Opening night of the Moscow Ballet's performance of "Swan Lake" in Victoria, BC got lost in the skirmish over costumes, cues and music for the local ballet students who were recruited to perform with the company. Gina Sinclair-Davis is a friend of mine; she has had years of experience preparing student dancers to perform with visiting companies, often under severely trying circumstances. Grania Litwin reports in the Victoria Times Colonist:

Times Colonist

Gina is also a very good friend and colleague. I've known her for about a quarter century -- have taught, choreographed, and performed a little for and with her students. She now teaches for studios in the Victoria area, after succesfully directing her own for many years.

As FT reports, she is the person who rehearses local ballet students and children for inclusion in ballets by touring companies, including "Nutcracker" and others.

She is very thorough.

Of course, what's gotten lost in all of this is: And how was the performance?

Well...as it happens, a truly terrible review from the Vancouver Sun about the performance in Vancouver on Monday and Tuesday, November 5-6, by Deborah Meyers:

Vancouver Sun