Nanarina

Well Derek Deane is his usual, charming self. Do you mean "a bolshy Prima Donna" Who has little respect for his Dancers, or knows how to speak to them. I was really appalled by his attitude.

Well Derek Deane is his usual, charming self.

I always try to dress up when I go to the theatre,depending on where I am going to. If it is up to the West End, to the Ballet, I wear something comfortable but smart. I like to have had my hair styled and to put some make up on. I do have to travel on the train, and wear something suitable like a nice suit or dress. It is lovely to be able to get my jewellery out and make a special effort. When I go to Paris to the Opera Garnier I wear a outfit suitable for the evening, as I usually have stayed over night in a hotel or guest house, so have time to pamper myself. I was very pleased when I took my Grand Daughters to the Ballet for the first time, my Daughter had made a very special effort and bought them lovely dresses. I wanted her to know I appreciated this, and told her so, and she replied that she wanted her children to appreciate the Arts and they needed to know it was appropriate to dress up for the occasion. They loved looking pretty and really were good girls sitting quietly and enjoying the performance. They adored their outing. It is not difficult for me as I am retired, but when I was working my friend and I used to go to Covent Garden straight from work, but we always took something to change into even if it was only a nice top to use with out suits. To this day I like to make a special effort as it is part of the pleasure of going out.

With regard to Giselle, Laetica Pujol had literally just returned from maternity leave, and I believe that the DVD was filmed over more than one performance as she was not yet back tio full fitness. Maybe that is why she appeared weak in the second act. You need to see her in Nureyev's Cendrillon as one of the ugly sisters, to find her on better form.

Thank you for posting the wonderful clip of Raymonda, This version by the Bolshoi out shines most of the others, including The Nureyev Paris Opera one.

The new season seems to have some good Ballets in it, I am very interested in the production of La Source by Jean G. Bart. It will be great if he sticks to an original classical version, and does not mess up the choreography. The costumes should be quite spectacular also. The music by Delibes is lovely. One I definatly hope to go and see.

Try getting onto the bbc.co.uk Site on the Internet, then click on their IPlayer and you may be able to access the programme. I have been able to take the action to get into the French channels.

I bought my copy of Siddharta, and sat down to watch it, I thought it was awful. Having decided not to go to Paris to see it, I was glad I changed my mind, as it is a total waste of money. I cannot help wondering what is happening to Angelin Prodjocal's choreography when you compare it to his Le Parc (which started to show his weird ideas, Gardenerrs with goggles and the sound of a lawnmower and lovers) It is a big disapointment. The DVD is as the excerp very dark in places, and the production seems to have fallen foul of the Lighting design at the Paris Opera.Who seem to think that a melodramtic subject has to be performed almost in darrkness. Actually Waltz's Berloiz Romeo and Juliette was almost shown with a blacked out stage that made it impossible to see the Dancers. What a wonderful opportuinity the Creators missed with this work. When you consider the beautiful colours and materials in Indian culture it is very sad we are presentexd with this result. The storyline is pretty dismal, and does not represent the subject. The "Evil" Bikers guys in tight black/grey bodysuits wearing crash helmets, the weird structures that Gautama and his cousin are seduced on, which slide back and forth do not represent anything recognisable, just a collectionof scrap metal, wheels and a couple of platforms. The best part is Aurelie Dupont as the Enlightenment and her attendants who looks graceful and lovely as usual. The Costumes are pretty basic a few yards of filmsy tule and leotards, rather dull peasants costumes and guys in skirts. The Seductess's wearing strange cropped tops with swimsuit bottoms. The music is noisy without much melody a lot of disjointed notes that start and never go anywhere. A huge orchestra to play what seems like half finished music. A largish percussion group that imitates authentic Indian music, which ends up failing to sound like anything to do with the theme. Finally The BODHI TREE that played a major part in the Buddhi's journey from a Prince to a Diety is non exsistant. I have watched this DVD 4 times now, and still cannot really appreciate it. One I would easily give a miss.

Thank you very much fior the new colour and Text. I am partially sighted and find it a lot easier to see. Best Wishes with it in the future.

Thank you for the bright new logo, it is much easier to see, for me in particular as I am pazrtially sighed. Mind you at first after being away for a while I did wonder if I was on the correct site.

I noticed on Amazon UK that the DVD of the new ballet by Angelin Prejocal is to be releaed on the 29th January 2011. This should be great, and it is good to note that it is available so quickly after it's premier in Spring 2010.

I recerntly received my copy of the DVD from Amazon UK. The quality of the DVD is excellent, as it is recorded in HD, I did not pay extra for the Blue Ray version, alrthough I have the relevant player, my main TV is HD ready, so this is what I opted for. I was not at all disapointed it is a excellent DVD. The Bolshoi are at their best, Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vas. are really brilliant. In Act 2 they dance "en Character" and the results are very exciting, with a distinctive drum beat running through the music. The audience nearly explodes with applause. It is full of colour, and excitement. Not to mention truly amazing choreography and dancing by the whole company. Certainly a new release worth adding to your collection. What a marvelous atmosphere there will surely be when they take it to Paris next year.

