7 replies to this topic

[dirac]

Commentary on the Mariafrancesca Garritanoaffair by for The Huffington Post.

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Ringer, who is 37 and a working mom, was being clear even in the face of Curry's overwhelming sympathy: in her experience, ballet neither necessitated nor rewarded anorexia.

So what to make of Garritano? Is the Italian system less forgiving than its American counterpart? Or is there something to be said for the fact that Garritano doesn't seem to have children and Ringer does? Garritano's claims of "widespread infertility" made headlines alongside the word "anorexia" when she first said her piece. They also elicited the most direct rebuttal from La Scala: a spokesman cited nine pregnancies among the company's dancers in the last year a half. He didn't, however, specify how old the dancers who conceived were, leaving Garritano's claims of an unusually barren generation unaddressed.....

[dirac]

A review of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre by Jane Vranish in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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Perhaps the best balanced mixed-repertory program PBT artistic director Terrence Orr has produced during his tenure here, "Uncommon" produced an evening of firsts, with two local premieres, Mark Morris' first PBT ballet, "Maelstrom," and Dennis Nahat's "Brahms Quintet" -- plus a world premiere, Dwight Rhoden's "Chromatic."

It was also the initial performance of a new three-year partnership in which PBT will perform annually at the August Wilson Center. Lastly, the audiences could luxuriate in the live accompaniment by members of the PBT orchestra in a chamber music setting that was all that and more.

[dirac]

A review of Moscow City Balletin "Swan Lake" by Martin Dreyer in The Press.

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In the middle of a punishing three-month tour of England, with four productions in their repertory, it is astonishing that the dancers of Moscow City Ballet can still bring freshness to old chestnuts like Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

York might have hoped for something slightly off the beaten track, like Romeo and Juliet (coming to Bradford in March). Yet Sunday’s performance was alive with an enthusiasm that will have quickly rejuvenated any jaded palates in the audience.

[dirac]

Evgenia Obraztsovajoins the Bolshoi.

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­Evgenia Obraztsova desided to move on after her contract with the Mariinsky Ballet Company expired. Obraztsova danced in St. Petersburg’s main theatre since the beginning of her career in 2002.

Her name is still listed on the Mariinsky’s ballet repertoire, and she is expected to continue working there as an invited star

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[dirac]

Diana Vishnevaessays Martha Graham.

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....Vishneva is flat-footed throughout and wears a floaty, quite lyrical dress — a far cry from her usual tutus — a design done for the original Graham production. "In classical roles you don’t have the freedom to express deep inner emotions the way I do now," says the 35-year-old, conceding that she could never have taken on the part as a young girl. "Even in Ariadne’s weakness, the role of the maid, she is still strong and powerful."....

[dirac]

The Grand Rapids Ballet Companypresents "Amore and More."

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“Red Angels,” an abstract piece by Ulysses Dove, features electric violinist Mary Rowell and the Ballet’s dancers in a performance that is sure to stimulate with color, light, sound, and beat. The work was originally created for the New York City Ballet.

In “Flower Festival in Genzano,” set to Edvard Helsted’s musical score and the choreography of August Bournonville, be transported to a romantic and beautiful Italian village in this sunny and optimistic piece about young love.

[dirac]

A preview of Orlando Ballet's"Battle of the Sexes III" by Matthew J. Palm in The Orlando Sentinel's blog.

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The music will range the spectrum of romance from George Michael's rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to the sweeping score of the film "First Knight," a retelling of the King Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot love triangle. Techno sounds are part of the mix, too — hey, falling in love on the dance floor is a time-honored tradition.

Hill is diplomatic about whether the men or the women are the champions at the end of the performance. "There was never really a conclusion of who wins the battle in 'Battle I' or 'II,'" he says.

[dirac]

An update on the fallout at Miami City Ballet from Edward Villella's announced departure by Jordan Levin in The Miami Herald.

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Treasurer Ron Esserman, a longtime ballet supporter on the executive board, said some of his colleagues cared more about Villella’s tendency to alienate major donors than his artistic achievements. “Keeping donors happy is not [Villella’s] strong point,” Esserman said. “We’ve lost some big donors. Some of the big donors [on the board] want him to go. ... The donors want special attention and to have someone pat them on the back. Edward isn’t always capable of that.”

Like most ballet companies, Miami City Ballet faces frequent financial challenges, and suffered losses and cutbacks at the height of the crisis in 2008 and 2009. Yet it has earned outsize acclaim despite a budget (currently about $14.5 million) much smaller than troupes such as New York City Ballet or San Francisco Ballet. About half its income comes from ticket sales and other earned income, and the rest from donations, the majority of them from individuals or foundations.The company finished the 2011 season last spring in the black, but after returning from its stellar Paris season, it was in such dire financial straits that it had to solicit emergency donations to cover dancer salaries in October.

Read more here: http://www.miamihera...l#storylink=cpy