ABT Fan

I agree completely. I’d also add for Belka, keep in mind that it’s Misseldine’s SL debut and also her first lead in a full length. Some folks care more about who is doing O/O (and nailing the fouettés, etc) than the overall partnership and who is doing Siegfried. So if your preference is the former go with Hurlin, otherwise Misseldine (who I suspect will be beautiful and Bell is a must see).

I didn’t see much this year, but concur that Jake Roxander at ABT gets first place for me: Giselle peasant pas, Mercutio, Piano Concerto No 1, Etudes (sadly I missed his Puck). Second place at ABT goes to Chloe Misseldine for Myrtha and her debut in Ballet Imperial.

SL casting in DC in February has been posted. No surprises. Misseldine gets her O/O debut then ahead of her Met debut. https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

She was my favorite dancer too, and I still miss her terribly. Ironically, I watched Black Swan again the night before she posted this and couldn’t help but remember her going to the press lamenting the lack of credit she got for Portman’s dancing. Add in her Pointe magazine article on Cornejo and now this. She’s positioning herself as someone who is difficult to work with and who lacks discretion. Not everything, even when you’re right (or think you’re right, whichever it is) should be made public. I also fear for her future prospects.

That was an absolute WOW!

Lane just posted that she’s no longer the director at RI’s school of ballet (after starting this fall): https://www.instagram.com/p/C0ci0VAOrtf/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Added: California and I must have been typing at the same time.

I don't know her guesting schedule, but since her father passed away a few weeks ago it's possible she wants to spend as much as time as possible in CA with the rest of her family during the holidays.

Miyake and Coco are now apprentices.

He stays on until December 31. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzwoNyPA23_/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I see your point. Bell famously debuted Romeo while still in the corps and I believe he was only 19. That was also his first lead role. However, they'd have to bump a principal to cast him and no one is doing Romeo twice. It's also possible he'll understudy Cornejo in all his lead roles. Not the same obviously, but although Cornejo has (somehow) remained injury-free lately, historically he's had to pull out of major casting for the past several years and he'll be 43 next season. I know Don Q was done last year, but imagine Roxander debuting Basilio this season after his astounding success this past year. It would be insane.

I agree, sort of. What role would you suggest, honest question. I think Romeo or Siegfried needs to wait a bit. Lensky is a good option. If they were doing Don Q I’d say absolutely to Basilio.

Even if Misseldine knocks SL and Tatiana out of the park, I hope they’ll wait another year at least before making her a principal. These two roles are her first leads in a full length and she was promoted to soloist only last year, after one year in the corps! She has the makings of a star to be sure, but let her develop a little more please. However, regarding Roxander, I think he’s absolutely ready to be promoted to soloist as soon as promotions are announced. He’s better than some principals, technically and artistically.

Teuscher was the favorite under McKenzie so this isn’t new. She’s an extremely talented and beautiful dancer, however if you compare her casting to others it’s night and day. Boylston, Brandt, Hurlin, and Trenary (and Murphy) have very little to do (2 or 3 shows?!). Teuscher has 7 lead roles. Seo has 6. Shevchenko has 4. It will never be equal or fair, but 2 vs 7 and for so many principals? Maybe Brandt will get an Olga. Maybe there are secondary roles in Woolf Works. Like Water does have Elena, Rosaura, Gertrudis which will “even some things out “. I was hoping to see Curley get a Siegfried debut. Also, the longer Murphy is allowed to go on the longer Brandt and/or Trenary (and others) will have to wait for debuts.

I would also like more excitement, but I think their hands are tied for next year. Have to do SL, R&J, Like Water for financial reasons, and they were already committed to Woolf Works. At least they’re bringing back Onegin. But, no rep. Still, I agree - I’m not too excited.

Happy for Misseldine - 2 big debuts! No retirement for Murphy? No Copeland? Then perhaps take her off the roster already. I could easily see Roxander as Lensky, so fingers crossed. Brandt, Coker as Olga.

Not sure where to put this, but Cornejo has just posted a farewell to Albrecht, saying if he gets to perform Albrecht again in 2026/2027 “it will be a miracle “. So, he must know that is the next time they’ll do Giselle and it also must mean he’s not retiring anytime soon. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzkYO-rR6NO/?igshid=MXhndHo1Z3B1Z2kybw==

Has the contract situation been resolved? I've not seen anything posted anywhere, if it has or hasn't, and am not sure where to find news of it.

I'll look forward to reading your thoughts on both, and others, if you care to share. Wish I could attend.

I believe the woman in grey/olive was Yoon Seo (edited: never mind, I see above that it's Kimora.) The woman with short hair you were looking at is Abbey Marrison (it was curly, right?). The blond in red is Elizabeth Beyer. Crispino and Nuez did look great, as others said. And, even in class Roxander was amazing. I was also surprised at how many dancers were missing, but then again that studio was packed so I doubt the entire company would have fit anyway. No Curley, Han, Hoven, Williams, Stearns, Shevchenko, Cornejo, Seo, Royal, Murphy, Hurlin, etc. Perhaps they had rehearsal or were saving themselves for performance. Also, if you didn't catch it, the Studio Company also put out a clip of Raymonda Suite for World Ballet Day. All of the dancers featured are in the company now except one, and their technique and maturity on display here is incredible.

https://www.scfta.org/events/2023/american-ballet-theatre-s-the-nutcracker It's not on ABT's website yet.

American Airlines is their airline sponsor, but I’ve always wondered how that worked. I can’t imagine they get free tickets, so are they partially subsidized? And, not to open a Pandora’s box, but since you mentioned sets and costumes, oh my that cost alone, but they’d also have to be insured, and shipped in such a way that they are guaranteed to arrive. The cost and that coordination….yikes.

I was wondering if those flying biz/first are doing so at their own expense (yes, expensive) or used miles to upgrade themselves. I think the later is a possibility given how so many, like Boylston, do lots of guesting and therefore must have tons of miles to use. Would ABT really have the means to pay for the 16 principals going to travel first class?

I believe you’re thinking of AFTERRITE. (The “rite” was italicized I think, which I can’t do on my phone…) But that was at the Koch, so maybe you’re referring to a different ballet.

Did anyone attend yesterday? Curious how Curley and Trenary did in their Dnipro debuts.

One bright spot regarding R&J: we will be able to see Roxander’s Mercutio again. If you haven’t seen it yet, go. And, hopefully Curley will get a Tybalt debut.