Jan McNulty

TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2020  

Indeed - more suggestions in today's links:

 

 

Links - Tuesday 21 April, 2020

 

 

Video Feature - Royal Ballet keeps moving under lockdown:  CNN

 

Streaming Review - Edward Watson, Royal Ballet, The Metamorphosis:  David Mead, Seeing Dance

 

Blog - My road to the Royal Ballet:  Isabella Gasparini, The Dance Psychologist

 

Streaming Review - Russell Maliphant & Vangelis, The Thread:  Marianka Swain, Arts Desk

 

Streaming Review - Company Wayne McGregor, Winged Bull in the Elephant Case:  Lyndsey Winship, Guardian

 

Feature - 5 of the best routines made during lockdown:  Lyndsey Winship, Guardian

 

Updated list - The best theatre and dance to watch online:  Chris Wigan, Guardian

 

News - New York City Ballet online season:  Peter Libbey, NY Times

 

Streaming Preview - Michael Clarke Company, to a simple, rock’n’roll … song:  Teresa Guerrero, Culture Whisper

 

Catch-up Review - Adelaide:  Humphrey Bower, Daily Review

Kiss & Cry Collective, Cold Blood

Lyons Opera Ballet, Trois Grands Fugues

 

Review - Carnaval in Guadeloupe:  Susanna Sloat, DanceTabs

 

Streaming Preview - Royal Opera & Ballet, Gloriana:  Claudia Pritchard, Culture Whisper

 

Video Feature - American Ballet Theatres stay on their toes via Zoom:  Briella Tomassetti, Fox 5 NY

 

Video Feature - A Chorus Line Broadway Cast (of 2006) offer a quarantine-themed reunion dance:  Trilby Beresford, Hollywood Reporter

I suspect that the companies that haven't yet announced the Autumn and beyond seasons are waiting to see what happens.  BRB announced their 20/21 season at the beginning of February and the subscription details for Birmingham were due out in March but nothing has happened yet.  The companies must be in an invidious position and I think, disappointing though it is for us, that we just have to give them understanding.

I had a disaster with Nationwide years ago when they first started their Flex "bank" account.  They accidentally paid my credit card bill to Marks and Spencer by mistake.  It took me months to sort out (because they were absolutely no help whatsoever!).  They had taken over the Anglian building society where I had some money.  I decided to pay the bill from that as interest was accruing.  The 2 branches were about 100 yards apart and the accounts had not been merged onto one computer system.  So I had to get a cheque from Anglia and was told in Nationwide that it would be 10 days before it could be cleared!!!!!!!!  Needless to say that a mixture of Santorini, Vesuvius and Etna erupted in the branch and I did not have to wait for the cheque to be cleared!!!  I closed the account as soon as possible and I have never even used one of their cash machines since.

Do they only do about 15 performances in a season?

A friend has just sent me this ... a couple of years old but fun!

 

 

Thanks Sonya!

Links - Monday 20 April, 2020

 

 

Streaming Review - Russell Maliphant & Vangelis, The Thread:  Richard Maguire, Reviews Hub

 

Streaming Preview - Shobana Jeyasingh, Configurations:  Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper

 

News - Sarasota Ballet marks 30th anniversary:  Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald Tribune

 

Streaming Reviews - Royal New Zealand Ballet, Cinderella (Hampson):

Nicole Wilkie, NZ Theatreview

Greer Robertson, NZ Theatreview

The above post does work - honest.  Just hit the play button.  It's for anyone who has ever enjoyed an episode of Dad's Army!

 

 

This is just lovely.  Hope it works...

 

 

40 minutes ago, Janite said:

 

Do you  know how you see it for the next 24 hours, I only saw half and then it disappeared. 

 

I think they literally drop off after 24 hours.  The other thing is that IG has a time limit on IG films.  Sometimes a little symbol appears and if you click on that you can watch the whole thing on IGTV.  (This aspect of IG is all new to me!).

Links - Sunday 19 April, 2020

 

 

Streaming Preview - English National Ballet, ENB Wednesday Watch Parties:  Teresa Guerrero, Culture Whisper

 

Streaming Review - Edward Watson, Royal Ballet, The Metamorphosis:  Sophia Moss, The Upcoming

 

Streaming Review - Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker/Rosas, Rain:  Michelle Potter, ... on dancing

 

Book Review -  James Klosty, Merce Cunningham: Redux:  Wendy Perron, Blog

 

Interview - Yin Yue, dancer & choreographer:  Veronica Posts, Fjord Review

 

Book reviews - Two dance memoirs:  Rachel Howard, Fjord Review

Ellen O’Connell Whittet, What you become in flight

Jerome Robbins & Amanda Vaill, Jerome Robbins, by Himself

 

Feature - Vladimir Vasiliev at 80:  John Torrent, Wire News Fax

1 hour ago, alison said:

 

I was most annoyed to miss Mara Galeazzi last night - I was still in the queue at the supermarket    Presumably you need to have subscribed to Sander's feed to access these?  And they are only available "live"?

