43 replies to this topic

[bart]

The MCB newsletter Bravo reports three promotions to Soloist.  (It happened "mid-season," but I didn't catch it.  Congratulations to:

Charlene Cohen, Marc Spielberger,  and Daymel Sanchez.  
And to Alexander Dutko, promoted to Coryphee.

Apprentice Daniel Baker has choreographed a piece, Incarnadine, the World Premiere of which was performed at Program 2 of MCB's Contemporary Dance Series in Miami Beach March 23 and 24.  Works by Balanchine, Wheeldon, and Villella were also performed, so Baker was in pretty good company.

You can see brief biographies on the Company site.  Just click "The Company" after you get there.
Miami City Ballet

There's also a new Director of Development, Heidi Hancock, who has served in the same capacity for Boston Ballet and Kansas City Ballet.  It's a difficult job, since MCB has subscription series in four different cities, and actually has more performances in West Palm Beach than in Miami.   I really wish her and her colleagues success.  (Will someone in Palm Beach County please give the money to keep a live orchestra in performances here?   )  Also -- though I know this is controversial -- how about starting a program as in ABT, NYCB, etc, in which donors can "sponsor" individual dancers?  It might help with the needed expansion of the ranks of male Principals.

[Helene]

It's great to see dancers get opportunity and recognition.  Congratulations to them  

[artspatron07]

I noticed that  principal dancer, Mikhail Ilyin and soloist, Kenta Shimizu  are no longer on the MCB's website bios.  Where did they go?  I have enjoyed their past  perfomances with Miami City Ballet. but have not seen  them in recent performances.  If my memory serves  correct Mr. Shimizu  was recently named one of the 25 dancers to watch in Dance magazine.

[bart]

I was told by a development rep that Ilyin has "left the company."   (Management-speak for .... ????)  I don't know about Shimizu.  Both are fine dancers.  Ilyin, especially, who was able to project the more serious classical roles, will be missed at the top.

Welcome, artspatron07.  It's great to have another BTer in this area.  Looking forward to your thoughts about the MCB and other ballet performances in this culturally rich -- but somewhat "out of the way" -- part of the country  

[artspatron07]

bart, on Apr 14 2007, 02:59 PM, said:

I was told by a development rep that Ilyin has "left the company."   (Management-speak for .... ????)  I don't know about Shimizu.  Both are fine dancers.  Ilyin, especially, who was able to project the more serious classical roles, will be missed at the top.

Welcome, artspatron07.  It's great to have another BTer in this area.  Looking forward to your thoughts about the MCB and other ballet performances in this culturally rich -- but somewhat "out of the way" -- part of the country   :)

Thank you Bart  for your greeting.   I will  also miss both Ilyin and Shimizu.  I would have enjoyed seeing Ilyin perform Rubies next season.  I believe it will be a difficult void to fill.  Do you know who will take Ilyin's place?

[bart]

artspatron07, on Apr 15 2007, 04:22 PM, said:

[Do you know who will take Ilyin's place?

Sadly, I'm 90 miles away from HQ.  Also, Ballet Talk posts only official news in these matters.   (Though we can, of course, express our thoughts about who SHOULD be hired, promoted, and similar matters.)

Please, all MCB followers, if and when you find official news on new dancers, please post (and link if possible) here.    Thanks.

[artspatron07]

bart, on Apr 15 2007, 04:35 PM, said:

Please, all MCB followers, if and when you find official news on new dancers, please post (and link if possible) here.  :beg:  Thanks.

Although I have not seen an official press release, Miami City Ballet has added new dancers to the company roster. The  new dancer's  bios are not yet complete on the company's web page but here are the changes listed on  MCB's website (with bios and photos coming soon).

New soloists: Daniel Sarabia and Joseph Phillips

New members of corps de ballet: Herberth Riascos, Lisa Reneau, Neil Marshall,  and Jennifer  Lauren

Promoted  to corps de ballet from company apprentice: Daniel Baker and  Maira Barriga (I believe Daniel Baker and Maira Barriga were SAB students before arriving in Miami last season).
  
Promoted to corps de ballet from coryphee: Leigh Ann and Sarah Esty

New company appprentices: Helen Ruiz and Christine Sciturro.

[Leigh Witchel]

I also noticed Michael Breeden and Alexander Dutko promoted from company apprentice to coryphee

[bart]

Thanks artspatgron07 and leigh.

I Googled the following Boston Ballet biography for Daniel Sarabia ...

and for Joseph Phillips  I see from today's posts on the YAGP Gala thread that Phillips partnered Ashley Bouder last night in something from Stars and Stripes.

I  am sure that these young dancers will add excitement and stage presence to the company.  

However, I would also love also to see a more mature and experienced dancer brought on board who could give greater emotional weight and dramatic presence to the list of male principals.  Maybe more news is coming ... ?

I should add another name that really excites me:  Alex Wong, promoted from corps to soloist.  Very much deserved!

