Thank you!!

Truly inspired casting!

It was ever thus - even Margot's mum was Brazilian and Darcy's dad Australian!

Not to mention Nerina, Beriosova, Elvin, Fifield and Helpmann!

Oh, I almost forgot Rowena Jackson, Merle Park, Lyn Seymour, Alexis Rassine and, of course, Rudi.

She acts with great feeling and sensitivity and yet in her brief opening solo she was surprisingly light and sure footed.

OK I did not much care for the very long leg extension but it was no big deal in this role.

I also thought Cojacaru was particularly touching as well!

Her pas de deux with Massimo Muru,was really MOVING,the audience was captivated!!

What`s happened to Sarah Wildor?Is she pregnant?She became so FAT!!!!!!!
In Manon,she was ridiculous!!!!

Not much time for much of a reply now as I have to dash. But the mixed bill on friday was fantastic. And Wildor looked absolutely fine from my seat! Their pdd has completely turned me around on Manon, which I've only ever see on video until now.

And it was a good night for Cojocaru fans (of which I am one)- in Dream, Awakenings and Month.

Lucky me got to go to the matinee performance as a bit of a surprise b-day pressy. I was also lucky enough to be sitting in the grand tier-never before have I had the pleasure and low and behold even more lucky, Anthony Dowell was sitting just behind me across the small aisle, which was slightly unnerving - I suppose he was gearing up for tonights performance.

I saw the dream earlier this year with Sarah WIldor and today I saw Alina Cojocaru who was quite exquisite in her portrayal of Titania. I think that it is quite a hard role as it is more acting and mime rather than dancing but when she did, she really showed that she was worthy of that promotion earlier this year. Beautiful!

Giacomo Ciriaci was also wonderful as Puck and quite rightly deserved the huge applause that he received!

Mara Galeazzi in 'Beauty was also very good - lovely clean and pure lines! Her prince charming was Robert Parker who was super!

Is Mara related to Leanne Benjamin?- Their resemblence is uncanny!

All I can say about Monotones II is WOW! Beautifully danced by all three dancers, Joshua Tuifua, Thomas Whitehead and Christina Arestis who must be the tallest female dancer in the company! The choreography matched the score completely as it ebbed and flowed so silkily - ravishing!

Leanne Benjamin and Johan Kobborg were sumptuously sexy in Manon - it has made me want to see the whole of it!

Don Quixote was probably the showstopping highlight of the programme. Carlos Acosta was incredible as he made those jumps look so easy and I was not at all suprised that he looked so pleased with himself! Tamara Rojo was very seductive and teased him and the audience! Her double fouettes were stunning and not surprisingly, there were huge cheers and lots of clapping! It woudl be interesting to know whether they do this in the evening performance.

Then came A Month in the Country. The set was gorgeous as was the music. Muriel Valtat was perfect as Natalia - she was excellent at portraying the older woman who has fallen for someone younger than her and we felt her aching for him.

Ivan Putrov is a beautiful lyrical dancer. He has matured so much since the televised Nutcracker. I hope to see him a lot more. Natasha Oughtred as Vera was the lowlight for me. She had only one expression throughout the whole ballet, even when she found out that her guardian was also seeing Beliaev, a rather cheesy gushing smile and I hate to say it, she looked like Debbie McGee but I don't think that the wig helped her. Victoria Hewitt as the maid has a wonderful cheeky face which was great in this and she reminded me of Sarah Wildor slightly.

This was a fantastic afternoon and I thorougly enjoyed myself as did my family and from the audience reaction, they did too.

I hope that everyone else has enjoyed this as much as I have and I shall look forward to reading all your posings tomorrow!

Barrel of scotch or little pumpkin?

No , really , she wasn't credible!

Since when
>do all ballet dancers have
>to be six foot stick
>insects?

I suppose the insect you refer to is Ms.Guillem.Do you know that she has the perfect body for classical ballet , the body that all ballerinas dream to have?

Ms Wildor is
>certainly not FAT

Yes she is!Open your eyes!

I am sorry all of you,but OPEN your eyes:

Ok,Sarah is a good dancer,
Ok,she is cute
Ok,she is very expressive,upper body etc
Ok,she has beautifull foot work
Ok,all the dancers don`t have to be a 6th insect(look Alina,she is tiny,adorable,and THIN!!)

But,I`m sorry,Sarah took a LOT of weight,
yes,her corset was cylindrical!(even her cute face became puffy!)
and yes because of that she was not credible as the YOUNG Manon,and,I think when a dancer took suddenly SO MUCH weight,she should not accept to show herself to the audience as it`s self depreciation.

But,I say that for her,because it`s really not my problem if she is fat or not!!
(We are not any more in the 19th century ,and nowdays,the shape of the ballerinas is a bit different!)

I hope Sarah will recover very soon the figure she had at the beggining of the season.

Even if it was true and I don't know Sarah Wildor, I don't see her dance. You don't have to say she is or not fat. Do you like heard about you some criticism about your physical aspect I don't suppose. I know you will say that you are not a dancer and not make a public job, but I think you won't love heard you heva some physical defaults.
You don't have to critic after physical defaults. If the dancer is good, it's not a problem and you have some other way to say one dancer is fat or not. How I said on a other forum about Cojocaru whose you criticize some physical details and Wildor where you said she was fat. You don't have to say these kind of comments. You can attack a dancer technically or on her interpretation. You could attack also costum, sets, but not physical.

It`s not an ATTACK,I have nothing AGAINST the poor Sarah,it`s just that she is not CREDIBLE,she may be very good but it`s impossible to be moved by her dancing when she has that figure.

Especially that she used to be so adorable before,what a pitty!!!

It's not an attack but you don't have to say it. I don't know how you are, but if I said to you "You're fat". Do you heard it with great smile. You have way to say the thing and way to say the thing. Say it seems that, or she is... It's different.

Catherine:no I am not Victoria.But why shouldn't we comment about the dancers' bodies?Like Victoria said , we are no more in the 19th century and nowadays the dancer's body is no more hidden.

Victoria:I agree with all what you said.

Then Catherine,it`s true that except Monica,nobody seemed to realise the massive change in Sarah`s figure,I CAN`T believe they didn`t see it,maybe the DON`T want to see it,or they are relatives to her!!

Anyway,I want to stop discussing about that,because people might think I have something against Sarah,poor thing!And I don`t,I was just sharing my vision of friday night performance.

Sincerely,
Vic.