23 replies to this topic

[puppytreats]

Did anyone see this in Paris? I am thinking of leaving ABT's performance at City Center early, to catch the second half of this in NYC.

[Ceeszi]

OK - I am going tonight. And I am excited for a number of different reasons. First of all, this is the first Stars Gala in New York City since 2008. Second, I have not seen Svetlana Zakharova dance since the summer of 2005 when the Bolshoi was at the Met. Third, the chance to see Olga Smirnova after all the wonderful things that have been said about her. Fourth, to see Shrinkina and Shklyarov. And I am sure that there will be a few surprises. Hopefully, I will post tomorrow with a report.

[YID]

left my program at home - in two words - loved all classical (most classical pieces), and had to survive through, what my non-ballet-expert friends reffered to "lots of floor wrestling, with longest skirts on women - where you don't need decades of ballet training or ballet bodies". Overall, i am glad i went, more comments (hopefully) will follow.

[nysusan]

This was the most dreary gala I have ever been to, the only thing that kept me in my seat was the hope of seeing Smirnova and Chudin in the very last piece - Grand Pas Classic . They had also been scheduled to perform Petit's Thais pas de deux in the first half of the gala but it was skipped without comment so some of us questioned whether they would make any appearance at all. They did, and they were wonderful but this is hardly may favorite pdd. The only other classical pdd performed was from DQ, and it was not particularly well done. There were 2 by Balanchine , Tchai Pas with Shirinkina & Shklyarov and the Rubies pdd by Sara Lamb and Eric Underwood. Both were fine, but nothing to wow Mr B's home town crowd. Totally absent were McMillan and Ashton.

The rest of the evening, the bulk of the evening was just one dreary modern pdd after another. Most of them began with the dancers moving in silence before the music kicked in (was that novel once?). Most were angst riddled floor wresting pieces or man manipulating woman pieces set to mournful music - there were not many actual steps on display. I did enjoy seeing Lucia Lacarra, she can always make something out of this type of pas de deux.

[abatt]

The Balanchine selections made me appreciate NYCB even more. I thought Shrinkina did a poor job with Tchai pdd. I think Desomond Richardson keeps performing the same solo choreography at every gala, but just changes the music and the lighting. Smirnova and Chudin were worth the wait. I didn't think Lucia Lacarra was still dancing. Seems like she's been around forever. Is Cyril Pierre retired?

[kbarber]

I didn't think Lucia Lacarra was still dancing. Seems like she's been around forever. Is Cyril Pierre retired?

I saw Lacarra in Neumeier's Swan Lake in Munich this past April and she was brilliant. She's 37. Cyril Pierre danced in Song of the Earth.

[Natalia]

....I thought Shrinkina did a poor job with Tchai pdd. ....

Wow - that says a lot. I hope that her husband/partner, Schklyarov, was his usual wonderful self, at least.

[abatt]

Yes, Schklyarov did well in the Tchai pdd.

[cubanmiamiboy]

loved all classical (most classical pieces), and had to survive through, what my non-ballet-expert friends reffered to "lots of floor wrestling, with longest skirts on women - where you don't need decades of ballet training or ballet bodies".

...been there.