alison Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 I fear you're probably clutching at straws, Joan I'm not sure I can imagine anyone at the Beeb thinking people might want to watch Viscera, and I'd guess that the Balanchine and Robbins trusts would probably have veto rights on the two short pieces. Still, there were those documentaries on Nureyev and Pina Bausch that I mentioned earlier. I agree, I'd expected more on the arts side from Tony Hall. Perhaps these things take time, but how long has he been in charge now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 This is the story of men in ballet told first hand by the best male dancers in the world. The best male dancers in the world? Now there's a very interesting statement. Possibly a highly subjective list. If Vladimir Vasilev doesn't feature strongly, I'll be demanding to know why. Kaufmann got an award for Andrea Chenier? Unbelievable, totally mis-cast and everyone I spoke to said the same. you need an Italianate voice for that role, something Kaufmann doesn't have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) Just musing here about the choice of male dancers. Would you say that Anthony Dowell "transformed male ballet"? He was a fabulous dancer, for sure, but isn't he mainly known for his wonderful partnership with Sibley? And the same for Mukhamedov and Ascosta. Fantastic dancers, but did they actually transform anything? Do we know the full list of names? Someone mentioned Nureyev, who is an obvious choice, and also Nijinsky. Or is it is simply a case that Darcey talks to male ballet dancers who are still alive. Edited November 25, 2015 by Fonty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Just musing here about the choice of male dancers. Would you say that Anthony Dowell "transformed male ballet"? He was a fabulous dancer, for sure, but isn't he mainly known for his wonderful partnership with Sibley? And the same for Mukhamedov and Ascosta. Fantastic dancers, but did they actually transform anything? Do we know the full list of names? Someone mentioned Nureyev, who is an obvious choice, and also Nijinsky. Or is it is simply a case that Darcey talks to male ballet dancers who are still alive. I was thinking along these lines. But I suppose you could argue that even where they weren't obviously transformative, these dancers (and others, obviously) meant that ballet could no longer be thought of as only the preserve of ballerinas simply by being so brilliant, by setting the bar for male dancers so high in their various different ways. Anyway I will look forward to seeing the programme. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 It would be nice to feature men who are dancing now. Their technique and abilities have progressed at an amazing speed so that now they really do compare with the women. If you speak to the person in the street, I'm sure the only male ballet dancer they can name would be Nureyev. While undoubtably wonderful and transformed male ballet here in the UK, I find it unbelievable that the fabulous male dancers of today should still be overshadowed by him. No wonder so many non ballet fans believe ballet belongs in the dark ages. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenore Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Perhaps Baryshnikov? Although no longer dancing classical I believe he still does contemporary pieces? And quite a few non ballet fans I know recognise his name (although not sure it's because of ballet)... But it'll be good to see present day dancers as well. I'm sure I'll watch it either way I enjoyed those ENB documentaries actually. Would love to see something similar done with another company. Mainly because I'm nosy... Will sky arts be showing anything interesting ballet wise? I have to say though, since sky arts merged into 1 channel I've barely been able to see any ballet on it :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 If you speak to the person in the street, I'm sure the only male ballet dancer they can name would be Nureyev. Probably Wayne Sleep too, and 'Billy Elliot' 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 It's a dis-ahhhs-ter for ballet this christmas then better get my DVDs out. The programme title says Darcey's Ballet Heroes so they're HER choices not necessarily the best dancers.....and it's her again :-( I've still not quite forgiven her for the ridiculous way she "signed" her book for me (and everyone else) it was so large in thick black pen as to be tantamount to graffiti what was she thinking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 still not quite forgiven her for the ridiculous way she "signed" her book for me (and everyone else) it was so large in thick black pen as to be tantamount to graffiti what was she thinking? Just to say, I know something about arranging book signings and also a bit about dyslexia, and although no doubt pretty ugly/sloppy this may have been a tactful solution to an awkward situation. I am not this dancer's greatest fan but on this point, maybe we should give her a break? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTL Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 She has spoken publicly about her dyslexia: blog.dyslexicadvantage.org/2015/08/04/dancer-darcey-bussell-for-me-in-my-life-dyslexia-has-been-a-little-bit-of-a-blessing/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I think the ENB documentaries really opened up ballet to newbies. The dancers and ballets they performed seemed so much more accessible once one could see the behind the scenes issues and get the personal stories. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Talking about Darcey, I note there's an interview with her in next week's Radio Times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 BBC One December 8 10:35 - 11.45pm Imagine: A Profile of Carlos Acosta http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/dv7fc7/imagine--series-28---7-imagine-carlos-acosta---cuba-calls 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 Ah, that's more like it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl H Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 The ROH website confirms the above programme, also that Carmen will be shown on Christmas Day on BBC4 at 7.30pm. The accent is on Carmen but I suppose the whole triple bill could be shown, certainly hope so! