This is your chance to change the planet Earth, universe, and humanity! I see the National Ballet of Canada 2004/2005 has reached 9 pages – of which I can take most of the blame! How would you feel about splitting it up between seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter? I’m sure there are many other ways we could make this more palatable for readers. Post your thoughts and let your voice be heard load and clear!

* Okay, so we’re just changing the way we see the National Ballet of Canada on CriticalDance…but it’s a start!

<img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/209/1500/640/big%20bang.jpg" alt="" />

I think it's a good idea to look at this, Michael, as the current arrangement is becoming unwieldy and difficult to find particular ballets etc.

Thinking of the various alternative models:

1. Your season's model sounds viable. Is it easy to identify these seasons in the NBoC programme or does the company actually name them in that way? For instance, Rambert have a Spring your and an Autumn tour and we report them using that system, with about 50 posts per season.

This is also the system we use with NYCB, as there are too many unique programmes to do a programme by programme method (see 2.)

2. We report on the Royal and SFB, programme by programme as they have around 10 per season and there will be a fair number of posts for each.

3. Another possible system that we haven't actually tried would be a thematic approach. For instance, Jeff Salzberg suggested: "Artists", Repertoire", and "Management".

Over to our NBoC posters and readers to express their views.

<small>[ 13 February 2005, 05:26 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Personally, from experience with the SFB topics, I like splitting things up by program and then having one general season discussion for things like "So and so got promoted," or "Lucky subscribers get good seats at the Four Seasons Center..."

There are usually a limited number of programs --is it 5 this season? But it makes searching a topic for a specific thing or person easier later.

The NBoC divvies up their season by Fall, Winter, and Spring-two ballets per season. Will there be a Summer with the move to the Four Seasons Centre? I also like dividing it up by ballets, dancers, management, and Four Seasons Centre.

I think dividing the posts up by season seems the most logical, with a general board as mehunt suggested. I don't think that the NBoC will have a summer season in the new opera house, but a summer thread could be used to discuss "Ballet by the Water" performances.

Yes, whichever system we adopt a general topic is useful. Delighted this is rolling - more users' comments, please.

<small>[ 13 February 2005, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

I’m calling an emergency meeting of all NBoC posters! Please provide your feedback. It is imperative that we streamline the NBoC topic to make it more reader friendly.

Thanks to Salzberg for helping with my technical difficulties - I'm now able to post!

I vote for something organized by NBOC dance seasons (so that would be three), and perhaps an additional something where we could post more general news/topics.............

I agree with having four seasons plus a general thread for interviews and general interest topics not tied to a specific program. Also note that items related to planning and construction of the Four Seasons Centre have a place in the "Managing Dance" forum.

Sounds great to me!

It looks as though the concensus view is for seasons' topics plus a general one. Last call for other arguments, please.

If we go forward on the above basis, shall we kick off when the next season starts, Michael?

<small>[ 17 February 2005, 02:10 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

The people have voted. Will do.

So, that looks like April with "Cinderella", if I have read the NBoC website correctly?

Okay we start anew with Cinderella for National Ballet of Canada Spring 2005! Spring conjures up such sweet memories: new beginnings, the promise of summer, derelicts who have spent the winter snoozing on Toronto’s sidewalks defrosting, a foot of leftover winter salt to drudge through on my way to work, the sight of black snow, and of course, looking forward to that lovely Toronto Summer Smog that will envelope the city! Yes spring is a wonderful time of the year! Well, at least we have Cinderella to look forward to.

<img src="http://www.national.ballet.ca/images/performances/seasons/2005spring/img-cinderella5.jpg" alt="" />