Anyone for ballet?

[julesd68]

I am wetting myself with excitement.

My dear mother has managed to secure great seats to see Carlos Acosta () in La Bayadere at the Royal Opera House next year. I have never seen the great man dance and it can't be long before he hangs up his dancing shoes so this might be my one and only chance! It's a great role to see what he's all about.

http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/la...talia-makarova

We are also going to have a family trip to see Alice's Adventures in Wonderland next year, also at the ROH. My 7 year old boy is well looking forward to it. Take a look at some examples of the stunning production design here -

http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/al...opher-wheeldon

Do we have any other AOS's who enjoy the delights of this form?

[Marco]

Nice one, Julian. Are you going to don your tutu and have a wee pirouette around the lounge?

Marco.

[julesd68]

Marco - I'll put on a private performance for you - but it's going to cost you!

[Alex_UK]

Not really a "fan" - but I've been a few times in the past with my ex-wife and do find it rather amazing - the highlight being Darcey Bussell in Swan Lake somewhere around the mid-90's?

My current wife has never been, and 4 year old avatar has been doing ballet classes for about a year so we're going to see Swan Lake by The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia next February.

[julesd68]

Alex, I am sure your daughter will love Swan Lake - it's a wonderful experience to give her and a magical ballet as you know, when done right. Just to warn you though - the auditorium has to be cooled down to -20c for the Orchestra of Siberia ...

[Alex_UK]

Just to warn you though - the auditorium has to be cooled down to -20c for the Orchestra of Siberia ...

We have snow suits!

[Rowlf]

Who would you rate as the top ballet company in the world now?

[julesd68]

I am by no means a ballet expert and sadly I don't have the funds to go abroad to check out the best companies, but the best I have seen is the Mariinsky Ballet, by some margin.

I was lucky enough to see them last year at the ROH in a sublime "Homage to Fokine" featuring Chopiniana, The Firebird & Scheherazade. It was very, very special. I got the feeling that most members of the corps de ballet could be solo stars just about anywhere else, as the standard was so universally high! For me it was a wonderful experience to see Scheherazade for the first time, the music for which is beyond heavenly for me.