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This is kind of upsetting. Zejnati did not look so good in Midsummer's, and I don't care for Johnson's dancing. I'm sure Hartley will be good, she always is... Did Zavarov leave the company? He is not listed as anything. I think I will pass on this show and go see ABT when I visit NY.

I saw two performances the matinee and the evening cast. I was thrilled with the show! I did not think the corps de ballet was lacking in divertimento. I however did not like the men in that piece they did look unprepared and a little sloppy in both casts (including ballet AZ principle Zejnati who was not mentioned at all in Macaulay’s piece). I agree with the article in saying that the Ballet AZ men for the most part are the weak links in the company (of course there are quite a few exceptions ). Barrell is slowly proving herself to be a prima ballerina, I am excited to see where her future takes her. Imayoshi was particularly stunning in this ballet the variation fit her to a tee. Magnicaballi is perfection, nothing more needs to be said. And Teel, with her fast feet was jaw dropping. The highlight of the night was Zavarov in Prodigal son. It started out with high jumps and energy. He turned like a top. Then the drama. The sirens Huang and Magnicaballi were brazen and naughty. Maneuvering that long heavy cape was a challenge I wished that had been a little smoother, especially for Huang. Actually, I wish there was no cape, it was a big distraction for me, but that was Balanchine’s vision and I guess I can’t argue with that. The pas de deux was scandalous in a good way. The drinking buddies were so funny moving like strange insects. And Zavarov crawling back home, he is so intense and doesn’t look bad almost naked either . We are lucky to have Zavarov in AZ. When Perkovskii came out with open arms in the end that was when I started crying, it was so emotional. Also when he enveloped Zavarov with his robe that was a powerful moment. I also wanted to note that I loved the sets, scenery, and costumes–even though they were basic. Four T’s was nice. I thought Zavarov in Melancholic was beautiful of course but Zejnati’s dancing looked tired. I can’t agree with Macaulay about Johnson. Clarke has come back and made a great recovery and looks better than ever, but even though he uses his feet to their fullest potential he does not have natural flexibility and it is distracting. Olson made a comeback, I am very happy he has returned to the stage. And last but not least Draxton. She was fabulous. I was enthralled by her performance. She is not one of my usually favorites and we don’t always get to see much of her except when it comes to Balanchine (probably due to her height), but she did not disappoint.

I love when BAZ does story ballets!!! The first thought that comes to mind with this ballet is ELABORATE. From the sets to the costumes to the “Special effects” (although not something you usually think about when it comes to ballet, there was more than any other BAZ show I have seen). I went to see the show on Thursday night and it was spectacular with Zavarov and Smith. And I totally disagree with Nilsen on this one, both dancers were superb. I am so happy these shows ALL sold out! I hope that sends a message to Anderson about story ballets. I was really happy to see Elye Olson again. He was very comical as Catalabutte. Magnicaballi as the Lilac Fairy was exquisite. She danced so royally and seemed untouchable. I felt every little girl in the audience just watching her and imagining being her. Unfortunately her cavalier faded into the background. Actually all the cavaliers seemed to fade into the background. The Fairies were so beautiful I didn’t see anything else. I loved every single one of the fairies (Huang, Mahowald, Barrell, Mitchell and Imayoshi) each different and unique. Carabosse was phenomenal! Crowley took my breath away. She was creepy and evil and wicked. And that vehicle she arrived and exited in was awesome. Her creatures were spine-chilling as well. I was so pleased at how well Smith is doing in the company. She is a beautiful dancer and looks so young and free on stage. Not to mention her falling asleep scene was so believable. I was not really thrilled with either the garland waltz or the rose adagio. It was a combination of the costumes and I thought it was just a tad boring. I thought the hunt scene was charming. Huang is lovable in this part, and it is Zavarov’s entrance . I also thought it was a good use of the older students of School of Ballet Arizona. I also loved the forest scene; the costumes on the corps were very pretty. Campbell and Wozniak proved a cute pair. I enjoyed the choreography and masks. Mitchell and Cavanaugh were great. I loved the humor, in the miming/acting, at the end. Wilcox and Marshalsay were a bit odd together though. Wilcox danced beautifully but Marshalsay appeared to lack a bit of stamina. I know this is probably the hardest part in the whole show, so I think Anderson should have saved him for Bluebird and not had him in every other part in the show. Yes, we like to see him, but not when he looks like he has been run ragged. I thought the polonaise/mazurka was a little boring and unnecessary. The show would have still been complete without it and we would have been able to stretch our legs a tad sooner. Sort of on that note-can they turn the lights on for the pauses? How can we check our programs or stand up in our seating area without stepping on people or our belongings? The pas was stunning. Smith and Zavarov really shined in these roles and had great chemistry together. Of course the technique was flawless, but what stunned me was the effortlessness of it all.

