LinMM Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 Nearly missed this discussion as expected it to be in the Performance section thread!! I enjoyed the insight and had a fab view from row B. I thought it was very informative and Marriott and Howells were both very engaging (I like a few personal touches as well!!) in talking about the work. Mostly though .....even though it wasn't of course specifically a masterclass....I love seeing the dancers coached and how they improve and get more feeling for the choreography etc. Matthew Ball had two solos to work on ....one apparently from the very beginning of the ballet and one from the end so all credit to him for the terrific amount of concentration this requires ( particularly as I believe he also made his debut in Matthew Bournes Swan Lake this week so must be a tad exhausted!) I did not fill in the form afterwards ....it was quite longish and anyway I rather dislike having to give my "assessments" so immediately after I've just seen something ...I dislike doing this on any course/ workshop etc. .....especially when it's asking you to score things on a scale of 1-10 or 1-5 and so on!! I know the feedback is supposed to be useful but perhaps they could email people who attended for their views so can do more at leisure when have had time to digest it all as it were. Theres always something more you may feel you want from these things ....I have a feeling some people would never be satisfied!! Lovely to see Jillikins ....what an inspiration you are with your current health problems to be there ....I was glad just to be getting back to Highbury afterwards but you had a much longer journey so glad to see you got home safely. Hope you enjoy the ballet in November I am really looking forward to it now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 A thread for discussing feedback on the various Royal Ballet Insight and "In Rehearsal" events, so that we can keep the "information" thread relatively clear. It may not always make total logical sense, as the postings above this one have been moved out of the information thread and may refer to content in there, but if you click on the arrow at the top right of any quotes it should take you back to the original source of that quote. If I've got anything obviously wrong which needs to be moved back, let me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 One important thing I did miss ....and the name wasn't in the programme notes...was Marriott was talking about this collaboration with a lady ....I think on the production of this new ballet .... I just didn't catch her name but it's someone he has worked with before. i got confused because I had thought she had been the costume designer but then it turned out Howells was largely responsible for the costumes ....so wasn't sure what this lady did in the end....the sets designs? Did anyone catch her name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted September 29, 2018 Author Share Posted September 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, LinMM said: Did anyone catch her name? Es Devlin, set designer. http://www.roh.org.uk/people/es-devlin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 (edited) Felt privileged to watch Makarova coaching [La Bayadère] and Yasmine [Naghdi] responded to the corrections magnificently. Really enjoyed the midway chat regarding Petipa’s interpretation and visualisation of the Orient as opposed to any historical representation of India. This was one of the most stimulating Insights to be broadcast. Edited October 24, 2018 by alison For clarification 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Agreed Odyssey- best one I have seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 (edited) So pleased to have been able to attend and see these wonderful dancers and coaches at such close quarters...a really good taster for what is to come. Lovely to see the giggles when Akane dropped the dagger a little too close to Yasmine. These girls, in debut roles, were just soaking up the guidance from Makarova. A true Insight. Edited October 24, 2018 by Richard LH 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Dropped the dagger? Looked like Nikiya getting in the first strike. Just joking. Wonderful evening. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Odyssey said: Felt privileged to watch Makarova coaching and Yasmine responded to the corrections magnificently. Really enjoyed the midway chat regarding Petipa’s interpretation and visualisation of the Orient as opposed to any historical representation of India. This was one of the most stimulating Insights to be broadcast. Yes and yes. Absolutely spot on review. Also felt the privilege of seeing Makarova coaching and to see the response to such detailed corrections. The historical context was fascinating and the incredible amount of knowledge of both Olga and Shobana. Yasmin was pushed very hard this evening with the sheer quantity of work but what a charming, modest dancer. In the short interview post broadcast she shared that she feels incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Makarova. Overall, some incredible ladies tonight all round- Takada and McNally included. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 This was a superlative Insight Evening. To see the legendary Natalia Makarova coach Yasmine Naghdi, and in the first part also Akane Takada, was a revelation to say the least. How Yasmine managed to take in the most minute details of Makarova's advice and corrections is mind-boggling, and I agree Makarova was pushing her very hard up until the very end. I so enjoyed watching the one-to-one coaching session, after the interview with Olga. In her interview with Petroc Trelawny Yasmine also talked about her time in the corps de ballet when she danced the Lead Shade in every single performance. I do remember seeing her coming down the ramp, leading all the other shades, it was so beautiful. Now I really can't wait until 3rd November to watch her debut as "Gamzatti" as well as Akane's "Nikiya". What a wonderful insight, loved the interviews, delighted it was filmed. Not often do we get to see the great Makarova coach two Principals of The Royal Ballet! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 I can't wait to watch online! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Yes, that is good- but why didn't they email me?? I was very impressed by the Insight- it had the maximum of content and the minimum of padding. Ms Naghdi not only danced beautifully, powerfully in the rehearsal but spoke articulately, and with a very engaging manner to camera- I do hope we can look forward in future years to seeing her - and other articulate and charming colleagues present ballet events ( if there are any by then....) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 I'm sorry to be a 'spectre at the feast' but I felt the Act 1 mime scene between Gamzatti and Nikiya was probably lost on many people watching on youtube. Certainly the 'live' comments made that appear so. That said, it was nice to see two younger Principals being given the exposure. Kevin O'Hare has said that he aims to do that, and provide opportunities for soloists, in the Insights and Rehearsals. Its' a great way for a wider public to 'get to know' the RB's rising talent. