47 replies to this topic

[pirouetta27]

Helene, on Aug 28 2009, 12:24 PM, said:

When doing a search to find out the name of Russell and Stowell's third son, which I couldn't find, I did find an announcement from Dance Magazine that their 1996 award was given to Russell and Stowell, Savion Glover, and Peter Boal, who was then dancing with NYCB

http://www.thefreeli...d...-a018144310

and a 2008 interview that Seattle Post-Intelligencer food writer Rebekah Denn did with Kari Brunson

http://blog.seattlep....asp?source=rss

I believe that their third son's name is Darren.  He is pictured in the PNB Commemorative Program from several years back, along with Ethan and Christopher, from a photo taken back in the 70s.

[Helene]

Thank you, pirouetta27!

[sandik]

pirouetta27, on Aug 29 2009, 07:04 AM, said:

I believe that their third son's name is Darren.  He is pictured in the PNB Commemorative Program from several years back, along with Ethan and Christopher, from a photo taken back in the 70s.

His name is Darren (not sure about spelling, though) and the last I heard, he was involved in education in the Bay Area.

[Helene]

KUOW's Marcie Sillman did a piece on Brunson and her new career:

http://kuow.org/program.php?id=18333

The text of interview (with just a few differences) is posted on the page with the link, but if you listen to it, you can hear Brunson's and Ethan Stowell's voices.

Quote

Brunson: "It's a different world. I get to start fresh, be bad, and make myself good. Which is what I felt like I'd done with ballet. I wasn't the talented little child that would soar through the ranks. I pushed, I made myself be a dancer. So now I'm gonna make myself be a chef."

[sandik]

Helene, on Sep 4 2009, 05:08 PM, said:

KUOW's Marcie Sillman did a piece on Brunson and her new career:

http://kuow.org/program.php?id=18333

I heard most of this -- it was very nice!

[Jayne]

I saw "Dancing Beyond Borders" a few weeks ago, and stayed for the QandA with Sy Sar and Anne Bass.  Anne was more down to earth than I imagined a woman with 200million in the bank would be, but I felt they were very honest about how Sy came to America and that Anne would be ok if he decided to quit dance.

He did quit PNB last fall, he was ready to leave ballet.  But after a few months, he really missed it!  So now he is auditioning for other companies, and to paraphrase him, would like to go some place warm.

Which makes me think Miami or Houston would be a good fit!

[Helene]

Or Arizona.

Sar is a beautiful dancer.  The first time I saw him dance was in his graduation performance, as the dancing master in "Konservatoriat."

[Helene]

RM Campbell confirmed in his review in "The Gathering Note" (reported in Links), that Mara Vinson is leaving the Company at the end of the season.

Quote

Mara Vinson danced Swanlida. This was a bittersweet moment because she is leaving the company at the end of the season for reasons as yet unexplained, according to company officials. She joined the company as an apprentice in 1999 and became a principal three years ago. She is a dancer who is light and fast and graceful. Her technique has developed into the virtuosity it is today. The role is immensely difficult from all sorts of angles — delicacy coupled with boldness and an ability to act. Vinson, as she has many times in the past, demonstrated her panache, her refinement, her electricity Friday night. She has made so many contributions over the past few years, I don’t like thinking she will not be here shortly.

[Jayne]

not exactly on the "leaving" side of things, but here is who really ought to be promoted based on performances that I saw (note that I don't have to deal with budgets):

From Soloist to Principal
James Moore
Seth Orza

From Corps to Soloist
Kiyon Gaines
Sarah Ricard Orza
Jerome Tisserand
Laura Gilbreath
Stacey Lowenberg

Not that Peter Boal listens to me, but if I were Queen of Anything, as the Sara Borreales song paraphrases...

[SandyMcKean]

It's hard for me to believe given the current economic conditions that any promotions will occur.  But when they do, I'd agree that Seth is on track to be principal as a strong, tall cavalier type male (altho I think he needs a couple more years.....in my judgment he has just broken out into his own personna this year), and Gilbreath could become a soloist at any time.  I'd put Leslie Rausch on the list for principal in the not too distant future.  Chalnessa Eames deserves a lot more praise that she typically gets IMO.

[tutu]

Just to be clear, from what I've gathered, the final tally has Leanne Duge, Sokvannara Sar, Mara Vinson, and Jordan Pacitti leaving the company for various reasons or retiring. Is this correct?

[SandyMcKean]

That's my understanding too (altho Sokvannara Sar left quite a while ago).

[Helene]

According to this article in The Vancouver Sun, Mara Vinson will again perform in Goh Ballet's "Nutcracker" this winter; her partner will be Karel Cruz.

They'll perform in Victoria (Royal Theatre) from 26-28 November, and then again for opening night in December.

http://www.vancouver...2265/story.html

The production by Anne Marie Holmes debuted last year, when Ballet BC did not have a subscription season, which included a visiting company's "Nutcracker".  This coming season, Ballet BC is again offering subscriptions, including Alberta Ballet's "Nutcracker", and I feared for Goh Ballet's production.  I am so glad they're bringing it back.

I was walking along Main Street the other day in search of lunch and a fax service, and I ambled by the Goh Ballet building.  There aren't many fancy-ish buildings in Vancouver -- the '70's took care of that -- but they are housed in a short, multi-story rectangular building with decorative details, which is about as fancy as it gets here, and it struck me as appropriate for the school and company.

[sandik]

The Gohs have offered good training for many years, and their ensemble performs far beyond the typical 'student company' program.  I imagine theirs is a very respectable Nut, but I am curious to know how it fares in competition with the Albert company's touring show.

[Helene]

Alberta Ballet's "Nutcracker" is a relatively new production, choreographed by Edmund Stripe.  It's described as being set in Imperial Russia.  This year it opens in Ottawa (tour) on 1 December, followed by Edmonton on 10 December and Calgary on 17 December before landing in Vancouver on 29 December.

Here is a description from when it premiered in 2008:

http://www.edmontonj...7158/story.html

It was designed by Zack Brown, and the costumes and sets look opulent:
http://www.albertaba...1284077/1000552
http://www.nac-cna.c...ent.cfm?ID=6312

I'm not sure if I'll be in town to see this, but I am looking forward to seeing the Goh Ballet production.