The London Ballet Circle
Meet the world's leading dancers, choreographers and artistic directors
The London Ballet Circle offers informal talks by figures from the world of dance, visits to company rehearsals and ballet schools, a range of other dance-related activities, and regular newsletters and updates for members.
All the funds raised are used to provide help for young students in their training, other forms of sponsorship for schools, or support for specific dance projects within companies.
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THE VIDEOS OF THE CONVERSATIONS WITH ERINA TAKAHASHI AND JAMES STREETER OF ENB AND ANNA ROSE O'SULLIVAN OF THE ROYAL BALLET ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO VIEW IN THE MEMBERS ONLY PAGE. Go to ABOUT US and scroll down to the bottom right hand corner.
"JOHN MACFARLANE IN CONVERSATION" 23RD February 2021
The LBC was very privileged to have a Zoom visit from John Macfarlane, the celebrated artist and ballet/opera designer on the 23rd February. Speaking with the writer Graham Watts OBE from his home in the Welsh Borders, John talked about how he had started out as a theatre creative, mainly in German Opera Houses. His dual career was emphasised by the fact that, throughout, he has built his own models and painted his own backcloths. John had enjoyed long term associations with a number of distinguished choreographers and producers and the developmental process he described illustrated the extent to which his input had often influenced the mood, and even the storyline and choreographic content, of a work. The restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic had afforded him the opportunity to draw breath, to paint without the deadline of a scheduled exhibition, and to prepare for upcoming productions, including re-mounting Frankenstein in Denmark. While John was now more cautious of taking on major projects in the longer term, he remained excited by new challenges, including the possibility of one at La Scala, Milan.
A FULL REPORT WILL BE POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE SHORTLY.
Members who would like to view the videos of the inaugural "In Conversation" on Zoom (with Cassa Pancho, Artistic Director of Ballet Black)and subsequent evening (with Brandon Lawrence, Principal, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Erina Takahashi and James Streeter of ENB, and The Royal Ballet's Anna Rose O'Sullivan,) should sign in and go to > About Us > Members Only. Provided that there is permission from the guest and host, the videos are now being made available to LBC Members in this way some months after each event.
No charge is made for the Zoom 'talks' but those attending are encouraged to make a donation so as to help the LBC maintain its support to student dancers and organisations.
IT IS NOW EASIER THAN EVER TO DONATE TO THE LBC: JUST PRESS THE BUTTON AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE!
The link to Zoom is sent to LBC Members a few days ahead of the event and is on the News: Members Only page. Non members who would like to 'attend' may request the link from [email protected] no later than 24 hours beforehand, please.
Many companies have moved into seasons of digital programmes. Those listed below are 'pay-to-watch' unless stated otherwise:
The Royal Ballet is charging £3.00 to watch the 2019 recording of Raymonda Act 3
Birmingham Royal Ballet has honoured performers and creatives with its short dance film entitled Empty Stage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su_6eHmRgvA&feature=youtu.be {Free}
Birmingham Royal Ballet is also streaming a second cast streaming of its Nutcracker: https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-nutcracker-at-the-rep-online
Zurich Ballet's Winterreise by Christian Spuck is available till May 14th:https://www.opernhaus.ch/digital/corona-spielplan/die-winterreise/
The National Ballet of Japan’s documentary “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King - Behind the scenes”, a 78 min long video, is available for free, with English subtitles. Foreword from Miyako Yoshida, interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage, documentary of how the company managed to have 9 performances of Nutcracker under the Covid-19 pandemic: https://vimeo.com/503423287
Northern Ballet is celebrating the nearly 20 years in post of its Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE. The streaming costs £10 to view: https://northernballet.com/a-celebration-of-artistic-director-david-nixon-obe
Birmingham Royal Ballet has issued a short video to mark Carlos Acosta’s first year with the company: https://www.brb.org.uk/post/first-anniversary
National Ballet of Canada’s Spotlight Series is a freely available programme of curated work with the various titles released, including Power and Passion, Classical Gems and Modern Masterpieces released on a weekly basis: https://national.ballet.ca/Productions/Spotlight-Series
Staatsballett Berlin presents a free 45 minute miscellany From Berlin With Love 2021 to celebrate the New Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFn_6boU2Tc&feature=youtu.be
Sarasota Ballet’s Winter/Spring Season has now been converted into a series of five further pay to watch programmes including works by Ashton, Balanchine, Macmillan, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp: https://www.sarasotaballet.org/digital-winter-spring-season
ENB has a range of class and exercise programmes which can be accessed online. Details are on https://www.ballet.org.uk and on the company's Facebook page. The recording of Le Corsaire is also available online.
Dutch National Ballet has an ongoing sequence of programmes: https://www.operaballet.nl/online
