It has been a busy few weeks since our last newsletter, with four meetings, visits to the Royal Ballet School, Royal Ballet rehearsals, BRB2 and our Annual Dinner. At our first meeting in April we welcomed Royal Ballet First Artists Joshua Junkerand Francisco Serrano, who had both won Association awards in the second year at the Royal Ballet School. After talking about their busy rehearsal schedule, they spoke about Different Drummer.Francisco was originally cast as Woyzeck’s Friend but was covering the Drum Major. When they heard that Alexander Campbell was leaving, he was given the role. This was his first big role and a great experience with Gary Harris, Wayne Eagling and Alessandra Ferri coaching. Joshua then spoke about Never Known,the piece he created for the Festival of New Choreography.After speaking of his choice of music and dancers, Joshua talked in detail about the creation of the piece, the rehearsal process and the costume design. They then spoke of their training, both concentrating on ballet when aged 14, Joshua at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and Francisco in Florida. Joshua joined the Royal Ballet Upper School following a Summer School and Francisco after winning a scholarship at Youth America Grand Prix. Because of his age Francisco postponed coming to London for a year and joined the second year, at the end of which he danced Solor in La Bayadere.They then talked about the highlights during their time in the Company. These included working with Crystal Pite. Joshua had recently made a piece for the junior company of Dutch National Ballet. They provided us with a fascinating evening.
A week later, it was an enormous pleasure to welcome First Soloist Melissa Hamiltonas our guest. She had just returned from the 25th celebration of Youth America Grand Prix, where she had been invited to dance in the Gala. Melissa then spoke of working with Darcey Bussell on Kenneth MacMillan’s Requiem,part of a very successful triple bill. At the same time, she was flying to and from Singapore where she was producing her first gala, having set up a production Company with her husband. The programme was for four couples from across Europe as well as ten dancers from the Singapore Company. Melissa was delighted to perform Maurice Bejart’s La Luna,a piece she had always dreamt of performing. Her next gala will be in Belfast in October. Melissa spoke of her busy schedule. In November 2022 she had performed in the International Festival in Havana with Roberto Bolle, danced at the Opera House in Mayerlingand got married all within a week. After speaking about her collaboration with Roberto, Mellisa moved on to speak of Wayne McGregor’s and Kenneth MacMillan’s ballets, before touching on her upcoming debut as Paulina in The Winter’s Taleand ballets by other choreographers. Melissa gave us a very entertaining evening.
At our first meeting in May, we welcomed our Patron, Company Director Kevin O’Harefor his biennial meeting with the Association. Kevin started by talking about the upcoming Ashton programmes and the visit of Sarasota Ballet. He then spoke about the recent MacMillan programme and the choice of one act ballets. With both Ashton’s Les Rendezvousand Macmillan’s Danses Concertantes,they had chosen to use updated versions of the original sets and costumes. Those for Les Rendezvousin the first Ashton programme have been designed by Jasper Conran. Kevin then spoke about the Festival of New Choreography and his choice of choreographers. He then moved on to next season. Two years ago, he had said he divided the season between classical ballets, heritage ballets and new choreography. Challenged on the lack of nineteenth-century classics, he suggested the long runs of Beauty, Nutcrackerand Swan Lakeover the last two seasons, meant it was time to have a break from them. The success of Cinderellalast season meant it was an obvious choice for Christmas. Kevin then spoke of the rationale behind the other programmes, mentioning other Balanchine works that he had considered. He then answered some questions that had been sent to our Chairman and from the audience. In response to one which asked why only two of the four programmes in the first booking period had Friends’ rehearsals, one of which is in the evening, he indicated he would try to ensure all future programmes had them. He admitted that he had overlooked the centenary of Les Noceswhen planning the current season. An insight afternoon was added to remedy this. As always, we are very grateful to Kevin for coming to talk to the Association and it was a very interesting meeting.
The following week, we had a zoom meeting with former Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet dancer, Royal Ballet School teacher and choreographer Petal Ashmole Winstanleyas our guest. Her autobiography Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up, Lessons in Love and Surmounting Griefhad been published a couple of weeks earlier. Petal talked about her career, training in Australia before arriving in London aged 18 and meeting a school friend, Michael Brown, whom she eventually married. Then performing in pantomime and as a go-go dancer in Paris, before joining PACT Ballet in Johannesburg, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet for All and then Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, where she met and married David Ashmole. Petal retired from dancing when David joined Australian Ballet and she became assistant to Director Maina Gielgud. During their time in Australia, Petal choreographed for the Company and School. When they returned to England after David retired from Australian Ballet, she joined Gailene Stock at the Royal Ballet School. An entertaining speaker, Petal gave us a fascinating evening.
