At our first meeting in April,it was a pleasure to welcome First ArtistMarianna Tsembenhoiand ArtistGinevra Zambonas our guests. They started by speaking about their current performances, praising Patricia Neary, Christopher Saunders and Samantha Raine who had rehearsed them in the Balanchine programme. Then they spoke aboutRomeo and Julietwhere they both perform Juliet’s Friends as well as towns people. They had started rehearsals for Christopher Wheeldon’sAmerican in Paris, for which he is creating some extra dances as they are not singing. InAlice,which comes back at the end of the season, they have performed similar roles–sisters, dormouse, cards and flowers, though Marianna had been fortunate to attend some rehearsals of Alice and the Knave, learning some solos which she can look forward to when Alice returns in a future season. Again,in Wayne McGregor’sMaddAddamthey performedsimilar roles, though Wayne rehearsed casts separately so they didn’t notice the differences between castsuntil the performances.After speaking about Crystal Pite’sLight of Passagethey then talked about how they started dancing in Ukraine and Italy respectively, their training and their transition to the Royal Ballet School. Ginevra joined Year 10 at White Lodge when only 12/13 whilst Marianna joined the Upper School after competing in Paris in the European part of Youth America Grand Prix. Our President Christopher Powney, former Director of the Royal Ballet Schoolhad written before the meeting, saying they were “two very special ladies and dedicated dancers.” They gave us a fascinating and enjoyable evening, those not there missed two very intelligent and articulate guests, who used the mikes well. We look forward to following their careers.
At our second April meeting, a large audience welcomed Royal Ballet PrincipalNatalia Osipova,who had last spoken to us ten years ago, mostly in Russian. As expected, Natalia gave a lively and entertaining talk. She started by speaking about her upcoming performances, includingRomeo and JulietandOnegin.As Marcelino Sambéis injured, her Romeo is to be Queensland Ballet’s Cuban principalPatricio Revé, who had recently performed the role in Brisbane. Patricio was in the audience to hear Natalia talk. She also disclosed that she will be making her debut as the Queen of Hearts inAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She then spoke about her partnerships. Whilst it is good to develop rapport with regular partners, such as Reece Clarke and Marcelino, Natalia believes it is also good to work with others and is looking forward to performing Tatiana to Lukas Brændsrød’s Onegin in a few weeks’ time. She then spoke in some detail about her recent programme in the Linbury, her choice of works by Martha Graham and Frederick Ashton and why she chose to have Jo Strømgren createThe Exhibition.The programme was a great success and will be repeated in the Linbury next season. Unfortunately, English National Ballet areperforming Martha Graham’sErrand into the Maze,so Natalia will replace it with a piece choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. Natalia then spoke of her collaboration with choreographer Arthur Pita, which had started with his creation ofFacadafor her performances at the Coliseum with Ivan Vasiliev. Soon after, Arthur had createdThe Windfor her and the Royal Ballet, where the giant wind machines made it difficult to balance. Sadly,the work hasn’t returned. More recently, Arthur createdThe Motherfor her and contemporary dancer, Jonathan Goddard.Because of an injury sustained last summer, Natalia’s first rolethis season was as Cinderella with Reece, followed more recently byBalanchine’sThe Prodigal Sonwith Cesar Corrales. She then went on to speak about her roles in Ashton and MacMillan ballets, including last seasonThe DreamandDifferent Drummer, two challenging roles. To finish, Natalia spoke a little about hertraining, her time at the Bolshoi and how she ended up at the Royal after guesting inSwan Lakewith Carlos Acosta. It was a wonderful meeting.
The Royal Ballet Open Rehearsal Tuesday 24th June, 12.00-2.00pm, The Clore Studio
We are delighted to announce that The Royal Ballet would like, once again, to welcome Ballet Association members to attend studio rehearsals. It is a great privilege to be invited to watch rehearsals during theCompany’s normal working day. We are very grateful to our PatronKevin O’Hare, Artistic Scheduling ManagerPhilip Mosleyand Scheduling and Events Co-ordinatorRachel Wheatleyfor organising this. In previous years, we have watched rehearsals ofThe Dream, In the Night, Afternoon of a Faun, The Invitation, After the Rain, Winter Dreams, Diamonds, Prima, Corybantic GamesandAnastasia.Last year, we were treated to Senior Répétiteur Samantha Raine rehearsing multiple fairies fromThe Dreamand the pas de trois and pas de quatre fromLes Rendezvouswere coached by former Royal Ballet SoloistVanessa Palmer.
This year, we are invited to attend rehearsals onTuesday 24th Junefrom 12.00–2.00pm in the Clore Studio. Probably, these will be rehearsals of works that the Company is taking on tour to Seoul or Genoa, although that could be subject to change.There is no charge for attending this rehearsal, but would ask, where possible, that you make a smalldonation which will go towards the Association’ssponsorship ofthe revival of Glen Tetley’sPierrot Lunairein the Linbury next February.
Ballet Association Annual Dinner, Tuesday 10th June 7.00-10.45pm, The Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair.
