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[dirac]

A preview of American Ballet Theatre in 'Swan Lake' by Susan Reiter in The New York Press.

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But the glories and challenges of the ballerina role remain, and ABT is fielding seven different women in the role. Some are more natural Odettes, pliant and vulnerable, while others take more naturally to the assertive, technically showy qualities of Odile’s choreography. But each must navigate both in the course of a performance. ABT’s typically international roster of swan queens includes three Americans: Gillian Murphy, who has been in blazing form this season; Julie Kent, marking her 25th anniversary with the company, and Michelle Wiles, who is tall, commanding and dramatically understated. Argentina-native Paloma Herrera, whose technical excellence has been excitingly matched by a newly fluid quality and greater depth of interpretation in recent seasons, is always a good match with Marcelo Gomes, who will be her prince; he also partners Kent in the ballet...

[dirac]

Reviews of the production.

The Wall Street Journal

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Zack Brown's designs are apt and mostly pretty, if a little wispy around the edges. Pointedly, his settings stress a lake. This might not seem a noteworthy detail, but you'd never know from various other productions—Peter Martins's often unsightly version at New York City Ballet among them—that the lake of the title has anything to do with what occurs on stage. As for the swans themselves, the work's originators meant these feathered creatures to be seen as stage properties either swimming on the lake or flying overhead. They were not to be confused with the female dancers who dominate the work as an ensemble led by a central figure, Odette.

The New York Post

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But though the skill is there, the emotion isn't. Carreno partners Dvorovenko beautifully, but they never seem to be in love. She puts more zest into her campy portrayal of Odile.

With her predatory neck and talk-to-the-hand haughtiness, she's as much vulture as swan. On Monday, she started her famed virtuoso test of 32 consecutive turns off-balance, but still managed all of them through sheer willpower.

[dirac]

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet visits Manitoba.

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This past April dancers, instructors and choreographers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School's Aspirant Program (along with some of Winnipeg's top artistic talents) traveled to remote Manitoba schools to show how universal the arts can be.

Middle students in the communities of Norway House, Moose Lake, Wabowden and Waterhen were tutored in dance, visual arts, drama and performance, culminating in a performance from the students.