December 2011 Hi Again Well the year is pretty much over, an what a long strange trip it has been! Old and new places and faces. Planes,trains and automobiles, sun, rain and snow, the road that goes on forever and the show that always goes on! Amazing to think we have just finished our 13th year! The project in Manchester was a nice way to finish it. After a bit of a shaky start (people not turning up or dropping out for various reasons) it turned into one of the strongest productions of Giselle we have done. I think it is the largest percentage of girls on point we have had so various sections had to be upgraded somewhat. The only down side was it was the least number of boys we have for Giselle, but never the less the chaps held their own. I was especially impressed by the Villagers, they were definitely the strongest group we have had for that dance. The shows didn’t mark the end of the year for us though, we are now well into our principal rehearsals for Swan Lake. It’s looking like it’s going to be a very interesting production. The principals are looking very strong and it was fun to see Emma and Amy knocking of their 32 fouettes yesterday! Even I have been chipping in. As Oli is busy in France I have been partnering Julianne for the Act 2 pas de deux so she gets a feel for it before Oli turns up this weekend. I even managed the overhead lifts yesterday, not too shoddy for an old wreak hahaha. We have had our first two auditions for next year in Dartford and Newcastle and there seems to be lots of excitement for the new production and the turn out was very high. As I write bales of fabric are being delivered to costume makers, sections of set delivered to our stores, frames booked for cloth painting and studios booked for sound editing. All heady stuff! As well as getting ready for Swan Lake the principals are all busy over the break with Strauss galas, K Ballet in Japan, exams, independent dance projects and teaching. Hope they find time for a mince pie or two! At the certificate ceremony in Manchester commendations went to Isaac Bowry for his
sympathetic portrayal of Wilfred, Emily Bancroft (Wili) for out standing understudying,
Tia Roberts (Scullery Maid), Daisy Edwards (Nymph), Daisy Twells (Hunt/Nymph) the
four Friends for good technique and the Villagers as a group. Miss Lewis also commented
that she thought the footwork from the whole cast was the best in the country and praised their musicality and co-ordination. I have had messages from Lowri Shone to say she will be playing the young Clara in ENB production with her younger brother, Rowan taking the role of Fritz and their brother Rhys has now joined them at Tring. Nina Bridgewater-Bagnall passed her RAD Grade 8 with distinction and is now at the Northern Ballet School, Charlotte d'E Vallancey passed her RAD 6 with distinction and enjoying being an associate with Central School of Ballet, Katelyn Severn who will be performing in Ballet West’s production of Swan Lake across Scotland and hopefully China again, Grace Carr who passed both her RAD Advanced 1 and Cecchetti Intermediate with Distinction and will also be dancing Clara with ENB, Sophia Lyon now at Elmhurst will be performing in BRB production of The Nutcracker at both the Hippodrome in Birmingham and the O2 arena in London (just down the road from me) and Frederick Gunningham who will be playing Fritz in the RB’s production of The Nutcracker at the Opera House. Looks like EYB owns Nutcracker this Christmas! Congratulations to all! Well thats it from me for this year, hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and we look forward to seeing or hearing from you in the New Year. Keep working hard (after some mince pies and chocolates from the tree)! Dominic |