I went to go see the Nutcracker on the evening before Christmas eve. It was fabulous. First off I want to say how nice it is to have Timothy Russell as a conductor. He brings so much life to the show. Little Clara (McBride) and the other students were very good too. Michal Wozniak and Mahowald were a cute duo for the harlequin and columbine doll. She may be the best Columbine doll I have seen. She was very doll like. I forgot how much I love the mice and snow scenes. The mice too humorous and Perkovskii as the king was a riot. Wilcox and Poulis did a terrific job. I already love her and she was perfect as expected, but Poulis is newer to lead roles and I am very excited for his future. And the snowflakes were simply sparkling! Poppe and Smith were a well matched couple for the Spanish dance. Although he is just out of school and needs to get stronger, this was a good part for him. Magnicaballi in Arabian was one of the reasons I went to see the show and she did not disappoint. I was not overjoyed with the Russian dance. Slawomir Wozniak and Johnson were mismatched in appearance and technique. Wozniak was noteworthy, his jumps and tricks soared high above the ground. He was very entertaining. Clarke was a remarkable mother ginger. He had the entire audience at his attention. Dew Drop was performed by Barrell. There is something different and exciting about her dancing. She is another up and coming principal dancer. I enjoy watching her vivacious dancing. I was ecstatic with the coupling for the grand pas de deux. Zavarov and Hartley are a beautiful pair. Zavarov rose to the occasion. He is improving and looks stronger every time I see him. These two are the reason why I came to this show. They are technically faultless. A beautiful closing to the evening.

I was thrilled to see Ballet AZ’s Swan Lake! It is my new favorite. I saw the Sunday matinee and Saturday evening show. The "court" with all the boys in red at the beginning was good with some distinct moments of not being together and one or two dancers not being in line with the others. Seeing the Wozniak brothers dancing together, side by side was a real treat. The pas de trois was great, I saw Slawomir Wozniak and Zavarov. Wozniak was a little more boyish for this demanding role. Zavarov was fantastic! There was one unfortunate incident with the pirouettes that Zavarov assisted Smith with. I attribute that to Smith being so tense every time she turned, she seemed to fear turning and I have not noticed this in her before. Her shoulders were raised. Some of the other posters noted that she and Zavarov had an awkward moment on one of the previous nights also, maybe she was scared from this incident. Wilcox on the other hand was breezy and fluid, and floated across the stage like a feather. The big disappointment of the afternoon was Johnson. He was hyped up in the writings of Richard Nilson and the quotes from Anderson that he was Brad Pitt like. I found him to appear unkempt and much older looking than his true age (22). He also danced clumsily and poorly. His posture is terrible, his knees bent, his feet not pointed. He is hard to watch! I am surprised that he is a principal dancer with Ballet Arizona in his first year. What was Anderson thinking? He was very emotional on stage, sometimes garishly so, but the chemistry with Huang was undeniable. Huang and Magnicaballi were both beautiful swans but they were very different. Huang was a cute swan and I loved her odd interpretation. Magnicaballi was the quintessential swan, she had the look and the body that one would expect this character to have. Nothing bad can be said about either one of them, I loved them! The four swans were awesome too! They were perfectly uniform. The amount of stamina that those girls put into that dance is admirable. The rest of the swans were great too I loved how the choreography made the 18 swans look like 40. From where I was sitting you could hardly tell there were students in the mix. Neapolitan was lively and entertaining, the Spanish was fun and passionate, but the Polish dance and the Czardas were kind of boring and pointless to the ballet. I thoroughly the performance as a whole and hope Ballet AZ does it again soon.

