Balling at the ballet

This weekend began with an absolute bang - at the ballet.  It was a delight and a dream come true!!  My friend Cara took me to see Strictly Gershwin (- thanks, Champ!!) which was BRILLIANT!

Strictly Gershwin

Strictly Gershwin

Cara works at Royal Albert Hall and so prior to the show she gave me a personal tour of the amazing structure!

Royal Albert Hall

Pretending to be a helpful steward like Cara!

Sneaking into the hall before the performance (on my personal tour!)

I have taken a liking to Queen Victoria since I arrived in London, so I was so pleased to be able to go to the hall - a 'gift' she gave to her husband.

Royal Albert Hall
Queen Victoria & Prince Albert

We spent the evening looking down on the arena from the stalls - such wonderful seats to have to observe such elegance and beauty!  The production was performed by the English National Ballet and included not only ballet but ballroom dancing and tap as well!  The ballet was filled exclusively of spectacular music composed by the Gershwin brothers and conducted by one of the most entertaining and talented men in the business.  He was so entertaining that at times I thought he belonged on the floor and not in front of the orchestra or behind the piano!

In the hall
Cara and me

The tap dancers were a highlight of the evening... including when one of them jumped up on the grand piano and proceeded to stamp it out up on the wooden top!  It was rather funny to see the pianist grab hold of the piano as it shook like mad and then lamp in fear of it shaking right off the piano!  Those tap dancers were so entertaining with their swivelling jazz arms.  Ahh joy!

There were ballroom dancers also that put on some rather sassy performances which were interspersed with other jazz and blues soloists and quartets.

However, the real 'balling' happened (from me... actually more like bawling) when two principal ballet dancers came out and performed alongside the song 'The Man I Love'.  It was just so elegant and graceful (and I could hardly believe I was so blessed to see the ballet - which I have longed to see for as long as I can remember!)  The ballerina and ballerino were magnificent in portraying the lyrics in this beautiful song.
(By the way, if you want to hear a good version, listen to this... Ella Fitzgerald - The Man I Love)

Though the entire night's entertainment was fantastic, the other standouts were Rhapsody in Blue...

Beginning of Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue

...and An American in Paris...

Last dance showing off dancers from Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris

But until next time... Cheers!

(Such an incredibly fun evening... thanks again, Cara!)