Future meetings
At our next meeting on Thursday 13th Junewe are delighted to welcome Royal Ballet Principal Francesca Haywardas our guest in the middle of the Ashton season where she dances in The Dream, Rhapsodyand Hamlet and Ophelia. Francesca graduated into the Company during the 2010/11 season and was promoted to Principal in 2016. She represented the Company in 2012 in the Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize and has won three Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. She has performed a wide variety of roles across the Company’s repertoire and created many in new works. As well as performing in the film of Cats,Francesca played Audrey in a documentary film about the life of Audrey Hepburn and has modelled for various fashion designers and magazines. In an interview for the Telegraph recently, she was quoted as saying “I’d like to be director of the Royal Ballet someday.” Recently she was appointed as an Ambassador of the Royal Ballet School’s Affiliate Programme. Francesca has regularly talked to the Association and attended our dinners. We can expect a very interesting evening.
Unless otherwise stated, all our meetings will be at the American International Church, 79a Tottenham Court Road. The nearest bus stop is Goodge Street which serves routes 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390. Doors officially open at 7.00pm, although you may be able to enter earlier at the discretion of the receptionist. Meetings begin at 7.30 p.m. Entrance at the door is £5 for members, £4 for concessions, £9 for guests.
Ballet Association Annual Dinner 30th May 2024 7.00-10.45pm, The Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair.
Once again, we had an extremely successful Annual Dinner at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel attended by 110 members and guests. During the evening, we made presentations to Répétiteur Helen Crawford,former Principal Alexander Campbelland Director of the Royal Ballet School Christopher Powney. Photographs were taken by Dance Photographer Magda Hoffman and some of these will appear on our website. As always, there were a few last-minute alterations to the guest list. The final list was: Kevin O’Hare, Dame Monica Mason, Christopher Powney, Heather Baxter, Helen Crawford, Zenaida Yanowsky, Iain Webb, Margaret Barbieri, Jason Ettore, Wayne Eagling, Jeanetta Laurence, Magda Hoffman Alexander Campbell, Ryoichi Hirano, Mayara Magri, Anna Rose O’Sullivan, Kristen McNally, Bennet Gartside, Thomas Whitehead, Melissa Hamilton, Itziar Mendizabal, Valentino Zucchetti, Annette Buvoli, Leticia Dias, Harry Churches, Daichi Ikarashi, Martin Diaz, Luc Foskett, Poppy Frankel, Scarlett Harvey, James Large, Ella Newton Severgnini, Grace Reidand Stanislaw Węgrzyn. As always, we are very grateful to all the guests who attended at a very busy time for the Company. There was an early stage call the next morning. Thank you to all the members who attended,though please do book earlier next year! And thank you to those of you who gave very generous donations towards the dancers’ dinners, which meant we could have three guests on almost all tables.
The Royal Ballet Open Rehearsal Thursday 23rd May, 12.00-2.00pm, The Clore Studio
A week before our Annual Dinner, over 100 members attended studio rehearsals, invited by The Royal Ballet. We watched Senior Répétiteur Samantha Rainerehearse the fairies in Frederick Ashton’s The Dream.This was followed by the pas de trois and pas de quatre from Les Rendezvous,coached by former Royal Ballet Soloist Vanessa Palmer.Vanessa is one of those who have been trained by the Ashton Foundation to stage Sir Fred’s ballets. It was a wonderful way to spend the middle of the day. It is a great privilege to be invited to watch rehearsals during the Company’s normal working day. We are very grateful to our Patron Kevin O’Hare, Artistic Scheduling Manager Philip Mosleyand Scheduling and Events Co-ordinator Rachel Wheatleyfor organising this.
Annual Visit to the Royal Ballet Upper School Wednesday 8th May 9.15a.m
Earlier in May, in conjunction with London Ballet Circle, we attended our annual visit to the Royal Ballet Upper School. A slightly later start than previous years meant that most were able to arrive for the Pre-Professional Men’s Class with former Royal Ballet Principal Stuart Cassidy.Following this, the Third Years who had yet to have their final assessments rehearsed their solos and pas de deux with Stuart and Artistic Manager Jessica Clarke.After a coffee break, we watched a First Year Ladies class with new teacher Sarah Kundi, who, before training as a teacher, had danced with Ballet Black and English National Ballet. After lunch, Sarah and Jessica rehearsed Ladies in all three years in Paquita,which will be performed in the end of year shows. As always, we are very grateful to the Artistic staff and members of the School’s Development Team for enabling us to make these annual visits. We had a very enjoyable day.
News
As announced in the Addendum to our last newsletter, it was with great sadness that we learnt of the deaths of long-time members George Macbriaraged 102 on 14th March, former Committee member Linda Gainsburyon 23rd April and Janet Radenkoviclate on the 27th April. We will write more in the next newsletter.
Though living in France, George and his wife Marie-Brigitte regularly attended performances and waited at the stage-door. Marie wrote that George had become fragile, but was able to move, go to the theatre etc, until four weeks before he passed away. He died at home. She says that “he was brave accepting it was the end and saying goodbye to all his little world.” Marie-Brigitte will be attending the evening performance on Saturday 15th June with their daughter Jenny and Marty “the little one”. If you are there that evening, please do go and say hello.
Linda was a member of the Ballet Association committee and a trustee of LBC for many years. She had been ill for some time and had left the committees, but still managed to get to some performances, especially when Vadim Muntagirovwas dancing. Linda collapsed on the Sunday and was taken into a hospice but passed away on the Tuesday morning.
