Daria and Sabinas flight to Tokyo this morning was cancelled and no reason given, so now they are going tomorrow morning ( they will miss their Sumo tour).

Only 6 passes missing between the Junior and Senior course, so I shall pay the fines and return the passes box. It has been another wonderful time here at the magnificent studios of the Czech National Ballet. Regardless of the scaffolding and other necessary  building work going on around us, it is always such a pleasure to work in this historic building, it feels like a real privilege to have my own office here every summer for the past 21 years. The grumpy unhelpful gatekeepers (they know which ones they are) and the friendly helpful ones are all just a part of the experience and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Now we are able to have Sabina working for us in the summer and her boyfriend as well, plus Amber doing a sterling job in organising and supporting it really is a family affair, and I think that the dancers really feel a part of the super friendly but serious atmosphere we naturally generate. Having old friends come over to teach (Patrick Armand pointed out to me at dinner that we had been friends for over 40 years when he first joined London Festival Ballet) each summer is a real pleasure and honour. This does not feel like a job for us. We all love it, all the staff and teachers and that comes over to the dancers who really blossom here with us. I shall be meeting Martin Rypan from the National Theatre next Thursday and so hopefully will be able to post the dates after that. Have a great rest of the summer and we shall return next summer. I shall be adding pictures to the gallery page as they come  in. IAN