Ondine

How disappointing.

There is actually so much talent in the RB isn't there? Difficult to choose! It's really a matter of gaining experience for some before promotion I think, the pandemic certainly didn't help. One thing to be said for the current 'big classics and bums on seats' approach to what is in the the rep is that there are opportunities for many younger dancers to be given solo roles (Lilac Fairy seems to be a good testing ground for example, also Clara & Nutcracker/ Hans Peter) and for newbies to spend time performing in the corps and able to watch and learn from others. The company is probably too top heavy with Principals, however they do perform, just mainly not in this country! All deserve their status and at least by allowing guest appearances they stay with the RB and don't move on. Good PR for the RB too.

Leticia Dias is another gorgeous dancer who yes could well be 'bumped up'to First Soloist if not this year then next! Here she is rehearsing with Merle Park the variation from Les Rendezvous, Ashton Rediscovered masterclass 20 February 2022 (embedded link)

Joe Sissens was promoted only last season wasn't he, to first soloist? He needs further experience at that level I think before promotion. Hopefully more roles at trop level this year and then Principal? He so deserves it. Brzilian dancer Isabella Gasparini is one of those quetly 'getting on with it' isn't she, taking on more roles but as she didn't join the RB via the conventional RBS route I think she slipped under the radar a little at first. Certainly deserves promotion! https://balletassociation.co.uk/pages/reports-2019-isabella-gasparini She has a really interesting blog, though that appears to have been halted for now, perhaps she's too busy dancing, well worth spending time catching up on her posts and the photos. https://www.isabellagasparini.com/

Yes. Shame it wasn't longer! Mr Balanchine with Brandon Lawrence and Céline Gittens, coaching from Patricia Neary and Carlos Acosta, how special is that? And the music! What a loss to British ballet is Brandon Lawrence. I can see why he feels the need to widen his horizons, but let's hope before too long he returns.

Here she is in 2019. There's a Prix de Lausanne vid on YT from 2016 of her prize winning solo aged 16. Stunning! The pandemic slowed down many promising career starts didn't it? And now there is quite a logjam of talent in the queue! https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/videos/artist-of-the-royal-ballet-yu-hang-in-rehearsal-for-the-sleeping-beauty/2564807223763281/?locale=en_GB

Yes, I'm sure they are hoping for a big hit and a long run, with organised party bookings and 'inclusive' weekend breaks. (My idea of hell, but each to their own.)

I forgot about this! Looks as though there is time to still catch it. Kettle on! https://www.facebook.com/bhamroyalballet/videos/767243388457401/

It's not really filling me with excitement TBH.

That's really sad. I looked on Twitter and so far it appears to be working most places. Which is no comfort to you!

I have some wonderful 'proper' opera glasses, which were rescued from being thrown out when a very elderly neighbour of my parents died, they must be well over 100 years old, genuine mini binoculars, and have a leather case. I used to feel very grand using them, perhaps I should dig them out for cine relays along with a tiara? (No I don't actually have a tiara, but I can dream.)

I know not ballet or the ROH but I saw this and it appears ticket prices everywhere are ramping up. It's really sad that theatre going is being made so unaffordable for many. Cine relays are brilliant value for money, all things considered!

I didn't want to LIKE this, that's sad after all the effort of getting there! How annoying. I didn't book, I may look for a Sunday encore. It will no doubt be on *cough* YT very soon. But we don't condone that as it's very wrong. 😏 I hope your cinema manages to get a copy for Sunday's encore.

Oh dear! Camera, camera person and ipad. Poor man. No, not acceptable, not if no warnings given!

Reposted! See my post above. Spot the dancer! Plus I wrote Romany Padjak in a post above and I know it's Romany Pajdak, I'm a terrible typist. Too late to edit it.

I keep looking but so far, no. Pushing it a bit, really.

As is this MacMillan Celebrated The Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet celebrates the breadth of Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan’s one-act ballets, Danses Concertantes, Different Drummer and Requiem. Live in cinemas: Tuesday 9 April 2024, 7.15pm BST Encores from: Sunday 14 April 2024, 2pm BST (Available to watch in the UK only) Odd. Some sort of 'rights' issue?

