spinning2night

this is basically the exact same rundown I got from my friends who attended the matinee...they said Cory seemed tight at first but definitely relaxed and got more comfortable as the ballet went on, and Polina is "gorgeous to look at/watch but seemed emotionally on-dimensional at times" (fyi, they were first time ABT attendees...they both moved to NYC within the last two years and FINALLY had the time and money to go to a ballet -- so if they could tell, it's something she really needs to work on)

Perhaps if all of us write letters (politely) advocating for Stella to finally get her chance to dance the role we're all dying to see she inhabit on the Met stage...there is no way that Kevin McKenzie can ignore us. I know it's not just us on the board but the people who have gone to watch ABT repeatedly over the years and have completely fallen in love with her and her dancing.

part two is posted now! here's to hoping he is healed up enough to give his farewell performance on Thursday! http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/sascha-radetsky-final-days-american-ballet-theatre/#1

the big one for me that is head scratching is why couldn't Bolyston or Part have been given another O/O when the casting this week went up in smoke? I've just never thought that Seo was a good choice for O/O to begin with from a technical perspective AND then you add in the fact that ABT is asking her to do it 2 nights in a row ALONG with doing the second half at last minute's notice on Monday...that's just completely unreasonable. I understand that Matthews and Whiteside were set castings for purple von rothbart, but there's no reason that ABT couldn't have had one of them do a Seigfried instead and ask one of the other guys (let's be real, Gomes could have been an option -- but not another Seigfried) to do von rothbart...and THAT's what is incredibly frustrating about this week...i know that having the company scrap the original castings would have caused an uproar since people do purchase tickets based on castings...but nothing is worse than them pulling Cojocaru/Cornejo so last minute as is...but at least it would have been more feasible and would have produced better results if ABT had just redone the castings for Friday and Saturday evening completely...(i.e. Seo/Bolle/Hammoudi to Friday night and then have Part/Whiteside/Gomes on Saturday evening, tbh, von rothbart casting can be switched around easily, wasn't there a year when Radetsky did 3 von rothbarts in a row? or someone did a seigfried and von rothbart in the same day but one at the matinee and the other at the evening...) and honestly, if they didn't want too many changes, they could have had the proposed "new cast" do the Friday evening performance and left Seo/Bolle for Saturday night... this entire week has just been an absolute mess, and you can't blame the dancers at all...injuries happen, BUT they all also know that means some one has to step up b/c the show MUST go on. so I feel like they would have been amenable to a solution that was better than what ABT ended up doing...sigh.

Why don't they let US do the casting instead of McKenzie? THAT is a good question... in all seriousness...can us BA folk can pool our money and buy out KM so we can fix the mess he's making?!?!? seriously, all the casting suggestions made on these boards all season long have been better than what ABT has been cobbling together in the past week...but most of all, i love that we all have an appreciation for dancers in the company who are not yet "stars"...here's to hoping they get their chance before they go the way of Golding...

I've been waiting to hear the response to Giselle with Cojocaru/Cornejo...but now, i REALLY want to hear about Cojocaru/Hallberg. Granted you never know what will happen with last minute casting changes...

I also believe this is an on-going feature for Vogue as the season progresses...so while we'll probably never read anything negative per se, we should get a lot of insight. And as always, Sascha's writing is always a pleasure to read.

Welcome to the Stella fan club, Kaysta! We are all hoping for a promotion to principal and major leading roles, especially the title role in Giselle. She is terrific as Myrtha, but enough is enough! And it is painful to see other lesser dancers cut into the line ahead of her. I'm so glad you loved her! It made my day. SAME! Kaysta so glad you're a part of the fan club now Like angelica, I will never lose hope for all the good fortune for Stella...I will move mountains to be there the day she FINALLY gets her Giselle!

I admire your balanced thinking, but I find it hard to share. Is the appeal ABT's, or is it NYC's? Who wouldn't jet around the world for the chance to dance for New York audiences? while I understand that ABT is based in NYC, I still to this day find is surprising that the company that is recognized as "America's National Ballet Company" doesn't try to reach more audiences...don't get me wrong, I don't expect the company to tour nationwide every year or the dancers to perform more. I just wish that ABT was more accessible year round...it that means more locations during the tour but fewer performances in each, and smaller auditoriums so be it. Also, it's 2014...it's time for ABT to get on the simulcast trend. I'd be at the cinema for EVERY performance.

i've been so busy recently that i'm FINALLY finding a moment to catch up...this most recent news really left me speechless. After reading the report on BroadwayWorld, I understand the decision...but WOW...this most certainly is NOT the ABT most of us are familiar with at all...

yes, a real pity they couldn't find a way to include this scene, it's really just an extra 1:40! It gave us a moment of pure dance in a classroom/rehearsal setting with some very familiar choreography that wasn't interrupted by camera angle changes.

