California

I hope this is a good sign that Etudes will be on the fall 2023 program: On Facebook Reels/Kaatsaban, the ABT studio company is rehearsing Etudes! Perhaps to have a few back-ups/understudies for fall?

According to Kisselgoff, in 1976, ABT performed three weeks at the Met and then six weeks at the State Theater: https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/30/archives/the-dance-swan-lake-ballet-theater-opens-6week-season-makarova-and.html The premiere of Sleeping Beauty with Makarova was at the Met Opera House on June 15, 1976: https://www.abt.org/ballet/the-sleeping-beauty-skeaping/ The 1976 Swan Lake was taped June 30 at the State Theater, according to the credits on the VHS: https://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Swan-Lake-Natalia-Makarova/dp/6301392221 The theater isn't named in the opening (or closing) on the tape, but it does seem like the smaller State Theater referenced by Ksselgoff. The June 2,1977 Giselle with Baryshnikov and Makarova was at the Met Opera House:

The Ratmansky Symphony #9 premiered at City Center in fall 2012. I believe they also did Rodeo. Don't remember the rest of the programs. Didn't they move to the State Theatre when the NYC Opera folded on 2013 and freed up space in the fall?

Time for a new topic on ABT Fall 2023! Here's what we "know" so far: Other Dances (from Gillian Murphy's Instagram story) Piano Concerto No. 1 (from Skylar Brandt's Instagram story) Etudes, Petit Morte, The Dream (from photo shoots) Anything else?

Another tidbit on the fall ABT season: Gillian Murphy will be doing "Other Dances." She's standing in front of a poster "two weeks only." It's in her Instagram stories, so no way to link. Not clear who will partner in this, but names of Boylston, Bell, and Ahn are shown near the bottom of her image. Time to start a new chain for fall?

At least on Skylar Brandt's Instagram story, she's rehearsing Piano Concerto #1, not Symphony #9, although I would much prefer the Symphony. Still, good to see Ratmansky on the program.

That's all I could find on YouTube. This ballet is not included in the Royal Opera House Stream either. Not seeing it in Medici or Marquee. Perhaps a little too obscure for those sites.

It's going to be interesting to see what choices ABT makes! Miami City Ballet uses chiffon dresses and tiaras: Mariinsky uses chiffon dresses and very small tiaras/head pieces: Perm uses chiffon dresses and tiaras: Royal Ballet uses tutus, tiaras, and an elaborate scenery backdrop:

As I've done before, I recommend Nancy Goldner's discussion of Ballet Imperial and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 (More Balanchine Variations, pp. 5-13). BI was made in 1941 for the South American tour (the same tour when Concerto Barocco premiered). Balanchine thought the conservative audiences would expect something in the traditional imperial style, with tutus, mime, and a bit of a narrative. NYCB performed BI starting in 1964. In 1973, the name was changed to Tchai Piano Concerto No. 2, the tutus were dropped in favor of chiffon dresses, and the mime was eliminated. The set that placed them in St. Petersburg was dropped. Many changes in the choreography have also been made over the years. Goldner quotes Balanchine on modernizing: "There isn't imperial anymore. Only the Empire Hotel." Now I have to wonder just what version ABT will be reviving next year!

I'd also be very interested in differences between Ballet Imperial and Tsch Piano Concerto 2. Interesting that NYCB has the Piano Concerto on its fall schedule under All Balanchine III (October 4-6-7-8) -- so there will be an opportunity to compare with ABT's BI, if not this fall then next year at the Met. In the ABT archive, they list BI, but not Piano Concerto. So perhaps this is a way to distinguish itself from NYCB? https://www.abt.org/people/george-balanchine/?type=archive

I guess we can look forward to Ballet Imperial at the Met in 2024. Interesting they use that name instead of the current Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2. The absence of the Russian companies for the indefinite future is going to be felt for many of these dance series - Kennedy Center, Segerstrom.