Dance

Dance certainly seems to be in the genes at the Paris Opera Ballet. perhaps in the future we will see the children of Nicholas Le Riche and Claire Marie Osta, Lionel Delanoe and Delphine Moussin , plus Jeremie Belingard and Aurelie Dupont. Maybe there are places waiting at the school for those who chose to follow in their parents foot steps. It will be good to see who progresses into the Company (if anyone)and compare their quality as dancers with their parents which could be quite an interesting exercise. Think of The Ganio's. Mathui and Marine his sister, (Domanique Klaflouri and Denys Ganio. ) and of course there is Juliette Hilaire (Laurent's daughter).

Well I must say I agree with you, the POB is stuck with Madame B.L.'s modern dream. I did actually get to see Tribute to Robbins, and loved it, so it was not a wasted efforft. The Concert with Dorothee Gilbert was brilliant. So now I have been looking at the next programme for 2010/11. I really am not at all interested, I cannot stand Wayne MacGregors work, and would not waste my small "Ballet Visit" budget on it. I did recentlly venture back to The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden to see Onegin, with Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg. I was not at all disapointed, it was wonderful, really compared favourably to the Paris performasnce I saw last year. Maybe I will do to ROH more and only travel to Paris when there is something I really want to see and make a short stay of it.

I agree that the modern side is pushing out the classics. I was hoping to take my Grand daughter (10) to the Opera Garnier for the first timein 2011, but the Ballet has got to be suitable, as she prefers like me a more classical approach. I am eagerly waiting for the next calendar to come on line. She has already asked to see Aurelie Dupont dance, which may not actually work out, depending on her Maternity Leave. At least I have plenty of time until next spring/summer to get it all worked out and booked up.

Conversely, I suppose a good partner DOES feel where his partner should be (which I take to men: where she is, where she needs to go, what she should look like during the transition). You read, in reviews of school performances by School of American Ballet, for example, of certain young men already having very advanced partnering skills. Is this, as Lezhnina seems to think and many of us assume, a natural gift that you either have or don't have? Is it possible to develop partnering excellence via training and experience? I can relate to Ruzimatov not being a very good partner, he always seemed to me to give the impression his performance came first, His style of dance was very exaggerated, and flamboyant, which kind of left the impression he was the most important dancer on the stage. and his partner came second.

Conversely, I suppose a good partner DOES feel where his partner should be (which I take to men: where she is, where she needs to go, what she should look like during the transition). You read, in reviews of school performances by School of American Ballet, for example, of certain young men already having very advanced partnering skills. Is this, as Lezhnina seems to think and many of us assume, a natural gift that you either have or don't have? Is it possible to develop partnering excellence via training and experience?

Thank you for the news, I did wonder, a brother or sister for Jacques how lovely, congrats to them both. "Another little Star"

I was wondering why Aurelie is not shown on the POB Distribution list for the next programmme. I noticed she was wearing a leg support when rehearsing Bayadare on YouTube. Does anyone have the answer please? Is she injured?

Summer 2010, and yet again lots of Clips have been removed from YouTube, I found it beyond belief as they are all marked removed because of copyright infringement. Many of Aurelie Dupont, including the new Documentary by Cedric Klapish, apparently this by a complaint from the distributor. (MK?)There are quite a lot involved in this. I cannot understand why these companies or people do not get it.... they actually help promote the DVD's. Which means that no doubt far more people are likely to see what is going to be available than the original sources of trailers and general advertising.

All Dancers actually seen live Ruzimatov, Nureyev, Baryshnikov Vasiliev,Tanranda. Fonteyn, Asylmuratova, Makarova,Dupont, Cojocaru.

It seems that a lot of ballet clips have once agin been removed from YouTube. Seems that this is due to miss use. I really cannot see the harm in people watching them, it surely encourages those interested in going out and buying the DVD if they are commercially available. If they are privately filmed and put on the net, is it a case of "The Powers that be" at work again? Or YOUTUBE themselves.

I really love Suite en Blanc the choreography is so distinctive, and the music lovely. I wish it was performed more often, and would be super to see it in the UK, I feel sure that English National or The Royal Ballet could do it.

I am sorry to say this is true, as soon as the payment has been processed you are stuck with the tickets with no chance of exchange or return. One time a couple of years ago I was given the wrong imformation by the Box Office ansd booked for the wrong perormance, the mistake was realised within a minute of my credit card being used, but I was unable to cjhange the booking. As I was travelling from the UK specially I was offered the last seat free on the night before. It cos me double , so I complained to the management and actually was comppensated.