Romany Padjak is still listed as a soloist on the ROH site and has her own website with news of what she's been involved with. https://www.romanypajdak.com/news/ This includes a film, which will premier at the ROH in October https://yorkedance.com/productions/sea-of-troubles/ Premiere: 10 October 2023 The Royal Opera House, London Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s chamber ballet Sea of Troubles has been performed by Yorke Dance Project to critical acclaim at the Royal Opera House and in theatres across the UK. Now YDP, in association with The Royal Ballet, immortalise on film this visceral and emotional ballet. Sea of Troubles is Kenneth MacMillan’s highly acclaimed ballet based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This classic tale of grief, despair, revenge, power and madness are seen from Hamlet’s perspective in this short, powerful ballet. Choreographed in 1988, its relevance remains undiminished and resonates deeply. Filmed on location at the historic Hatfield House, Sea of Troubles will premiere at the Royal Opera House, London on World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2023. I believe Ashton's Five Brahm's Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan is being revived next season? It would be lovely if she was involved with that, as she has danced it with the RB in the past. Whatever she is planning, good luck.

I think Daichi Ikarachi could be bumped up a notch, to First Artist, esp after his 'win' re the Eric Bruhn Prize? He was terrific with Viola Pantuso, Diana and Acteon PDD. Viola I suspect next season. She appears to have been doing 'promo' work for the company, in a quiet way. So many excellent dancers, spot your favourite here, Viola is the dancer nearest the camera in the opening clip with red lippy (which I suspect she sleeps in). I suspect Joonhyuk Jun will make Soloist, maybe by next year. Joe Sissons I hope makes Principal, though it won't be this year. UPDATE THE ROH has deleted its tweet, which is most odd!

So many for so long have wished to see Yuhui Choe (a mum now, which is lovely) promoted, but... it hasn't happened. Actually she's wonderful as a first soloist and as such, possibly dances more at the ROH (and in live relays) than she would as a principal! Long may she continue. Always gorgeous dancing.

It isn't being filmed, really, it's being live broadcast which technically, is not the same! Though it can be downloaded as it is being broadcast. Cast sheet will be updated later today, hopefully. https://static.roh.org.uk/digital/cast-sheets/Sleeping+Beauty/Cinema/Beauty_Castsheet_ACLogo.pdf https://www.roh.org.uk/cinemas/production/51550 It was filmed last week, for posterity, possible DVD etc.

Tonight will be a live broadcast from the ROH as it happens. That includes live presenters, though spliced with that will be some film (interviews, explanations etc) which form part of the relay, before the performance and during intervals. Those films are normally put on the ROH YT channel FB etc. There is a film made in advance in case the live broadcast goes t*ts up, in which case cinema patrons the world over will be offered a refund or a fresh ticket to see the film made last week (same cast as tonight, unless there are injuries). I don't know which is used for the cinemas in other countries where there can be delays of weeks, but I suspect it's a recording of the live broadcast (tonight). The 'encore' which happens in some cinemas (probably next Sunday, so look out for that if you can't make tonight) will be an 'encore' of tonight's live relay. Each cinema will 'download' tonight's performance. This is how some very bad and extremely naughty people manage to put the cine relay recordings out on YouTube, until the ROH has them removed under copyright claims! They have friends in projection boxes who record. Cinderella was there on YT for weeks, the entire thing, Darcey Bussell intros, intervals and all. Gone now apart from a small clip. This is VERY BAD and we should not encourage this or watch. No. Not at all. Never.

Live relay, I think filmed last week in case of disaster. Then I understand cinemas 'download' the live relay while it is happening to show as 'encores'.

Digital collection photo https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/26439/

There is a short and rather dark clip of Deborah Bull & the Royal Ballet in this, with those 'white' wigs, it looks very dated and to me, detracts from the choreography. 1999. However it might grow on me, though ditch the wigs! I won't post the link as it's not an 'official' one but it's YT and title is simply Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: "Ballet Imperial" posted by @ear8002 so a Google search will find it. Coincidentally I was looking at this last week. Many shock horror comments under. I think it's best as a 'tutu and tiaras' ballet but maybe not THOSE tutus.