#Mariko Sasaki and Joseph sissens

[balletroyale]

Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens after Swan Lake

Royal Opera House, 11 May 2024

[enchanted-keys]

Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens in Swan Lake (Royal Ballet 2024)

- photos by Asya Verzhbinsky

[vadreams]

Promotions!

Joseph Sissens is promoted to First Soloist.

Annette Buvoli, Ashley Dean, Leticia Dias, Mariko Sasaki, Lukas B. Brændsrød, Leo Dixon, David Donnelly and Téo Dubreuil are promoted to Soloist.

Sophie Allnatt, Isabel Lubach, Sae Maeda, Julia Roscoe, Charlotte Tonkinson, Joonhyuk Jun, Joshua Junker, Taisuke Nakao and Giacomo Rovero are promoted to First Artist.

[lisu248]

So wait, I'm super late on this, but the Royal Ballet really has all of the following casts for Swan Lake?

Fumi Kaneko & William Bracewell Francesca Hayward & William Bracewell Fumi Kaneko & Vadim Muntagirov Marienela Nunez & Vadim Muntagirov Mariko Sasaki & Joseph Sissens Akane Takada & Joseph Sissens

And Alex Campbell got nothing? I totally understand why he got fed up and quit when he did.

No disrespect to these dancers, but there is no need to double cast some dancers when others don't even get one cast. And I'm not saying Alex should be partnered with Fumi, but you cannot convince me that Frankie wouldn't want to dance this with Alex. He is (was 😩) her rock in Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker. Maybe Sissens is replacing McRae with Akane? But Alex is great with her too. That would have been the perfect opportunity for him. And McRae was injured in the fall, so it's not like it was last minute.

Then there are the rumors that Alex wasn't cast at all in either Winter's Tale or the Ashton program (before he left) with simultaneous rumors that the casting announcement for Ashton was delayed because they had a lot of trouble with casting. Maybe it would be less difficult if they actually cast one of their best principals? He would've been fantastic in The Dream or Rhapsody.

This is just as bad as that run of Romeo & Juliet in 2019(?) when Alex wasn't cast at all, but other principals had double Romeos or Romeo plus Mercutio/Tybalt. I just don't understand the logic of icing out such a talented dancer in his prime, especially when McRae can't stay healthy and Hirano is over 40.

I love the Royal Ballet, but their treatment of Alex was horrendous and definitely sours my opinion of them a bit.

[dance-like-matty]

just putting my RB promotions predictions out there to see if i’m right lol

William Bracewell and Reece Clarke will be promoted to Principal.

- Bracewell because I think he’s stunning and seems to be doing all of the male principal roles anyway. I saw him as Prince Siegfried with Hayward, and he was the star of the show.

- Clarke for the same reasons as Bracewell (even more so really). I’ve never seen him dance, but he’s partnered with all of the top ballerinas in the company and I think it’s overdue.

Joseph Sissens and Gina Storm-Jensen will be promoted to First Soloist.

- I don’t have to explain Sissens. He is amazing.

- They’ve really been favoring Storm-Jensen this year. The reason why is beyond me, but they may just be filling out company positions. It wouldn’t surprise me if she gets promoted especially with Heap retiring.

Lukas Brændsrød, Leticia Dias, and Mariko Sasaki will be promoted to Soloist.

Joshua Junker, Giacomo Rovero, and Amelia Townsend will be promoted to First Artist.

This is all just based off of the roles and opportunities given past year and also their obvious favorites.

[balletroyale]

Joseph Sissens and Mariko Sasaki after Don Quixote

Royal Opera House

7 October 2023

[enchanted-keys]

Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens in Swan Lake (Royal Ballet 2024)

- photos by Magda Hoffman

[enchanted-keys]

Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens in Swan Lake (Royal Ballet 2024)

- photos by Andrej Uspenski

[enchanted-keys]

Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens in Swan Lake (Royal Ballet 2024)

Photos by Asya Verzhbinsky

[enchanted-keys]

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A post shared by MarikoSasaki 佐々木万璃子 (@marikosasaki448)

Mariko Sasaki and Joseph Sissens in rehearsal for Swan Lake (Royal Ballet 2024)

[balletroyale]

promotion predictions?

I know many disagree with me but I very much think Joseph Sissens is going to be made a principal this year. He's going to be dancing Siegfried a lot, there is imbalance in the principal ranks, and he's been a first soloist for over a year.

I would be very surprised if Mariko Sasaki isn't promoted to first soloist.

I can see Joonhyuk Jun going to first soloist. More far-fetched but maayyyybbbeee Sae Maeda.

Daichi Ikarashi, Isabel Lubach, Nadia Mullova-Barley, Marco Masciari, Amelia Townsend: I think any of them could go up to soloist

The most shocked I would be is if Viola Pantuso isn't promoted.

I can see Marianna Tsembenhoi being promoted as well.

[balletroyale]

Who are your favourite/least favourite RB dancers at the moment and why?

Favs:

Sarah Lamb (can do any role well)

Marianela Nunez (you can tell how much she loves dancing, adds little nuance that makes her really unique)

Natalia Osipova (puts her whole self into dancing)

Francesca Hayward (is always improving, really delicate dancing)

Steven McRae (amazing jumps, great acting)

Alexander Campbell (amazing partner, incredible dancer who takes on roles uniquely)

Vadim Muntagirov (classic dancer, amazing lines and so light on his feet)

Joseph Sissens (absolutely the best up-and-coming talent)

Mariko Sasaki (amazing arms, great in ever soloist role)

Sae Maeda (very delicate and your eye is always drawn to her)

Joonhyuk Jun (should be at least a soloist. Overall great dancer)

Least favs:

Cesar Corrales (does not dance in the company style at all)

Anna Rose O'Sullivan (Idk why but I feel she's regressed)

Mayara Magri (Really want to like her but her arms are messy)

Fumi Kaneko (I don't get the hype, all her portrayals are very standard)

Gina Storm-Jensen (I'm sorry, I just haven't ever been compelled by a performance and don't know why she keeps getting pushed forwarad)

[vadreams]

Here's the list of promotions:

Fumi Kaneko and Cesar Corrales are promoted to Principal this Season with immediate effect.

Mayara Magri and Anna Rose O’Sullivan are promoted to Principal with effect from September 2021.

Meaghan Grace Hinkis, Nicol Edmonds and Calvin Richardson have been promoted to First Soloist.

Gina Storm-Jensen and Joseph Sissens have been promoted to Soloist.

Leticia Dias, Mariko Sasaki and Harry Churches have been promoted to First Artist.

Congratulations to all the dancers!