 

I use IG to share my photographs but I'm not an expert on IG stories.  I think you need to follow Sander Blommaert to see them and they are available for 24 hours so Mara G's interview should be there for another couple of hours.

10 hours ago, Bruce Wall said:

 

I thought it was good too, Janet.... but NOTHING beats Ashley (lovely to see her at the RDB curtain call - Balanchine certainly knew her strengths when he created it for her and devilishly difficult it is too) and Woetzel (both had that acute laser like attack and musicality through speed) in my opinion.  I was so lucky to see them do it any number of times.  Seventeen minutes of utter bliss.   NEVER to be forgotten.  

 

 

Thank goodness the likes of YouTube can give us insights into other dancers who were around either before our time or in companies we don't have the opportunity to see live.  And, indeed, to see dancers of whom we have fond memories.

11 minutes ago, LinMM said:

Is there a thread here where I can mention Metamorphosis .....just seen this on ROH website/ YouTube tonight. I've never seen it before but this doesn't seem to be the appropriate thread to comment! 

 

You could put it on this one...

 

 

41 minutes ago, Bruce Wall said:

Here's the RDB (Royal Danish Ballet) in Balanchine's Ballo Della Regina.  Link.

 

Would love to see the Royal revive this.  Can just imagine, say, Naghdi or O'Sullivan in it .... and, of course, there are SO many wonderful men to fill the principal role now.  It would be a feast.  

 

 

 

Well I was more than happy with the Danes dancing it.  I watched it last night using the link provided by Jane S in the specific RDB streaming thread.

Northern Ballet has just issued a short film of part of the end sequence and a duet from Casanova as danced at the 50th Anniversary Gala in January.  It's brought back some very happy memories.  More excerpts are due to be released.

 

I must say I found it a bit distracting that during the end sequence the film keeps flashing an NB at 50 logo on the screen.  The Casanova duet starring Giuliano Contadini and Dreda Blow is JUST SUBLIME.

 

This has been released as part of the Pay as you feel season, with an invitation to donate.

 

 

 

Link for donations:  https://northernballet.com/donate

 

The official press release:

 

16/04/2020

ENB at HOME: Wednesday Watch Parties 

 

   

 

English National Ballet invites audiences around the world to join them for Wednesday Watch Parties. As part of ENB at HOME, never before seen full-length recordings of Company performances will be premiered online (Facebook/ YouTube) every Wednesday evening over the next month, giving people the chance to see some of English National Ballet’s most loved productions, for free, from their own homes. Recordings will be available for 48 hours.

 

The first Wednesday Watch Party will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 22 April, with the online premiere of Broken Wings, a critically acclaimed ballet based on the life of iconic 20th century artist Frida Kahlo. Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, this performance features English National Ballet Artistic Director and Lead Principal Tamara Rojo in the role of Kahlo alongside legendary ballet star Irek Mukhamedov as Diego Rivera. This performance of Broken Wings was recorded at Sadler’s Wells in 2016 and was part of English National Ballet’s first triple bill dedicated to female choreography, She Said. 

 

The second instalment of the Wednesday Watch Party series (29 April) sees award-winning ballet, Dust, by Akram Khan, streamed in full for the first time. This performance, recorded at Milton Keynes Theatre in October 2015 as part of English National Ballet’s poignant reflection on World War One, Lest We Forget, sees Tamara Rojo dancing alongside First Soloist, James Streeter. Dust explores the empowerment of women in war and was the first collaboration between Khan and English National Ballet. 

 

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 Wednesday Watch Parties on 6 and 13 May 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 Creature will 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 

 

  

 

 

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL AND ELMHURST BALLET SCHOOL UNITE TO SHARE A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY AND HOPE

 

Media release: Thursday 16 April 2020 - Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, and English National Ballet School in London are two of the UK’s top ballet schools whose students go on to dance with professional companies at home in the UK and across the world.

 

Currently in lockdown and closed until further notice, the schools have united to share a message of hope and support in footage filmed by students from both schools dancing at home, kindly edited by the BalletBoyz.