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 The ROH website confirms the above programme, also that Carmen will be shown on Christmas Day on BBC4 at 7.30pm. The accent is on Carmen but I suppose the whole triple bill could be shown, certainly hope so! Me too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveclassics Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 The ROH website confirms the above programme, also that Carmen will be shown on Christmas Day on BBC4 at 7.30pm. The accent is on Carmen but I suppose the whole triple bill could be shown, certainly hope so! If they don't show the other pieces I will know for sure that the BBC hates ballet-lovers. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arky Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 From ROH website Carlos Acosta is the subject of an upcoming episode of the BBC's 'Imagine...' to be aired on BBC One on 8 December 2015 at 10.35pm GMT. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 (edited) BBC One December 8 10:35 - 11.45pm Imagine: A Profile of Carlos Acosta http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/dv7fc7/imagine--series-28---7-imagine-carlos-acosta---cuba-calls I have just seen on the BBC News website an announcement that 'Alan Yentob steps down as BBC creative director' (I don't know how to do a link, sorry!) although he will continue to make and present programmes for the BBC including Imagine. Edited for spelling Edited December 3, 2015 by taxi4ballet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 Hardly surprising as the scandal surrounding Kids Company grows ever more serious, Yentob's position at the BBC was becoming untenable. I imagine he jumped before he was pushed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMM1 Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 BBC4 on Sunday 13th December at 8pm has 'Ballrooms and Ballerinas: Dance at the BBC', an archive clips show, and then at 9pm a 90 minute documentary 'Dance Rebels: a Story of Modern Dance'. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMM1 Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 The Pina Bausch film documentary by Wim Wenders is on BBC4 on Sunday 6th December at 7.25pm. This was mentioned earlier in the thread but I don't think a time or date had been fixed then. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 The Nureyev programme is on the 19th, I see. That doesn't leave us much actually for Christmas, out of what's been promised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Do you not got the Mezzo channel on your cables in the UK? That offers wonderful ballets and dance programmes all year round. Personally I think John Gilpin rather transformed the way audiences in the UK looked at male ballet dancers! I remember that my sister who was definitely not a ballet fan would come with us if Gilpin was dancing! He was a "dish" and a beautiful dancer. I am surprised that so much is pinned on a dancer's looks though. What I love about British films and TV drama productions is the fact that the actors look like regular people and it's their acting that's important. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 John Gilpin had been a child actor before becoming a professional dancer and shone as much as a dancer-actor as a pure classicist. In my opinion he was the greatest British male dancer of them all. Interestingly he was the only ballet prince to actually marry a real live princess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 I fear you're probably clutching at straws, Joan I'm not sure I can imagine anyone at the Beeb thinking people might want to watch Viscera, and I'd guess that the Balanchine and Robbins trusts would probably have veto rights on the two short pieces. As I suspected: it's Carmen only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 As I suspected: it's Carmen only. Maybe Viscera could be thought 'difficult' for a TV audience but Faun and the Tchai pdd were so wonderful they could surely have been offered as an aperitif? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I think that if presented as the cinema live relay was presented, all four would have been fine for a general audience. But I suspect that would just be 'too much ballet'. Unless it's Nutcracker or similar, the focus of TV coverage of ballet seems usually to be one famous/well-known person (e.g. Acosta, or Bussell, or Nureyev) rather than the art itself. There are (very good) exceptions occasionally, but in general they want an obvious peg to hang a programme on, and a triple/quadruple bill is therefore difficult to 'sell'. (Rather as the companies themselves find these bills more difficult to sell.) Which is a big shame. (Presumably 'An Evening with The Royal Ballet' would no longer work - also a big shame.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargaretN7 Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Can you imagine the reactions of football aficionados if football on TV was treated like ballet/dance on TV is treated? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Can you imagine the reactions of football aficionados if football on TV was treated like ballet/dance on TV is treated? I agree, on BBC2 yesterday we were treated to no less than nine hours of snooker, with an hour's-worth of Match of the Day sandwiched in the middle (with a note in the Radio Times that subsequent programmes may run late or change). Lovely. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Not, Taxi! Then two of the best dancers in Strictly were in the dance off. Bah, humbug! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 The BBC is publicly funded and so ratings are not the be all and end all. The amount of arts coverage on the BBC (and I don't include Strictly in this) is pathetically small. As for football, there seems to be a match or round-up / review type programme on almost every day, which did not used to be the case. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Well you could knock me down with a feather. A prime-time slot at 8.50pm on BBC2, sandwiched between The Two Ronnies and QI is Darcey's Ballet Heroes. On Christmas Day - I wasn't expecting that! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now