Jayne

I saw in the program notes today that Jewels will return Fall 2017 with new costumes by Jerome Kaplan.

This might be more drama than the Lady Gaga Superbowl performance tomorrow (gets up to make popcorn).

Ismene Browne usually has the scoop, I will watch her blog for updates.

Congratulations to Madame Tisserand, this makes much more sense now.

I admired her Gamzatti so much! This makes me sad, but she is still young enough to have a family, I hope that is part if her plan. I know she ran for Congress on the Communists ticket, not sure how she fared.

didn't Julie Kent have alternative choreo for that section? Deems like it would be better to do steps she can confidently achieve and sell the bravura moment rather than struggle and let down the audience.?

I would feel better about this if it were an equal exchange: if for example Jonathan Poretta guests with BMC in R&J as Mercurio, or another dancer is offered to take a year's sabbatical to dance at BMC. And yes, I think Noe is having her cake and eating it too. She was never bumped at PNB for a BMC guest as Juliet. Indeed quite the opposite, when she left BMC as a soloist, she expressed a fear of losing out on casting in principal roles and aging poorly out of the company. It was better to return to PNB and have a principal's contract. Oh I do understand that casting puts art first and foremost. I understand Noe paid her dues when Patricia Barker, Louise Nadeau and Carla Korbes who got first nights for years. And Peter Boal will have full houses and fat bank accounts for the new Cinders. And I will enjoy the show. Stilll....I argue the flip side of Noe's opinion: importing guests can stunt the growth of company dancers. Just look at ABT when they imported so many and failed to develop their own.

Question about the April Ball guest casting: is this due to injuries among PNB female principals? From the clips on YT this role seemed like a great casting opportunity for Carrie Imler and Laura Tisserand, or some tall girl soloists. Does anyone have any public information on this? Or are they skipping Cendrillon and learning La Source?

I see what you did there.

You can find the Rockettes' performances on youtube, apparently they were at 2 balls. I was rather hoping they would make a surprise appearance at the women's march if someone sprang for their fee, to demonstrate bipartisanship. If Ivanka likes the arts, that might help. She seems yo have her father's ear, as do the Koch brothers FWIW. The only solace may be some blue states increase their arts allotment as a counterbalance measure.

I know his 2nd wife played a floozie in Will Rogers Follies while they were married (no irony there, none whatsoever) and I know Trump likes Tony Bennett and The Beach Boys. The Arts abolishment is likely GOP initiated to appease their base. I wonder if the Smithsonian is next?

Ms Copeland and Mr Bolle were trained in a mix of the RAD, Bournonville and Checcetti styles, and some Russian styles, so quite different from pure Vaganova. Nor did Mr MacMillan choreograph this ballet in the Vaganova style. MacMillan made the ballet on the Royal Ballet's English style, fusing his own sense of realism into the dance drama. The English are known for their effortless looking footwork (Frederick Ashton's choreography) and excellent dramatic training (as the home of Shakespeare this is emphasized more than in the new world). Interestingly, Perm State Ballet has recently added the MacMillan R&J and it has been popular. They do dance in the Vagaova style.

Saw it, reminded me of a viennese pastry: light, delectible, with several layers, a fanciful delight. But certainly not boeff bourgonon. I recommend seeing it in the cinema as it is filmed in Panavision. The acting is uniformly winning, though the singing ability is akin to Fred Astaire's thin vocal chords. The comparison to Umbrellas of Cherbourg is apt. I would like to hear the songs done by proper pro singers before I judge the songs. I understand talks are underway to create a stage version, so I may get my wish. I anticipate bus tours to the landmarks in the movie are already underway. Especially the Observatory. The cinematographer deserves an Oscar. Visually this was a love letter to LA. Not sure that part can be reconceived on the stage. Go see this movie for that feature if no other.

The whole thing has exploded, with the crazies taking over the comment section. Really, papers should go old fashioned and require typed letters to the editor, with addresses and telephone numbers before publishing commentary. Online article comments today are tantamount to a crowded subway station with every passenger using a bullhorn.

Beautiful woman in person and in that pic, I wondered if she was injured, now I know, and happy to have her back at PNB in the Tall Girl roles.

I have read that he donated to Trump, but supported democrats in the past. FWIW all the former presidents and first ladies (who are healthy) will attend, this is a bipartisan event. I understand Dolan's gotta make a buck, but the comment he made (paraphrasing) "as diverse as we can make the Rockettes and still uphold our standards" -- this made me wince.

Honestly it's so heartening to see some good news. Lately I have dreaded opening my news feed to learn of yet another beloved artist's death, or a boneheaded political drama. Congrats to the beautiful couple!

Hopefully she can capitalize on the publicity and ADs will take notice and view her tapes. Casey Herd left DNB to freelance, it is a shame he could not be brought in as a guest artist to partner her, until they could groom a less expensive corps member to take over.

Dirac, do you have more information on Dolan's history? This kerfuffle is the first I have heard of him. RCMH and The Rockettes have always had a classy reputation for old fashioned variety entertainment. I am just stunned by how badly this has been handled. How could Dolan not have forseen the controversy when he greenlit this appearance?

Marie Claire clearly has a mole at Radio City Music Hall: a secret recording of the Dec 27 meeting with the CEO and the dancers. What a strange turn of events. http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a24518/rockette-donald-trump-inauguration-james-dolan/

I wondered if Carreno would apply for the NBoC Associate Artistic Director position, so I ran a search on his name. Turns out he chose a warmer climate, and is now Artistic Director for Ballet de Monterrey (as of November 2016). http://www.elnorte.com/aplicacioneslibre/articulo/default.aspx?id=977651&md5=12d51eda374fcaa3a82ee30d6f06ee17&ta=0dfdbac11765226904c16cb9ad1b2efe

Good for him.

I know he's a big Tony Bennett fan, but Mr. Bennett is now 90ish and unlikely to sing at a 4 hour outdoor event. For the right price he might sing inside the White House. Might be a few years of military musicians performing to justify their DoD salaries, and groups from conservative religious universities, Israeli and Russian arts groups as well. Probably no Chinese groups.

Keep her mother Debbie Reynolds (a fine dancer BTW) in your thoughts and prayers, she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance an hour ago with stroke-like symptoms. 2016 cannot end soon enough!

Bringing up the glamorous hoofers again because of the news swirling around their performance at the US Presidential Inauguration. This Marie Claire article indicated more concerns from the dancers. If it is any consolation, with the media scrutiny it seems unlikely the PEOTUS would act inappropriately. If he did, who could protect the dancers? They normally have bodyguards for appearances, but the bodyguards could not approach the POETUS without Secret Service blocking them. The whole thing turns my stomach but I suppose the US has had plenty of leacherous Presidents in the past as well. I am most shocked at how their union is reacting. What is the point of a union if it won't go to bat for you for your safety?