If there is such a thing as typical Balanchine, Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto is it. Magnicaballi was magnificent! I also liked Smith and Zejnati’s piece it was so beautiful and romantic. Sometimes Zejnati is a little over the top though. I loved the last piece with everyone, it was a feast for the eyes. There were so many formation changes. I was on the edge of my seat trying to take it all in. It was so exciting! Richard Nilson’s review raved about Apollo. He called Roman Zavarov Ballet Arizona’s new star and I have to agree. His lines were beautiful, his jumps mighty, and his mannerisms godly. He was perfect for this part. All I have to say is I have been predicting his stardom since the first time I saw him. The choreography was so literal in the beginning. I laughed when he first “popped” out of Draxton. He was then swaddled like a baby and Saari and Edelman comforted his cries. When unwrapped I could see why the three muses all wanted him, he was suddenly all grown up. The muses were played by Hartley, Huang, and Barrell. Hartley was a perfect partner for him, she played the Terpsichore (the lead muse) the muse of music. She is weightless, young, and vibrant. Barrell and Huang did a fine job too, though not the perfect partners for Zavarov. The literalness of Balanchine’s choreography came out again in Huang’s solo she was the muse of poetry and she repeatedly made gestures of words falling out of her mouth. When the four danced together it was so fluid and calm. Slender Zavarov had to manage three girls at one time, I was surprised at how effortless he made it seem. And, most off all I loved the ending, it was so moving. La Valse is an eerie piece. Mahowald and Zavarov were a match made in heaven. Smith and Ross Clarke, this was touching as this was Clarke’s final weekend of shows. Marshalsay and Wilcox were a nice pair I would like to see them dancing together again. Imayoshi and Shtylla were not my favorite. Perkovskii was Death, this part was laugh out loud funny at times and creepy. His first appearance was when just his head showed through the black backdrop and his face floated it was utterly strange. As for the corps Hartley clearly stood out as stunning, she was only dancing this role due to another dancer’s injury. I thought it unusual that Zejnati danced a corps de ballet role. I only noticed him because his name was in the program and I looked for him. Nothing about his dancing struck me as superb and he did not stand out among the rest. Others that did stand out were Mitchell, Wojtowicz, Wozniak, and Bandera. Campbell, Ham, and Saari did a good job but I could have thought of a few dancers that would have been better. Wojtowicz is already sorely missed she was a superb dancer and I hope she goes on to great things.

I am getting excited for Ballet Arizona’s Mother’s day celebration. They have released the cast list! This all Balanchine production should be a blast! There are 3 pieces being performed this weekend, no one should miss it. The main piece I am excited to see is Apollo Featuring Roman Zavarov. He will be wonderful, I’m sure! He is so perfect for this part. Zavarov’s partners will be Hartley, Huang, Barrell, Draxton, Edelman, and Saari. And for the matinees switch out Huang and Barrell for Mahowald and Wojtowicz. Unfortunately I already have tickets to the evening show where Mahowald and Wojtowicz won’t be performing. They are two of my favorites but Huang will be superb she always is. La Valse is a piece I have not seen before, I’m not sure what to expect. I am not worried that I won’t like though. With Anderson I know it will be fantastic. I think for the evening casts Anderson did a great job of pairing up the dancers Wilcox and Marshalsay seem like they would mesh well. Mahowald and Zavarov are perfect together. Smith and Ross Clarke are a well matched couple when it comes to height, appearance, and acting style. The only questionable couple would be Imayoshi and Shtylla I’ll let you know on this one. On the other hand the matinee casts are a bit odd-Did Anderson really put Wozniak with Barrell? I am not even sure he weighs as much as her. Vander Stoep is so calm onstage, how can he be paired with a true powerhouse like Haar? I hope Zejnati redeems himself and is a more attentive partner to Huang this time. And, Magnicaballi and Shtylla are a mismatch when it comes to their technique. As for the other dancers, it appears Poulis has a solo part in this, I think that will be great for him-I am excited. Campbell, Ham, and Saari will go together well in the eighth waltz. The third piece is Stravinsky Violin Concerto. Featuring Magnicaballi, Shtylla, Wilcox, Cavanaugh, Smith, Zejnati, Huang, and Ross Clarke. This is a superb neoclassical piece with no storyline; it’s all about the music, like many of Balanchine’s pieces. As much as I like the Orpheum’s old world charm and history I am thrilled to be going to Symphony hall this weekend-can’t wait!!!