 

The short film can be viewed here: 

 

 

 

As the ballet schools and its students consider new ways and spaces to train, they hope by working together to create and share the short film, it will inspire more dancers to find their own ways to keep dancing, stay connected and feel less isolated during the lockdown.

 

Jessica Wheeler, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School said: “The majority of our students live on site and they split busy days between academics and dance training. Many students have been with us for almost eight years through Lower and Upper Schools and whilst they are used to being together with their year groups, we encourage individual learning too. This strength, with the school’s ethos Live Dance Learn sees them maintaining a level of training at home during a very different Easter break for us all. Alongside English National Ballet School, it’s wonderful to see the students’ tenacity and drive, from both schools, highlighted in this timely film and collaboration.

 

At Elmhurst, we are currently confirming the details of a virtual timetable for the summer term and as all departments work on ways to sustain a level of dance training and schooling for our students, our friends and supporters can continue to look online to our website and social media pages as we launch a COVID-19 interim social media campaign over the coming weeks. This will keep our supporters connected with regular updates and input from our senior leadership team, artistic, academic and health and wellbeing teams, and students.

 

Until we can open our doors again, keep well and stay safe, and please stay in touch!”

 

Viviana Durante, Director of Dance at English National Ballet School said: “Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our students. With our building in Chelsea closed for the foreseeable future and with 80% of our students coming from overseas, the School has moved online for the first time in its history.

 

Our remote learning platform is constantly growing in order to provide support and teaching that matches as closely as possible the range of provision at the School, ensuring students stay fit, positive and engaged during this time. I am thrilled with the positive feedback from our students so far, and it has been wonderful to see them continue dancing during this time.

 

I am delighted that students from both English National Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School have joined forces to offer some solidarity, inspiration and joy to everyone, wherever they may be. Please continue to stay safe, support, and look after each other however possible.”

 

 

 

 

NOTES:

To date, English National Ballet School’s online offer includes:

- Live ballet classes with live accompaniment by Head of Music, Chris Hobson

- Recorded ballet classes

- Live group Pilates

- Live strengthening classes

- Recorded fitness exercises

- Inspiration videos from guest choreographers Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Didy Veldman and Mavin Khoo from Akram Khan Company

- Classes in Gaga technique led by teachers trained by Ohad Naharin who created the method

- Tutorials and academic studies continuing as normal

- 1:1 wellbeing sessions

- Individual interviews with all students, their tutors and the Director of Dance

- Fortnightly assemblies for each year group

- 3rd Year audition showreel for those yet to secure contracts

 

All live classes and assemblies are grouped by time zones, ensuring equal provision for the School’s students during the coming weeks wherever they are based. Over the Easter break English National Ballet School will continue to enhance its learning offer by trialling and piloting new schemes for online learning.

Elmhurst Ballet School’s artistic and academic online offer, devised for Lower & Upper Schools, will include:

Artistic

• Live ballet classes for Years 7 - 14 (Lower School, Upper School and Graduate Year/Elmhurst Ballet Company)
• Live contemporary and jazz dance warm-ups with appropriate exercises for Years 7 – 13
• Live Strength and Conditioning for Years 7 – Graduate Year/Elmhurst Ballet Company
• Stretch classes for Years 9 - 13
• Flamenco classes for Years 7 - 11
• Targeted training devised by Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Rehabilitation classes for students with specific injuries will continue to take place
• All tutors will have tutorials with their year groups
• elmhurst@home will provide care packages with extra-curricular guidance, for example, signposting students to ballets being live-streamed with focus on technicality, musicality and performance
• 6^th form will continue their Professional Dance Studies
• Guest interviews with inspirational dance sector guests
• Association with Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) continues as Elmhurst Ballet Company is invited to join online classes with BRB, pointe-work classes delivered by Assistant Director Marion Tait and access to Strength and Conditioning programmes created by BRB’s Jerwood Centre

 

Academics

• Continuation of Academic studies via a diverse range of delivery including live lessons, pre-recorded lessons, information sharing on a dedicated site for Elmhurst students and access to external sites such as DrFrostMaths.com for instant feedback
• Tutorial check-ups with form tutors
• A taster of A level (Applicable to year 11 in some subjects)

 

About English National Ballet School - English National Ballet School prepares the finest young ballet dancers for a lifetime of achievement. Our state-of-the-art facilities are matched by world-class training, education, pastoral care and performance opportunities. We provide our students with the confidence, creativity and skills for a career as a professional dancer with the major international companies, and for a future beyond performing. We aspire to be the school of choice for the next generation of ballet artists and to pioneer the future of dance education. www.enbschool.org.uk

