Jayne

Watched the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas afternoon with the extended family. There are so many wonderful stage actors in this production. As a child it completely spooked me. As an adult I just love the beautiful Dickensian language. He was an erudite spokesman for the pushback against the early industrial age's lack of humanity.

I am pleased to read reports of his anonymous donations and volunteer efforts over the years. In a time when it has become very normal to say and post profoundly unkind things, he was a profoundly kind person.

Is this a debut for Lunkina as Tatiana?

Regarding the pointe work, the emphasis on the "asparagus" ballerina with hyper arched feet is in direct opposition to the choreography of the older works that favored smaller, compact (but not stringbean) dancers with thicker leg musculature that allowed for such amazing articulated footwork. Also you are going to be the best balletomane uncle in the history of balletomane uncles!!!

I recommend something sunny and happy: la fille mal gardee. Completely charming in the dreary december days.

I think it's a fantastic idea. Mr B after all envisioned Emeralds as a tribute to French style, Rubies to The Americans, and Diamonds to the (Vaganovian) Russians. This will be the first opportunity to see all 3 styles on one bill of Jewels. Wish I could be there, will be something extraordinary, even if I would prefer Mariinsky to get the proper style for Diamonds. Hopefully the prima Diamond will be Vagonova trained. I do enjoy the Bolshoi Diamonds costumes, and the POB Emeralds costumes are Lacroix's most successful.

Social media seems like a starting point. The best promoter is George Takei, who incorporates humor. How could we leverage his "best practices" for ballet in cinema?

I couldn't read the whole article, but how extensive is the study? Has ut been peer reviewed? How would the dancer union respond? How much of the drug use is recreational vs performance enhancement?

What a strange world the Bolshoi is. I just cannot imagine this at any other company. If a dancer contracted with a criminal to "rough up" the AD of POB, RB, RDB or any other recognized company, he would not be in class. Nor any other legitimate profession.

Does anyone have the techno powers to do some image compare/contrast of the "Who Cares?" Costumes are original / new?

Oh well I am uncertain that the mess was Mr. Kobberg's fault or if it was the new AD's fault. Seems like a lot of "nativism" going on. If all ballet companies operated that way, Petipa would never have been hired at the Maryinsky, nor Balanchine at Ballet Society / NYCB, etc.. If Romania is to be proud of its artists who achieve acclaim abroad then it must also welcome artists from abroad to make art in Romania.

Wow! Well perhaps Kobberg will land there.

Well to put it in perspective I used to participate in a sport where the rate of criticism to praise was sbout the same (9 to 1). Yet we knew our coach was trying to make us better. Criticism comes with the territory and athletes (and dancers) expect to be pushed hard every work day. Also I think blunt criticism is part of normal ballet culture in Russia. The polite manners that the British are known for, and positive reinforcement in American sports culture (especially women) are not so common everywhere else.

I believe Maria Shirinkina and Vladimir Shkyyarov are taking a 1 year sabbatical to dance at Bavarian Ballet in Munich. So s stop in Munich might be in your future?

I am excited for this! Might have to look into flights to LA to see this!

My biggest memory was getting zip up calf length boots for Christmas, because I wanted to look cool like them (I was in kindergarten). Kelly was always my favorite, but in reality I was as awkward as Kate!

The Royal Ballet is creating a new Swan Lake next year I believe. It will be traditional and replace the current, much criticized version.

Just exited opening night gala, the dancers' promotions were listed in the program, so the announcement after the first piece was not a surprise to the dancers. Still, the individual announcements and opportunities to take bows on stage, hear Peter Boal's words of praise and presentation of flowers was very lovely.

I really enjoyed reading all these. Thank you for taking the time to write them up.

Well it's nice to see the American (or, perhaps Fil-Am) principals and soloists given opportunities to grow and shine at ABT! Maybe Kevin McKenzie knows what he's doing after all.

Gene Schiavoni (sp?) always publishes beautiful things. I think he works with light very well.

super jealous, but I can see that RDB would excel in Twyla's work, because she demands fast movement that works well with the rigors of Bournonville training.

I really like Tetley's "Le sacre". But I fear the audiences who adore the classics as presented by Nureyev will be disappointed by the schedule. "Symphony in C" is one of my favorite anti-depression Balanchine works. I wonder who will stage it?

The Met holds 3800 (give or take). The Royal Opera House holds 2250 (give or take). That's quite a difference in capacity. I've sat in the "cheap seats" at the Met, and for the expensive prices for cheap seats they are currently charging, it really doesn't seem worth it. I wonder if there has been a false sense of audience growth, based on past attendance patterns. NYC received a large influx of European immigrants for a sustained number of years, often with old world sensibilities about high culture. More recent immigrants (and emigrants) to the city hail from Asia, Africa, and Latin America -- or parts of America that do not place a high value on opera, ballet, etc. Perhaps this is the real reason for the decline in attendance? Your millenial techie worker might be more interested in spending $400 / ticket to see Hamilton or Book of Mormon on Broadway, but not to see an opera ever in his life.

Video of the Ratmansky version - fantastic dancing, not so sure about the lack of sets.