SFB just sent out email announcing the 2023-24 roster. I'll paste in the message. Here's the updated web site: https://www.sfballet.org/the-company/artists/dancers/principals/ I don't follow this company enough to know what any of this means, but I am glad that Aaron Robison is on the roster. We're Unveiling Our Company Roster for the 23–24 Season San Francisco Ballet is thrilled to announce the roster for our 23–24 Season, featuring new corps de ballet members as well as a newly-defined group of Character Artists. We are delighted to welcome aboard new company members Katharine Lee, Hui-Wen Peng, and Simone Pompignoli who will join the coveted positions within SF Ballet's esteemed corps de ballet beginning July 1. We've also promoted a group of gifted apprentices to the rank of corps de ballet: Jihyun Choi, Benjamin Davidoff, Jasper True Stanford, Angela Watson, and Seojeong Yun have shown dedication and immense growth throughout their apprenticeship. Former Principal Dancers Joanna Berman, Pascal Molat, and Tiit Helimets, known for their extraordinary contributions to the dance world, will join as distinguished character artists. Their invaluable expertise and profound artistry will add depth and intrigue to SF Ballet's performances. SF Ballet School faculty members, Kristi DeCaminada and Jeffrey Lyons will also take on additional roles as character artists. Their wealth of experience and profound understanding of dance will captivate audiences at every turn. With an electrifying blend of fresh talent and esteemed artists, San Francisco Ballet's 23–24 season promises to be a captivating journey through the world of dance. Prepare to be spellbound by the extraordinary performances and innovative artistic vision that define SF Ballet's enduring legacy. For the updated roster, visit our website.

The altitude at Vail is 8150'. If you live at sea level, it's quite a jolt. Take it easy, drink lots of water, easy on the alcohol. I don't think you need to buy a personal can of oxygen (which is sold everywhere), but the dancers have oxygen tanks in the wings for a good reason. (Denver is 5280' and even that takes some adjustment. When I've been away, I take aspirin first day home to stave off the inevitable headaches from the altitude.) Very chilly when the sun goes down, so you'll want a warm jacket for the evening performances. Lots of great restaurants. Joe's Famous Deli is a favorite for sandwiches: http://www.joesfamousdeli.com/

Gillian just posted the titania shot on her own Instagram: "today at work" https://www.instagram.com/p/CsE9Y8QPMVe/

Possible icing on the cake: Simkin has performed Etudes! We can hope! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=550352332334047

He was a guest in Don Q in spring of 2022 at Kennedy Center and the Met. As I remember he was brought in to replace Whitehead after the latter's serious injury in December 2021 in Nutcracker at Segerstrom. But Simkin isn't currently listed in any capacity on the ABT web site: https://www.abt.org/the-company/dancers/

I follow Simkin on Instagram, as I'm sure many of you do too. He just returned from several performances in Australia and is in Rome this month for a couple more. Not a hint of future plans. Let's hope he's negotiating something with ABT!

It would be such a treat if Simkin performed in ABT's fall schedule at Koch in October (assuming they again do two weeks right after the close of the NYCB fall program. I do hope he turns up in North America again!

Has anyone found information on how they are handling tickets for the October 11 75th anniversary performance? It's excluded from all the subscription packages (standard and flex) and the web site also says subscription tickets cannot be exchanged into that performance. I assume that performance will be much in demand, and I wonder how/when they'll make it available.

My fantasy for this company: that they'll hire an AD who can lure Brooklyn Mack back for some guest appearances!

Thanks! Nothing on their web page yet. Programming by "themes" seems to be the current thing -- a marketing technique? It sounds like their Sleeping Beauty was a huge success. Wonder why they're not trying something comparable for next year -- Swan Lake or Giselle, e.g. Any announcement of the new artistic director?

Anderson is 68 years old -- it's possible he will take a new position somewhere else, but it's hard to think he'd take on the artistic directorship of another company.

All the more reason for them to have started the search even earlier! Of course, it's quite possible they started one in confidence for the board to consider what's out there before public recruitment announcements. A private company would not be bound by the sorts of restrictions that face public universities, etc.

Kent's appointment at Houston was announced December 22. I would have assumed they'd immediately start looking or retaining a search firm, especially with so much turn-over/retirements in the ballet world. https://www.houstonballet.org/globalassets/news/2022/press-release_houston-ballet-announces-julie-kent-as-co-artistic-director_122222.pdf

The United Ukrainian Ballet will perform their Giselle June 29 - July 2 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. https://www.broadwayworld.com/costa-mesa/article/United-Ukrainian-Ballet-Makes-West-Coast-Debut-At-Segerstrom-Center-20230503