CubanInUSA

I think I need to enter this site more often because I've been trying to get the Mariinski tour schedule ahead so I can plan a trip (living in Orlando, Florida not many well-known companies come to town) but always find out after I read a performance review. Been wanting to see the Royal Ballet on tour in USA and the Bolshoi and Mariinski companies. Please post when you know. Thanks.

I saw the clips in youtube.com.

And wonder what company is she dancing with these days.

If any one knows, please let us know.

Traveled all the way from Florida to NYC and made sure to get ticket to see American Ballet Theater at the charming City Center in New York. What a dissapointment!!! Incongruent choreography, meaningless moves, funky costums, boring..., boring..., boring. I should have asked for my money back.

Thank you for your review and your perspective on the recent performance of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Odinthor.

I love the company, its art, its traditions, its "four jewels" (three of them now unfortunately passed.) I watched this company (and ballet) for the first time in 1978 in Havana, and was forever enchanted with it. In 2001 I traveled to New York to see them. And now in 2011 I traveled to DC to see them again. I hope to see them in Cuba one day. The Cuban ballet dancers work hard, they strive to be the best, they defect, then they go back to Cuba, then they defect again. There are many views about the political aspects, but I try to stay away from them, and focus on the art and beauty of this legendary company. My review from Washington DC was honest, and I enjoyed all three performances, except as noted. Please keep posting. Best.

So there I was, all bitter already after almost having given up to the West Palm's trip. Getting out of Miami Beach was a nightmare...the traffic didn't move, so I told my mom that if I couldn't make it to I-95 by 6:30 pm, I would then turn around and give up-(the performance was to be at 8:00 pm, and I didn't even had tickets). So finally I'm on the highway, and by 7:50 I was already in my seat-(don't ask me at which speeding did I get there...).bart...you know about the traffic situation down here, so I'm sure you can "feel" me..

The Kravis-(love that building...way more than the Brodward Center and even more than that absurdity/monstruosity called Arsht Center)-was packed, and soon enough, the performance started.

So I'm listening to the overture-(or course, canned music...by now a too common feature in ballet performances, so nothing that I wasn't expecting)-and when the curtain rises, I'm already dreaming-(c'mon...this is Swan Lake after all!)-,but too soon, I'm afraid to report.

Act I

Act I revealed a troupe that wasn't too engaging in the dancing and an uninteresting choreography that almost put me to sleep. Of course, there was the expected jester-(is he part of the Konstantin Sergueev' legacy?)-, but to be honest, he was one the highlights of this production. Benno was there also, as the male lead on the bland Pas de Trois. There's not a lot that I can think of to make this review more interesting, for which there was NOTHING more interesting presented. Perhaps-(actually I’m positive)- this have to do with the fact of having seen probably hundreds of Swan Lakes in the course of my life span in the island, via a choreography that still retains many great chunks of the one choreographed and premiered in its four acts in Havana in as early as 1954 by Mary Skeaping-(also responsible for the even earlier Nutcracker premiere). Since then, Swan lake has been a staple of the Cuban repertoire, and along with Giselle, one that I got to see all year around, all the time, every year. The choreography of the first act's waltz is one of those chunks, in the form of a great pas de six for six couples, whith very daring lifts and a an spectacular triple fish dive-induced grand finale. So then, when I saw the Russians’ version with all those little, obscure, busy steps, I was almost in the verge of yawning. Another miss-(not the last one, and not an uncommon one in some productions I've seen)-was the unchanging light pattern for the end of Act I, where it should be suggested by darker tones that the sunset is happening, so the night-where the next act takes places-is approaching.

Act II

The lake scene backdrop was way too bright, with shades of blue for the water, nothing in the romantic line. Then Von Rothbart appeared, one sorcerer that was too small and short winged-(and with almost no makeup)-to be properly scary. Here I must say that I would definitely take The Swamp Thing at any time over this poor little bird. And THEN one of the major absurdities happened. Some swan-maidens got out! Right there, along with Rothbart's presentation, some corps girls made an impromptu appearance, which according to the choreographed moves was apparently supposed to give the audience clues as what had happenned to them in terms of being under the spell and captivity of this evil entity. The sad result was that the much anticipated and beautifully choreographed entrance of the corps of swan-maidens-(one of the few pieces of Ivanonv' choreography that seems to be respected in almost every Swan Lake on earth)-was completely diminished…its magic totally broken.

To be continued. I’m tired, but I really want to write some more, if you guys still want to read it...

Thank you for a very entertaining story and review. Sorry about the disappointment. It has happened to me before also, and also with Swan Lake. I hope you find a great performance soon. Thank you for all the great videos you post.

I traveled from Florida to Washington DC May 31 through June 5 to see the Ballet Nacional de Cuba at the Kennedy Center. I watched three performances: "The Magic of Dance" (the first two nights), and "Don Quijote" on Friday night.

Big disapointment.

It is sad to see how much talent has left the BNC.

The Magic of Dance was nice.

But Don Quijote was not. Please don't get me wrong: there were a few great moments. But the dancers are so inexperienced. The story line was entertaining with humor rather than dazzling with a display of brilliant and elegant dancing, which is what the Ballet Nacional de Cuba has been known for since the 1970's. Sad.

2011-06-07 - I just traveled to Washington DC last week to see three nights of Ballet Nacional de Cuba: Tuesday and Wednesday I saw "The Magic of Dance". On Friday I saw "Don Quijote". I can't help it but say that I was so dissapointed specially with Don Quijote. The Magic of Dance had its beautiful moments, but the dancers were weak in some areas, some stumbled, some lost their balance, most didn't do any thing extraordinary. It was mostly very common. The Don Quijote performance was poor. Yes, the Latin flavor of the dances was appealing, but the talent and technique was lacking in most of the dancers. All very, very young and inexperienced. It is clear that the BNC has lost its main artery of talent and artistry. Sad. For so many years BNC was a treasure. I cannot speculate about the reasons for the exodus of talent, but I only hope that a new artistic director will bring new ideas, a new business model, new choreographies, more talent.

I've watched a few videos online about Leonid Sarafanov, and I think he is a great dancer, but cannot find what company he is dancing with, and where are his next performances in the USA. Any one knows, please?