<P>Photo of two rising stars of the royal Ballet, Laura Morera and Ricardo Cervera by Charlotte MacMillan<P>Australia continues to dominate the ballet news. This time it is an interview with Gailene Stock about the royal BalletSchool with the empahsis on MEN. And she means MEN - using posters of her half-naked hubby as Spartacus and classes that emphasise the macho. Here is an extract;<P>Classical ballet, says Stock, is "an art form that suits males. They have the power and elevation to make it look spectacular. But they also need to be strong partners. There hasn't perhaps been as much focus on upper-body strength as there might be. Choreography has developed so much in the past two decades, and it's really quite complicated, the sorts of holds and lifts they have to do these days."<P>Not much look in for the 'English style', as far as I can see. I have to say I am a fan of eclectism myself and I lake seeing a mix of Forsythe, MacMillan, Ashton etc at the RB. <P> <A HREF="http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000148269364269&rtmo=lQkllnQt&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/00/3/18/btswam18.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000148269364269&<BR>rtmo=lQkllnQt&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/00/3/18/btswam18.html</A> <P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited 03-18-2000).]

Stuart, I understand that you are a fan of eclecticism, as you wrote above; and I applaud you for your catholic taste in dance.

Thanks grace and Kevin. The reason for the viewing problem, grace, was the (typically) very long Daily Telegraph URL. I have now chopped it in half and added a piccie at the same time.

I must say this interview made me laugh. I remember my reaction when I first arrived at auditions in London many years ago, firstly the majority were so short and it was rare to find a good-looker.<BR>But with Gary Norman teaching the boys (I was in the first year he taught at Aust Ballet School)<BR>They should certainly find some balls.

Sorry I'm tired.