balletmasterclass.com

Happy New Year

Mup — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:10:07 +0000

Happy new year to all of you out there. We have finally lined up all our teachers for next summer, and will be posting a new front page etc by January the 14th.

Our teachers this year will be:

Julio Bocca (Argentinian Star), Cynthia Harvey (ABT and ROYAL), Robert Tewsley (Royal, Stuttgart, Canada), Elisabeth Maurin (Paris Opera former Etoile), Barbora Kohoutkova (Hamburg, Finnish Ballet), David Wall CBE(Ballet Master ENB and former star of Royal Ballet), Natasa Novotna (NDT) as well as Daria Klimentova and Christopher Hampson of course plus Nina Brozdova (Ex ABT) and Vaclav Janecek(Laterna Magika).

Will put up all details very soon so look out for them.

Warmest regards

Ian and Daria

SECOND WEEK VIDEO BY DARIA KLIMENTOVA

Mup — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:08:05 +0000

Balletmasterclasses Week 2 video by Daria Klimentova

Daria Klimentova and Tamas Solymosi demonstrating split jete

So here is the week 2 video by Daria Klimentova, we have also added the very short clip of Daria and Tamas Solymosi demonstrating.

Thank you all very much for your support. We will add lots more photos to the gallery at http://www.balletmasterclass.com/gallery/ over the next few days and weeks as we get them in from various photographers. So until next summer have a great year, and we look forward to welcoming you all back again. From all of us, good luck and stay healthy.

As a final footnote our Japanese girl arrived safely back in Tokyo and emailed a very nice letter to thank us.

Love Ian and Daria and Jonathan and Chris xxxx

Sunday 3rd, departure day.

Mup — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:22:56 +0000

Just when we thought we can relax, after the party had finished at 9pm and all the goodbyes had been said several times, and we had got home and into bed at about midnight, we had a reminder that we cannot relax until all the dancers have finally left the country. Last year a girl had her passport stolen and had to stay another two days whilst her Embassy got another one sorted, so of course we had to arrange further accommodation and lend her some more cash. This year tops that though. At 3am I get a text from one of the Maltese girls to let me know that the Japanese girl sharing with her and her friend had been taken very ill, and an ambulance had come and taken her off to hospital, and that being Japanese they needed paying either by insurance or cash (EEC member states have the European Health Card which I hope all of you have got if you are European). So Daria and I woke up and started making the phone calls to locate which hospital she had been taken to. We finally found her at 3.30 in a very good hospital in Prague 8 (where Vaclav Havel had his stomach operation). She had been put on a drip to rehydrate her and it was thought to be suspected food poisoning. We asked them to let her know that we knew she was there and we would be in touch at 9am. So at 8am I get a call directly from the girl who is trying to check out of the hospital to catch her flight at 12.50 back to Tokyo, but does not understand what they are saying to her about the money etc. Daria talks to the doctor and we then tell the girl that I am on my way in a taxi to pay them and sort it all out. Well when I get there she looks terrible and I am thinking that travel is not such a good idea, however when she sees me she looks so relieved she even smiles. I sort out all the money (Kc7500) plus we get a seperate bill from the ambulance (Kc2000) which I will send onto her in Japan later, but right now we need a taxi to the hostel and then pack before the airport. Slowly she starts to look a bit better with some fresh air and moving around. The doctors report, and this morning’s blood test results, show that it was not food poisoning, there was never any temperature and throat problems and they diagnose cronic de-hydration. Back at the hostel the two Maltese girls help her pack and bring her back downstairs to me (who in the middle of all this had run out of credit on my local phone so had had to run to the bank to top it up at an ATM), I then called yet another cab and we headed off to the airport. After checking in just in time we got her through passport control and I told her to text me as soon as she lands at the other end. I also told her to drink as much as possible very slowly over the next 14 hours. She told me that she hoped that I didn’t think that she would now dislike her time in Prague, because she had had one of the best weeks ever. She also told me that she had never felt so pleased to see someone as when I walked into the hospital ward to get her.

Daria meanwhile (also with no sleep) had to set off to a filming at the State Opera House, part documentery on her and part advert for this EEC promotion drive by the government. Chris Hampson’s TBA and a bit of Swan Lake. Anyway the cameraman/director nipped out for a spot of lunch from Tesco’s and promptly gets arrested for shop lifting, even though he has the receipt, ( I think it was mistaken identity) and phones Daria up from his prison cell to apologise for the slight delay this will cause. He got out two hours later and they managed to complete the filming. What a day!!

