Jan McNulty

Don't forget to keep an eye on the links because suggestions pop up there too.

I recommend looking up the short film Shelter as reviewed by Michelle Potter in today's links:

Janite, thank you so much for all your suggestions, many of which I have watched and enjoyed.

Links - Thursday 21 May, 2020

News - Tamara Rojo and Nicholas Serota to sit on government task force for culture:  Georgia Snow, Stage

Streaming News - Northern Ballet, Dracula:  Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

Documentary Review - Cunningham:  Alastair Macaulay, TLS

Streaming Review - James Cousins Dance, Within Her Eyes:  Lyndsey Winship, Guardian

Streaming Review - Shelter:  Michelle Potter, ... on dancing

Feature - How Fred Astaire trampled over his talent:  Jack Malvern, Times

Streaming News - Jacob’s Pillow announces digital event:  News Desk, Broadway World

Feature - Bill T Jones knows life will change:  Gia Kourlas, NY Times

Streaming News - Smuin Ballet’s online offerings:  News Desk, Broadway World

News - TITAS/Dance Unbound, Dallas, announces 20/21 season:  Staff, Theater Jones

Featurette - Stella Abrera on her cut-short final season before retirement:  Hannah Foster, Dance Magazine

Feature - Amanda Morgan, Pacific Northwest Ballet, lockdown project:  Marcie Sillman, KUOW

Feature - Cleo Parker Robinson, AD of CPR Dance:  Wendy Forster, Dance Magazine

3 hours ago, Quintus said:

I have taken my camera on a few walks recently and barely seen a bird.  Today when I left it at home for a 6 mile loop round the roadbeds at Dunwich beach, we saw four avocets, lots of herons, three large deer, what was possibly a female marsh harrier and got within feet of a reed bunting. Sod's law!

Story of my life too!

19 minutes ago, Darlex said:

Oh Janet!!!!!

Well I do love Checkmate and very much enjoyed The Prospect Before Us...

I saw SWRB performing The Rake's Progress as a newbie ballet watcher.  I didn't like it at all.  When I was on a course in London I went to the Sir John Soane museum and saw the Hogarth paintings cited in the programme.  I didn't like them either.

Links - Wednesday 20 May, 2020

Streaming Review - Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, The Car Man:  Deborah Weiss, DanceTabs

Feature - Marianela Nuñez, Royal Ballet, on her signature role Kitri:  Laura Cappelle, Pointe Magazine

Feature - Ballet is a boy’s game thanks to Billy Elliot:  David Sanderson, Times

Streaming Preview - Houston Ballet & Axion Quartet, Traces of Us: Lawrence Elizabeth Knox, Houston Chronicle

Streaming Review - Royal New Zealand Ballet, Anzac Salute: Madelyn Coupe, Fjord Review

Streaming Review - Royal New Zealand Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Black Swan White Swan:  Madelyn Coupe, Fjord Review

Streaming Review:  Deborah Jones, Limelight

Finnish National Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

San Francisco Ballet, Romeo and Juliet

Mariinsky Ballet, Sleeping Beauty

Featurette - Scottish Ballet helps stressed hospital staff with ballet lessons:  Sarah Ward, Times

I watched Cristaux this afternoon (twice) and was swept away by this duet all over again.

Of course, nothing matches the excitement of a live performance but this piece looked very good on film.

When Mthuthuzeli November and Cira Robinson were in different spotlights on the stage they looked almost as though they were in different dimensions.  I love the stately, elegant choreography which the dancers performed with great panache.  I know it's one of those silly things but when Cira's fingers were fluttering I had shivers running down my spine she is such an expressive dancer.  Let us not forget, either, that glorious tutu!

An afternoon well spent.

