Memo

I think there are british born and british trained dancers in almost every company in the world. Royal Ballet School had 100% employment again in 2008. The world is a lot more open it seems that many more dancers are able to travel for their training then they did 20 years ago. Maybe the British born dancers are branching out. Maybe the Royal Ballet is too.

It is therefore a disappointment to some, that currently of the 23 most senior dancers, only 3 are UK born.

For me who has been watching the RB for more than 40 years and who has seen dancers graduate from the Royal Ballet School and ascend to principal dancers, I am personally unhappy that the RB School no longer appears to fulfil its function as it did in the past.

As to foreign(such an ugly word) dancers I am more than happy to watch the dancers we have in the Royal Ballet as they have in some cases brought qualities missing for a long time.

The criticism I most widely hear is that the defining style of the Royal Ballet has been lost. If this is the case and I believe it to be true it is not the problem of the dancers making but education in the English style as Dame Ninette de Valois called it, not being either taught or desired by the management of the RB.

In Ashton’s works especially I count it my loss and it is a loss for everyone else as far as I can see.

Leonid, I have not seen the company other than on video for several years but I would say that the dancers at the school definitely have a distinct style that in my opinion is classic "Royal Ballet Style". In my opinion dancers are chosen based on their ability to attain the style or having been perhaps trained in a similar fashion or having a natural affinity for the "style". To me it is very apparent in the dancers at the upper school. The look is distinct and very very understated and appealing to look at. I love the look. When it is reflected in the corps it is not seen anywhere else. I really enjoy seeing a corps with a distinct style I think that is what makes a company great

I have to say that seeing it live is so much better than seeing the PBS version. However the stage in the TV version looked somewhat empty during act II which did not strike me when I saw the performance live this season. I dont think the explanation of Clara turning into the ballerina to dance with the prince is told clearly either. (especially in the version I saw with a dark haired Clara, turning into a red haired ballerina for the pas de deux) it just did not provide the "magic" it could and should have.

I love the Chinese the concept with the dragon is really good, and the Russian dance is very vibrant and fun.

I do particularly like the first act with the San Francisco Worlds Fair theme, it was really a nice way to present it. I never saw Lew Christensens so I dont have that to compare it to.

"Have fun"

seems to be the most important element of any activity these days, rather than concentrating, working hard, doing your best, or giving your all. Children must feel so confused when they are doing difficult things and struggling with it and constantly being told my adults that they are supposed to be having fun.

Miss Feijoo danced 4 T's in Costa Mesa on Sunday and was beautiful. I also saw her dance with Jose Carreno at a Gala back in April, I enjoyed watching her very much.

I saw her in the Golden Hour in costa mesa and she was stunning. Fastest bourees ever, plus her partering is so seamless she really showed the younger dancers how to move.

I would love to see all of those Giselles. Should be really beautiful. :blush:

Glad you are OK Giannina.

Yes Giannina that was him, extremely nerve wracking to go on for the first time with that kind of responsibility but he seemed up for it. Plus never doing it with the orchestra or with lighting. He dances again on Sunday matinee, hence me driving once more to the OC to see it. I would love to see the other program sadly time does not permit.

I was there Thursday night and loved it. (the fact that my kid made is professional debut did enhance the evening) I have not seen SFB for 5 years and was not so impressed when I saw it then. I had heard great things and quite honestly I was thrilled with the quality of the dancing and the energy of the company. First of all I really enjoyed Possokov's piece "Fusion" and being someone who made a cultural change as a young dancer I really related to the theme and the direction it took the audience. I agree with Giannina that I did not love all of it but there were many moments that were truly beautiful and the quality of the performances was so so strong. There seemed to be no ego's on the stage. Everyone working as a group, not trying to outdo each other but to bring truth to the material.

I have NEVER seen the 4 temperaments but after seeing so many photographs of it I was having flashing images in my mind as they reached several positions during the piece that were so familiar. I wonder if it might have been more meaningful to have seen the 4 T's at the beginning of the program and then seeing the more current material and understand what contemporary ballet and contemporary choreographers have drawn from the Balanchine innovations in choreography.

Very good crowd for a Thursday night and very appreciative. I was also with a group surrounded by friends, and it was a lot of fun. Am going again Sunday at 2pm.

I was really hoping to see Sofiane Sylvie she was originally on the program for Thursday but then it got changed. Maybe Giannina you will see her Sat night. Please give an update. I am sorry i am going to miss her. She is a favorite of mine.

I had a good time too.

I don't understand this mentality. Here in the US we seem pride themselves on being able to attract the best from all over the world. The Brits do not seem to appreciate that they are able to do that with several their top notch vocational training schools that attract talent from all over the globe. But when it comes down to the contract there is tremendous pressure to only hire the British born. Then on the one hand they complain about not being able to hire enough British Talent and then lament the foreigners who go elsewhere and wonder why they weren't offered contracts after all the scholarship money spent on training them.

Maybe those British Trained foreigners went elsewhere because they were not asked to stay. Thanks to the RBS (and other British Vocational Ballet Schools) for contributing to the ranks of the worlds ballet companies by turning out so many employable dancers year after year.

A partial Cast list for next week performance in the OC can be found here

http://www.sfballet.org/performancestickets/casting.asp

Dick Van Dyke's "Cockney" accent in Mary Poppins.

I second this one. But he danced so beautifully we forgave him!

OK I'll try again. Bear with me I think I am getting the hang of this.

Ulanova

Cornejo or Corella

I'd say she is small enough but watch out guys she can just about out jump anyone.

WOW

I received this in an e mail today

Dear Members,

We are pleased to announce some exciting additions to our fall season!

Antony Tudor’s rarely seen Romeo and Juilet pas de deux will be added to the program through out the second week of this season. The bedroom scene excerpt showcase’s Tudor’s ability to display young love with quite, small, heart rendering movements and is a special treat for balletomanes of all kind.

We also welcome new soloist, Daniil Simki by adding the Flames of Paris pas de deux. With choreography by Vasily Vainonen and music by Boris Asafiev, Mr. Simkin will have the opportunity to display his ballet born ability in his debut season.

Additional pas de deux will be performed on the following evenings.

For the most up-to-date performance and casting information please visit us at our website. www.abt.org

Tuesday, October 28th—Flames of Paris

Thursday, October 30th—Romeo & Juliet

Saturday, November 1st Matinee—Tchaikovsky

Sunday, November 2nd Matinee—Flames of Paris

Sunday, November 2nd Evening—Romeo & Juliet

To purchase tickets for the City Center Season:

Call Citi Tix at 212-581-1212, visit www.abt.org or go directly to the Box Office on West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Aves

They are dancing Don Quixote and Giselle if you could see one which would you see?

hmm ok I will still go for " this " even though it may not always pan out for me in act 2.

Well intentioned good guy but then you get tripped up in the second act if he gets killed.

I like the whole first act to be filled with well intentioned if not misguided teenagers it makes it all the more tragic.

I think probably because his contract does not begin till Oct. It seems that they would not put it up there till he is actually there and under contract. And also because ABT's website is always slow to put information up. They did put the press release up several months ago that he was joining.

I know this is an old thread so by now everyone knows that she is a principal at SFB. Lucky for them. She's amazing to watch.

The pictures are beautiful thanks for sharing.

OH I love it great marketing. All the video clips on there are excellent.

At least he got to be listed on two companies websites at the same time for 2 months.