California

I'm not familiar with the ABT contract, but with other union contracts I do know something about, a leave of absence stops the clock on accumulating seniority steps, retirement credits, etc. until you return to work.

The gala performance at YAGP is now available for instant download on Amazon for $9.99: http://www.amazon.com/Ballets-Greatest-Hits-Nigel-Lythgoe/dp/B00GHZFNAE/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1385066813&sr=1-1&keywords=ballet%27s+greatest+hits It appears this is the only way to obtain it, with no actual DVDs listed as available. But what a treat to see a recording of specialized interest available through download. (Don't forget to go through the Amazon box on this site if you are going to purchase it!)

Is it possible that Kent took leaves-of-absence for the birth of her two children? That would slow her down on the seniority track. Also, even with union contracts, pay hikes are sometimes possible for merit, whether within rank or at the time of promotion. (I'm not familiar with the ABT contract in particular, but know it's possible with other union contracts. I.e., it's a myth that raises are possible only through seniority for people with union contracts.) I was intrigued at the McKenzie remark in the NY Times story that the guest artists are paid at weekly rates no higher than the regular principals. In the U.S., we sometimes forget that our compensation package includes not only salary, but also health insurance and a retirement program. Those are listed separately on the 990 forms. It's possible that foreign visitors with health insurance and retirement benefits from their home company have the option of taking the value of those benefits in cash salary. I don't know how ABT handles this, but it's certainly possible.

It's interesting that Barak, as well as Neary and Christensen (co-directors of the LA Ballet) are all former NYCB dancers. I don't know if there will be any opportunities for performing or teaching there, but it seems at least a possibility. CORRECTION: My mistake - the first students at the USC Kaufman school will enter in fall 2015, not fall 2014. Other than hiring a dean (Jodie Gates), I don't see any recruitment announcements for faculty, but that might present more teaching opportunities, at least part-time.

LA does not have a history of great support for dance, but they might find opportunities there -- e.g., Los Angeles Ballet (http://losangelesballet.org/) and Melissa Barak's new venture (http://barakballet.org/). They might also find some teaching opportunities at the new USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, which admits its first students in fall 2014: http://kaufman.usc.edu/ And there are at least part-time teaching possibilities at the huge number of colleges and universities in greater LA.

Misty Copeland will be featured on the Today Show, NBC, Saturday, November 23, 2013. (I don't have a link. It just turned up when I was searching future "ballet" programs on my cable system.)

Communist doctrine did not dictate a "happy ending" but a resolution in this world. Communists were atheists who did not believe in a Christian afterlife where one could find happiness. Odette and Siegfried could not find happiness in an after life, but only during this life, if at all. Much of the challenge to Communism over the years came from the Christian religion in the Soviet Union and the nations of the Warsaw Pact who rejected atheism.

I was discussing this today with somebody who was affiliated with ABT in that era and doesn't think SJP was ever in the corps -- but might well have taken some classes at the ABT school on 61st street (the building they show in The Turning Point, long since torn down) and seen Baryshnikov in class or rehearsals that way. If I understand correctly, ABT was running open classes in that building, so even if a student were admitted to SAB (as some of the bios suggest SJP was), she might conceivably have dropped in on some ABT classes (or done so before or after her time at SAB).

The English-language page on the Bolshoi site that had listed a July 2014 tour visit to NY until very recently now shows nothing for New York: http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/#tour1 I suppose that might be because negotiations with Lincoln Center are still underway and somebody decided the announcement was premature. Or it might mean the NY visit is off entirely. Anybody know?

The big news in this interview is Whelan's plan to retire "after the fall 2014 season" at NYCB. (Has this already been announced elsewhere?) I wonder what they'll do for a retirement performance for her - hottest ticket in town, I would guess! http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/11/13/whelan-discusses-career-dance/

I agree with mimsby. If you go expecting classical ballet, you'll be disappointed, but as a theatrical event, it's great. The story actually made dramatic sense (which the original SB never does). The production is full of very clever and often very funny touches -- like the (spoiler alert!) 100-year-sleep in a tent with hatchmarks and the contemporary tourists with their camera phones. The historical period costumes and sets were marvelously detailed. Just great fun.

