Another week...

Hi Everyone,

Another week and another post, but I do have some bits and pieces to share with you this week.

Hot gossip item first. One of the three stooges has returned! The principal dancer who last month was in more trouble than a guy caught two-timing is back with the company. The controversy that was boiling over after Japan has run out of steam and the company's lack of principal dancers has been sharply felt. With these two factors combining, the powers that be have allowed him to return. As far as I know, the other two will not be returning.

I'm not really surprised that they have allowed him back. Not only is he virtually irreplaceable; it's typical of the way things are done in this country.

The amusing bit of gossip is that his on/off girlfriend (who he has married and divorced) refuses to be in the same class, room or even same stage as him. She is also a principal dancer which must make for some real scheduling headaches. Not my problem!

I learned yesterday that the company is performing a Gala in the next month and we are going to have a guest artist from American Ballet Theatre! David Hallberg is his name and he will be performing exerts from Swan Lake. If nothing else it will be cool to get a picture with this star.

Our performances for the rest of the year have been set now. There will be performances of the Chabukiani's works, the Gala concert and the American tour in mid June. After this everyone goes on holidays.

I have done three rehearsals this week (Whoopie!!!) They asked me to understudy a Balanchine piece called Bugaku. It is going to be performed at the Gala. It's nothing difficult and I've already learnt most of it. So I'm not going to be doing a lot for the rest of the season. Giselle in America, and that's it.

I didn't have rehearsal today so I went out with Zura and his friends Misha, Sveta and Madonna (No joke, that's her name!) Zura lives about 30 minutes out of Tbilisi in a town called Rustavi. Behind the town is some large hills that give spectacular views. We drove up them took heaps of pictures and shared some katchapuri. Afterward we went down into Rustavi and walked to an ancient castle ruin. Photos are in there usual place or can be viewed by this link. It was great to get out of Tblisi for a bit and see something different. I'm glad that Zura is so friendly and keen on showing off his country.

Thank you everyone for your feedback on the video I posted. I'm going to do a re-shoot of Black Swan tomorrow if possible. Then, I'll get the new video done and post it for you to critique. :-)

That's pretty much it for this week so I'll finish up. Thanks for reading,

Rodney Cuthbertson

DreamChaser