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brivagook

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  • Connection to/interest in ballet** (Please describe. Examples: fan, teacher, dancer, writer, avid balletgoer)
    dancer
  • City**
    USA
  1. I have just returned from a screening of this film. I have to add my voice to the others here urging everyone to see it! I had actually avoided reading this thread until after seeing the film, so I wouldn't have any preconcieved ideas as to what it would be like, or be anxiously looking for any particular scene. The entire viewing experience was delightful. The first thing I said when the lights came up was, "That was excellent... when can I get the DVD?!?!" I have already signed myself up for the email notifications of its release! I was struck by the impact that the dancers from these companies have had on the direction of the artform in this country (and around the world). Paul Vasterling, artistic director of Nashville Ballet, introduced tonight's screening of the film, and repeated what one of the Nashville dancers pointed out to him; that probably all of the dancers in the company have been, in some way or other, instructed and/or nurtured by Ballets Russes dancers, or first or second generations instructed/nurtured by Ballets Russes dancers. I myself was fortunate to study with Rochelle Zide-Booth at Butler University, and was happy to see her included in the film (interestingly enough, earlier this year a legal dispute regarding the ownership of Ballets Russes scenery and costumes was ruled in favor of Butler University, giving the school posession of the artifacts.) I know that Mrs. Zide-Booth is living in Tuscon, AZ, and noticed that at least one other featured dancer is also in Tuscon. Does anyone know if there is a concentration of former Ballets Russes dancers in Tuscon? Thank goodness the filmmakers took the initiative to make this film. Had they waited much longer, not all of those wonderful interviews would have been possible.
  2. Not exactly Olympic-related, but for those who have access to the tv station TLC, there is a series called "Ice Diaries" which may be of some interest to the figure skating fans among us. Broadcast schedules and other information for the show (including a trailer) can be found at: http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/icediaries/icediaries.html I haven't have the chance to see a full episode, but the quick bit I did manage to catch seemed relatively entertaining!
  3. Several years ago, the Alabama Ballet did a full length version of this ballet. I was in attendance, although my memories of it are foggy. It think it had to have been sometime around 1993. This was staged when Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski were still directing the company. I can't speak of the production's artistic success, as I was a child and was not watching with a critical eye. However I do happen to remember that the dwarves were played by short company dancers!
  4. I chose "all," although I have to agree with Alexandra's comment about Nutcracker. Because every holiday season of my life has been inundated with Nutcracker music, it is very difficult for me to hear it and appreciate it. I've often wondered what it would be like to hear the score for the first time, since by now I know it so well the novelty is lost. The only parts that still move me are the snow scene and the adagio of the grand pas. Wouldn't it be interesting to be hypnotised to forget all the music, so that you could hear it all for the first time? That would be quite an experiment!
  5. I think, though forgive me if my memory is foggy, that Milwaukee Ballet's Michael Pink did a version of Giselle recently (last season?) that had Giselle in a 1940's concentration camp. I only remember this from browsing company websites... can anyone confirm? Or better yet, did anyone see it?
  6. The very first time I saw this ballet, it was on tv. I was probably about 10 and watching it with my mom, and neither of us had seen it or knew anything about it. We didn't find this section boring at all. On the contrary, we found it absolutely hilarious. After about 10 girls came out, it became "Look mom! ANOTHER one! Surely that's the last one!" and then 4 counts later, out popped girl number 11. And then 12, and so on. Each time another girl came out, we laughed even harder. By the time girl number 32 made her appearance, I don't think either of us could even see the tv anymore. Of course, that was in a much different environment than a theater. The first time I saw this done in a theater, it definitely was not boring. Nor was it funny. I was, as several of you have said before, absolutely mesmerized. It's now one of my favorite scenes in all of ballet. But still, every time I watch it, I have to smile and remember my first experience with the scene, and think "Look mom! Another one!"
  7. In "ABT at the Met-- Mixed Bill", she performs a MacMillan piece called Triad. It is a contemporary pas de trois with Robert LaFosse and Johan Renvall. I believe (from studying the back of my video case) that the video was released in 1984.
  8. Also, just a note in response to the Russians "milking" their applause. I was able to see many performances at the Maryinsky in St. Petersburg last summer, and one clapping-related aspect that I noted was that often, especially if a dancer is struggling through something, the audience will try to "will" them through it with clapping in time to the music. This tended to happen specifically with foutee turns that were in danger of going awry. However, at the Vaganova Academy graduation performance, when the first shade was running towards the upstage left corner to begin those traveling releves in arabasque, the audience went ahead and started giving her their encouragement before she even got to the corner! Those guys know their classic choreography, and they know when something difficult is coming up. They really wanted this girl to deliver the goods on it. And whoever said it before is definitely correct.... they bow until their mothers have stopped clapping... even if most of the theater has already emptied out! I guess they don't want to disappoint their die-hard fans, who are still screaming for more!
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