5 replies to this topic

[Alexandra]

Welcome to Ballet Alert! Online, and thank you for posting these!  I wish I had seen these performances.

I thought Elizabeth Zimmer's piece was lovely, especially for someone who recently wrote she was one who truly believes ballet is dead.  I think her review shows a sound appreciation of the art   

It was especially interesting to me that both writers noted that the company is a true ensemble, with good performances from dancers at all ranks.  That's one of the best signs of a ballet company's health, I think.

Come on, Philadelphians.  I know you're out there.  Did you go?  What did you think?  Which did you like best, Apollo, Bugaku or Scotch Symphony??

[Tessa]

Ok, I'll bite.  I thought the best performances were given in Bugaku, though that's my least favorite ballet of the three.  Valerie Amiss was surprisingly good as the bride- she's typically a soft, lyrical dancer, so this role was a stretch for her, but I thought she carried it off well.  I liked Scotch Symphony, too, but Jennifer Smith, who I normally love, seemed a bit overwhelmed by her costume (kilt, etc.).  Is that role normally given to a short dancer?

As for Apollo, I thought the muses- Arantxa Ochoa and Riolama Lorenzo (who I think is a new transplant from NYCB), in particular- were wonderful, but I felt indifferent to the performance of corps member James Ihde in the title role.  He has the appropriate physique, but not the stage presence for that part, I think.  Elizabeth Zimmer once praised him in a role where he looked like "a regular guy at ease on the dance floor" (can't remember the ballet- a Trey McIntyre piece, maybe?) and I think it's in those type of parts where he truly shines.

[Calliope]

I'm glad to see Lorenzo back dancing!  PA Ballet has quite a few NYCB alums, I'll have to try and catch them on tour.

[Doris R]

As I said in another area,I've been away for awhile.  ANYWAY... I too thought Valerie was wonderful in Bugaku, don't look for her too much more during this season though.  I understand that she and her husband, fellow PA Ballet soloist Edward Cieslak, are anticipating an addition to their family toward the end of this season.