Three things to get from this that are very important to all dancers. Have medical insurance or your EEC Health Card with you at all times whilst abroad. Secondly drink lots of water all day throughout all classes especially when it is hot. Water is available all around the building and in the canteen, use it. And finally avoid Tesco’s at lunchtime.

I promise to post Daria’s week two videos as soon as possible.

Ian

Saturday 2nd August. Sadly the last day.

Mup — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:38:08 +0000

Today Daria and Chris decided to do something different for class. They are both teaching together, in the lower studio, a 45 minute aerobic classical ballet workout to techno music. We told the dancers that Tamas Solymosi will be teaching a traditional classical class in the upper studio for those that wanted the usual class, but for those that wanted to try something different; join Daria and Chris. So there was a little bit of excited shuffling between the studios, and we ended up with the same amount of dancers in each studio anyway.

Christopher Hampson techno class

Daria and Chris split their group into two to give themselves a much bigger space to move fast in. Great fun all round. The ones in the upper studio delighted to be having the unexpected bonus of general class with Tamas and the ones downstairs fascinated to try something completely different. Success all round. Today is sadly our last day. We enjoy it as much as the dancers, we really do. We love coming over here every summer, we love working in the magnificent studios of the National Theatre Ballet Company and we love to work with the next generation of dancers and helping them to enjoy working very hard. Tonight we have our traditional farewell party in Studio 3 which you can imagine is a mixture of fun and sadness. Over the weekend we shall try to post Daria’s latest video compilation. For me now it is time to set up the party and make sure everyone knows how to get back to the airport for tomorrow.

Tamas Solymosi boys solo class warm up

The one or two photos around here today are just the warm up sessions before the class actually begins.

Pas de deux warm up

Friday 1st

Mup — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:29:34 +0000

When I got home last night after a drink with Tamas at the stunning Obecni Dum (Town Hall), two things had happened. Firstly Daria had managed to get the wireless working at the house for the first time (fantastic, now we can stopping fighting over the who gets to work on the internet) and secondly a bird had set up home on top of a sculpture in the front room. Supplied with worms and water by Sabina, it seemed happy to stay for the night,

Uninvited guest

We finally managed to persuade it to leave at about 11pm. We also managed to sort through the photographs by Milan Fara and make up a sub album in the gallery for them which can be accessed at this link: http://balletmasterclass.com/gallery/album06 should any of you wish to have a look. This morning it is Daria Klimentova and Christopher Hampson giving general class.

Daria Klimentova giving class

Christopher Hampson class

After class as usual we went into the solo work before lunch. One of our dancers (Frank) had to leave early today to get back to Amsterdam where he has entered a TV dance contest. Frank is one of our regulars who has been every year for four years, he is a great to have around and we shall all miss him.

Tamas Solymosi instructing pas de deux

After the afternoon sessions Tamas,Daria, Christopher, Jonathan and myself went to the Hairy Ghost restaurant just up the road for a bite to eat and then us boys decided to go to the Krizikova Fontana for their HALLO BROADWAY show (their spelling). What a great evening out. Dancers running around spectacular dancing fountains, and miming and acting out broadway hits on a very warm evening here in Prague. A show not to be missed.

They also do 45 minute versions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker. Fantastic stuff.

The Krizikova Fontana stage

Caberet

Thursday 31st

Mup — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:24:12 +0000

Barbora Kohoutkova general class.

This morning Barbora Kohoutkova and Kevin Richmond gave the general classes. Last night Daria and I managed to have dinner on our own for the first time in several months. We went to our local Pizza restaurant just around the corner from where we live and had a very nice meal. The owners wife went to school with Daria so they are always very friendly and welcoming and we get free drinks. After class today Kevin had to get back to his hotel to collect his cases and then off to the airport to return to Basel. It is Swiss day tomorrow apparently, with lots of tax money going up in fireworks. Lovely.

Our local pizza place.

From the window in my office I can see the teachers appartments in the roof, so I can shout at Christopher Hampson and see if he wants to go for a coffee. After said coffee it was time for solo work for the boys and girls followed by pas de deux and rep or contemp. Christopher has a crowd from the Martinu institiute coming in this afternoon to observe him setting his Sinfonietta Giocosa on the dancers. Very interesting. It is Martinu’s 50th anniversary of his death this year.

Daria Klimentova and Tamas Solymosi demonstrating

Daria and Tamas Solymosi are taking the pas de deux this week, Tamas is such a big presence and it is fantastic to see him work so patiently with them all. He is now also the Deputy Director of the Hungarian State School as well as still guesting around the world, and he puts in a lot of time with them all. 30 minutes after pas de deux shouls have finished, (after 2 hours already) he and Daria

Tamas Solymosi showing how it should be done

were still there working with the ones who wanted to go on. That is always lovely to see.

