bridiem

That's very interesting, CHazell2. I'd love to see the Ratmansky production. I really really don't like Bintley's waltz - it all looks so messy and cluttered (and maybe that's in contrast to the previous waltz, but I think it applies anyway). And not helped by the costumes and props etc.

I saw Ballet for All present 'The World of Giselle' in Holland Park in June 1978. It was brilliant and I'd only started going to ballet the previous year so it was really illuminating.

I was wondering who this mysterious 'Vuthberydon' was; then I looked at my keyboard... I too sometimes place my fingers wrongly and the most strange results emerge! Anyway, yes, I'm sure Cuthbertson will get a shot.

Glorious is the perfect word! How fantastic for you Shya100 for that to be your first Nutcracker! Just brilliant. It built and built to the most tremendous climax with the PDD - Hayward and Campbell (almost literally) out of this world, proud, slightly fey, glittering, and dancing as if it was the easiest and most natural thing in the world (their world). O'Sullivan and Hay danced superbly and kept the drama going throughout, and Gary Avis blazed off the stage. This was my only Nutcracker this season, but what a special one. Thanks to all the wonderful performers, musicians and stage managers who put on such a show.

I find it exciting having the new season's plans announced in one big announcement. And like any other organisation, it does benefit them (and I think us, in fact) to be able to present the plans in their perceived context rather than them dribbling out in isolation.

Thanks for posting this, Lizbie1. If it's correct, it seems that there is a difference, or at least a potential difference, between theory and practice.

Scènes de Ballet, Symphonic Variations, Cinderella, Fille, La Valse, Les Patineurs - well, a lot of Ashton possibilities really, to celebrate the anniversary. Flight Pattern. I personally would like no McGregor (unless Woolf Works, but I doubt if that will be repeated again so soon), but I'm aware that won't happen. Something by Neumeier or Ratmansky, choreographers about whom I know too little.

I'm not sure if 'twas ever thus', in fact. I think in recent years the awards have become more and more apparently random to an outsider. But I agree that nominating worthy recipients is a good idea; however, even if someone is 'worthy' it doesn't necessarily work!

That's fair enough, but if this is a 'requirement' it just doesn't seem to be applied consistently or fairly. Awards are given to some clearly deserving people and not to others. And some receive honours who are simply excellent at what they do. I do support an honours system, but if it becomes (or appears to become) a lottery then it fails to fulfil the purpose it should be serving.

But Seymour did get a CBE in 1976. Your link above mentions all honours, but maybe in fact honours below knighthoods etc are OK? Or has it changed since 1976?

That's very interesting, DrewCo. Bussell did have a very special quality, and for me it came out most effectively in 'abstract' roles especially Balanchine and above all, to my surprise, Song of the Earth. I never found her very persuasive in dramatic roles. But I think that the fact that she chose Song of the Earth for her farewell performance shows an admirable level of self-awareness.

I personally don't remember it looking awful. Anyway thank you grey for pointing out its symbolic purpose, which I'd never considered before.

And of course she was director of Festival Ballet. It does seem that being a dancer is in itself not considered sufficient.

An interesting question. Apart from the RAD presidents, I don't know the answer. If the answer is none or very few, that would be quite annoying! Quite a few actors and actresses (and at least some singers) have received knighthoods or damehoods just by virtue of their acting careers, especially in recent years. So why should this not apply to dancers too?

In terms of the arts at least, I think it's more likely to be given to those who are more widely known. No, but Dowell and Mason were both directors of the Royal Ballet which I suspect gives them a sort of dispensation! (I assume/hope that KOH will in due course receive a knighthood by virtue of his position.)

I think Fonty was implying (though of course she can speak for herself!) that without Strictly, Bussell wouldn't have been a dame (or at least not yet). I think that's almost certainly the case. But I'm very fond of her (not that I know her!) and pleased both for her personally and because I think she does help to popularise at least the idea of ballet (though whether new people actually go to performances as a result of her, I don't know). (And indeed Fonty spoke for herself at the very same time!)

I did in fact nominate someone I know for an honour, nearly 2 years ago. It took a lot of time and effort and he hasn't been recognised, which I think now means that he isn't going to be which is very disappointing. But he was someone who may not have been particularly known to 'the powers that be', whereas Bintley is very senior and known about and runs a major British company, so there should be absolutely no need to nominate him. And he long ago received a CBE so presumably wouldn't refuse a knighthood. (P.S. I would nevertheless happily support a nomination for Bintley if relevant!)

I didn't mean that literally - I was being bitter!! I just meant that I wouldn't realistically expect them to give more than one high-level honour to something that is (evidently) perceived to be elitist, minority etc. And Bintley is 'just' mainstream classical with nothing that particularly makes him known to a wider public, so he's on a stickier wicket than Bussell (or Matthew Bourne).

Thanks, annamk - sounds excellent. I look forward to seeing both of them in more roles!

I think it's unnecessarily early to make Darcey a Dame; but she is by far the highest-profile British dancer of recent years and does use her profile in what I think is a very positive way. My real problem with this is that, as Odyssey says above (and assuming that dance can only have one high-level honour in each list), David Bintley has still not been knighted. I find it incomprehensible.

Does anyone have a comment about William Bracewell's performance? I had a ticket but wasn't well so couldn't go.

That page does take quite a long time to load on my laptop, LinMM. But it gets there eventually...

All reviews are interesting, whether favourable or not - if only positive reviews are posted it may be giving an inaccurate impression of what forum members are actually thinking. So thank you for the last few reviews! (As well as Irmgard's very interesting post.)

Now you mention it... But I hope not.

That's interesting, LinMM. But it would make Rothbart the initial creator instead of just an evil distorter which is how I see him.