 

About Elmhurst Ballet School - Elmhurst Ballet School celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023. The school opened in Camberley, Surrey in 1923 and relocated to Edgbaston in Birmingham in 2004. It is a world-renowned centre of excellence in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet and prepares talented young dancers aged between 11 and 19 to become the thinking dance professionals of the future. The school nurtures individuality through a holistic approach to training, education and health, which helps students to become independent, collaborative and versatile artists, ready to take their professional places on the world stage. Elmhurst’s dance training is of the highest quality and is delivered by current and former dance professionals. This training is enhanced by opportunities to work with Birmingham Royal Ballet, visiting choreographers and dance artists. Elite but not elitist, Elmhurst believes that talent is classless and its exceptional training opportunities should be available to young dancers regardless of their financial, social or cultural backgrounds. Whilst Elmhurst is an independent school, typically some 80% of students benefit from Government support to train at the school. www.elmhurstballetschool.org

 

Both schools are part of the Dance & Drama Awards (DaDA) scheme administered by the Education Funding Agency. These awards are offered to the students displaying the most potential to succeed in the profession and help towards fees and living costs.

Thanks Jane, I thoroughly enjoyed that!

16 minutes ago, Holly said:

My dd has been doing this everyday too. She never misses it. We know to leave the kitchen at 11am everyday! 

 

Hello Holly and welcome out of the lurking shadows.  I hope that we'll hear more from you now that you have broken your posting duck.

 
PRESS RELEASE
16 April 2020

coreybakerdance.com / @coreybakerdance / #spaghettijunctiondancefilm

 

 

COREY BAKER DANCE PRESENTS A SHORT FILM COLLOBORATION WITH
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AND HONG KONG BALLET

 

SPAGHETTI JUNCTION

Photo credit: Corey Baker Dance

·      New film to be made available via BBC.CO.UK/ARTS on Earth Day, Wednesday 22 April 2020 at 07.00 BST

 

·      Set beneath Birmingham’s (in)famous Spaghetti Junction, the new film raises awareness of the impact of climate change

 

·      First ever international collaboration between Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet and Corey Baker Dance. 

 

Birmingham based company Corey Baker Dance, run by award-winning choreographer/director Corey Baker, has created a new short film titled Spaghetti Junction.  The film will receive its world premiere screening through BBC’s Culture in Quarantine on 22 April from 07.00 BST for Earth Day to raise awareness of the impact of climate change.

 

Shot beneath Birmingham’s famous Spaghetti Junction, the film features Gus Payne and Haoliang Feng, from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Forrest Rain Oliveros, from Hong Kong Ballet and marks the first ever collaboration between Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet and Corey Baker Dance.  The film came from Baker’s larger collaboration and work with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome and Arts Council England to celebrate Chinese New Year 2020.

 

Corey Baker Dance has an international reputation for creating a diverse array of work across film, TV, theatre, using unusual locations and reaching non-traditional theatre audiences.  His first film Antarctica: The First Dance, was filmed on the icy contient celebrating Antarctica while we still have it.  The film was commissioned by The Space and Channel 4 Random Acts and featured Royal New Zealand Ballet principal dancer Madeleine Graham. Antarctica: The First Dance  has been seen by over 5 million people around the globe to date.

 

Lying Together, the companion film for Spaghetti Junction, featuring Hong Kong Ballet was filmed on rooftops and urban green spaces of Hong Kong and also shares a message around climate change.  Lying Together will be released later this year.

 

Set to music by acclaimed band FKJ, Spaghetti Junction was created in partnership with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet, and funded by Arts Council England, Birmingham Hippodrome, West Midlands Growth Company and Southside BID

 

You can watch the world premiere screening of Spaghetti Junction at 07.00 BST on BBC.CO.UK/ARTS on Wednesday 22 April, Earth Day.  

 

Earth Day started in 1970 and is now the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide and drive positive action for our planet.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:    

Spaghetti Junction full credit list;

• Director/ Choreographer: Corey Baker
• Producers:  Corey Baker and Anne Beresford 
• Dancers: Gus Payne, Haoliang Feng from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Forrest Rain Oliveros from Hong Kong Ballet 
• Music: FKJ, Lying Together (Interlude)
• DOP: Robert Beck 
• Editor: Dani Jacobs 
• Partners: Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet  
• Funders: Arts Council England, West Midlands Growth Company, Birmingham Hippodrome, Southside BID
• Supporters: The Space, Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre, Film Birmingham, Julie’s Bicycle
• Production company: Corey Baker Dance Ltd.

Thank you Max.