As announced in our previous newsletters, our Annual Dinner will be held at The Chesterfield, Mayfair, on Tuesday 10thJune.The hotel is in Charles Street, about 5 minutes’ walk from Green Park Station and closeto Berkeley Square. Dinner, at 8.00pm, will be held in the hotel’s Restaurant and Conservatory. It will be preceded by adrinks’ reception from 7.00pm in the Royal Suite on the first floor, which can be accessed bylift or stairs. The cost of the dinner will be £88.00, not including drinks which can be purchased at bars in the Royal Suite and the Restaurant. There is an additional supplement of £5 if you choose Halibut as your main course. If you wish to have tea or coffee and petit fours to round off the meal, it is an extra £7.00. We have a minimum spend for the evening, so please make sure you purchase all drinks at our bars and not at the other hotel bar.
There are still plenty of places left for this dinner. Please do come to what is always a very special evening with an array of interesting guests. Bring your friends! Whilst we are still awaiting some replies, the current guest list is: Our Patron, Director of the Royal BalletKevin O’Hare;our Presidents–Director of Birmingham Royal BalletCarlos Acosta,Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet SchoolIain Mackay,former Royal Ballet DirectorDame Monica Mason,Director of Elmhurst Ballet SchoolRobert Parker,Royal Ballet Rehearsal Director and Principal Character ArtistChristopher Saundersand former Assistant Direct of BRBMarion Tait;Senior RépétiteurSamantha Raine;Senior Répétiteur and Principal CharacterArtistGary Avis;Artistic Scheduling Manager and Character ArtistPhilip Mosley;Chair of the Ashton FoundationJeanetta Laurence;Royal Ballet School teacherKevin Emerton;PrincipalsMelissaHamilton, Ryoichi Hirano, Natalia Osipova, Anna Rose O’SullivanandCalvin Richardson;Principal Character ArtistElizabeth McGorian;First SoloistsLuca Acri, Lukas Brændsrød, Isabella Gasparini, Sae MaedaandMariko Sasaki;First ArtistsHarris Bell, Viola Pantuso, Julia Roscoe;ArtistsBethany Bartlett, Olivia Findlay, Sierra Glasheen, Caspar Lenchand Isabella Shaker.If you are coming to the dinner, you can now indicate any preferences for which dancers you would like to be on your table. Please give at least three options. I cannot guarantee you will get one of your choices but will do my best.
Annual Visit to the Royal Ballet Upper School Wednesday 30th April
OnWednesday 30thAprilnearly 180 members of The Ballet Association, London Ballet Circle and their guests attended a wonderful day at the Royal Ballet Upper School. We are very grateful to Development ExecutiveLindsay Allenwho organised the day. First, we watched the Pre-professional men in class with teacherKevin Emerton, who had joined the School in January, retiring from the Royal Ballet in December. This was followed by former Royal Ballet dancerNicola Tranah, coaching the Pre-professional Ladies in the Fairy solos fromSir Anthony Dowell’s production ofAurora’s Wedding.After a short break, we watchedSarah Kunditake the 2ndYear Ladies Ballet Class. At the end of the class, we were delighted to hear from Artistic DirectorIain Mackay,who briefly spoke about the programmes for the end of year performances,which will include Ashton’sLes Patineurs. The performances in the Linbury will include a significant number of choreographic creations by students across the Lower and Upper School. Other performances will include new works created on the students by various choreographers, including former Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer Ruth Brill. After lunch, we watched all the 1st and 2nd Year students learn the Mazurka from Aurora’s Wedding taught by Character Dance teacher Kate Swainston. They also showed us the Pollonaise which they had just learnt.
News
We have sent our congratulations to the Royal Ballet’s First SoloistSae Maedaand First artistHarris Bellwho got married over the Easter weekend in Scotland. Their social media accounts have some wonderful pictures of many male dancers in Scottish dress, kilts, sporrans etc.
The 25th National Dance Awards Monday 9th June
Once again, the Ballet Association is sponsoring the award forBest Classical Choreography.The nominees are:
Crystal Pite for Angel’s Atlas; Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldis for Mehek; Pam Tanowitz for For Evermore;Joshua Junker forNever Known;
Akram Khan and othersforGigensis
Nominees for other awards include: -
Best Male Dancer - Marcelino SambéandJoseph Sissens;
Best Female Dancer–Francesca Hayward;
Outstanding Company–Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sarasota BalletandThe Royal Ballet; Best Modern Choreography–Kim Brandstrupfor theGreek Mythology choreographies;Emerging Artist–Daichi IkarishiandCaspar Lench;
Outstanding Female Modern Performance–Kristen McNallyinThe Statement;
Outstanding Female Classical Performance–Beatrice Parmaas Lise inLa Fille mal gardée;Outstanding Male Classical Performance–William Bracewellas Des Grieux inManon;Johan Kobborgas Il Matto inLa Strada;Marcelino SambéinDifferent Drummer;
Outstanding Creative Contribution–Joseph SissensforThe Legacy Project.
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