California

The English National Ballet has just announced its season for 2022-2023. Among other things, they have added a few more dates in November for their new production of Raymonda. OUR 2022-2023 SEASON Swan Lake 28 Sep - 1 Oct 2022, Liverpool Empire 5 - 8 Oct 2022, Palace Theatre, Manchester 12 - 22 Jan 2023, London Coliseum Derek Deane's beautiful production of the timeless ballet returns to cast its spell. Raymonda 23 - 26 Nov 2022, Bristol Hippodrome 30 Nov - 3 Dec 2022 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton "A modern classic" (The Daily Telegraph) by Tamara Rojo, inspired by the pioneering spirit of Florence Nightingale. UK Production Sponsor: Cunard Ek / Forsythe / Quagebeur 9 -12 Nov 2022, Sadler's Wells, London A world premiere from Mats Ek, plus Blake Works I by William Forsythe, and Stina Quagebeur's Take Five Blues. Booking opens in Spring 2022. Nutcracker 15 Dec 2022 - 7 Jan 2023, London Coliseum The festive tradition is back to enchant the whole family once again. Akram Khan's Giselle 12 - 15 Oct 2022, Paris, France 24 & 25 Feb 2023, St Pölten, Austria The powerful and heartbreaking production continues to astound audiences worldwide. Booking opens soon. Creature by Akram Khan Spring 2023, Sadler's Wells, London "A tight-wound drama that never lets up" (The Independent) More details to be announced. Production Sponsor: Cunard

SF Ballet just posted on Instagram a notice that dancers "displaced by conflict in Ukraine" are welcome in the Hungarian, Czech, and Polish National Ballets. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cap4KxQh3aM/ I also saw a posting that they are welcome with the Lithuanian National Ballet. I wonder if the foreign Russian company dancers count in this if they are fleeing themselves from Russia.

This reminds me of photos of Russian ballet schools with watering cans sprinkling the classroom floors so they could learn to adjust to less-than-optimal conditions.

Oh no! Robison is one of my favorites at this company. I'll be in SF for a conference in March and got tickets for Program 4 (La Sylphide and The Seasons) -- both seem like naturals for him and I have hoped he would be cast.

If I understand correctly, the controversy in the 1961 WSS resulted from (1) the actors rehearsed and recorded their songs, but were not told they wouldn't be used and (2) the actual singers were not included in the credits. With our rapid-fire communication channels nowadays, producers must know the truth will eventually come out. The problem of failure to credit happened more recently in Flash Dance and Black Swan, as we all well know.

The program was just announced for the 2022 SAB Workshop: WORKSHOP PERFORMANCES 2022 Before the public announcement later this spring, we are thrilled to share the School of American Ballet’s 2022 Workshop Performances program with you! Our return to the stage of the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Lincoln Center is sure to be memorable as we celebrate Suki Schorer's fiftieth anniversary as a member of SAB's faculty and pay tribute to Kay Mazzo upon her retirement as Chairman of Faculty. New Reisen Ballet World Premiere Music by Philip Glass Choreography by Gianna Reisen Circus Polka Music by Igor Stravinsky Choreography by Jerome Robbins Staged by Dena Abergel and Arch Higgins A Suite for Kay Balanchine Variations in honor of Kay Mazzo Choreography by George Balanchine Details to be announced Symphony in C (4th Movement and Finale) Music by Georges Bizet Choreography by George Balanchine Staged by Suki Schorer Workshop Performances will take place on: Saturday, June 4 at 2 pm & 8 pm and Monday, June 6 at 7 pm (Benefit Performance) at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Lincoln Center. Saturday's performances will honor Suki Schorer's fiftieth anniversary of teaching at SAB. Monday's Workshop Performance Benefit will honor Kay Mazzo and her leadership during her tenure as Chairman of the Faculty. Donors Circle members enjoy Advanced Ticketing starting in late March and Priority Seating. Tickets go on sale to the general public in mid-April. If you would like to become a Donors Circle member, please upgrade or make a gift today online or by calling the Development Office at 212.769.6699.