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Something else that would be useful in the future would be for the dancers to wear light-coloured clothing. I had no problem with Naghdi, but Takada barely showed up against the darkness of the studio from some angles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 15 minutes ago, capybara said: I felt the Act 1 mime scene between Gamzatti and Nikiya was probably lost on many people watching on youtube. Certainly the 'live' comments made that appear so. Makarova's English seemed a bit limited and perhaps that inhibited a clear explanation. But I wouldn't pay too much store to the sort of dozy comments some people post on You Tube! I think most interested viewers will either know the story or hopefully would have been intrigued enough to look into the details themselves later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 24 minutes ago, capybara said: I'm sorry to be a 'spectre at the feast' but I felt the Act 1 mime scene between Gamzatti and Nikiya was probably lost on many people watching on youtube. Certainly the 'live' comments made that appear so. I know what you mean - perhaps it would have worked better to start off with the Gamzatti variations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 21 minutes ago, alison said: Something else that would be useful in the future would be for the dancers to wear light-coloured clothing. I had no problem with Naghdi, but Takada barely showed up against the darkness of the studio from some angles. Looking at You Tube now, the whole thing appears much darker lit than it appeared in reality, watching in the studio. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Still under the magical spell of last night's La Bayadere Insight and Makarova's superb coaching of Yasmine Naghdi's Gamzatti, I found this hilarious video on You Tube 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Now there are two links to the Insight Events? In "Performances Seen" and in "Dance News&Discussion". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 There's a News one and a Discussion one, so that discussions don't clutter up the news and people can find it more easily. We do this for quite a few things, cinema broadcasts included. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Yes there are several Makarova videos to be found that are well worth a look. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmeralda Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Xandra, thank you for this video! I really like her and love how honest she is and that she can laugh about herself! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLOSS Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 (edited) The coaching elements were fine but I found the discussion section a real disappointment largely because the presenter seemed more concerned with signalling the ROH's virtue as a culturally sensitive organisation than in listening to what was being said by the two speakers. His question about authenticity and cultural appropriation seemed to come form nowhere and was pretty decisively dealt with early on when it was effectively dismissed by both speakers but he persisted in pursuing it rather than trying to extend the discussion about the work's origins. Setting Petipa's ballet in the context of all the other orientalist ballets which were staged in Paris in the 1830's and 40's which Petipa would either have seen or heard about;asking whether it had any relationship with a ballet called La Bayadere in which Taglioni had danced nearly half a century before and asking just how much of what we are going to see on stage is really the result of Chabukiani's revision of the ballet in the 1930's would have been far more interesting and useful. Edited October 25, 2018 by FLOSS 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Authenticity and cultural appropriation? Really? Yet another totally misguided example of how the ROH is trying to 'open up' to new audiences?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmie Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 27 minutes ago, Sim said: Authenticity and cultural appropriation? Really? Yet another totally misguided example of how the ROH is trying to 'open up' to new audiences?? I didn't think the piece they did was particularly good but I thought it was OK for them to have a go at the topic. I wouldn't want ballets to be changed and I think the discussion is worth having to make it clear that ballet is art with a historical context and a thing of it's time. At least they didn't have to tackle the Bolshoi version of La B . 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Well, to be fair, it is now seen as quite a problem - in the same way that people are uncomfortable about the Chinese dance in The Nutcracker. I'm not sure whether I'd want to recommend my Indian neighbours to go and watch La Bayadère or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Well the RB has toned down the Chinese dance as a concession to modern sensitivities, just as the raunchiness of some of the MacMillan ballets has been toned down as well. I would definitely recommend Indian people to go along and see it. I can't see anything offensive about the RB version....but then I'm not Indian. I will ask an Indian ballet-loving friend of mine what she thinks. I would be interested to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 It was an interesting discussion and I don't recall that it focused on 'offensiveness' particularly. It seems a reasonable subject to discuss re Bayadere, and although I agree the discussion could have been widened, it was a serious and useful one, in my view. So much better than some of the rather empty chat and the endless 'incredibles' and 'amazings' we sometimes have to make do with....in my opinion. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 34 minutes ago, Timmie said: I didn't think the piece they did was particularly good but I thought it was OK for them to have a go at the topic. I wouldn't want ballets to be changed and I think the discussion is worth having to make it clear that ballet is art with a historical context and a thing of it's time. At least they didn't have to tackle the Bolshoi version of La B . And as for Russian Companies Petrushka? Ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, alison said: I'm not sure whether I'd want to recommend my Indian neighbours to go and watch La Bayadère or not In the useful and interesting discussion on this aspect, everyone (including Indian choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh) agreed it was not to be regarded today as some kind of attempt to represent India or Indian dance; it really derives from the general idea of "Orientalia" as imagined at the time it was conceived (with the addition of clearly non-oriental classical ballet in the form of a white act, and tutus). I don't see any reason for anyone from India or otherwise to somehow feel offended just because it is not an accurate portrayal of India's cultural heritage. Edited October 26, 2018 by Richard LH 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 But people get offended over anything nowadays, Richard....or even worse, patronising people get offended on their behalf. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 1 minute ago, Sim said: But people get offended over anything nowadays, Richard....or even worse, patronising people get offended on their behalf. Yes and I think the Insight discussion, without stating your point in so many words, politely showed why there was no justification for being offended in this case. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 We’ve been round this loop before, but FWIW I don’t think it’s for me or other non-Indian people to judge how offensive or inoffensive La Bayadere is to Indian people. Happily, Shobana Jeyasingh’s view is that it isn’t offensive with the very important proviso that people don’t confuse it for something even approximately authentic. I’d be interested in other Indian people’s views. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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