We had a very unique and very interesting dance film exhibition, named "100 years of British Dance: From Patronage to Power House". The event took 5 days to look through all the rare and useful film materials and, they are far beyond my expectation, absolutely wonderful experience for me.

The film materials were included historical "Giselles" of Spessivtseva and Dolin, Markova and Dolin, Fonteyn and Helpmann, and Fonteyn and Nureyev. Also we could learn the history of The Royal Ballet by films; Pineapple Poll ('59), Petrushka ('62), Checkmate ('63), The Dream('67), Les Noces ('78), and Mayerling ('78), as well as "Ballet Boyz(episode 1) and "Reopening Gala at ROH". As we cannot ride time machine and watch the historical great performances and dancers, these films were the only help for understanding the "legends" by eyes because ballet is the art to understand by seeing and feeling.

Incredible impressions for me was Pineapple Poll (starring Merle Park as Poll, David Blair as captain). Their dancing were so vivid and speedy, and their acting had lovely comical atmosphere. I think John Cranko was so gifted choreographer both in ballets of comedy and tragedy.

Not only the Royal Ballet's great history, but London Festival Ballet (now ENB)'s Sanguine Fan, which is so delightful dance sketch of Oscar Wilde's taste, and NBT's A Simple Man (!) were introduced in classical ballet section. Each film was introduced with well organised helpful lecture by Jane Pritchard, who is the dance archivist at ENB and Rambert Dance Company (and who we interviewed in April 1998: Ed).

In the contemporary dance section, Gregory Nash from British Council gave the lectures. Unfortunately I could not attend the contemporary section because of my work. Michael Clarke, Matthew Bourne, DV8, Siobhan Davies were introduced in this section.

I thank this wonderful event and all the people who made effort to save these films to hand down the ballets as they were to posterity.

In Japan, we have two major ballet magazines; one is DANCE MAGAZINE(monthly) and BALLET (bimonthly). In BALLET (current issue), Viviana Durante received a long interview. She said she is planning to dance with K Ballet (which Tetsuya Kumakawa established ) during their Spring-Summer tour in June and July. Also she mentions she will dance in Naples in this autumn.

But I'll tell you more another time!