I don't know who of you a familiar with reddit, but Gillian is currently doing a AMA (ask me anything) session... here's the link: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/23movx/im_gillian_murphy_american_ballerina_ama/ She's verified it on her FB and twitter. So got questions/pick her brain about things, if you want...or read her responses afterwards too! She's being a total sweetheart about it and I'm loving her responses so far

Sad to hear about Kristi's retirement random question... I know that Maria Riccetto is now permanently with a Bocca's company, but when she left in 2012, was the move always intended to be permanent? or was she "supposed to" return to ABT afterwards?

Abatt I agree with you in this regard, that an "international star" is a hard find and it would be silly to expect the MET season to be 8 weeks of surperb performances (granted we were spoiled in the 2000s with that roster...) However, I also feel like he doesn't encourage artistic growth outside of the company/country. It's like he's on the defense and wants to makes sure the newest crop of principals will have ABT as their main commitment even though the dancers schedules are open for the majority of the year (since I honestly don't count Nutcracker...) While I don't blame him for wanting the ABT principals to have their home company be their top priority -- Hallberg being the tipping point probably -- it leads to some bland and IMO boring artistic choices...I guess I'm just never going to see eye-to-eye with KM so long as he keeps making cookie-cutter choices. It's what made me like ABT more than NYCB...the dancers were all different, there was excitement and intrigue at every performance based on who was dancing... side note: I believe Boylston has the potential to bring something different especially since she's doing the exchanges with other companies and has the means to grow and develop artistically...but I feel like it's still a few years down the road until I'm totally on board with what she brings to the company.

AHHHHHH!!! I'm so excited for Jared...FINALLY!!! (His Albrecht was the one I would have loved to see when they were here in Minneapolis...but I had another commitment...but I heard it was splendid.) I can't wait to hear about his MET performance!

Exactly. I feel like there hasn't been an investment in ABT's dancers to help them develop and correct issues that can be fixed. Rather the time and energy has been spent on pushing dancers who aren't ready and specifically forcing them into the mold of what KM wants of company principals. While this approach could pay off, I don't buy it mainly because you stunt the dancers personal artistic growth. Where and HOW does a dancer learn to nuance their performances and interpretations is they are so caught up in learning and preparing so many new roles every season just to try and reach the standards that the former/current stars of ABT have achieved? There's no time for that and that's what I believe is making some of these recent promotions head-scratching. We don't get to see the work that gets put in during studio time, we only see the finished product, and often they seem bland and boring b/c the dancers themselves haven't had time to grow artistically...it's all about making it through the ballet from a technical perspective. Which leads me to believe that KM isn't concerned with developing true home-grown stars but rather a core set of principals that can "get the company through" their regular performances, tours, and grandeur and extent of the Met season...he knows he can attract the big names and flashier stars for a few performances so that ABT gets a handful of note-worthy performances every year. Thus, he's spending time on having a group of "steady eddy" principals rather than developing true American stars within the company who might be pulled away from ABT during the non-Met season. The ABT roster of principals for the first decade of the 2000s was full of stars in their own right who could be/and were often invited to other engagements nationally and world-wide...it seems that KM's tactic recently is to be selfish with his new principals and keep them at home. (which of course makes for a roster of principals i'm personally not excited to watch perform because they can seem so cookie-cutter at times) Re: Stella - I don't buy that there are any lingering health issues, I've seen her pre and post injury. Every time her performances have stood out. And while it isn't always the smoothest, she avoids visible mistakes and dances with intent from the heart. And her engagement with RNZB proves that physically she's up to the task. So unless it was a personal choice on her end (i.e. doesn't want to be tied down to one company, over-committed at the risk of re-injury, etc), I don't understand how the offer's never come around again...it's been almost 7 years now, right? I can live with no promotion, but I'm not sure I can deal with never seeing her do principal roles with ABT...the things I'd do for her to have at least ONE Giselle...(and my mind just went to the really sad place -- Stella debut in Giselle was supposed to be opposite Hallberg...and that was in he early, "not yet a star" years...oh the potential of that partnership we'll never see)

EXACTLY. Add this to the growing list of ABT's very questionable choices in recent years... Stella and Sascha may not be as high profile as Ethan and Gillian, they definitely can be and should be perceived as ABT's next "it couple." I'd be more than happy to see the two of them dance together in all of ABT's programs...and they are truly home-grown too. Both began in the corps and had McKenzie promoted them at some point as many of us believe he should, perhaps the dancers toiling away in the ranks would see that good technique, developed artistry, lots of hard work, and loyalty to the company WILL pay off...so there's another missed opportunity to make something of these, to be perfectly honest, dark years of ABT

