20 replies to this topic

[Plisskin]

Unless he's been ill this whole time, the guy has not danced in quite a while. Why does ABT continue to employ him? His position could go to one of the soloists. To be honest, the same could be said about his wife, Irina, too. She's not completely vanished, but she hardly dances. I'd love to see a soloist be promoted in her place as well.

[ksk04]

For awhile I assumed they were keeping him on the roster to keep Irina, who is still in her peak (in comparison to Max, who has, by all accounts, slowed way down). But now Irina is only dancing two performances in spring...so that's clearly not it either. Obviously something is up behind the scenes, but who knows what.

[Natalia]

It just might be an 'h.r. move' related to pension and/or visas? (If they're already US citizens or perm residents, then it's not visas.)

Maybe they have iron-clad contracts specifying a minimum number of years?

In Russia, some dancers are kept on the roster -- at any level --  to meet some minimal requirement for pensions or some other legal benefit that can be accorded only if dancer-x is on the roster for a certain number of years.

[cubanmiamiboy]

 Natalia, on 15 October 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

In Russia, some dancers are kept on the roster -- at any level --  to meet some minimal requirement for pensions or some other legal benefit that can be accorded only if dancer-x is on the roster for a certain number of years.

Isn't that the case of Nioradze, Natasha...?

[abatt]

Good point.  The visa problem didn't even occur to me, but I guess that could be a significant concern.  Their daughter was born in the US,and she is a US citizen, but  I have no idea whether either of her parents are citizens. I saw a news story just this weekend about a mother who was trying to stay in the US even though she was not a citizen and her visa expired.  She had an infant daughter who was born here, and apparently there is some rule that allows the parent to stay if the parent is the primary caregiver.  However, it seems like quite a hassle to get that permission, and it would not necessarily permit both illegal parents to stay in the country.

[FauxPas]

Well very few companies are hiring 40-something dancers.  It says somewhere that Max debuted professionally in 1990 when he probably was a teenager.  So he is forty or above.  Max and Irina had big guesting engagements worldwide.  It precluded their participation in the tours and Fall City Center gigs with ABT.  They are not included in the City Center season this year or on any of the tours. Frankly, they probably could still dance the Iago and Emilia roles in "The Moor's Pavane" rather well.  The only outside engagements they have right now are some "Nutcracker" performances in December - one series in a high school auditorium.

http://www.festivalb...racker2012.html

It is probably worth it staying on just to be able to market himself as a current ABT principal.  It would help them get outside gigs.  The other big question is "Why is ABT keeping Max B on the roster - paying him - and then not casting him?".  Do they have a per performance contract or is it a seasonal contract?  Maybe Max has a benefactor (Theresa Khawly in the past) who keeps sponsoring his contract.

[California]

 FauxPas, on 15 October 2012 - 01:09 PM, said:

The only outside engagements they have right now are some "Nutcracker" performances in December - one series in a high school auditorium.

http://www.festivalb...racker2012.html

A small correction: Festival Ballet actually performs in the new Barclay Theatre at the University of California, Irvine. It's a lovely theater, with great sightlines, far from a high school auditorium. And FTB has had some impressive guests in recent years, such as Marcelo Gomes and Gillian Murphy in the full-length Don Quixote.

[abatt]

I think Faux Pas was referring to Irina & Max's upcoming performances in Greenwich, CT at a high school there. http://irinamaxballet.com/

[Natalia]

 cubanmiamiboy, on 15 October 2012 - 09:48 AM, said:

....
Isn't that the case of Nioradze, Natasha...?

Partly, cubanmiamiboy. In her case, I will guess also 'pride'  and desire to market herself as a Mariinsky Principal whenever she guest-stars in galas, Andris Liepa's producitons, and such. My understanding is that she is quite 'well to do' and enjoying family life outside of Russia.

The h.r. and pension/benefits are more the concern of those in non-principal positions.

[ABT Fan]

I noticed that Max is no longer listed on ABT's website as a principal.  Must have happened very recently.

[abatt]

No retirement gala?  Surprising.

[ABT Fan]

Not too surprising to me.  He's barely danced in the last couple of years, so I can understand there being no retirement gala; I can't imagine it would sell out.  I imagine some patrons would be thinking "Max Who?".

[cubanmiamiboy]

It is still somehow sad to see a dancer just gone in such silence...

[Drew]

Beloserkosky's Aminta in Ashton's Sylvia was my favorite of the three I saw at ABT a few years back--the most fluid and, to my eyes, having the right unemphatic pastoral quality. When I think of him, that's the performance I call to mind.

[angelica]

Drew, you have just given him a lovely "farewell."