An oldie but Goldie:

Links - Tuesday 19 May, 2020

Streaming Review - Ballet Black, Cristaux:  Maryam Philpott, Reviews Hub

News - New York City Ballet announces week 6 of digital streaming programme:  News Desk, Broadway World

News - American Ballet Theatre ABT OFFSTAGE announces programming for 18-24 May:  News Desk, Broadway World

Streaming News - KES Reimagined Online:  Teresa Guereirro, Culture Whisper

Streaming Review - New York City Ballet, Digital Streaming Week 4:  David Mead, Seeing Dance

Video Feature - Misty Copeland talks Swans for Relief and 80 years of ABT:  Felice León, The Root

Feature - How will the Monte Carlo Ballet get back to the studio:  Amy Cartledge, Monaco Tribune

Feature - William Bracewell (Royal Ballet)’s London flat:  Liz Hoggard, Homes and Property

Featurette - Mikko Nissenen, AD Boston Ballet during lockdown:  Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald

News - Saratoga Performing Arts Centre announces the cancellation of the 2020 Classical Season:  News Desk, Broadway World

From the Guardian:  Norwegian politicians film physically distanced dance for National Day

Links - Monday 18 May, 2020

Streaming Review - Royal Ballet, Anastasia:  Vikki Jane Vile, Broadway World

News - Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage updated:  Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

Lockdown suggestions - The week’s best culture:  Various, Guardian

Feature - Bolshoi has optimistic plans for return of ballet:  James Rodgers, Forbes

Interview - Benedicte Bemet, Australian Ballet:  Claudia Lawson, Fjord Review

Streaming Review - Australian Ballet, Romeo and Juliet (Murphy):  Gracia Haby, Fjord Review

Streaming Review - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Moon Water:  Michelle Potter, ... on dancing

Streaming Review - Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Kyôdaï:  David Mead, Seeing Dance

Streaming Review Feature - Trisha Brown Dance Company’s digital translations:  Rachel Stone, Fjord Review

6 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said:

One thing I didn't see mentioned is that many highly trained athletes have compromised immune systems. Is this through overtraining?

I think it may be.  Remember how many of our top flight athletes gave up years ago because of persistent viral infections?  (I don't mean really bad ones - just that they couldn't shake a virus off if they got it)

Thanks for the reminder Janite.  I may have to watch this piece of joy again before it disappears off.

I thought Initials RBME was a total delight, I loved everything about it.

I don't know if it is Lockdown Syndrome but I could feel tears welling up in parts.

Links - Sunday 17 May, 2020

Streaming Review - Stuttgart Ballet, Initials R.B.M.E:  David Mead, Seeing Dance

Feature - Tiler Peck, New York City Ballet:  Jeryl Brunner, Forbes

Review - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Moon Water:  Richard Maguire, Reviews Hub

Review - Project Sau.te, Quarantine Project:  Gerard Davis, Dancing Review

News Feature - Royal Danish Ballet 20/21 season:  Eva Kistrup, Danceview Times

News Feature - Céline Gittens becomes patron of Metamorphosis Dance Company (Trinidad):  Debra Greaves, Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

News - Royal Opera House online latest offerings:  Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

Streaming Review - Royal New Zealand Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella:  Madelyn Coupe, Fjord Review

Film Review - Barrowland Ballet, Whiteout:  Lorna Irvine, Fjord Review

Streaming Review - Gandini Juggling, Twenty Twenty:  Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide

Feature - Three Joffrey dancers suggest exercises to tone muscles at home:  Miriam di Nunzio, Chicago Sun Times

Video Feature - Austin Sora, dancer:  Mike Arsenault, FM96

I'm so sad to read that pianist and composer Ezio Bosso has passed away at the age of 48.

I discovered his music through looking him up after seeing Within the Golden Hour and I downloaded a couple of his albums.

https://www.news1.news/n1/2020/05/ezio-bosso-died-the-pianist-who-knew-how-to-enchant-with-music-and-words-he-was-48-years-old.html

2 hours ago, Bruce Wall said:

Seems there is hope ...

 

 

I didn't notice much in the way of social distancing.  It will be interesting to see if there is a spike in dancers back at work contracting the virus...

Hello Big Ticket and welcome out of the lurking shadows.

How lovely for your daughters!

I agree Capybara.