This reflects my feelings about many of the dancers "on the rise" at ABT. I currently live in Minneapolis, and I would have jumped at the chance to see ABT this past week (especially with them doing "Giselle") but I just couldn't be bothered at all to go watch any of the 3 castings (fine, i would have been "okay" with Herrera/Stearns but i had another commitment that night)...I know that ABT typically uses the tour as "training wheel runs" and really only in Chicago and DC are their solid principal castings, but none of them this time stuck out enough to get me to care right now. Boylston and Whiteside I "like" but don't "love"...i'm not convinced that they're ready yet. There is potential but had Kevin put too much on her plate? I guess we'll see in a few years...sig). Seo I love but I can't ever imagine seeing her in technically challenging classical roles. I love her in repertory works. everything about ABT just makes me sad now...KM - please explain what you're doing because nothing makes sense...and I'm convinced you're trying to make a bigger mess of things. start fixing it!

i'm so sad the Sascha is making a permanent career move to leave ABT (I've had my fingers crossed that after his stint with Dutch National Ballet a promotion would come along)...he and Stella were always supposed to the next principals and it's heartbreaking that it just might never happen. I always have to remind myself that Sascha is 37 and Stella's in her mid-30s, right? They've been at ABT forever, but it's not like they are "old." I saw both of them in Ethan's farewell 2 seasons ago, and they were as technically sound and artistic as ever...i had to remind myself that being in their 30's meant they were in the prime of their careers and it was showing. Both are them are so loved by fans and they have solid technique and artistry. I'd always imagined that both of them would be around FOREVER...i.e. lifers at ABT until their bodies actually physically made them stop. At least ABT is showing their appreciation to Sascha and having him leave the company with a principal role...not the one I dreamed/hoped for him but it's better than nothing. I know Sascha will be focused on Flesh and Bone but I had assumed that he's just lessen his commitments with the company and not leave all together. I'd love to be there, but i'll have to miss it unfortunately. He's had some outstanding performances and stepped in at times when the company really needed him, at least they've made an effort to give him a send-off he more than deserves. (I've always wanted Sascha and Stella to do at least ONE Giselle together...whether it be a joint farewell or for just of one of them...and regardless of if either of them were ever promoted, I've always felt that would be the best way for the company to say goodbye to Sascha and Stella.) It'll be interesting to see what Stella chooses to do after this season. For her, a promotion has been LONG over due, I just do NOT understand why Kevin hasn't re-visited giving her principal roles/promoting her. When she was first given the Giselle with Hallberg, I had hoped that meant a promotion was on the horizon. And as we all know, that injury was a devastating blow, but she's come back just as strong (if not stronger) and there just doesn't seem to be anymore opportunities

It does seem odd that ABT left that casting completely empty. IMO, if they give that SL to Irina, Max has to be ready to partner her since she rarely dances the classics with anyone other than Max. Having seen the two of them do SL in Chicago back in March 2010, I loved it. Irina loves when the spotlight is on her, and Max does a great job showcasing her. Both of them were healthy and there were no visible issues of any kind. That being said, I saw both of them this past summer leaving the theatre - after Ethan's farewell. Max did not appear to have visible injuries, but he didn't seem to be in "dance-shape" either. This is purely based off my observations as a former dancer and he just appeared so "normal." So who's to know how much dancing he has been doing in terms of classes and rehearsing. Since he pretty much only dances with Irina, I think her limited appearances last season also resulted in his absences from casting/maybe not dancing as much period. However, Irina had me truly concerned. She was frighteningly thin (skinnier than Julie - who on most day I already think is thin even by ballerina standards, but Julie has always been very willowy and her physique matches her style). And while I don't want to speculate, Irina just didn't look healthy enough to do a full-length classical ballet when I walked right past her. She was all skin and bones, and even her face seemed more angular, and was a stark contrast to her appearance in Chicago 2 years prior. Onto other things, SOOOOO excited for Veronika...now I just need to find a way to NYC again this summer. While I'm still not completely sold on Cory, he's been a principal for long enough that maybe the Stearns/Part pairing will actually pan out this time around. We know that Veronika is a nervous dancer (THRILLED about her SB with Marcelo) and putting her with a partner who is more secure in what he's doing will really help her. Also, having her in a consistent partnership will help them both. Cory is tall, but still slight in frame not nearly as filled-out as one may think. I got a chance to speak with him this past June and he's quite the sweetheart. At Ethan's farewell Cory filled in as a Merchant - can you imagine any other principal stepping in for a corps role?!? - I'm sure a large part of this had to do with the fact hat he was already at the theatre due to him dancing Conrad earlier in the day. But he was just so happy to have another chance to dance/have fun on that stage with his buddies before the season closed - and at Ethan's farewell too! He still has a boyish charm about him, and it'll be interesting to see how his partnership with Veronika translates to the stage this season especially with how imposing regal and imposing she can be. The casting for MET 2013 is much more diverse than than in previous years, so there are many more opportunities for many dancers! I'll be interested in a few months to see how Kevin/the company chooses to fill those remaining TBA and soloist roles. While I no longer have any expectations for any great castings - let alone promotions - for Stella and Sascha in the future (forever soloists)...They both have the repertoire to step in for a principal or even dance those roles, I do hope that when the time does come, the two of them get their due. (Going to go ahead and put this down, before they leave/retire from the company, I do hope that they dance a full-length classical ballet together as the principals - dare I dream for Giselle? - I hope ABT realizes that money-maker such a casting would be...)

