12 replies to this topic

[dirac]

A look at rehearsals for Diablo Ballet's new "Flight of the Dodo" by Carla Escoda for The Huffington Post.

Quote

The dancers, their fine classical technique blazing down to the socks on their feet, are not so much men and women but creatures -- the Explorers displaying animal instincts just like their prey. When they finally capture one of the Dodos, Vivaldi turns sorrowful and majestic, the Largo movement traversed solely by the cellos, as the curious Explorers manhandle their captive. Thus begins the process of sending the hapless species into oblivion - but as the ballet was only half complete on Day 4, we shall have to wait for the premiere on March 1st to see the Dodos' grizzly end as imagined by the ingenious Dekkers. "This is the most literal thing I've ever done," he tells me with a wicked grin.

Related.

Quote

But in this case, Dekkers was getting his ideas in a very new media/crowdsourcing way: via Twitter and Facebook.

[dirac]

Judith Mackrell praises the "rebranding" of the English National Ballet.

Quote

Ultimately, of course, it's the work that counts. The nights I sense a real change in the ROH audience are always when something electric is happening on stage – when Wayne McGregor or Liam Scarlett are bringing in a very different crowd. And so it will be with ENB. A rebrand was necessary – but I'm far more excited to see how Rojo will back this up with dancing.

[dirac]

Q&A with Alexei Ratmansky.

Quote

Q. Founding artistic director Edward Villella’s departure was a big change for Miami City Ballet. What do you think about that?

Edward really did create this company from zero, and it’s his company still. He built an amazing institution. Now the trick is to preserve it and lead it somewhere else. It’s hard for the dancers, hard for all involved. But it shouldn’t be sad. Life continues.

[dirac]

Louisville Ballet presents "Romeo and Juliet."

Quote

The Louisville Ballet opens Shakespeare's timeless tragedy of star-crossed lovers this week. Alun Jones and Helen Starr return to the company to stage Jones' version of "Romeo and Juliet," which opens Friday in the Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall.

Related. Video.

Quote

WHAS11's Renee Murphy talked with a representative from the Louisville Ballet and one of the stars of the show.

[dirac]

Alberta Ballet invites Helios Dance Theatre to Edmonton.

Quote

That, and the fact that at that point in Madagascar, that particular song and dance number fit perfectly — confirming Gorenstein Miller’s belief that physical language is the one everyone, everywhere speaks.....

“I’m not (just) about the (classical ballet) lines. I’m not just about the musicality. I strive to convey a lot more.”

[dirac]

The Historical Society of Princeton acquires some items related to the area's ballet history.

Quote

Among the items is a commemorative booklet celebrating the ballet school’s “First 50 Years,” introduced by a remark from late founder Audrée Phipps Estey (1910-2002): “It is the discipline that goes with the art of dance and the special hard drive that goes into a production that makes the outcome rewarding. In a day of fast-changing values, it is good to remember that something remains constant — the beauty of the young to which we older ones can dedicate ourselves.”

[dirac]

A review of the Joffrey Balletby Caroline Palmer for the StarTribune of Minneapolis.

Quote

Although the three works on the program spanned the course of a century, each shared elements of innovation that were not only complementary but also told a compelling story about ballet’s past and future.

“Son of Chamber Symphony” (2012), choreographed by Stanton Welch, artistic director of Houston Ballet, opened the show. Set to a John Adams score that changes musical personalities from moment to moment (elegant, austere, rambunctious), the piece twists and torques traditional notions of classical ballet into postmodern poetry in motion....

[dirac]

A review of San Francisco Ballet by Janos Gereben for The San Francisco Examiner. The page keeps forcing me to a raffle page when I try to copy text, so the link will have to do.

[dirac]

A review of San Francisco Ballet by Allan Ulrich in The San Francisco Chronicle.

Quote

The centennial of Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" probably will be celebrated with more grandeur. It will surely be feted more irreverently. But it is doubtful that the 100th birthday of the first modernist musical masterpiece will be observed with more bewildering results than the dance version introduced during the San Francisco Ballet's latest program Tuesday evening at the War Memorial Opera House.

[dirac]

Andrew Scordato talks to high school students about clothes design.

Quote

Andrew Scordato of the New York City Ballet on Wednesday spoke to Saratoga Springs High School students in Patricia Battesh’s Project Runway 101 class. Scordato, 26, is a corp de ballet dancer as well as a costume/dancewear designer.

[dirac]

A story on the hiring of Edwaard Liang by BalletMetColumbus.

Quote

Mr. Liang becomes BalletMet Columbus' fifth artistic director, following a strong roster of past leadership that began in 1978 with Wayne Soulant and continued with John McFall (1986 - 1993), David Nixon (1994 - 2001) and Gerard Charles (2001 - 2012).

[dirac]

New York City Ballet Moves  moves in Vegas.

Quote

The repertoire will vary slightly each night, featuring works both old and new — the new being equally unknown to experts and novices alike.

[dirac]

Reviews of the English National Ballet.

Chichester Observer

Quote

When you’re going to see the English National Ballet, you can be reasonably safe in the knowledge you’ll be seeing a very professional, slick production.Even so, watching their production of The Sleeping Beauty is still breath-taking.

Salisbury Journal

Quote

I had never been to the ballet before, so what better introduction than the incredible talent of the English National Ballet’s dancers.
With great musicianship from the pit, exquisite costumes, mesmerising dancing and strong production from Kenneth MacMillan, The Sleeping Beauty is a fantastic show.