I just watched WSS for the first time on HBO Max and I'm glad it's also streaming on Disney+, so I can watch it many more times. A few quick impressions: The score seems virtually unchanged (except for the order of certain numbers), but somebody decided that the choreography had to be redone "from scratch." I don't know if this was a restriction in the permissions needed to use the Bernstein music, but it's an odd feeling. The score is so totally familiar from the 1961 film (which I've probably watched a thousand times and have permanently saved on my DVR), that it's jarring to see it used with different choreography. And the choreography in the original was so spectacular, did it need to be replaced? Vocals: I'm glad that there was no "ghost-dubbing" and was impressed with the singing of Tony and Maria. And what a treat that Rita Moreno got to sing briefly as Doc's widow (as she was also dubbed in 1961). Screenplay: The order of songs seems to track the Broadway show more closely than the film. In the film, Officer Krupke and Stay Cool come much later, e.g. I do like that the dialogue for Maria in the last scene is virtually identical to the film, but I miss that shawl that a rival gang member put over her shoulders in the film - an incredibly touching moment of resolution. Sets: I love that they shot some scenes at the Cloisters, which I have visited just once, but love. I hope it triggers more visitors to a beautiful museum. New elements: The injection of boxing and more guns seemed odd to me. Was that meant to make it more contemporary or more historically accurate? Language: I was a bit annoyed that they didn't bother with subtitles for the Spanish dialogue. Was this a way of nudging us that we should all learn a little Spanish? Or reminding us that we are ignorant of the language of many of our fellow Americans? Warning: I thought it was odd that they felt the need for an opening warning that the film shows the use of nicotine. How about one that it shows gun violence?

I'm very pleased to see that PNB again plans a digital season, this for $249. Recordings will be available after close of the in-person shows and available for five days. I wish more companies would figure out how to do that (although, as I remember, they were able to upgrade their technology during the lock-down). https://www.pnb.org/season/subscriptions/

The remake of West Side Story will start streaming on Disney+ and HBO Max on March 2, 2022! Yippee! Glad I waited.

I know nothing about her in particular, but after 10 years in the corps I have to wonder how people might respond if told: sorry, no promotion to soloist for you this year or probably ever. (I have no idea if she was told this, just wondering...) Or perhaps people see the handwriting on the wall and start making alternative plans on their own. What makes this more complicated is the end of McKenzie's tenure as AD. I haven't seen any hint anywhere of likely successors, but once that person is named, I would guess many will rethink their own futures.

Isn't this contract renewal time? We might be seeing other announcements in the coming weeks/months.

Thank you so much for posting. Japan has been providing exceptional support for Ukraine during this catastrophe and their support for artists is greatly appreciated. We know from social media that the company has had to suspend operations and many dancers are fleeing or in bomb shelters. When this is over (and Ukraine survives as a democracy!), I do hope this company can make a tour of the West. I imagine there would be huge support. I would certainly travel to see them. I can't tell from photos of Kyiv if the opera house has been bombed. Has anyone else been able to determine that?

Very sad. Ratmansky has been posting a flurry of statements on Facebook from dancers in support of Ukraine, including Osipova and Baryshnikov. Reminds me that Baryshnikov has said in interviews that he would never return to Russia, especially with a former KGB agent in charge. Today, Ratmansky posted a gorgeous pre-attack video of Kyiv, which he calls his hometown.

I was just looking at their web site -- a very rich repertoire, mostly classics, but interesting: https://opera.com.ua/en/afisha?type=98 Judging from his postings, Ratmansky worked with this company long ago as a principal dancer and his wife Tatiana is from Ukraine. Ukraine has produced some amazing dancers over the years - from Nijinski and Zakharova to Shevchenko. I was thinking that when they recover and rebuild in the coming years, it would be an interesting place to visit and spend some dollars.

If Ratmansky were willing to become a company director again, I suspect ABT would be ecstatic to hire him. But from things he said when NYCB wanted him to be their choreographer, exclusively, he seems to want the freedom to work with many different companies, in both new work and reconstructions. I'm wondering what happens to his Giselle reconstruction, which I saw "live" streaming in the theater in January 2020 before the lockdown. It would be great if they would release it on DVD or streaming-for-purchase or bring it to the US on tour, but all of that seems in doubt for the foreseeable future.

Plans to bring the Bolshoi Ballet to London next summer have been cancelled. https://www.startribune.com/munich-rotterdam-may-fire-gergiev-london-drops-bolshoi/600150558/ In addition, the Royal Opera House on Friday canceled a planned tour to London by Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet. The Mariinsky and Bolshoi are among Russia's most renowned arts institutions. "A summer season of the Bolshoi Ballet at the Royal Opera House had been in the final stages of planning," The Royal Opera said in a statement. "Unfortunately, under the current circumstances, the season cannot now go ahead."