I've been limited with internet during my stay in NYC, and I have so much to share about last night, but I have to run in about 10 minutes, so I have to keep it short for now... Last night was my first ballet at the Met, and it was INCREDIBLE. Ethan looked like he could have danced forever...he was truly at the top of his game (except when he fell out of his second pirouette...oops! - he's human after all). The dancer on stage was definitely the one that America fell in love with, and at 39 and having had 3 knee surgeries...it didn't show at all. Gillian's technical prowess is just completely breath-taking...nothing compares to seeing it in person. It being the final performance of the season as well as Ethan's farewell really had everyone stepping up their game...they really wanted to give it that little extra (As Ethan said in the playbill- "I'm just gonna give it my all" - he and the cast most certainly did) I adore Marcelo, and the command of the stage he has fantastic, and I can't wait to see him dance again in the future. It was a wonderful treat to see Stella and Sascha dance together, everyone in the audience just held their breaths. The way Stella finishes her moves, and they way they work together really highlights what the two of them do best. Little side tidbits from post-show... my friend and I had a chance after the show to meet a lot of the dancers! (side note - walked passed Irina - who was terrifyingly thin - she didn't look like that when i saw her 2 years ago in Chicago...but that's another thing entirely). Ethan, and his parents, were greeted like rock stars - as expected. Gillian and Marcelo (and his bf - who we had an extended conversation with, he actually had NEVER seen a ballet before they started dating - nor center stage...lols) were the sweetest ever...also, found out that Cory was also a merchant last night (last minute sub). Overall, I'm still on a high from the show all the dancers put on last night, and it was a privilege being in the very appreciative and adoring audience. I'll be back later if anyone else wants to add/ask anything

I think Hee Seo's promotion is in direct correlation with the impending retirement of Julie Kent as few ballerinas can come close to filling her shoes in the roles that she dances That being said, such wonderful news for the company! I can't wait to see the development continue for both as well as various other soloists and corps members!

absolutely thrilled to hear that all the casts this week have been quite exceptional and more than satisfactory (especially in regards to the Wed evening cast) would love to hear how Veronika dealt with being substituted in...I'm sure she was given a heads up, but it's always nice to get an update on how she dealt with nerves off topic: I much like many of you, have wanted Stella to get promoted to principal for the past 5/6 years. She definitely was on track when she was working on Giselle (personally I think that's a role that suits her better than Myrta), but her injury took her out of the game. While she's been recovered for a few years now, I think the severity/unpredictability and long recovery period of the injury (since it involves her lower leg/ankle/foot) makes promoting her risky. However, the most refreshing thing about Stella is that regardless of what role she is dancing, she really commits and embodies it fully; her versatility, control, and line makes her a beautiful dancer to watch. That alone makes her one of my favorite ballerina's at ABT who I can't imagine deserves a promotion more.

I haven't seen much of Polina's dancing, but it seems that most people enjoy watching her, and I've heard so much about her. I'm thrilled that I will eventually get a chance to watch her dance. As a sidenote...what does Semionova's addition to the ABT roster full-time mean in the grad scheme of things (the talented female soloists having to wait their turn and the lack of male talent in the higher ranks - and Polina is tall too...although this does mean that Kevin has his bases covered with the female principals should there be any retirements in the next few years)

Speaking of which...anyone know what Carreno has done in the year since his retirement form the company? I know he wanted to try other forms of dance and experiment as an artist and whatnot...but does anyone have an actual update? He is still in NY right? and ksk06 - THANK YOU! also, how long was Golding with ABT before he left? He's pretty young, so it's impressive how far he's come. (granted he has talent, the looks, and solid training)