ami1436

From what I understand, Kobborg did perform... but he's not performing his Romeo at ROH Saturday... I'm disliking this trend!

Englund's performance as Madge with the Royal Ballet last season and the season before were the subject of great debate in some circles. If you watched closely, she seemed to signal to the audience that she herself had been/was a sylph, lifting her own skirts to display the soft white skirt underneath. I have yet to watch her on the DVD to see if she had been doing this before? It's very quick - and very easy to miss. Kobborg, in an Insight Event at the ROH, said that in his vision, it is ambiguous if James dies or not, and if Madge is/was a Sylph or not. I have yet to fully suss out what I think is happening - but I do think Englund's Madge is distinct from the others I have seen here with the Royal.

Here is one of the articles I had seen regarding Dusty Button: http://www.gsmagazine.net/cover/detail.asp?PreviewID=Health1

Yes, Jane is right - it was also reported in a news article a few weeks ago. I'll search for the link tomorrow.

Oh I forgot about the Paris leg of this... need to investigate; it coincides rather closely with some key term dates... hmmm..... Leigh, you're such a bad (good) influence!

YAYAYAY! A fellow left turner!!!! And yes, it's from Shanghai IBC.

And seriously, ring up the box office/go visit, and inquire about special student discounts or student standbys. Some theaters don't publish their policy, so it is totally worth checking! I've used those discounts a lot even though I've now been a student... for... well.... let's leave that aside. Part of me is totally weeping the loss of my student status in the next few weeks! Use it while you can!

I was going to add Sarah Lamb to this list - but I see Sylvia has already done so. I've seen her in a number of rehearsals/Masterclasses as well, and she is focused, clear, and so very intelligent. She leads us into her thought process, what she thinks the purpose of her dancing is, with ease. Impressive, and a very nice person.

I'm right? Really? Yay. *Something* needed to go right today, as it were!

Actually, I now fear I spoke to soon.... The young man was Yonah Yunior Acosta... and in the Jr. Division. Apologies to all if I am indeed wrong. I saw 'Yonah Acosta' and ran....

And Jr. Male Gold? None other than Yonah Acosta - Carlos' nephew!

Well, Giannina, that's term time, so I'll be here and no doubt making trips to London quite often! Seriously, there's quite a few London regulars on these boards... so you just gotta let us know!

Well, I'll be around Ox, but am tempted to come to Paris as an old friend has relocated there. Leigh, I'll be in touch! I'm hesitant to say a full yes right now because it might be a busy time work-wise.

Marga, you have much more dance experience than I, so I'm only humbly going to react to this! I think it's much more about the ankles/instep/bendy feet issue you mentioned earlier, than the foot shape (in terms of toes, etc...) I only say this because I myself have a very narrow, compressible foot with tapered, longish toes - very fine, boned. And hops en pointe are one of my favourite, most comfortable steps to do. But I think this is because although I have a basically nice pointed foot, my ankle is not super-bendy and I initially had to work a lot pre-pointe to build up strength and articulation. Ugh, my words aren't being articulate at all. I'm agreeing with you about the difficulty for hops for a super arched/bendy foot, but not necessarily due to foot shape of toes/width? Does that make sense? And of course, exceptions apply....

Here's a link with all the company info - promotions, joiners, leavers, ballet masters, etc.... The joiners include two YAGP winners! 2007 and 2006.... so much for that ABT Studio Co contract.... http://info.royaloperahouse.org/News/Index.cfm?ccs=1156

Okay... first, if folks are really interested, there is a huge, long, thread on Gaynor Mindens on the BT4D board... That said, I'm guessing that most professionals get special make-ups of the shoes. At a master class at the ROH, I think perhaps last year, Alina says she uses both - Gaynors and her 'regular shoes', which I believe are Bloch. She says the Gaynors last her about a month - I do not know if that includes performances. For students, the Gaynors would last much longer. The problem with rolling down isn't necessary because of a stiffer shank - in fact, some of the Gaynor shanks are very very flexible. But, the construction is that the shank is constructed so that it is attached to the platform. You can kind of see it here: http://www.dancer.com/gmshoe.php This means 'rolling through' bends the shoe in the opposite direction, if that makes sense? Re: plastic - well, that's why you'll see so many dancers covering the platforms with moleskin or suede or so. Yes, GMs do have different widths and different tapers, but all of the GMs have low profiles, which doesn't work for everyone. Also, due to the materials, the GMs don't shape to your foot in the same way that a traditional paste shoe would....anyways, I'm rambling. The big GM thread on BT4D is here: http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?...31986&st=90 And if you do a search, you'll find more!

I'm so pleased about Morera, and from what I've seen Ansanelli has learned mighty quick.... but I just don't 'get' Makhateli. I'm actually stunned by that one... And would welcome thought from anyone less stunned than I!

Coda, apologies for not being clearer, as I did understand initially that she was there as a guest.... I shouldn't have insinuated that it might have been more long term! Thank you for your comments on the Mariinsky's 'own' Kitris!

I love Osipova - interesting that they imported her - I must not have been keeping up with this section of the boards. Surely that's not to say that they don't have a decent Kitri of their own?

Ugh Ugh Ugh. Out of curiousity, as I have never seen the Kirov's Don Q live, what would folks say were some of the better (recent) performances? And what about if they had to choose a Kirov dancer to debut as Kitri/Basilio/etc?

I can't believe this. Surely they have better Kitri's to put out there? I can just see her hypermobile body going into one of those beautiful Plisetskaya sissones and getting her leg stuck around her torso.....

I was also completely taken aback by the photo. I think even from a more 'correct' angle, it would not be flattering, and doesn't display a nice line at all, let alone anything else.... I agree about 'no need to go beyone 180' and that it is not an arabesque.....

Fabulous news! Congrats congrats congrats!

There is the undeniable train issue. As the evening goes on, trains home become more sparse..... As do fast trains... So an extra five minutes of curtain calls can sometimes double the time it takes to get home - or more! What I appreciate is when those who do have to dash out right at the end tell me beforehand, and usually we then swap seats or so after the last interval. Thus, they are able to run out and catch their train, and I don't have my view blocked.

I don't go to every performance of Swan Lake here (transport issues, especially with long ballets like Swan Lake or Beauty), but if you get Rojo/Acosta, go. Bonnelli is currently out with injury, so Acosta might fill in, as he is doing this Friday in London. Technically, Acosts obviously gets a big 'yo' factor... he's not the best of actors in my opinion, but it's okay for this, especially as he seems so besotted by Rojo's swan (or at least that's how it was last time I saw them do this together).... and I really do like Rojo in this.... And I mean like as in triple chocolate brownie with all the trimmings!