Ninette de Valois was an extraordinary woman. Not only did she create The Royal Ballet; The Royal Ballet School and the company that has become Birmingham Royal Ballet ndash; in themselves great achievements ndash; but she was a gifted choreographer; dancer; teacher; administrator; speaker and writer. She also identified and developed so many of the talented dancers; choreographers and teachers who went onto make Britain a world leader in ballet and dance.During the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of The Royal Ballet in 1981; Ninette de Valois accepted an invitation to speak to the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars. In that illuminating talk; printed here for the first time; she focuses on what lsquo;English Balletrsquo; is. Combined with her 1955 article; Some Problems of Ballet Today; and Sir Peter Wrightrsquo;s fascinating Madamrsquo;s Memorial Address; this volume raises questions as meaningful today as they were when de Valois first addressed them. In an increasingly connected dance world; what does it mean to have a national style? Why is a national style important? How might a national style be identified; developed and nurtured? This volume provides thought-provoking and fascinating reading for all lovers of ballet; dance and art.lsquo;Madamrsquo;s voice comes across... her no nonsense advice and instinctive reactions which she passionately believed in and which she used to form The Royal Ballet School and The Royal Ballet company. You get a clear sense that the threads of her advice are fully knitted within the school and company and remain there to this day.rsquo; ndash; balletnews.co.uk lsquo;Full of wise reflection and vigorous advice... Likewise; Sir Peterrsquo;s eloquent tribute provides reminders of Madamrsquo;s own contribution to that ldquo;English stylerdquo;rsquo; ndash; Dancing Timeslsquo;Raises thoughtful; still relevant questions... a neat way of presenting de Valoisrsquo;s life; work and philosophy from a multiplicity of angles.rsquo; ndash; The Stage
#2193721 in eBooks 2012-06-27 2012-06-27File Name: B008F8QZJE
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Single SpyBy Colin McPhillamyWhat is delightful about this fly on the wall account of an actors involvement of a full year long season across three plays in Stratford upon Avon and London. is the detail. the minutiae. and the insiders knowledge of day to day living as a company member. The rehearsal process. the text analysis. the staging. the singing. the combat. the design and so on... all this is described with relish. understanding. affection and approval. What emerges throughout the book as a whole is the under the skin experience of a man who loves his craft. and attempts at each turn to deepen it. We share the authors personal nourishment as he engages with three contrasting plays in the Shakespearean canon. A definite must read for anyone who wants to know what its like to work for the RSC.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. UnrevealingBy H. HeckmanThis book is not nearly as interesting as I had hoped. Mr Osborn wrote his original blog under the auspices of the RSC. and in his book he clearly is determined not to step on any toes and risk damaging his chances of future work. and who can blame him. But as a result. aside from some interesting stuff on understudy rehearsals. Mr Osborn reveals very little of the inner dynamics of the company. the disputes. the jealousies that inhabit every theatre company-- in other words. the stuff readers want to read about. As it is. everyone is great and talented and friendly and understanding and blah. blah blah. Good PR for the RSC but bland for outsiders.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I Wanna Work for the RSCBy Marla RichmondAs a former stage manager in small theaters. I always wondered what it would be like to work in a place where money was not always an object. Where real artists could actually do what they want. I am intensely jealous of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Keith Osborn kept a blog of a year in the life. There is a tremendous amount of work involved and it sounds wonderful. Osborn goes beyond rehearsals and writes about what it is like to try to earn a living as an actor. What it is like to be a "star" and not be able to pick up lunch and eat it within 1/2 hour. This book gives a real view. though not all theaters have the luxuries of the RSC. Highly recommended!