Masters of Movement The show this past weekend was great! It was a mélange of the very classical, neoclassical, and an exhilarating, jazzy piece. Les Sylphides was so much better in the theatre than in the studio. The sets and costumes and theatre atmosphere really make this piece spectacular. The dancing was always great but when the dancers get out on stage, they really up the showmanship. I was excited to see Magnicaballi and she did not disappoint. She was magnificent; it is like this ballet was made for her. Her solos and pas de deux were precise and delicate. Huang and Mahowald were also a treat. I wish I could have seen more of them dancing in this piece (although that may not have been possible for Huang, as she was rarely absent from stage, the entire show). Wilcox also shined; she is an emerging favorite of mine. Imayoshi seemed a little off in that particular show, still beautiful, just not her norm. Shtylla was disappointing, poor use of turn out, sickled feet, weak jumps, lazy beats, etc. He just was not my first choice. The corps was decent; they did not play a large part in this piece until the end but were definitely a beautiful moving backdrop that set the scene well. Certain dancers shined far above the rest Saari, Ham, and Wojtowicz. If Anderson is out there reading this, the audience wants to see more Wojtowicz! She has great technique and stage presence but never seems to be cast in any impressive parts. Some of the corps dancers were less than admirable like Stevens, if she were under my direction I would not let her go out on stage with those flat footed scurries. Fazzuoli just didn’t look the part of the frail sylph we are used to and was always a little off from everyone else whether it be her alignment or epaulement, I found her to be quite distracting. Looking back it appears that she has been a trainee for at least two years; apparently Anderson has noticed this too. Edelman was not her usual expressive self, she did well, but I guess I just expected more from her. Lastly, it seems like this very classical style is not for Barrell. Polyphonia is a Christopher Wheeldon piece; it is abstract and odd, but definitely gets better every time it’s watched. It was wonderful to have at least part of the show with live music! My question at this point in the show was where are all of my favorite men in the company? Zejnati and Ross Clarke proved to have fantastic partnering skills. But, Zejnati seemed slightly disconnected from Huang throughout. Clarke did well too he just lacks something, not quite sure what. Huang danced superbly, I can never say enough about her. Draxton danced beautifully with her long sinewy limbs. I really enjoyed Smith in this piece. She was marvelous, expressive, acrobatic, plus she has turnout to spare. Marshalsay and Barrell were not my favorite. I did not enjoy their piece as much as the others. They are a good match for each other but it was not pleasing to my eye. Barrell has nicely arched feet but is deficient in turnout. When they were on stage together with no one else it was decent, but when next to other dancers they looked out of place. I feel like if I am going to see a professional ballet company’s performance, they should all look uniform in body type especially if they are going to wear costumes that are as unforgiving as these were. I do not think that Barrell has technique that is remarkable enough that would cause Anderson to overlook her body type. For men body type is less important as they are harder to come by. And they went out with a bang...My favorite piece The Golden Section choreographed by Twyla Tharp was fun and lively. I loved it, unfortunately it was too short. Mitchell, Wojtowicz, Draxton, Bandera, and Cavanaugh all were fabulous! Huang, Smith, and Ross Clarke looked slightly uncomfortable in this style of dancing but it was still great. I was disappointed that I went to one of the shows that Wozniak was not performing in, his performance in the open rehearsal was so light hearted and funny. Wilcox really stood out in this piece as well, she was so vivacious. And there was of course my favorite the tall, muscular Zavarov. He has such grace and strength; he is an absolute joy to watch. There is nothing like gold velour bun huggers! ;)

Romeo and Juliet…Where do I begin-I laughed, I cried, and I was enthralled. I love when Ballet Arizona does story ballets. The emotions were so intense. I went to the Matinee and unfortunately only got to see one cast, but it was phenomenal. This is really the show for everyone it has love, Swordfights, passion and tragedy. Ross Clarke was Romeo and was better than I expected. The best show for him yet. If you remember my Nutcracker review of him I was fairly harsh. His posture and shoulders did not bother me during this show, still his performance not all that memorable. Juliet was played by Tzu-Chia Huang. She may not look like the typical Juliet up close but she was fabulous. Her lines were beautiful. I was thrilled with her skill and spirit. I thought the sets were once again amazing. And I loved how the costumes differentiated between the Montagues and the Capulets. I thought the costumes could have been a little more opulent, the corps’ costumes were especially dull. It looks like they may have pulled these from another ballet, they seemed generic and unfitting. Mercutio was played by Roman Zavarov and Benvolio by Slawomir Wozniak. They were quite the pair. Their technique and leg lines were nothing shy of perfect. I asked to see them together in my last review and I got it! Zavarov was sly and cunning and hilarious. And he had quite the harem. Wozniak was also funny and likeable with a following himself. The three courtesans were over the top in a good way. My eyes welled up with tears when Mercutio was slain. Zavarov made it easy to connect with his character. Tybalt was played by Astrit Zejnati and I know he would have made a great Romeo, but he appeared to have been worn out from the weekend. His performance was decent and strong but this show was not his typical extraordinary self. I remember him sneaking partially behind the sets spying on Romeo without his mask in the first act-this was brilliant choreography and set design. The nurse was played by Carolyn Reardon, her character was humorous. I loved when Romeo’s friends taunted her. The balcony scene was everything it should have been, tender and sweet. The corps were all very good. I loved the scenes at the marketplace, where they were playing street vendors and buying each other’s goods. In act two scene one when they are all dancing the choreography was a bit bland for my taste. The wedding was strange and funny. Russell Clarke played Friar Laurence and really hit the nail on the head here. The innocence and the love the couple had for each other was uplifting and really showed the couples acting ability. Friar Laurence gives Juliet the vial of sleeping potion, and explains how it works to Juliet via the faux Romeo and Juliet in the spotlight, was inventive and unexpected. When Lady Capulet believes Juliet to be dead the tears started falling. The family funeral followed by Romeo stabbing himself, believing that Juliet was gone was intensely emotional for me. By the time Juliet awoke to find her husband had committed suicide there was audible sobbing in the audience. Her frantic pain was too much to bear. The end of the ballet brought everyone to their feet roaring and applauding. It was all so dramatic and beautiful. I was overwhelmed with so many different feelings. I wiped eyes and smiled to myself, slightly embarrassed that my mascara may have run but mostly I was just extremely pleased with the show.

