January 21

We had Friday free, so I and Soph went to Hagen to do training there. (I've been to the company class a couple times before.) It was a wonderful training, and I wished that it had gone on longer. I was perhaps more relaxed than normal too: as I wasn't there to audition, and it was only afterwards, talking with another guy who was dropping in, that I learned there was an open position in the company for next season. I think I shall have to go back there, and ask the director what he thinks of me. It's just as well that I didn't go auditioning there that day though, because although I had a good feeling in class... it was more the feeling that I was Working well, than the feeling that I was Looking well. -And the teacher was someone I'd don't remember being there before: just before the class, the Ballet director said that this other guy would be teaching. So... it was so.

I left Soph then in Bielefeld, to spend the afternoon in the "big" city, and went on my own path to Magdeburg. Once there, I went on foot, looking for the old center of the city. I got turned around though, and ended up near the theater, which I then went and visited. There I got directions to the Cathedral, (which I'd heard about from a couple of people,) and also found out that there was a performance of "Barber of Seville" that night, (opera by Rossinni.)

I found the Cathedral alright, and got a few pictures of it, (in the cold, cold wind.) And then found it to be locked up tight. So, no chances to look inside. But I will return there, when I've free time in the EARLY afternoon, in that corner of the country. Well, I walked around it a little, and got a few more pictures, then went in search of Food.

I ended up in a decent Italian restaurant, and had soup and a pizza. Then I went off to the train station... but I have not yet made clear why. Well, a year ago, I did training in Magdeburg, (but there were no free contracts,) and I stayed in the Youth Hostel here. It was very... institutional, and without character or life. (Rather like many of the buildings in this city, it seems.) And, it was a little overpriced. So, I'd decided to go to some other little hostelry, in a town 20 minutes away, that was cheeper, and had a more inviting facade. So, that's why I got on a train to Gommern that Friday evening. Of course, I missed the train I expected would leave there, by about two minutes, and had to wait an hour until the next one. So... I went browsing the book-store... and found the newest Terry Pratchett disk-world book. -Which I simply HAD to buy, and that used up the following hour rather quickly.

Once I got off the train though, a little while later, I thought that perhaps i should have put up with the downside of Magdeburg: it was Dark, dark night, with a biting wind, and it had just started snowing. Well, it was still raining too, but the snow started as well. In the end, I turned off one street too early, and made a little five minute detour, bringing my entire walk through the precipitation to about 25 minutes. I was SO glad to get inside the hostel, and relax. The rest of that evening was reading, and Talking on the phone to Pamela, and sleeping in a nice warm bed.

January 22

I had my early breakfast in the hostel, and then had a pleasanter walk, through the not-so-biting cold, with the sun rising, back to the train station. I ended up getting to the theater before anyone else from the Ballet was there, so I sat waiting in the Canteen for a short while. Training was with the usual Russian Ballet Teacher, but was only just over an hour long, and I don't think the entire company was there either. The style was a little more Russian old-school than I would have found ideal, but I was still able to work well in the training, (And I think that I was better able to work with the style of the exercises given, than I was a year ago with this teacher. And that pleased me.)

However, this was not the right morning to make an audition, because the company had a premiere that night, so everyone was focussed... on other things, (and that was the reason the training was shorter than usual.) The Ballet Directress came and watched a few of the last exercises, and glanced at a few more from her office, (which has a clear view of one of the diagonals.) It was also not an easy moment for her to make choices: after the premiere that night, she had only one month to put together a new piece for children. (For children to Watch I mean.) So, I think that she was more focussed on that, than on looking for someone to work there next year. She said that she noted me somewhat though, and that in a month or two she'll call me, to let me know if she'd like to give me a contract.

It sounds like there may be other contracts opening there later too, (right now, there's only one open, for one boy.) So... there's a good chance that I'll by trying to go back there some day this year.

I went straight to the Train station after talking with the Ballet director though, because I had a performance of "Graf" - an operetta, that afternoon in the near-by city of Wolfsburg. And here, there was no earlier train, and I had another hour or so to wait for the train. I went to the Mall across the road though, and had some quick Tai food, (which was highly satisfying.) There was nothing to note on the trains, except that there were masses of half-drunk, all annoying Soccer Fans, going to a game, and singing -no, just Shouting, every few minutes.

Once there though, I walked off into the sunshine, through the city, (I still had 45 minutes before I had to be at the theater, and I felt like walking.) It was rather pleasant, and the theater it's self was on a small, (miniscule,) hill, with lawns around it, and a forest behind it. And I recognised it as the theater I went to when I watched "Les Miserables" (The Famous Musical, you know,) a year ago in October. I'd had a couple hours back at that time, after the bus had arrived, and before the show was starting, so I had explored the forest and the lawns around it.

Well, the musical was allright, and there was time for me to have a quick shower before getting on the bus, and coming back with everyone else to Detmold. Then I spent the rest of the evening with my dear, Dear Pamela, (Who only comes back to Detmold on the weekends, so seeing her was of high importance to me.)

January 23

I got up good and early again, and went to Hannover, which had their open audition today. It's a high calibre company that does neo-classic nearly tending to modern dance. But, they demand high classical ability of their dancers, so I was a little interested. It was a little odd though: I was expecting to know a few of the people there, but didn't recognise a soul, except for two dancers from Chemnitz, where I'd auditioned two weeks ago. At the very last second though, I saw Vassia, who was working here in Detmold last season. So, that was nice: to have an old colleague to talk with, (and a little gossip, I suppose.)

This was an open audition, and there were a lot of people there, although not as many as I feared there might be: only 150. So, we were split up into two groups. I was in the second, so I was waiting around for an hour and a half, (good thing that Terry Pratchett book was still in my bag, no?) Then it was our turn to have the classical training. It was a big, big studio, but it was still a little tight, with the 70 of us that were in there. It was an excellent class though.

The teacher was an inspired old oriental lady, with excellent English. And the Pianist was Russian, and very skilled at his trade, (and I was entertained by his wide repertoire of music, in varied music styles, that he improvised into the right forms for the exercises.) Yes... it was a good training, and I felt rather... sharp. (mentally.) -saving for the last exercise, which I didn't have the proper space to do, and lost my focus in.

Anyhow, I wasn't chosen to stay and do the modern technique and choreography part. (only some 25 people stayed for that.) So, back to Detmold I went, and spent the early evening with Pamela and her Family. And now I write this.
And that is That.