Ondine

Julie Joyner is also joining as the latest Prix de Lausanne 'apprentice', 2023 to 2024. Darrion Sellman was the 2022-3 trainee. The prize is for one year with the company, for further training & experience. Julie Ann Joyner, graduate of the International City School of Ballet and scholarship winner and recipient of the Best Young Talent award at the 2023 Prix de Lausanne, joins as the Prix de Lausanne dancer for the 2023/24 Season. https://pointemagazine.com/prix-de-lausanne-winners-2023/

Anyhow, back to the topic of this thread and via today's LINKS thanks to @Ian Macmillan https://www.seeingdance.com/royal-ballet-school-230622/ Next Generation Festival: The Royal Ballet School June 22, 2023 by David Mead A review, with photos. But overall, a fine start to The Royal Ballet School’s performance season, which now continues at Opera Holland Park and The Royal Opera House’s main stage.

I do know of one cat (now retired and replaced with another) who has a record of going as support cat with owner to places including the theatre and behaving impeccably throughout, sleeping on the job seems to be accepted.

BTW, note tickets are FROM £185. No idea what the sightlines are like from the 'cheaper seats'. Or any seat really.

The eating (not sure about drinking) seems to be not while the dancers are on. The info is that there are two 'halves' of ballet and The audience is seated at tables and served dinner in between the ballet performances. I suspect it's recorded music. No mention of live music that I've seen. I'm sure it is a bit of a cabaret really, and not like Glyndebourne (!) in that you are sitting at the tables where the food is served throughout, not in a theatre. However, these are outstanding dancers, lovely setting, the makings of a pleasant evening so long as it doesn't rain and the food and the company at your table is good. No mention of menus. Yes I know it's covered, but who remembers the Royal Ballet in the Big Top, with the rain beating down on the canvas and drowning out the orchestra? It's really a glorified gala, isn't it? But probably fun. (PS. Not sure why I wrote The Dickie Buckle Fund above, more than once, when clearly it's the Dicky Buckle Fund and I can't go back and edit now.)

Actually I don't know if this event is in aid of the fund, though previous Covent Garden Dance Company events have been. It's not very specific about this Hatch House event. As a company we are dedicated to producing new and original work to the highest degree of excellence on young and emerging creatives. A large part of our performance programmes are based on original works created by the company from its endeavours and the profits generated from them. We are strongly committed to building and educating new audiences, young and old, which includes delivering not only educational workshops in conjunction with all performances whenever possible but to strive to find inspiring locations to present the art at its best. The original ‘Bijou Ballet’ event concept was created with the hope that we might encourage and instil the same passion and love of dance that this company was founded upon. The Dickie Buckle Fund: Dicky Buckle Fund CIO is a small grant giving charity that supports young and emerging creative talents, charitable artistic causes and education, with a focus on ballet and dance” Named after the wonderfully outrageous ballet critic Richard Buckle, The Dicky Buckle Fund was founded to assist in widening access to support for creative work and to broaden access to dance in general. The charity offers small grants to successful applicants for the creation of original work, educational projects and artistic support. We have particular interest in projects that help further education in the arts, particularly those relating to dance. It is the charity’s ethos to not only give young creative talent the opportunity to produce new and exciting work, but to also help provide a platform for it to be presented on. As part of the charity’s efforts to widen access to dance activity for all, we have just started to expand the charity’s work to include working with children. We particularly hope to assist with giving children with disabilities and illness the opportunity to enjoy dance and ballet, just as much as those with greater access and opportunity

There's more about it here, though I have no personal experience https://www.facebook.com/coventgardendance https://www.facebook.com/hatchhousevenue/ 'Simply magical! The Glyndebourne of ballet!' says Country Life, though clearly you can't take your own picnic. Video clips https://www.facebook.com/coventgardendance/videos/hatch-house-2023-is-set-to-be-an-unforgettable-experience-for-ballet-enthusiasts/944856483388991/ https://www.coventgardendance.com/ I gather it's in aid of a very good cause, fundraising for The Dickie Buckle Fund, a charity (so named after Richard Buckle, for those oldies like me who remember): http://dickybucklefund.com/ https://www.facebook.com/dickybucklefund It looks delightful. Certainly there are wonderful dancers involved. Tickets have sold out for some evenings already.