Ballet Arizona’s Nutcracker was Fabulous! I loved every minute of it! Ib really out did himself this year-even better than what I remember from last year. The orchestra was of course fantastic except for the last few shows where they were MIA (an unfortunate occurrence due to the failing economy). The party scene was once again incredibly elaborate from the set, to the costumes, to the hair and mannerisms. All three Clara’s were spectacular but Gina Fickera showed a certain something that left me with chills. She looked like an experienced performer. She made it easy to connect with her character. The toy soldier coming out of the box was a true delight. Daniel Marshalsay, Roman Zavarov, and newcomer Slawomir Wozniak all played this part. Each had their own interpretation. Marshalsay looked like a broken toy the way he moved as he collapsed. His turns and jumps were solid. Zavarov’s most memorable moment was the very first steps out of the box; he closely resembled a teetering toy. Wozniak’s was strikingly similar to Zavarov’s, the pair’s choreography was a little riskier and more challenging. Roman Zavarov’s grandfather also really stood out as believable yet very funny. The butler, Russell Clarke, left me in stitches when he downed the last of the wine at the end of the party. The battle scene again this year was fantastic. The mice are hilarious and the mouse king’s death is truly a comedy, right down to when he waves goodbye while being dragged off stage, by his sorrowful subjects. The snow scene is enchanting. The customary praise must go to Astrit Zejnati and Paola Hartley for their pas de deux, each time I watch them they still surprise me with their exceptional quality of movement and there charismatic connection. While Ross Clarke left me wanting so much more out of him. Clarke’s posture was distracting. He was a great partner for the tallest leading lady Kenna Draxton, who on pointe towers over him. Draxton's limbs are beautiful and graceful. The choreography for the corps is brilliant, it flows beautifully. This was one of my favorites to watch. The angels appeared as if they came in floating on clouds. And their costumes were exquisite. And when the little ones came on stage the cute factor went through the roof. And then, the purple curtain dropped to reveal the Sugar plum fairy. There was a moment of hush and then cheering. Spanish with Zavarov and Wozniak was a stunning pair. I would love to see more of the both of them dancing together and separately. Their feet and their technique are perfection. Tzu-Chia Huang was by far the most beautiful and sultry Arabian dancer. Her technique glimmered more than her costume, and that’s no easy task. Chinese also improved the cute factor. Hartley stands out among the rest in this one. The Marzipan dance is unfortunately the one I have the hardest time recalling. Yet in the finale when they blew the audience a kiss on closing night it was quite charming and sad. It was as if they were reminding us that the show is coming to an end until next year. The Russian dance is another staple in the Nutcracker. All casts have that spirit of the dance but my favorite pair was Marshalsay and Zavarov. Their tricks and turns left me speechless. Joseph Cavanaugh’s Mother Ginger is the funniest I have seen. So much so, I forgot to watch the bon-bons. Michelle Mahowald was also a favorite. Her dew drop interpretation was absolutely gorgeous. The way she accentuated her turn-out in every fouette was phenomenal. The Waltz of the Flowers corps had stunning costumes with port de bras to match. The Grande Pas de Deux varied greatly with each cast. Marshalsay with Hartley was a treat the both of them are bundles of energy and passion. Natalia Magnicaballi was just as I expected her high points being technique, passion, and beauty. Kanako Imayoshi was also perfect as expected. Huang gets the prize for most improved, her Sugar Plum was inspiring, and her grace and strength left me in awe. She far out shined her partner Ilir Shtylla whose variation was clearly simplified. All in all I love, love, loved the show!!!