Ondine

Isn't Muntagirov's book self-published? The Somes book is published by David Leonard / Dance Books. It's odd to have the reviews out so long in advance of the book being available isn't it? Perhaps pre orders mean they do a print run accordingly!

That about sums it up, yes.

Oh. Was about to look to see where I could order it! Local bookshops perhaps.

Tamara Karsavina told Fonteyn: ‘You have the finest partner in the world. I only had Nijinsky'. Link to the Gramilano Jann Parry review in yesterday's LINKS Book Review - Dynamo, Michael Somes – A life in the Royal Ballet by Sarah Woodcock: Jann Parry, Gramilano

Perahps there are delicate negotiations happening re unions and redundancies and nothing is as yet settled? However, recorded music may save cash, but it won't give an audience the full experience of ballet with live music which is one of the joys of a theatre visit and oh dear. The future isn't bright is it?

It's not quite as dreadful as it first appeared but still pretty grim.

It's difficult to comprehend how such a situation could have arisen without, it would seem, any warning. Shocking news, for so many reasons.

Dreadfully sad and bad news. We have just been given devastating news by Northern Ballet that they are in financial trouble, serious financial trouble. Oh dear.

She danced with Christopher Wheeldon's company from 14 and now she's gone to uni in the US full time, she was doing academic work online via Skype while dancing at the RB. She's from the US. She was very successful at the RB, first soloist, maybe would have made top rank, but clearly, felt she wanted something different. Quite an interesting ballet / academic journey. That includes her with mother and brother moving to Paris for a while to attend POB school. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatriz_Stix-Brunell Quite an achiever.

Margot Fonteyn and her TWO nose jobs?

I know someone, good dancer, very bright with good GCSEs and decent A levels who graduated from a BA in dance (aged 18 to 21) to an MA in dance and then, after a lot of time spent volunteering while doing that became an archivist at a high ranking arts org (this isn't recent and some element of luck involved) but it would very much depend on the student and the content of the BA. It possibly helps to have done that at an academic institution rather than a more vocational school. However, any place providing any sort of course is always in need of students who pay. What that student does or doesn't do after that is often a matter of chance and determination and character. I know others who have made dance related careers, via winding routes, but again, it's all often so very much luck and finding a niche and having someone to help you financially. Self confidence and the ability to self promote help too.

Yes, so long as the person with the first degree can find an MA to accept them that will fit their skills (some dance degrees appear to be mainly er... dancing and a very academic MA might not suit) also again, funding.

I suppose it depends on the size of the bust and age of student. I know it sounds shocking, but contracts are like hen's teeth really and I suppose anything seen as an impediment to that dancing career some would suggest had to be 'dealt with'. Artistic Directors will have their own views. They may not make the truth known why a dancer hasn't been hired but they will know what body type / shape they want in the company. There's a point when a jiggling bosom is uncomfortable for its owner, a distraction for an audience, and there are costume probs. Those are actually the harsh realities. It's a tough world out there. Talent helps but there are many with talent and only so many jobs. Don't shoot the messenger.

Totally. No I hadn't seen it. It is worrying. Many many qualified teachers run classes for little ones, along with a parent / carer, have done for years, music, movement, fun, dressing up, etc, which eventually feed in to pre primary and primary classes (get them young and they are yours for life and all that... also teachers have a living to make) with very basic ballet movements, but nothing should be forced, especially turnout! Totally wrong!

Very sad. Hardly danced since promotion to First Soloist then retired through injury.

Fact. any career 'in the performing arts' really isn't that straightforward to achieve. Question What alternatives do you envisage? Reality. A career in the performing arts as a performer requires talent, hard work, dedication, and a great deal of luck. Some don't make it, despite the talent and hard work, as we have partly detailed in this thread. It's not always easy, for many reasons, as also detailed in this thread, to simply move to another arts related career. Yes people do. They also move into all sorts of other careers which I can detail, from personal knowledge, as livings have to be earned, but it's not always a simple sideways move. Funding for further qualifications is one block. Which is why I asked what was envisaged.

It doesn't actually look a great deal like 'ballet', rather a misnomer? Also teen girls with no quals really shouldn't be taking these sessions? Our preschool dance and ballet syllabus offers four stages of ballet dance classes, for young children aged 6 months to 6 years, plus a tap dancing class for children over 3 years. babyballet teachers all undergo babyballet training, and with professional dance and teaching experience, they strive to create a fun, friendly and inclusive experience for everyone What professional dance and teaching experience is required to enable anyone to be granted a franchise I don't know. The impression given on the site is certainly that girls wear pink tutus (not cheap) and boys wear blue. The steroeotyping begins early. Many dance teachers have for years offered 'music and movement' sessions for tinies without the need for a franchise. (Reputable dance orgs have specified ages at which pre-primary syllabus exams can be taken.)

I'm having a gripe. Lots of merch on the site, 'uniform' they say, pink for girls and tiny satin ballet shoes, blue for boys. Horrible stereotyping. £££££££. I'm having a strong cup of tea to calm down. So much I'd like to say but will restrain myself. (Children really don't need this in order to enjoy music and moving to it!)

This is far more interesting than it perhaps sounds at first! For dance history lovers. Dance, Performance and Politics A Study of how Choreography developed in Court Ballets to meet changing political needs. A talk by Margaret M. McGowan † (1931-2022) We are very sad to announce that Professor Margaret M. McGowan, CBE, Fellow of the British Academy and Research Professor at the University of Sussex, passed away on 16 March 2022. Her talk, which she had left ready to be delivered, has been kindly recorded by Dr Jennifer Nevile of the University of South Wales, Sydney, Australia – you can find it below. https://sites.gold.ac.uk/comparative-literature/dance-performance-and-politics/

No and no. I didn't suggest either of those things.

Now on iplayer. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001qwpn/mozarts-requiem

Well here's a little taster, from Ian Bostridge's own YouTube 😇

New staging!!

And wonderful singing at the end! SeokJong Baek https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/arts/music/opera-seokjong-baek-tenor.html https://www.intermusica.com/artist/seokjong-baek Here he is on his on YouTube channel (another opera you have to see at least once, Turandot) and wow. And this.

Here is a recentish Insight re Cav & Pag and yes SHORTish...