ABT Fan

Thanks for the correction. I would not want to be her, especially juggling two demanding roles. Some of those dancers need to retire altogether.

Thank you for flagging this. I always forget to check that podcast for their latest episode. I think everyone who loves (or loves to hate) ABT should listen to this. One comment I didn't love, or have mixed feelings on, was when Jaffe said that the new contract that was finally agreed upon for the dancers would be very hard on the organization. I feel like that comment could be interpreted a few different ways. Jaffe spoke at length about repertoire and that she was trying to find ways to bring some classics back without the troublesome narratives for today's audience (that's not verbatim, I don't recall her language but that's the gist of it). So, I'm hopeful she's working on La Bayadere and Le Corsaire. She addressed some of the criticism for LWFC and Woolf Works and why she programmed last Fall as she did. Next year is the company's 85th anniversary, so the Met 2025 season will feature one program that will be like "stepping back into the ABT of 1940's". So, I'm hopeful that will include Tudor, DeMille, maybe Dark Elegies, Les Sylphides, Theme and Variations, and some other classics not seen in years. Please not Fancy Free. Another program will be all Tharp. She mentioned having to have some tough conversations with a few dancers who needed to step it up a notch (boy, was my curiosity peaked) and she gave a lengthy shout-out to Sascha Radetsky, AD of the studio company, for his talent sourcing and steadfast leadership. I loved that part.

I was surprised with that. Bell should have received two shows, and Ahn one. But, Bell has suffered with injuries in the past so maybe this is for the best.

Welcome! If you want to be wowed, catch his Mercutio - casting still to be released. I’m sure his Benno and Lensky will also be incredible.

Thank you! Any chance they also sent you expanded casting for SL and R&J?

I am thrilled for her as well!!

I also wondered if it could be a hint to Jaffe. Yes, 2018 was the last time they did Bayadere - that was Lane’s Nikiya debut.

It is possible those are old videos they just decided to post. I’d find it odd to rehearse anything now that isn’t part of the Met season.

R&J is 3 hours long, so unless you’re a night owl and want to eat at 11pm, have dinner before. Do drinks/dessert after. I also love Bar Boulud and Lincoln Restaurant, and yes The Smith is horribly loud.

Geez, I forgot about that. The time for a Copeland retirement has come and gone. I wish they’d bench Giselle for a few more years. It’s one of my favorites, but they’ve performed it a lot the past several years. We need other ballets. I don’t think we should crucify Jaffe yet. I think some are having selective memories- she programmed an excellent Fall season last year that many here commended her on. We’ve also talked at length about the costs of putting on ballets and limited licensing fees, so she probably had no choice but to bring back LWFC this year, which many are unhappy about. I also think she’s trying to walk a fine line between programming the classics that we all want vs modern day sensitivity issues. ABT doing Corsaire and Bayadere in NYC has far bigger implications (good and bad) than Philly Ballet (a regional company) in PA. We don’t know, she may be trying to figure those out. I’m willing to give her another year. I’m also disappointed in Crime and Punishment, but we don’t know what else will be programmed. Give me Don Q or bring back Paquita, Raymonda. Program another great Fall season - I’d be up for Etudes again, add some Tudor, one of the Ratmansky pieces, etc. But if next year it’s C&P plus SL, Giselle, R&J - I’ll be done! It’s a very quick cab ride!

The only aspect of R&J that I’m looking forward to this year is seeing Roxander as Mercutio again (don’t miss it if you haven’t seen it) - hoping he’s cast with leads I’m not avoiding- and fingers crossed a Curley debut as Tybalt.

Quite late. Closer to the start of the season. I really wish they released that type of casting much sooner.

I’d love reports from anyone who gets to see this!

The rest of the casting is now up for CA: https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

He and his wife developed a skin care co many months ago, see their IGs. They didn’t perform last fall at all so I assume they took a leave to focus on it. I think their retirements just coincided with the contract renewals.

I’m also crossing my fingers for Curley as Tybalt. And, Lensky.

Curley is now engaged to corps dancer, Lea Fleytoux: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5TLgWjAGRL/?igsh=MW1jcnl2Yms4bTliMg==

Trenary has on her IG stories today that she’s also performing Olga in Onegin.

So Misseldine and Roxander are performing at the gala! Misseldine is maybe doing one of the SL pas, but I’m betting Roxander will get Lensky and perform one of those pas at the gala.

I agree with all of this too! I’m hoping that Jaffe and the new ED are hustling to get more performances sorted out, whether in NYC and/or on tour. Hopefully both.

So is his wife, Emily Hayes. I’m not surprised since they both started a skin care company a few months ago. Still a loss - I really thought he was a strong contender for soloist but he hasn’t danced with them much lately, most likely due to starting their own business.

I agree that too many older dancers are being allowed to hang on, however, they were already being allowed to hang on when McKenzie was still AD. He should have graciously let a few of them go before he retired (and that was only a little over a year ago). Jaffe let Shayer go. We don't know the circumstances that led to Gorak leaving last year nor Katie Williams retiring this year. How would everyone react if she pulled a "Corrella" and did a slash and burn all at once? The balletomanes and the press would have a field day. And, the company's morale would take a huge hit - I bet a bunch of dancers would leave. But, now that we're basically on year two of Jaffe's reign there needs to be more retirements - Hoven, Paris, Fang. That will also free up much needed space to promote Coker and maybe Frenette. I disagree about Murphy still dancing well - I've seen enough over the past year. Jaffe may be treading lightly there due to Murphy's stardom/tenure, but it's past time. Same with Copeland (just remove her name already). I also think Stearns needs to retire. He's always injured and when he is it takes him out for a long time. Now that Curley is a soloist they better be prepping him for Siegfried and Romeo as an understudy (if not his own show). We can't have Camargo doing 3 or 4 Romeos like last year. Regarding Park, she has not been getting the same old roles. She debuted Natalia in On the Dnipro last Fall and debuted Clara in Nutcracker in December. Of course, not on par with Misseldine's O/O, but what is? Again, with Murphy still on the roster that limits opportunities for others. Park could have debuted Juliet this year (or Brandt) but perhaps she will get an Olga in Onegin. I hope they wait another year before promoting Misseldine to principal. It'll no doubt happen (and, I believe it should) but she needs more time in more roles. Jaffe's programming last Fall was different - bringing back Etudes, Ballet Imperial, Petit Mort was a big deal. Some other repeats, but they don't have enough rehearsal time to do 7-8 new works. We all discussed here on a different thread the reasons why we may have too many repeats at the Met this year (licensing, etc) but whatever the reason I definitely agree that there's not enough variety. I hope Met 2025 will be vastly different.

I’d love to hear your thoughts after. I personally love arts-filled weekends in Philly, and anywhere actually! I assume you’re also hitting some of their great museums. And, there are so many awesome restaurants. Philly is one of my favorite places.

Amazing news!! Yes, let’s cast these guys in some new and big roles. I think Coker is more than ready. I feel so bad that she was overlooked again, but there may not room right now.

Hallelujah!!!! Congratulations to all three! Have to admit, my heart aches for Zimmi Coker, overlooked yet again, but there may not be room for another female soloist as there are quite a few.