Janet Radenkovic was a member of the Association for many years and for a few took photos at our Annual Dinners. She was also Membership Secretary of the British Friends of Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Janet had a stroke at the end of January and was recovering well, though still in hospital, until further seizures two months later. Former Cuban and Northern Ballet Principal Javier Torres is collecting money for a plaque to be attached to Janet’s favourite seat F38 in the Amphitheatre. If you would like to contribute, please send to Javier A Torres Del Sol, TSB Bank S/c 771405, A/c 20334960.
On a happier note, members will be pleased to hear that former Royal Ballet dancer Ernst Meisnerhas been appointed Associate Director of Talent at Dutch National Ballet alongside his other roles including leading the Junior Company.
Visit to the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury to see BRB2 on 29th May
A group of members travelled to Canterbury for BRB2’s matinee performance. A wonderful chance to see talented young graduates being given the opportunity to dance these roles at the start of their professional careers. The programme was almost the same as BRB2’s inaugural tour last year but with a largely changed cast of dancers. The first half of the programme was mainly classical, including Carlos’ reinterpretation of the Dying Swan as a duet, hence Dying Swans. The second half was more contemporary. The one difference to the programme being Will Tuckett’s creation of Mirroredspecially for this tour. There was live piano and cello music but otherwise recorded music. The dancing was spectacular and gave a very entertaining and exhilerating afternoon. This was the first time BRB had performed at the Marlowe but if it becomes a regular slot on BRB2’s tour it may well become a regular fixture on BA’s calendar too!
Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2023
The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2023 were presented on Monday 3rd June at the Coronet Theatre, Notting Hill Gate. As previously, the Association sponsored the Award for Best Classical Choreography which was won by William Forsythefor The Barre Projectfor Tiler Peck & Friends. Our chairman presented the Award to Tiler Peck, who received it on behalf of William. The Awards for Best Male and Female Dancer were won by the Royal Ballet’s William Bracewelland Fumi Kanekoand the Emerging Artist Award by Royal Soloist Sae Maeda.The Outstanding Male Classical Performance Award was won by Brandon Lawrencein Liebestodfor Birmingham Royal Ballet. Brandon now dances with Zurich Ballet. The Outstanding Creative Contribution Award was given to our President Carlos Acosta for the concept of Black Sabbath – The Balletfor Birmingham Royal Ballet. The De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Iain Webb,Director of Sarasota Ballet. We send our congratulations to all of them, the other Award winners and all the nominees.
Annual Visit to Elmhurst Ballet School and Birmingham Royal Ballet – 27 February- 1 March 2025
We are delighted to announce the arrangements for our annual visit to Elmhurst Ballet School and Birmingham Royal Ballet, including a performance of Sir David Bintley’s Cinderellaon Friday 28th February.
On the 28thof February, please arrive at Elmhurst by 10.30 or 11.30a.m. If travelling from London that morning, the 09.40 arrives at Birmingham New Street at 10.56. (Nearer the time, we will try to link members together to share taxis to the School) The School will provide a space in which to leave any suitcases. However, if you wish to arrive in Birmingham the night before, we have arranged for an earlier start time of 10.30a.m. for you. After a quick coffee and welcome, you will be taken to watch class until lunch. After lunch, we will watch other classes or rehearsals until about 3.00pm. A bus can be caught about 100m from the School entrance to take you back towards the hotel.
Provisionally we have booked 25 twin-bedded and double rooms for Thursday 27th and Friday 28th at £60 for sole occupancy Bed and Breakfast and £68 for double occupancy (£34 each) for each night.
On return to the hotel on the Friday, we will meet together around 5.00-5.15 at the Italian Milano restaurant for a pre-theatre dinner before making our way to the Hippodrome Theatre. We have provisionally booked 30 seats for the performance of Cinderella at £63 (reduced from £70) in row P in the centre Stalls, row H-J in the side Stalls and rows A-B of side Circle. Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. As we need to pay for the tickets soon, we ask you to pay for them when you complete the application form. Payment for the hotel will be in November/December.
After a leisurely breakfast on Saturday 1st March, we will make our way to watch class with dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet. Assistant Director Dominic Antonucci will confirm the time nearer the date, but it will be around 11.15. Following class, there will be a talk with one or two of the Company’s dancers. Check-out from the hotel is 12.00pm so you will need to check out before attending class. The hotel will store your luggage. Please do not bring it to class.
If you are interested in attending, please complete the attached form and return to our Events Secretary Ann Maclennan along with a cheque (or electronic transfer) for a minimum of £78 per person (£73 for performance ticket and a minimum of £15 towards our donation to Birmingham Royal Ballet). Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope for the return of tickets or give to Ann when you next see her if paying electronically.
Discounted rates on the railways become available 12 weeks in advance. Information at www.thetrainline.com. Senior railcard holders can obtain very cheap tickets from London. This visit is always one of the highlights of the Association’s year and we are delighted that Carlos and Dominic have reintroduced the opportunity to watch BRB class.
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