Sayako Tomiyoshi Photograph : Amber Hunt
Following the popular documentary series on BBC Four, Agony & Ecstasy : A Year With English National Ballet, the question has to be asked – just how much do you love the company ?
The three programmes covered Swan Lake (Daria Klimentová, Vadim Muntagirov and Rachel Ware), Romeo & Juliet (Max Westwell and Daniel Jones) & The Nutcracker (Fernanda Oliveira, Ksenia Ovsyanick and Wayne Eagling), and gave you a glimpse of life behind the scenes as part of the company. Rachel Ware joined the corps de ballet in Swan Lake in-the-round last summer on a temporary contract, and you can read more about her next week here on Ballet News.
So now I wanted to give something back you you, the viewers & my lovely readers, and it just so happens that English National Ballet have these groovy ‘I Love ENB’ ballet bags which are perfect for pointe shoes, Bloch warm-up boots, tape, ribbons, plasters, dance and ballet wear, ballet shoes and all the other bits and bobs you need to carry from class to rehearsal and home. And don’t worry if you’re not a dancer, these bags don’t look out of place outside the studio and you can still show your love for the company by using the ballet bag for your shopping or the extra books you need to take to school.
The ‘I Love ENB’ ballet bags come in black cotton with white lettering and a big red heart.
l-r Nancy Osbaldeston, Nicola Henshall, Ruth Brill & Sayako Tomiyoshi Photograph : Amber Hunt
English National Ballet are offering a couple of these bags to my lucky winners, and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning one is to tell me how much you love ENB.
In line with the documentary series, the winners will be chosen by a panel of ENB experts and will be those who can describe in the most realistic, innovative and fluent way just how much they love ENB. You don’t have to have watched the series (I know it’s not available to everyone) but you DO need to know about ENB, whether you’ve been to an event, watched a show or been involved in any other way.
Closing date for the competition is March 31st 5pm GMT.
If you missed any of the three episodes you can watch again with BBC iPlayer – Agony & Ecstasy : A Year With English National Ballet Episodes One and Two are available until next Tuesday – 29th March 10.59pm – so please be speedy if you want to catch up with them, and Episode Three is available until Sunday 3rd April 4.04am.
If you love Ballet News, please take a moment to tell me what you think about ‘Ballet & You’ by answering these short questions.
Good Luck !
March 26, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Those bags are so cute!
March 27, 2011 at 3:15 pm
I love ENB as much as Margot Fonteyn could express her feelings through ballet.
And I would also love to train in their school to become a qualified ballerina, like their very talented company dancers!
March 28, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I watch the documentary on the bbc I loved the nutcracker episode but i wonder how do those children get into the nutcracker
March 28, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Love how graceful and elegant it all is
March 28, 2011 at 6:09 pm
These bags are so elegant and are the perfect prop for the performances on the big stage as the photos illustrate!!!
March 28, 2011 at 6:14 pm
really enjoyed the documentary on the BBC x
March 28, 2011 at 6:14 pm
I love Ballet. I’m always in awe I could never do it
March 28, 2011 at 6:14 pm
LOVE IT FROM MY TOES TO MY FINGERTIPS
March 28, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Lovely ideal for my daughters dancing gear.
March 28, 2011 at 6:45 pm
beautiful , elegant and graceful, what more could you ask for?
March 28, 2011 at 6:48 pm
These bags are so elegant and are the perfect prop for the performances on the big stage as the photos illustrate!!!
March 28, 2011 at 7:19 pm
I adore english national ballet, I saw a performance quite a few years ago and it was so entrancing, I couldn’t take my eyes off the set, the dancers or the costumes and lighting. Everything was so intricately done. I had tears in my eyes by the end.
March 28, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Love the ballet just dont get the time to go lately.
March 28, 2011 at 7:52 pm
My little granddaughter has real talent and would love to dance in the ENB one day even though she’s Welsh!
March 28, 2011 at 7:54 pm
London is unique – there is always ballet to be seen, nothing in Spain – now’t
March 28, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I always loved ballet, used to attend classes but just can’t do it anymore. I went to see Black Swan and my love for ballet came back again
March 28, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Ballet is so graceful and although I tried to learn as a youngster, unfortunately it was not for me, however it has not stopped me loving the performances which I get to see when I can, it’s difficult though as I live in the north of England and often have to travel south for shows which is a struggle with very young children
March 28, 2011 at 8:48 pm
The bags are gorgeous and I do so love the English National Ballet!
March 28, 2011 at 9:01 pm
My daughter would just love to use this bag for all her ballet things, her dream is to join the National Ballet when she is older
March 28, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I always loved ballet, my daughter used to attend classes
March 28, 2011 at 11:03 pm
I love ballet so much.I spend all my free time watching ballet on you tube, and I would love to win a bag.I would carry it with pride
March 29, 2011 at 9:54 am
I’d love that bag ….Please enter me tutu
March 29, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I love Ballet.
March 29, 2011 at 2:39 pm
I Love ENB it is my dream to be able to dance like the beautiful ballerinas
March 29, 2011 at 3:22 pm
My daughter would love this bag !
March 29, 2011 at 3:38 pm
I am entering on behalf of my 10 year old daughter who hopes to dance with ENB one day, Ballet is her life and it would be amazing if we could win
March 29, 2011 at 5:08 pm
aw great looking bag, i luv ballet
March 29, 2011 at 6:13 pm
I LOVE BALLET WITH ALL MY HEART , BUT I CAN`T STOP MYSELF FROM GROWING TALLER
March 29, 2011 at 6:16 pm
I LOVE BALLET WITH ALL MY HEART, SIMPLE AS THAT
March 30, 2011 at 9:30 am
I love the English National Ballet because their Adult Ballet Classes are the best and my favorite moment of the week. The organization do everything they can to make ballet more accessible to everyone, and it makes us feel so special. Their dancers are beautiful, and their shows make us dream.
I have already ordered a bag on their website so no need to win !
March 30, 2011 at 2:05 pm
I love English National Ballet as I feel so into the msuic and movement. I am amazed how you move with such grace and posture. I would so love to win as my Daughter, Chloe, who is just 11 has been dancing for some 8 years and she would simply be the belle of her show with your stunning bag.
March 30, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I remember watching the Nutcracker as a little girl and in the 20 odd years since I have never seen anything as emotional and inspiring, the dancing was beautiful and nothing I have seen since has been able to inspire such feelings in me
March 30, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Great bags, much nicer to take out when doing the shopping
March 30, 2011 at 8:01 pm
My daughter would love this bag, she is obsessed with ballet x
March 30, 2011 at 8:16 pm
I started learning ballet as a child but just couldnt get the hang of it. I love it. It is so “pretty” !!
March 30, 2011 at 8:33 pm
God didn’t bless me with the poise for ballet, purely the passion. It’s time to share my unrequited love with the world…..I LOVE ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET.
March 30, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Love balet, used to go to balet class when i was younger, its so soothing and elegant to watch, wish i was as good as some of the professional dancers!!
March 30, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Great program
English ballet is the best
March 30, 2011 at 11:10 pm
I used to think the Ballet was a upper class thing~i stand corrected, it is magical experience for all.
March 30, 2011 at 11:36 pm
I LOVE BALLET
March 31, 2011 at 10:39 am
Love Swan Lake
March 31, 2011 at 1:17 pm
These bags look superb I would dearly love 2 have one of these for when i go ballet on Saturdays Winning one of these would be a wonderful ocassion Please pick **** ME ****