Since our last newsletter we have had three excellent meetings. At our November meeting, it was a pleasure to welcome Royal Ballet PrincipalYasmine Naghdi.After explaining why we had changed the meeting from the Friday to the Monday, Yasmine spoke about the role of guesting for principals, enabling them to broaden their repertoire. On Boxing Day, she flies to Kazakhstan to danceThe Nutcracker,twice in one day. After speaking aboutCinderellaand her forthcoming performances inOnegin,her favourite ballet. Yasmine spoke aboutMaddaddam.Although the ballet had already been performed in Canada, Wayne McGregordidn’t let them watch the videos and rehearsed both casts separately, so interpretations differed.Yasmine then talked about Ashton roles she had performed, including Titania at the end of last season. She mentioned how she had had to change the date of her wedding as Kevin O’Hare had scheduled her fora live cinema relay that day. Consequently, she had her honeymoon before the wedding, so she could prepare forDon Quixote.Yasmine then spoke about the development of characterisation during rehearsals, before talking abouther mother’s book,Tales of a Ballet Mum,and how she came to write her four books.Ballet Bestiesfeature children from different backgrounds, a response to hearing that most schools in theUK no longer included dance in the curriculum, and to having worked with children in India. Yasmine gave us a fascinating and very entertaining evening.
At our first December meeting, following our AGM, it was a great pleasure to welcome PrincipalVadim Muntagirov,who has missed the start of this season because of an injury, a tear in the base of his heel. He spoke about the injury, how he initially ignored the pain and the programme of support he is receiving to aid his recovery. He hopes to return to the Opera House as Romeo, though plans to perform Solor inLa Bayaderefirst as a guest. He recognises that most would find Romeo an easier role to come back to after an injury, but he is more comfortable tackling a classical role. He is scheduled to perform as Onegin, when the ballet returns in the Summer. The injury meant that he had to cancel some guest and Royal performances, something that he doesn’t like to do. He then spoke about performances last season, includingSwan Lake, The Dream, Les Rendezvous, Danses Concertantes, Manon, The Nutcracker, The Dante ProjectandDon Quixote.He then touched on highlights of different stages of his career and his hope that his parents would get to London sometime. His father has yet to see him dance at the Royal. He concluded by talking about how conversations with former Association committee member Linda Gainsbury led to his bookFrom Small Steps to Giant Leaps.We had another very entertaining evening.
At our last meeting of the Year, it was a pleasure to welcome Royal Ballet PrincipalMarcelino Sambéas our guest, soon after his debut as the Prince inCinderellawith Anna Rose O’Sullivan. Marci spoke of the pleasure rehearsing with Anna Rose, who had been in his year at the Upper School. He then spoke about his recent creation forWinter Draft Works, based on the character Lilith, which is associated with themes of temptation and rebellion. Marci had linked her to the creation of Adam and Eve. He spoke about the importance of music when creating and hopes the work may be seen inInternational Dance Workslater in the season. He thanked the Association for their support ofDraft Works.Marci then went on to talk about working with Wayne McGregor and Pam Tanowitz earlier this season and performing inAlicewith Viola Pantuso. He had taken four weeks off over the summer, following a very busy season which had concluded in Jacob’s Pillow. Highlights had included working with Anthony Dowell on the role of Oberon and with Wayne Eagling onDifferent Drummer.There is so much to learn from them and others, such as Monica Mason. Marci mentioned ballets that he hoped would return to the repertoire, such asPrince of the Pagodas, OndineandWedding Bouquet.He concluded by talking about Cathy Marston’sThe Cellist.This was another entertaining evening. Unfortunately, there were some sound issues. Please let us know when there is a problem and we will try to do something about it
Tour of Freed of London, Thursday 30th January 2025
A tour of Freed of London to see the handcrafting of ballet shoes used by the Royal Ballet and many otherdance companies. Nearly 250,000 pairs of Classic Pointe Shoes are manufactured in the traditional ‘turn-shoe’ method by Freed of London every year, each and every one is painstakingly hand crafted by a highly skilled maker.
