Kristen McNally Weblog

A few weeks in a few pictures.

Moshi Moshi Blog readers!! Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while, things have been a little hectic. Somehow the weeks have whizzed by and I now find myself sat in a Tokyo hotel room with a spare hour, a sleepy blog and so much news to tell! I'm on tour and have purposely been spending my Japan time lost in translation, my phone's been off and internet is limited to a quick email/facebook check every now and then. I find wandering around a foreign city knowing nobody can contact me rather liberating! Therefore this may be brief but I thought a few weeks in a few pictures would at least fill you in a little and I'll elaborate and story-tell later!

New Works performances
You've seen the rehearsal shots, this is how my Linbury piece looked on stage............

© Kristen McNally

Tom was amazing, he turned the piece into something way beyond my expectations. In the past I've sat watching my work so uncomfortably, always wanting to run up there and dance it myself. This time Tom completely owned it and I couldn't get near! For the millionth time.... Thank you Tom!

Although it's rather refreshing now to have something other than the music from it on constant ipod repeat (official play count = 506!) and not spending every spare minute moving tables in my living room or costume rails in my changing room to make space so I can choreograph another bit before I get in the studio, I'm sad that it's all over. I suppose it happens to everyone, you work so hard for something and then it's done in a flash. It's such a shame. I've been thinking............... a friend sent me this BalletBag link about Jonathan Still's review and apart from being totally blown away by what it says, the introduction and realisation that people out there enjoy my work triggered an idea I've had in the back of my mind for a while now......

I've always wanted to put on a little evening of some of the work I've made so far. We'd have Tom and 'Don't hate the player, hate the game', I'd revive my Obama piece, rework a Clore piece I did a couple of years ago to 30 seconds to Mars music and make something new. It's still early days and I have no idea when, where or how but I'm putting it out there and we'll see what happens!!

I'd love your thoughts/ideas/help................write to me at kristenmcnally@ballet.co.uk
(WE ALSO HAVE A DISCUSSION THREAD ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT BE REALISED SO OPEN RESPONSES TO THE IDEA AND THOUGHTS PLEASE AT:
www.ballet.co.uk/dcforum/happening/7748.html
Ta, ED!)

I'm meant to be doing pictures and captions! Here we go........

Tour
The famous Royal Ballet Red Book. A highlight of my year! We get one every time we go on tour and it's filled with everything we could possibly need to know about our time abroad! I always leave one for my Mum and Dad, they love it!!

© Kristen McNally

Mayerling
This is me as Empress Elizabeth on the opening night in Tokyo. Carlos Acosta played Rudolph! I couldn't quite believe it!!

© Kristen McNally

Oh how I love Grape Fanta!!

© Kristen McNally

A little reminder of home
The Cavern Club Tokyo!! Japenese Beatles tribute bands!!

© Kristen McNally

Coin Laundry
I wish I'd have taken a picture of every laundry I've visited on tour so far. Always a story from the coin laundry!

© Kristen McNally

Paul Smith Party
Paul Smith threw a party for us at his Tokyo 'Space'. I loved this bit of wall...

© Kristen McNally

I heart SUSHI!

© Kristen McNally

That sushi is making me hungry and my inner Scarlett Johansson is craving to be lost in translation again! So it's 'bye for now and I'll update you all soon. In the mean time let me know what you think about the idea of reviving some of my pieces for an evening!

愛

Kristen x