By the way, Alexander Dutko -- who was promoted to coryphee earlier in the season -- choreographed a lovely and remarkably accomplished piece for the dancers' own "Our Show" a few weeks ago.  Called "Venia," the piece involved a single man (Dutko himself) and three women (Kristin D'Addario, Ashley Knox and Amanda Weingarten).   These dancers are SO young and so very talented.   But the setting Dutko made for himself and them was the work of someone who understands movement and pacing, and can deploy his dancers across the stage with an artistry that is well beyond his years.  

[artspatron07]

bart, on Mar 28 2007, 02:44 PM, said:

The MCB newsletter Bravo reports three promotions to Soloist.  (It happened "mid-season," but I didn't catch it.  Congratulations to:

Charlene Cohen, Marc Spielberger,  and Daymel Sanchez.  
And to Alexander Dutko, promoted to Coryphee.

Soloist Charlene Cohen will join San Francisco Ballet as a corps de ballet member next season.  I am curious why she would leave Miami after being promoted to soloist. San Francisco Ballet is a wonderful company with maybe  larger programing opportunity and more exposure. She will be missed in Miami, but congratulations to her.

See San Francisco's press release.
http://www.sfballet....asp?id=10193076

[bart]

artspatron07, on May 10 2007, 03:12 PM, said:

Soloist Charlene Cohen will join San Francisco Ballet as a corps de ballet member next season.  I am curious why she would leave Miami after being promoted to soloist. San Francisco Ballet is a wonderful company with maybe  larger programing opportunity and more exposure. She will be missed in Miami, but congratulations to her.
See San Francisco's press release.
http://www.sfballet....asp?id=10193076

Interesting question.  One thing occurs to me:  there's such a large talent pool of young, upcoming female dancers at MCB.  Cohen is a lovely dancer, but didn't seem to have any qualities that made her unique or irreplaceable within that particular company and its rep.  Maybe the needs are different at SFB, and the opportunities greater for a dancer like Cohen.

Anyway, this was the season that Cohen became one of those dancers I looked for when the curtain went up.  I hope the move brings her -- and SFB -- all the best.

[HollyFusco]

There are a number of new additions to MCB's 2007-2008 Roster:

Rolando Sarabia: coming as a Principal from Houston Ballet http://www.houstonba...olando_Sarabia/

Isanusi Garcia-Rodriguez: coming as a Soloist. Garcia-Rodriguez was prior a Principal with MCB and also danced with Ballet Gamonet and Ballet Sarasota.
link from earlier thread: http://ballettalk.in...dex.p...w=&st=

Zherlin Ndudi is from the Ukraine and joins MCB as a soloist. Here is a thread to the USAIBC: http://www.usaibc.co...6_medalists.htm

As some others have mentioned: Joseph Phillips from SFB (http://www.sfballet....asp?id=12340067)
and Daniel Sarabia of Boston Ballet ( http://www.bostonbal...ofile421e.html) (brother of Rolando Sarabia)
will also be joining as Soloists.

Toshiro Abbley will be joining as a Corps de Ballet member: here is a USAIBC link: http://www.usaibc.co...6_medalists.htm

Some have mentioned these next four:

Jennifer Lauren joins MCB's Corps de Ballet after dancing in Alabama Ballet: http://www.alabamaba...ers.html#lauren

Neil Marshall joins MCB's Corps de Ballet after dancing with Suzanne Farrell Ballet (no link)

Lisa Reneau joins MCB's Corps de Ballet from LA Ballet : http://www.losangele...any_dancers.htm

Herberth Riascos joins MCB's Corps de Ballet from Ballet Gamonet (no link)

Cindy Huang joins MCB as an apprentice from the School of American Ballet.
as does
Helen Ruiz as some have mentioned.

Christie Scuitturo was promoted from a School Apprentice to a Company Apprentice this year.

And new Student Apprentices are:
Peter Doll
Gabriella Gonzalez
Rebecca King
Elizabeth Smedley
Amir Yogev

Congratulations to all!

[bart]

Wow!  Thanks for that list, Holly, and for the links.  (I notice that Boston has already apparently deleted Dianiel Sarabia.)  

It will take a while for me to absorb (mentally) all these additions.  Off the top of my head, I'm truly happy to see Garcia-Rodriguez return; he always impressed me with his stage presence and dramatic sense.  Two Sarabias, too!  The male roster certainly will be fun to watch this coming season.  

I'm very much looking forward to hearing the responses of others who follow MCB and/or are familiar with the work of these dancers.

[dcportrait]

I was unable to find Alexander Dutko on their company roster this morning - did I miss something?

[bart]

Dutko does seem to be missing.  If indeed he has left, it's sad news, considering his excellent work -- dancing and choreographing  one of the better pieces at the "Our Show" performances last month.  With so many new dancers, I guess it's inevitable that some are leaving.

Any official, published news?