I have assumed that was why NB were so late announcing the cancellation at The Lowry and BRB announcing cancellations at SW and the Hippodrome.

ENB at HOME: Wednesday Watch Parties

English National Ballet announces the next instalments of their Wednesday Watch Party series. Following three successful streams, which saw over 350,000 people tuning in, Stina Quagebeur’s Nora will receive its online premiere on 20 May, followed by Derek Deane’s Swan Lake on 27 May. 

Through their Wednesday Watch Parties, which are a part of ENB at HOME, English National Ballet invites audiences around the world to enjoy never before seen full-length recordings of Company performances. The Wednesday evening (7pm) premieres on Facebook and YouTube give people the chance to see some of English National Ballet’s most loved productions, for free, from their own homes. Recordings are available for 48 hours.

The online premiere of Nora showcases ENB’s Associate Choreographer and First Artist of the Company Stina Quagebeur’s first work for the main stage. Nora is inspired by the lead character in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, and follows a woman on the path to independence. With a small cast of eight dancers, including Crystal Costa as Nora and Lead Principal Jeffrey Cirio as Nora’s husband, and music by Oscar-nominated composer Philip Glass, the piece premiered as part of the ‘She Persisted’ triple bill of female works in April 2019, sponsored by Cunard, production supporters and our Principal Partner, NatWest. 

Derek Deane's version of the iconic Swan Lake has delighted audiences worldwide for over two decades but has never been streamed online in full, until now. Featuring Lead Principals Isaac Hernández as Prince Siegfried and Jurgita Dronina as Odette/Odile, this performance of Swan Lake captures all the magic of the classic ballet, from the ballerinas in white tutus moving in unison, to the captivating romance between Prince Siegfried and the Swan Queen Odette. This performance of Swan Lake was recorded at the Liverpool Empire in 2018 as part of the English National Ballet's annual Autumn UK tour and features Tchaikovsky's score performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. 

Whilst English National Ballet’s building is closed and some future performances and events have been cancelled, ENB at HOME sees the Company continue to give free access to great ballet content as well as providing ways to keep people fit and moving during these uncertain times. This includes online ballet classes tailored to suit a range of abilities, virtual performances from ENB Philharmonic, blogs, playlists and behind the scenes insights. 

The programme for further Wednesday Watch Parties will be announced in due course. 

-ENDS- 

English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. 

 

Notes to Editors

English National Ballet events affected by COVID-19
Following government advice about Coronavirus COVID-19, some English National Ballet performances, events, workshops and classes have been cancelled. This includes performances of Creature by Akram Khan at Sadler’s Wells (01-08 April) and the UK tour of My First Ballet: Cinderella (09 April – 31 May). The world premiere of Creaturewill now take place on 11 November 2020 at Sadler’s Wells, with performances until 15 November. Emerging Dancer has been postponed and will now take place on 22 September 2020 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. Theatre box offices are contacting bookers directly. English National Ballet’s home on London City Island, Canning Town, is closed.
ballet.org.uk/covid-19-updates

Supporting English National Ballet
We have deeply appreciated the many warm wishes and expressions of empathy and care from friends and fans from around the globe. Ticket sales provide substantial revenue funding, contributing over a third of our annual income. There are substantial financial implications to postponements in our programme that impact our future work. We are working hard to find ways to navigate the financial impact of this unprecedented and challenging time. As a charity, any donation, large or small, will help during this period of uncertainty.
ballet.org.uk/join-give/donate

About English National Ballet 
English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English Dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet's growth and evolution ever since. 

English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages including The Bolshoi Theatre and Palais Garnier; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet's Dance for Parkinson's.

Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet has introduced ground-breaking new works to the Company's repertoire whilst continuing to honour the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw English National Ballet enter a new chapter in its history with a move into a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in East London which brings a renewed commitment to, and freedom for, creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before.
www.ballet.org.uk

About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people's lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
www.artscouncil.org.uk  

How fabulous is this!

Hello Jewel and welcome to the Forum!