I went to another RB morning class on Wednesday and to a performance of Don Quixote last night, so I thought I might follow on from my earlier post...
The class was really good. It was taken by Mikhail (Misha) Messerer this time, and it was interesting to see the difference in his style of teaching class, to Ross Stretton. Misha was much less descriptive and demonstrative, he gave very quick instructions for each exercise and the dancers didn't seem to be paying much attention so we got the feeling he may give a similar class each time. Whereas Ross's class seemed much more challenging and he actually showed the way he wanted the steps danced.
At the end of the class the men took over completely and vied with each other to perform the most breathtaking jumps and turns. Martin Harvey and Jonathan Cope did a comedy pas de deux which had the audience in stitches! Ivan Putrov did a series of the most amazing turning jumps, seeming to dive under his own legs in a most spectacular fashion. And Angel Corella (well we think it was him, he's a new face for us!) was showing off the fastest pirouettes I have ever seen.
Don Quixote was great. We only got tickets at the last minute because Marianela Nunez was taking over the role of Kitri from Leanne Benjamin, so although we already had tickets for Don Q next Monday with Tamara Rojo and Johan Kobborg, we just had to go and see Marianela too! She really is the most lovely dancer, and her personality comes through strongly in all her roles. However, unlike when I saw the masterclass with Alina and Ivan and I really thought they were in love, I just couldn't make myself believe that Marianela was in love with Carlos Acosta. Yes, he is a great (really great) dancer, but he is so aware of this I sometimes feel it reduces his dancing to a bit of a spectacle instead of something emotional.
Zenaida Yanowsky made a lovely Queen of the Dryads (especially the fouette/rotation section-wow!), I really appreciated her in the role. Unlike Mara Galeazzi, who is one of my favourites but I felt she was miscast as the street dancer- she is good in everything she does, but I don't think the role suited her. But David Pickering in the Fandango really came into his own, he looked as if the steps were made for him. I hope he gets to dance this type of thing again because he makes a handsome Paris but it's too wishy-washy for him- I enjoyed watching him as a more fiery character.
Well, it's a long review but I hope it will interest somebody! If anyone wamts to know anything else please say- ROH is becoming a second home for me!