Martin Fredmann has resurfaced as Associate Artistic Director of the Columbia Classical Ballet in Columbia, South Carolina: http://www.columbiaclassicalballet.org/assocartisticdirector.htm

At the Friends luncheon panel a year ago, she mentioned that she was briefly a member of the ABT corps. She made a comment about being in awe of Baryshnikov as a dancer during that time. But she apparently didn't stay long and I can't find exact dates anywhere. I was looking for an on-line source and this one mentions the ABT experience: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/sarah_jessica_parker/biography.html

If you google - Russian defamation law - lots of informative articles come up. Here's one from the Library of Congress reporting that defamation has been re-criminalized: http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205403291_text Suffice it to say that Russia does not have a 1st amendment/bill of rights, as we do to the U.S. Constitution, nor does Russia have 200+ years of common law precedent for what free speech means.

From the NYCB e-mail and Facebook postings, it sounds like they are adding a new "extra" each week. They also refer to the regular videos as "Season 1," so let's hope more is in the works. I also found that photo of the ballerina in purple on the regular NYCB web site -- again, uncredited. But as Sarah Jessica Parker was never a member of NYCB (wasn't she only in the ABT corps?) it seems very unlikely it's her.

The jacket of the DVD Stars of the Russian Ballet from 1953 claims that this is the only existing film of Ulanova in Swan Lake, and Dudinskaya does Odile. Of course, it's possible that film exists but is buried in an archive somewhere in Russia. It's possible somebody did some filming of her when they made the tours to London and New York, but you would think that would surface somehow if it existed.

Very aggressive marketing, but the thing opens tonight and they have an awful lot of seats to sell. Does DC have a TKTS 1/2 price ticket sale booth like New York?

According to Bloomberg News, Mary Julia Koch, the now-12-year-old daughter of David Koch, is a student at the School of American Ballet. The sad thing for kids in that situation is never really knowing whether they were admitted for their talent or other reasons. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-17/david-koch-toasted-by-michelle-obama-caroline-kennedy-at-n-y-ballet-gala.html But this kind of influence is hardly limited to the art world. It's widespread in higher education admissions as well.

I received an e-mail with that Kennedy Center discount, so word is out there pretty widely. I saw this in New York and loved it. If you expect just another variation on the classic ballet, you'll be disappointed. But if you approach it as a theatrical work, with plenty of surprises, laughs, and lavish sets and costumes, it's great fun.

Johan Kobborg has been sending out some tantalizing tweets about his work with the Romanian Ballet and the possibility that Cojocaru might join them. Anybody know what's up with that? Is he going to work there as artistic director or coach or perhaps to stage some ballets for them, bringing her in from time to time to guest?

Thanks for the reminder! At least we know filming is underway, thanks to Gillian! It's troubling that there is such a limited film record of ABT's outstanding dancers -- especially Murphy and Gomes -- while they are in their prime.

We got a glimpse of the dysfunctional Russian court system during the Pussy Riot Trial last year. Here's a Russian columnist from the NY Times describing the shameful system (and there is extensive documentation elsewhere of the Russian court system). I can't imagine it's gotten any better in the last year: http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/theshame-of-putins-courts/

Gillian Murphy just sent out a tweet about filming for an ABT documentary. As you can see in the picture, it's by Ric Burns. I don't remember hearing anything about this before. Does anybody know about it?

It looked like much of the series was filmed at Saratoga Springs - the outdoor theater with green seats, outdoor landscaping, horse stables, etc.

An interview with Baryshnikov and Dafoe about "The Old Woman" was just posted: They will be performing this at BAM June 22-29, 2014. Tickets go on sale January 13. http://www.bam.org/theater/2014/the-old-woman