Ratmansky posted just one thing on Instagram today - the Ukraine flag. Several years ago he proudly announced on social media that he had been sworn in as a US citizen, so presumably he can travel in the west without problem. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaVvYNlItK9/ He was apparently in Miami recently for their opening of Swan Lake, but not clear where he is today. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ2vQfCP7iS/ It’s been a long journey, but we finally open tonight. SWAN LAKE is a ballet of genius and I sincerely hope we do justice to Petipa, Ivanov and Tchaikovsky with this production. Much love and gratitude to all at Miami City Ballet! So proud of you! Can’t wait to see you all shine on stage tonight In fall 2020, he posted on Instagram: "I voted today. Good feeling." https://www.instagram.com/p/CGyT4rqAdSR/

Wow -- such great news! I'm a big Simkin fan, as I know many of you are, too.

After four years as a principal at ENB, Jeffrey Cirio is re-joining Boston Ballet as a principal for the 2022-23 season: https://www.bostonballet.org/Home/Global/Profiles/Artists/Principal-Dancers/Jeffrey-Cirio.aspx

Southern California has a population of about 24 million, although it depends on where you think SoCal starts: https://worldpopulationreview.com/regions/southern-california-population The bigger problem is the dreadfully inadequate public transportation. And if you have a car, you're looking at hours on overcrowded freeways to get anywhere. I lived in SoCal in various locations for 25+ years. When I saw a notice of an interesting performance or exhibition, my first thought was always: how many hours will I have to spend on the freeways to get there. Segerstrom draws from a different geographic region than LA Ballet. If more performances inspire more audience members, it will be a plus for everybody.

The black swans are the subject of endless fascination. According to NYCB: https://www.nycballet.com/discover/ballet-repertory/swan-lake-balanchine/ In 1986 the production was redesigned once more by Alain Vaes who created an icy landscape instead of the traditional Gothic lakeside, and dressed the corps of swans in black, which Balanchine may have been planning in 1981 when he mysteriously ordered 400 yards of black tarlatan. When asked to justify this odd request, Balanchine merely said, “There are black swans as well.” I've never seen any other explanation of Balanchine's thinking. Here's a 1965 photo from NYPL with Allegra Kent and all in white: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7bc0c990-3f84-0133-b011-00505686d14e

"American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and Segerstrom Center for the Arts have formed a three-year partnership that names ABT the Official Dance Company of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The details include the co-presented production of The Nutcracker and world and West Coast premieres and engagements each spring through 2024." https://www.scfta.org/Center-Connection/February-2022/ABT-partnership.aspx? It appears Segerstrom will continue to be the site of some ABT premieres. The announcement includes this: "In March 2023, ABT will return to Segerstrom Center, this time with the North American premiere of Like Water For Chocolate, based on the best-selling book by Laura Esquival. Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon , this will be a co-production with The Royal Ballet."

I recall some poignant interviews with Katarina Witt of East Germany. She pleaded with the government to let her tour in the west, as western peers did after their Olympic success. She was actually on a limited European tour when the Berlin Wall fell. She told sad stories of predecessors in East Germany pushed to win Olympic medals to show the "superiority" of the communist system and then dumped in favor of the next generation of Olympic stars, left to do nothing but perhaps teach when they could have toured for years had they been in the capitalist west. The Soviet Union fell three decades ago, but some of the old attitudes don't seem to have changed much.

The Mariinsky engagement at the Kennedy Center in late April has been cancelled due to COVID. I suppose it was too much to hope they could visit this spring. This is the message ticket holders just got: We’re disappointed to share that your performance of Mariinsky Ballet’s Jewels has been canceled. Due to multiple factors, principally the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic-related conditions, the Kennedy Center and Mariinsky Ballet have mutually concluded that this year’s engagement is not possible at this time. The value of your tickets has been moved to a credit on your account (including parking, where applicable). This credit can be used towards a future Kennedy Center ticket purchase. Please log in to your Kennedy Center account to view your credit balance. If you do not wish to keep these funds as a credit on your account, please visit this online form to make your selection from the following options: • Receive a Kennedy Center gift certificate, • Donate the value of your tickets back to the Kennedy Center, or • Receive a full refund for the value of the ticket and associated fees.

Tara was right to be concerned. I remember travelling with somebody who was subject to random drug testing at work who was also super-careful to avoid poppy seeds. https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/can-poppyseeds-cause-a-positive-drug-test/