September 2010

Hi Again
Where does the time go? I’m trying to catch you all up with Nottingham and Bromley and we are already half way through rehearsals in Wolverhampton! Its all a bit of a blur really. It was our 5th visit to Nottingham, back in the Theatre Royal rather than the Concert hall and I am pleased to say we managed to improve the audience attendance from 2 years ago and just pip the figures for 4 years ago! Which was one in the eye for the new theatre manager who has been less than supportive and very pessimistic about our ticket sales. So we will be back in 2 years time! It was also sad to see a lot of the long term staff there would be taking retirement or redundancy packages. The old theatre manager (who tragically passed away last year) is greatly missed. As always the standard was high in Nottingham with lots of “Repeat Offenders” in the ranks, some who were with us 8 years ago! We had a bit of drama on the Friday night when 1 of the girls was taken ill during the 1st act and a paramedic was called in so an understudy had to learn the prayer dance during the intervals ready to go on in the 3rd! All went well and all were back the following day. In both Nottingham and Bromley we were plagued with people not turning up or dropping out and hasty recasting was had to be done during rehearsals making life less than easy for the choreographers and me doing the timetable!

The shows in Bromley were well attended as well with the matinee sold out and just a couple of rows at the back off the stall empty in the evening performances. It is always a pleasure when we do the “Crash Course” in the summer holidays to see how well the company bonds together in such a short time, the behaviour in both venues was excellent. Bromley was a bit of an odd one for us as we only had 3 boys audition so we had no older boys to play the fathers in the party scene and the Mouseking. Fortunately we were able to draft in Charles Brink (long time EYB student now at Tring) and Tom Scott from Laines. Both young men added greatly to the show. We also had a guest appearance from our new principal dancer Brenden Bratulic before his official debut in Wolverhampton.

The last performance in Bromley was quite an emotional one for us. It was Matthew’s last show with us as he has now joined the cast of “Phantom of the Opera” in London. He will be missed by all the staff and the students and I’m sure you’ll all join us in wishing him all the best and happiness in his new job. He has promised to back and haunt us some time in the future.

The ceremony in Bromley was a first for us as well, we had no Miss Lewis! She was attending the Festival Ballet/ENB 60th anniversary reunion as that was the main company she worked for as a dancer. Trevor was there also (he was Fritz in Nutcracker when Miss Lewis was a dancer there and then later joined the company). Hopefully this will lead to some interesting news for a later letter.

In other news Lorien and Emma will be performing 2 of my pas de deux at Salisbury Cathedral (11 Sept. 7.30pm) in “The Angel and the Fallen” a concert organised by the Royal British Legion featuring Haley Westenra. If you are in the area do come and support them. A bit of a mad weekend for us as we also have to be in Wolverhampton for run throughs and the parents showing! Never a dull moment in EYB.

At the certificate ceremony in Nottingham commendations went to Jasmine Bavington (Work Hour/Czardas) for improvement, Emily Pottage (Dawn Solo) for strong technique and stepping into the Friends dance, William Rogers (Combat) for hard work and performance quality, Benjamin Jones (Betrothal/soldier Doll) for performance quality, Charlotte Chapman-Hart (Morning Hour/Czardas) for her serene lyrical quality, Rebecca Gale (Barmaid) for her smile, Mollie Price-Walker (Villager) for her clear mime, Kelisha Francis-Parmer (Villager) for her smile and presentation, and Sophie Slawson (Friend) for her musicality and learning the Prayer dance in 20 minuets and going on as an understudy during the performance. Prizes went to Emma Clowes (Betrothal/Scottish Doll) and Grace Carr (Coppelia Doll/Little friend/Prayer - she had 5 costume changes!).

At the certificate ceremony in Bromley commendations went to Hannah Winterman (Louise/Spanish) for her acting and performance quality, Callum Littlefield (Jig) for improved technique, Zoe Snowball (Flower) for her smile, Aisling O’Keeffe (Maid/Arabian/Madam Bonbon) for her characterisation and Joana Bourouphael (Spanish/Flower) who stepped into the Waltz of the Flowers. Julianne gave a special mention to the following Flowers - Pippa Knucky, Katherine Hammant, Emma Ward, Melanie Wheeler and Zoe Weller. The whole cast got a mention for their company Spirit! Prizes went to Amie Mills (Doll/Sweet) and Elizabeth Blenkingsop (Lead Flower)

I have had messages from Eleanor Canavan-White who will starting at Central in September along with Harry Wood who also attended the RBS Summer School, Tiffany Doughty who passed her RAD Inter foundation with 80%, Natasha Knight who will be studying for the RAD certificate of Ballet teaching and Emily Pottage who will be going to Rambert School in September. I must apologise that I have lost a couple of e-mails so If I have missed you out please e-mail me again and I will include you in the next letter. Congratulations to all!

Well thats all from me for now, keep your news coming in and as always, keep working hard.

Dominic