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Thanks for the heads-up on ABT's Minnesota visit. Looks like it's just two performances April 18-19, followed by a fundraiser. Not enough to warrant a trip for an out-of-towner. I wish ABT would announce their tour schedule on their web page, They must know it by now. https://www.northrop.umn.edu/upcoming-events?page=2

Maybe worth starting a new thread, but our Northop in Minnesota just announced it’s next season and ABT will be performing Giselle. (April 25)

They already lost me.

I think the adrenaline was pumping last night because there was wonderful energy but sometimes a lack of control. as @matilda mentioned, Lauren Collett fell on her face (to no lasting ill effect) about 8 seconds into Bouree (I found Bouree really adorable and LOVED the "battle of the grand jetes" in the last movement). Then Victor Abreu almost dropped Alexa Maxwell when she jumped into his arms. In Symphony in C Janelle Manzi lost her arabesque in the 2nd movement, and Charlie Klesa did a Risky Business-style slide on his knees in the 3rd movement. I'm chalking it up to the excitement of the new season, the myriad casting changes already posted, and the thrill of having Suzanne Farrell in the house. It's too bad about Isabella LaFreniere's injury/illness -- I think she would be much more compelling than Emilie Gerrity in 1st movement Symphony in C and I was looking forward to watching her in Brahms and Dances. Not sure what's going on with Woodward? She was in the background in sneakers watching the Dances rehearsal on Instagram yesterday, but is out of Brahms and the new ballet that's going next week. The program was very fun, even though I was moaning and groaning about Steadfast before I watched it, I cackled meanly at the doll's immolation. Errante feels like a fragment of a larger ballet—an absolutely stunning and wild solo that Mira knocked out of the park and then a sort of odd ballet that gets tacked on at the end. I had seen snippets of this on YouTube but never the whole thing, and it's always been the solo. I thought both Megan and Sara looked excellent in Symphony in C. Sara, in particular, looked "back" in a way she hadn't this fall/winter. Tyler Angle also looks more in form than he has recently.

I totally agree, and also agree with the comments above about Philadelphia Ballet. I don't have a subscription (yet), but I definitely plan on seeing a couple of programs next year. It is an easy trip from NY, Philly is a very fun place to be for the arts lover, and when I saw the company last month they looked great.

Philly is a 90 minute train ride from NY, with easy access to the Academy of Music and 2 hotels across the street. I saw their Modern Masters program last month and was very impressed. I've already ordered a Saturday matinee sub. They are doing 4 programs - Corsaire, Swan Lake, La Sylphide/Etudes and a modern program. They let you exchange a program up front so I swapped the modern program for a Saturday night Corsaire. They also give you 1 free ticket so I used it for the Sat night La Sylphide program. Not sure if it's true but I heard that ABT has lost 40% of its subscribers post pandemic. They are very close to losing me.

I’m so disappointed with her programming. She should consider what her audience like.

I expect I'll be going to more Philadelphia Ballet performances in the coming years! I suspect that those who have seen the company in recent years will agree that they are first-rate in rep and performance. They were scheduled to do Bayadere in March 2020 (I'm not sure if any of that was cancelled due to COVID) and they're doing Corsaire this October. I plan to see their Etudes (programmed with La Sylphide) next May. They have a Raymonda Suites (as does Boston Ballet). I'll be curious to see what ABT brings to Segerstrom next spring. I hope it isn't Crime and Punishment!

Thats the question everyone is asking (everyone I know anyway). I am so upset that she's banished Bayadere, Corsaire & Raymonda from the rep but she could at least program Coppelia or DonQ. I love Swan Lake but it can't be the only Petipa ABT does anymore. Not if they want to survive.

I see casting for the first two weeks has been updated yesterday. LaFreniere is out for the first two weeks. That is very disappointing, as I thought the first movement of Symphony in C suited her particularly well. On the positive side, the replacements are Nadon in DAAG and Maxwell in the first movement of Brahms-Schoenberg. No complaints there! Week 3 casting is up as well. Lots of debuts. It's great to see so many opportunities for Alston Macgill, and also that David Gabriel is expected back. Unfortunately, the programming is so dull that I may miss this entire week.

I have the same question. The fact that she's bringing Crime and Punishment to the Kennedy Center is a disappointment, since that's where I go to see ABT. Swan Lake completely sold out this past season. Classics sell. Not sure how the new ballet will translate to ticket sales. I for one will not be buying any for Crime and Punishment.

Balanchine is widely cited telling Robbins, after watching 25 minutes of Dances at a Gathering: "Make more, like popcorn." https://www.dancemagazine.com/the-lore-of-aeuroedances-at-a-gatheringaeur/

Thoughts on last night's performance: Great start to the season, despite a few little blunders. Bourrée Fantasque isn't top-shelf Balanchine, and I can see why it was shelved for so long. However, it's charming and vintage like something out of a 1940s-50s musical. Lauren Collett took a bad spill at the very beginning, and Abreu (third-movement debut) didn't look totally comfortable with the partnering yet, but Kikta and Takahashi were a hoot (she absolutely towers over him), Gerrity and Bolden (subbing for LaFreniere and Chan) were lush and lovely, and Maxwell was a burst of joy. I was puzzled by Steadfast Tin Soldier's inclusion, and yes seeing the Christmas tree in late April was jarring, but the ballet complemented the overall "quirky" and eccentric feel of the first two thirds of the program. And, it was very well danced by Huxley and Pereira -- the paper doll is possibly her best role? There are obvious overlaps with Nutcracker here, not just in the Victorian scenery but also the choreography for the soldier. Errante: woah! Nadon devoured the stage. She already has the complete "it" factor but whatever wisdom Suzanne Farrell was feeding her via coaching paid off. Another example of a second-rate Balanchine work, but with a ballerina like Nadon it was thrilling. The male lead doesn't do nearly as much as the woman but Aaron Sanz gave a sizzling performance -- maybe the best I've ever seen him dance. And, in a surprise ending, Farrell herself came out in the second curtain call to an enthusiastic audience reception. The program definitely needed a "masterpiece" as a closer and Symphony in C delivered. Fairchild was in great form in first movement and Joseph Gordon was powerful and elegant in one of his best roles (despite one botched pirouette, which he covered up well). Mearns/Angle were moving and dramatic as expected in the second movement, and Mejia and Von Enck were a total burst of energy in the third. Alston Macgill apparently got a surprise debut in the 4th movement (the casting sheet published only the day before still had Gerrity listed in that part), and while she could have danced "bigger" and more crisply, it was an exciting return to Symphony in C after her 2016 debut in the third movement while still an apprentice. This ballet never gets old and I never want it to end when I'm watching that epic finale.

Thank you for posting, naomikage. He certainly lived up to the trust Cranko placed in him. RIP.

The winners of the 2024 Youth America Grand Prix.

A new documentary focuses on the return of Steven McRae from a career-threatening injury.

Nominations are announced for this year's National Dance Awards.

Ballet Jazz Montréal celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.

A review of Karen Valby's new book, "The Swans of Harlem," by Marianka Swain in The Sunday Telegraph.

Ballet Kelowna closes its season with a ballet based on the Scottish play.

BalletMet closes its season with "Romeo and Juliet."

The National Ballet of Cuba continues its tour through Spain.

Bejart Ballet Lausanne visits China.

An audio interview with Australian Ballet's resident choreographer Stephanie Lake.

A review of West Australian Ballet in "La Bayadere" by Isabelle Leclezio for Dance Australia.