84 replies to this topic

[bart]

During all of his pre-performance talks at the Kravis Center last week, Edward Villella spoke of an invitation from the Theatre du Chatelet for Miami to dance for 3 weeks in July, 2001.

Villella said that they would bring from 12-15 ballets, including Symphony in Three Movements, Golden Section, Afternoon of a Faun, and La Valse.  The point would be to show the range of choreographies and styles in which MCB can dance.

Please keep in mind that contracts have not yet been signed as of this date.  So, this is an "official" story without an "official" conclusion -- right now at least.

I thought it might be fun to have a thread on which to publish developments in this story AND to talk about our thoughts as to repertory and other artistic matters.

On the Chatelet website, the only listing so far is a block devoted to the 7th edition of the Etes de la Dance.  Here's the link:

http://www.chatelet-...calendrier.php#

Any thoughts?  Suggestions?  .... Travel plans  ?

[Helene]

I hope this works out for the company.  A three-week tour will give the dancers a chance to explore some of the city while they're there.

[cubanmiamiboy]

So many ballets for such little time...!-(and so few Principals...).  That would certainly prove a challenge for the company...

[bart]

It's official.  

The Theatre du Chatelet now website lists 19 performances from July 6-23.  Still no word as far as I can tell from MCB itself.  In a word .... WOW!  

http://www.chatelet-...calendrier.php#

[Jack Reed]

This link provides some details of the repertory directly:

http://www.chatelet-...de-la-danse,494 *

*See below in Post #7

Edited by Jack Reed, 21 March 2011 - 10:13 AM.

[bart]

Thanks, Jack, I missed that in my excitement.

Quote

Each of the 17 performances will offer a different program, including at least one or two ballets of Balanchine and other works from the current repertoire of the company.

For those of us who follow the company regularly, there's nothing new in the choice of ballets --each of which has been performed recently down here in Florida, with a couple in New York City as well.  The works may not be "new," but the programming concept is varied and intriguing.  It reminds me of those long NYCB European tours of long ago, which Edward Villella would certainly remember vividly.

[Jack Reed]

Since January, this list has appeared:

http://www.chatelet-...sdanse2011.html

This gives more complete info on choreographers and composers.

[Estelle]

I'll be attending 6 of those performances (going to Paris two week-ends in a row to see them), and am eagerly looking forward to seeing it !  
I'm especially glad that they will perform so many Balanchine works (especially as the next POB season will alas not include any Balanchine work...)


I just regret that they will be performing at the Théâtre du Châtelet, because its sight lines often are quite awful (bizarre, unconvenient columns here and there...), even though it's a theater with a glorious ballet past (many Ballets Russes works, including "Pétrouchka", "Les Sylphides", "The Rite of Spring"...)

I'm especially looking forward to seeing "Square dance" again: I saw it for the first time on May 3 in New York by the NYCB, and will see it 3 times by MCB
(July 8, 9 and 16). I'm also impatient to discover several ballets for the first time, especially "La Valse" on July 8 and Ballet Imperial" on July 9... and also to see again "The Four Temperaments" twice (July 9 and 16), as it's one of my very favorite ballets.

Question to MCB regulars: are there some dancers that you'd especially recommend watching ?

[Justdoit]

Estelle,

I have watched/read your thoughtful observations over the years and am now looking forward to your response to this wonderful, newer (only 25 years old) American company.  Of course I have some favorite dancers in the company, but I am more interested in hearing your impressions of the pieces; how they are danced and the company's energy, as you see it.  

So happy to hear you will be seeing so much and just can't wait to hear your "reviews!"

[Kristen]

Estelle - Like JustdoIt, I'm looking forward to your reviews from Paris.  I get to see MCB regularly in West Palm Beach, Florida and have been repeatedly dazzled by the dancing of Jeanette Delgado.  Enjoy - looking forward to your reports.  (While I think MCB has become a fine company, my heart belongs to American Ballet Theatre.)

In an aside, I attended the opening night gala last July at the summer festival at the Theatre du Chatelet (Novosirbirsk Ballet).  A man was talking loudly during one of the ballets and 2 large Russian men got up, yelled out something, then picked him up bodily and tossed him through the swinging doors into the outer lobby.  The incident filled many of my fantasies of what to do with talkers, hummers, foot tappers, texters and candy wrapper rustlers!  My husband's comment was "boy, these Russians really take their ballet seriously!"

[bart]

Estelle, I'm also looking forward to your reactions to the MCB performances.  I've seen only a few ballet performances at the Chatelet, but I understand your concerns about the theater.  I hope they have enough rehearsal time on stage to be able to adjust.

There have been personnel changes in  the company dkuring the past two seasons, with more corps members and apprentices coming up through the company's school, and a couple of their most individual and striking dancers either retiring or moving on.  A group of young people from Brazil are considered especially promising and have been adapting rather quickly to the demands of MCB's repertoire.  

My own choice of a principal  to "watch for" is Jeanette Delgado.  Delgado, who was out for much of last season due to injury, has star quality and integrity, especially in allegro Balanchine.  She has grown in stature every season.  When she is on stage, it's not easy to take your eyes from her.  I hope you will get to see her in be in Square Dance and Tharp's Upper Room.

Your countryman Yann Trividic excelled in Western Symphony this season.  I'd love to see him in 4 Ts as well -- anything which calls for a tall striking dancer and a soupcon of wit.    He was developing a strong partnership with Patricia Delgado, Jeanette's sister, before Delgado had her own injury late in the season.  I hope you'll get the chance to see them together, possibly in Western.

MCB's Symphony in Three Movements in 2007 was one of the most thrilling ballet experiences I've had.  A number of those dancers have departed, but I hope Paris gets performances on July 8th and 9th that lives up to that 2007 cast.

One of the qualities I like is that this IS a company.  There's not so much a company "style" as a company "feeling" ... an "esprit."  They dance well together and always look like they are thrilled to be on stage.

For some insights into the rehearsal process for Paris, corps dancer Rebecca King's blog reports are worth reading.
.
http://tendusunderap...ntil-paris.html

[Estelle]

Justdoit, Kristen, bart, many thanks for your replies !

Kristen, I wish I could have seen the Novosibirsk ballet in Paris last summer (but I was 8 months pregnant back then, and travelling was not very easy...)

bart, I think I saw Yann Trividic on stage once... but it was about a decade ago, when he danced "Romeo and Juliet" with the Ballet de Marseille, so I guess he must have changed quite a lot since then. :-)

[bart]

Kristen, on 21 June 2011 - 10:16 AM, said:

In an aside, I attended the opening night gala last July at the summer festival at the Theatre du Chatelet (Novosirbirsk Ballet).  A man was talking loudly during one of the ballets and 2 large Russian men got up, yelled out something, then picked him up bodily and tossed him through the swinging doors into the outer lobby.  The incident filled many of my fantasies of what to do with talkers, hummers, foot tappers, texters and candy wrapper rustlers!  My husband's comment was "boy, these Russians really take their ballet seriously!"

Estellle -- I hope your own experience will be more serene than this.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Kristen, on 21 June 2011 - 10:16 AM, said:

A man was talking loudly during one of the ballets and 2 large Russian men got up, yelled out something, then picked him up bodily and tossed him through the swinging doors into the outer lobby.

Lovely!  

[bart]

Maybe I'm not alone in wondering about the logistics of moving a big ballet company on long-distance tours.  Production and Lighting Director John Hall gives us a brief overview on the MCB website, here:

http://www.miamicity...ction-in-paris/