Arrival at 9.45am for a tour at 10.00-11.30 at 62/64 Well Street, London E9 7PX.
Ballet Association Annual Dinner, Tuesday 10th June 7.00-10.45pm
A date for your diary. We are delighted to announce that our Annual Dinner will once again take place at The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, 35 Charles Street, W1J 5EB on Tuesday 10thJune. A drinks reception in The Royal Suite from 7.00pm and dinner at 8.00pm in the Butlers Restaurant. There has been a small rise in the cost of the dinner to £88 from £85 the last two years. The menu and application form will be in the February newsletter.
Annual General Meeting
We held a well-attended AGM on Thursday 5thDecember, prior to our meeting with Vadim Muntagirov. Our current committee was re-elected and our accounts agreed. A member who was unable to attend had suggested that we remove the concessionary rate for attendance at meetings. This was agreed, so entry to future meetings will be £5 for all members and £9 for guests at the door. (£5.50 and £10, if paid via our website.) Although no-one put themselves forward to join the committee during the meetings, if you are interested in doing so, please contact our Chairman. The Chairman’s Report was emailed to those whoreceive newsletters by e-mail in advance of the meeting. It is attached to this newsletter for those who receive it by post.
Draft Works
Every year, since 2003, the Association has made a small donation towardsDraft Works / International Draft Works.On November 29th, a short programme ofWinter Draft Workswas performed before an invited audience in the Clore Studio. The Presenter, The Royal Ballet’sHannah Grennellthanked the Association for our support. The programme included works choreographed byBenjamin Ella, Denison Almeida, Francisco Serrano, Marcelino Sambé andAshley Dean.Some of these works may be extended and included in theInternational Draft Worksprogramme later in the season.
News
It is with great sadness that we heard that Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Chief Executive OfficerCaroline Miller OBEhad passed away on Sunday 15thDecember after a long illness. For ten years Chief Executive of Dance UK, Caroline joined BRB in 2018.
On a much happier note, we send our congratulations to the following.
Members will have been delighted to hear thatMelissa Hamiltonhas been promoted to Principal Dancer at The Royal Ballet from 1stJanuary 2025. In response to our Chairman, Melissa wrote:“Thank you so much! Overjoyed–the best possible Christmas present.”
We are also delighted to hear that former Royal Ballet dancerErnst Meisnerhas been appointed Director of Dutch National Ballet from 1stAugust 2026. He is currently Artistic Director of their Junior Company. Ernst joined The Royal Ballet in 2000, having completed his training at the Royal Ballet Upper School. In 2003, the Association donated towards his first piece forDraft Works.In 2005, he organised a series of performances featuring dancers from the Royal and Mariinsky Ballets. In response to our letter of congratulations, Ernst wrote:“It is indeed a long time since that first work that the Ballet Association so kindly supported. It would not have been without your help in these early days that I could have had the opportunities to where I am now.”He left the Royal to join Dutch National in 2010.
Members will have been delighted to hear that principalMarianela Nuñezand choreographerRonald Hyndwere appointed OBE in the New Year’s Honours list. This followed just after Marianela was the guest onDesert Island Discson Sunday 29thDecember. A few days before this Principal Guest ArtistLauren Cuthbertsonnominated Margot Fonteyn as her choice on BBC Radio 4’sGreat Lives.If you missed either programme you can find them on the BBC website and BBC Sounds.
Former Ballet Association Award WinnerDavi Ramoshas just been promoted from Soloist to Senior Artist with Australian Ballet
Those of you who may e going to New York this Summer will be pleased to hear thatReece Clarkewill be performing in ABT’s production of Ashton’sSylviain July. Reece hopes to be a guest of the Association around Mach or April.
The Royal Academy of Dance announced in December that it had received choreographerKenneth MacMillan’s Archive, a diverse and rich range of material covering all of his career.
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