After they finally got away Tamas had to dash off for a shower and then straigth back into the upper studio for his interview with the dancers. He started without me, that’s a first. We also showed quite a lot of him on film which was very impressive. Then we decided to wander off for a quick beer before I set of home at about 9pm.

View from my office window

Our dancers trying it out

Kevin Richmond general class

Wednesday 30th

Mup — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:09:51 +0000

Here is the link to the gallery photos of the first week by Daria Klimentova. http://balletmasterclass.com/gallery/albums.php

Well as promised here are one or two photos from last week. i will add a link back to our gallery later for a larger amount of photos, but at the moment my computer in my office at the National theatre won’t accept Java, so I will have to do the gallery when I get home tonight. Kevin Richmond (the original prison guard in Christopher Bruce’s SWANSONG along with Matz Skoog with Koen Onzia as the prisoner, and now the balletmaster in Basel) is taking the general class in the upper studio today and tomorrow with Barbora Kohoutkova in the lower studio.

Awaiting their turn with Beatrice Knop

: Christopher Hampson and Charles Mudry taking class

Vaclav Kunes contemporary class

Vaclav Kunes 2

All photos are taken by Daria Klimentova and copyrighted to her of course as well. Will add the link to the new gallery page later.

Beartice Knop demonstrating

Christoper Hampsons repertoire class

Beatrice Knop solo class

Yat-Sen Chang boys solo class

Yat-Sen Chang 2

Tuesday 29th

Mup — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:25:28 +0000

Getting very positive reaction to the videos thank you. This morning was the first day in two weeks that felt a bit calmer. Yesterday a Swedish boy was unwell at his pensione around the corner so Jiri Cumperlik, our medical officer, and I went round to visit him. He had a slightly swollen throat and a small temperature so Jiri went back to his practice and then returned with some medicine for him. He is a lot better today. Jiri is completely over qualified for what he does for us, he is just a very kind and caring human being, who is even embarassed to charge the pittance he does for looking after us all so exceptionally well. We are very very lucky to have him, there is always a queue outside his rooms from everybody connected with the National Theatre.

Anyway, a film crew turned up today, to film Daria as usual, who was photographing the dancers for the website.

Czech TV film crew with pregnant PA

Apart from that it was a usual dance filled day. Class at 10.00 followed by solo work, lunch and then pas de deux or repertoire or comtemporary. This evening I interviewed Natasa Novotna and we showed a few short pieces of her on film. Fascinating stuff, and we had quite a few questions as usual with this years dancers.

I will try to put some more photos on tomorrow.

Monday 28th

Mup — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:08:31 +0000

Today was the day of my last airport run thank goodness. i am very bored with airports however nice Prague airport is. Barbora Kohoutkova arrived in good time at 11am and went straight into a meeting with Daria Klimentova to discuss which solo to teach today, and then Jonathan Still got the music together and off they went to the girls solo class. Easy when you know how. In the meantime Tamas Solymosi, this big man of a dancer, put the boys through their paces in the upper studio with Corsair.

Natasa Novotna setting up her MAC into the sound system.

Natasa Novotna of NDT arrived at 2pm and we made sure her MAC connected to the sound system. Charles Mudry from last week had left a sorry I missed you note for Natasa, he used to teach her. Fantastic class she gives. I then shot off to the airport to meet a dancer from Kyrgistan who had had trouble getting a visa, and had had to make an extra 3000k round trip to another country to get to a Czech Embassy for one. The things they go through to get here. She is very relieved to have made it, even a day late. Then it was back to the studios and our interview with Christopher Hampson and we showed some film of his new Cinderella (Ugly Sisters ballroom dance) and a pas de deux especially commisioned by two principal dancers from Atlanta Ballet where he premiered his Sinfonietta Giocosa. Finally home for about 9pm and walking pass our uncles house I see Sabina swinging through the trees on a wire rigged up for the purpose. So I joined in of course.

FIRST WEEK VIDEO BY DARIA KLIMENTOVA

Mup — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:55:51 +0000

Balletmasterclasses Week 1 by Daria Klimentova (version 1)

Balletmasterclass Week 1 by Daria Klimentova (version 2)

Daria Klimentova’s videos starring: Christopher Hampson, Beatrice Knop, Jan-Eric Wikstrom, Yat-Sen Chang, Ian Comer, Jonathan Still, Marianna (our pianist), Charles Mudry, Daria Klimentova and of course all our dancers.

ENJOY!