivan is indeed most likely to be next on the list of promotions- He is scheduled to dance the lead in 'Shadowplay', in RB's mixed programme on the 6th of November. He alternates in the role with the established Cuban principal Carlos Acosta, and the promising first soloist Edward Watson (a pure Royal Ballet school product- He is a bit of a British Malakhov in my opinion). To all who will be in the audience in tomorrows Matinee- I hope you enjoy the performance, and would love to hear what you thought!

Yet another amazing promotion in the Royal Ballet which was predicted on this site: At only 18, Alina Cojicaru, the stunning Romanian dancer with the athletic ability and spectacular artistry has been promoted to first soloist!! she has made the same 3 rank hop that Marianella did only a week before, but unlike Marianella who has been in the company for almost 2 years she joined Royal only a few months ago! She sure is sky-rocketing to the top, and the distance between her and Marianella on the ladder to stardom is becoming smaller and smaller. These two very different (and I do mean different!) dancers have almost equal amounts of talent and dedication in astronomical quantities, which in my opinion are the two most important qualities you need to make it. It will be interesting to see what kind of roles they will be getting within the repertory and how they handle them(as I have said rumour has it that Alina is already learning the lead part of Manon, and I have a feeling that Marianella might be learning Myrtha, queen of the Willies, a role to which she is perfectly suited). I for one cannot wait to see them on that stage, dancing roles which they deserve and after years of dedicated training, are more than ready for!

Basilio, I'm not sure what Kate's injury was, but I don't think it was major. Anyway, I heard a rumour this week that the nightclub plan isn't working out and that Kate is still taking classes (not sure where) I will ask around and tell you more soon. Libby and Bard Balerina, I'm glad you are enjoying this post, if you have any questions about the topic I'm sure we will do our best to answer!

Helena, do watch out for James on the 19th, it is a great oppurtunity for him and it makes me very happy that he will be dancing on this matinee because he deserves a solo dance of this type, which will show him off and introduce him to the British public, who i'm sure will adore him and his great potential to become England's finest male dancer to date! Basilio, it is a shame but Kate Cornish has indeed given up. The year didn't start off too well for her, I think she put on a bit of weight due to injury and got depressed. She quickly lost stamina and motivation and the year she spent here at royal was devoted mainly to partying and drinking rather than to what it should have been. It is a loss to the ballet world.

First of all, major news flash: Marianella has been promoted to FIRST SOLOIST at only 18!! The promotion is probably on account of her spectacular performance with Carlos Acosta in the White Nights gala at the ROH on wednesday. Well done, she deserves it and, as we predicted, she is rising up the ranks fast as lightning!! These past few days at the Holland Park performances in which Marianella danced the Lead in Raymonda (she and Ivan were asked by the school to dance in these shows) have been a tremendous opurtunity to have a closer look at this prodigous talent who has bags of energy and not an ounce of big headedness. She may be the cleanest dancer in the world, and that is no exaggeration! And now to answer your question Helena: Though I do not know the white lodgers as well as Jonathen (I only joined upper school in september) I can clearly see that Anniek, and especially Lauren are indeed truly lovely dancers and have a great maturity in their dancing for their age. However the third girl that is dancing a solo role in Don Q's dryad scene on the 19th July is also truly stunning, and in my opinion has the potential to be the next Darcey- her name is Grace Poole.(they are a very talented year by the way) The main girl in La Valse is a 3rd year at upper school by the name of Hitomi Kuhara, and she will be replacing Fernanda Oliviera, who was originally cast for the role, but has accepted a contract with ENB as junior soloist which starts in september. She decided not to finish off the year, but to go home and rest(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she studied privately with Cecilia Kerche). Fernanda is a gorgeous dancer, with spectacular arches, extensions and technique and it is a shame she will not be dancing in the school performance but i'm sure will become a star with ENB and we will get to see her a lot with that company. Hitomi is an amazing technichian, but something in me would prefer to see the girl who is understudying her in the role: A first year upper school student by the name of Emma Maguire, winner of the Paul Clarke award and Phyliss Bydells award. She is a pure and finished product of the royal ballet school, and a shining example of the English style. Anita Hutchins, who dances with vivid freshness and Ernst Meisner, a polished and elegant dutchman who were both recently offered Royal contracts will also be dancing leads in La Valse and they will surely blow you away with their captivating stage presence. Don't miss Genny Murphy who dances the third female lead in La Valse, though you may have to strain your eyes-she is so painfully skinny that I'm not sure you will be able to see her from certain parts of the amphitheatre! only joking Hope I didn't bore you too much! P.S I will be dancing in La Valse as a corps couple! me and my partner will be the third couple from the right with our back to the audience as the curtain goes up. [This message has been edited by Guy Fletcher (edited July 14, 2000).]

I agree that Alina and Marianella are two amazing dancers who definitely will not be in the corps de ballet for much longer, along with dancers like Natasha Oughtred, Melissa Wishinsky, Ivan Putrov and Naomi Reynolds. Alina, for me, represents the future of the royal ballet- her movement is natural and delicate, and she emmerses herself in the part she is dancing so completely. Rumour has it she's learning Manon- and she is 18! Marianella is possibly the most techniqually secure dancer in the company, and she has a scintillating stage presence. But someone who is closer to the top already who hasn't recieved the amount of public acknowledgement yet which she deserves is first soloist Jamie Tapper. She is a stunning dancer to watch, and her every movement exudes feminine perfection.