I don't wish to prolong this as it's gone way off the original topic, but as I stated in a post above, there is a legal requirement for access for certain categories of assistance dog accompanying humans. Guide dogs has a guide. https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/campaigning/our-current-campaigns/open-doors/ Open Doors Help us Open Doors Let's Open Doors A report into the impact of access refusals on guide dog owners in 2022 Read the report (pdf 3.61 MB) Join our campaign to Open Doors for guide dogs. It’s the law. Guide dog owners continue to face access refusals from businesses and services including cafés, shops, and taxis because they are accompanied by their guide dog – despite this almost always being illegal. Three-quarters of guide dog owners say they have experienced an access refusal in the past. Access refusals can have a negative impact on people’s confidence and their lives. That's why we’re working to open doors for guide dogs. We’re educating businesses on the law and campaigning for government to strengthen it. Get involved and help us open doors by signing our petition. The first step is knowing that access refusals are happening. If you’re a guide dog owner, please download our new app which helps you report access refusals or get support. BTW, I've sponsored guide dog puppies in training for many years and those which don't make it past initial training tend to either be adopted by the trainer or put up for other adoption. I haven't mentioned support cats but yes those exist too.

Probably not the thread to discuss this, it's very off topic of the thread, I can see both sides and emotional and other support animals (not only dogs) do help many to get out of their own home, which is the point. Some of it is enshrined in law of course, eg Guide Dogs. Theatres do need policies to address the needs of all, and I can see it's not easy. https://www.esaorguk.com/ https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/support-dogs/N10500963

I admit to a certain ambivalence re these 'second companies'. If the main reason for them is to develop and give employment to, exposure and experience for young dancers, then that's commendable. If it means existing lovers of ballet enjoy an extra performance at a theatre in their region, all good. If smaller venues have increased box office revenues, further good. However, if 'new audience' building' is an expressed reason for their formation, does anyone have any links to research which suggest a rate of success for this? Any way in which this operates? Many 'second companies' have come and gone, possibly funding issues. Also, while not in any way suggesting BRB2 is exploiting dancers, I'm sure not and they are gaining wonderful experience being coached by Carlos Acosta and others, there's a worrying discussion on the 'Doing Dance' forum which suggest some companies NOT in the UK are promising much and not delivering. Slightly off topic, I know, thanks to @Peanut68 and @Topaz et al. Recommend the entire thread.

Sad to think you can't take your poultry to appreciate a performance of Fille these days without problems. Half off topic, as it isn't the RBS at the Linbury, but here's a snippet of the RDB in Konservatoriet (official link & film, from 1955) https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/soloists-of-the-royal-danish-ballet/konservatoriet/

Yes so I noticed! Always a treat to see. 😊

On 'John Hall' You tube channel Irek Mukamedov and Viviana Durante - ‘Summer' PDD from ‘The Four Seasons’ Not an ideal staging but you can decide.

It's great to see hard work rewarded isn't it? "Hi, my name is Thomas Hazelby and I’m 10 years old. I live with my mum, dad and sister Maya in Doncaster. I started dancing at the age of three at my mum’s dance school, Hazelbiz Performers Academy. I was lucky enough to win my first national award when I was five at the British Championships, and since then have won lots of regional championships and bursaries. Before auditioning for Billy I trained with Miss Hatton on the Royal Ballet School Associate programme. The best day of my life was when I was offered the role of Billy Elliot. I was so excited and determined to be the best Billy I could possibly be..." https://www.facebook.com/groups/325054221022658/ https://betm.theskykid.com/meet-billy-elliot-thomas-hazelby/ There's a delightful video of him in his 'younger days' on You Tube, too.

Another competition prizewinner, Francesca Lloyd. https://www.facebook.com/AllEnglandDance/photos/a.189717144554655/1645576905635331/?locale=en_GB

From Alice The Tart Adage Laura Morera (official ROH link)

Made when the three act ballet was performed in 2016, there are a few useful insights to be gleaned.

Both are on YouTube, if anyone wants to watch. Not as good quality as a DVD.

I remember Women in Love and The Music Lovers, Glenda Jackson baring all in a train carriage? (And a reconstruction of part of an early performance of Swan Lake?) Time rushes past. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/15/fierce-sensual-cerebral-how-glenda-jackson-brought-class-to-cinema

Actually Carmen Herrera's life / work background is very interesting, and I believe she was denied exhibitions simply because she was a woman (and Cuban). I very much like her work, it is now in major collections. I appreciate Wiki isn't the greatest of sources, but it's accessible and gives some indication of her history and the philosophy underpinning her paintings / sculptural works. Other sources are available, several have been posted here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Herrera Herrera was not broadly recognized or appreciated for decades, though she sold her first piece of art at age 19 She didn't 'inspire' the set, she designed it before her death, in collaboration with Wayne McGregor.

I'm sure there will be networks, if you need to know again! If in doubt the ISTD is a good place to ask. https://www.istd.org/discover/news/dancing-with-downs-syndrome/ https://www.istd.org/discover/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/our-think-tanks/disability-inclusion-think-tank/

A snippet of For Four