cobweb

I could nitpick one or two of the choices, but overall this is great news. I notice they are going tall. Kikta and Miller are two of the tallest women in the company, LaFreniere and Hod aren't far behind, and Nadon is on the taller side of medium. Only von Enck is bringing up the short side. I too would love to see Kristen Segin in there! I imagine this means we'll be seeing some retirements among the female soloists. Pazcoguin and Adams are clearly not favored, and Pereira has shown a failure to progress. I also wonder about Megan LeCrone and Ashley Laracey, although they are used more widely and I hope they can stick around awhile longer, Laracey especially.

I have called the box office a couple of times this week, trying to buy Society NYCB tickets. They keep telling me it's not yet open yet for Society NYCB, when normally it would be. Earlier this week they told me to call back by the end of this week, and just now told me to call back next Wednesday. I hope this doesn't portend bad news about either the season, or Society NYCB! I am praying to see that Peck-LaFreniere Rubies.

Wow, my livestream is still going!! I better preserve that open browser tab for as long as I can...

Come to think of it, if NYCB needs to focus on smaller-scale works, how about putting in Liebeslieder Walzer? It's smaller-scale than either La Valse or Slaughter, and I for one would be at every performance.

I hope this is not too "off topic" for this forum, but I wanted to alert Balanchine fans that Vienna State Opera Ballet currently has a livestream up that contains a beautifully prepared performance of Liebeslieder Walzer. It's already been up since, I think, Friday, so not sure how much longer. It's a very different kind of performance from what we last saw at NYCB, but very beautiful, and the music and singing is a model of ravishing clarity.

Agree. I would like to see a fresh approach.

Isn't that when they usually announce the Levin Award winner? Any word on what they are doing with that this year?

That would make me a lot more interested in seeing DGV!

Thanks very much for the links, PeggyTulle. Reading this, does make this appointment sound baffling and troubling. I wonder what other applicants they had and why they felt this was the best choice.

I could definitely see both Joseph Gordon and Adrian Danchig-Waring in the principal role in Mozartiana. Both of them have springy, elastic legs and a plush quality that would be great in this. Thinking about that reminds me of past performances, especially Chase Finlay. I loved his catlike landings in Mozartiana. Also an emphatic yes to Roman Mejia in the shorter male role. That is a no-brainer.

I know nothing about what happened at ENB or what the issue is with Tamara Rojo. Within the limits, of course, of what's allowed on this board, can anyone fill me in on why there might be a mass exodus? I have to agree that whatever the reason, that would be very unfortunate.

Who are the men who are currently dancing Mozartiana? I remember Huxley for sure. Janzen and Tyler Angle also, I think. Not sure Angle is up to it, judging on his dancing in the fall season. So they probably need some new men as well. What about new soloist Chan?

I would love to see Laracey, Phelan, or Peck in Mozartiana. If they want to surprise us with someone from the corps, Kikta or LaFreniere. I have my doubts about Reichlen, however. In some ways she seems like an obvious choice (principal, tall, frequently dances same roles as Mearns and Kowroski), but I'm not sure she would bring anything magical to this role.

Strangely, there is a performance listed on the website for Jan 20, listed as "opening night," and featuring Serenade, After the Rain, and Symphony in C. (In other words, the opening night program for the Fall season). I just called the box office and they have no clue, denying it's on the website, asking if I was calling about New York City Ballet or some other company, and explaining that the season has been delayed to Jan 27. Yeah, I know. Oh well, I would have liked to see Symphony in C!

Exact same experience!! I will be glad to see the Balanchine one-act Swan Lake rather than the PM version. However, I'm sorry to miss Diamonds. I was hoping to see Miriam Miller, not sure she would be cast but it seemed likely since she did it successfully in Saratoga. This must be hard on the dancers, but I hope that management takes the opportunity to give young dancers a chance. If a principal tests positive and can't dance, why not put in a young dancer on short notice? The audience will certainly understand and be sympathetic, and even if a dancer isn't as prepared as would be ideal, no one is going to complain, and they will even be glad to "meet" the corps dancers in big roles.

I'm checking anxiously for the first week of casting for the NYCB Winter season - it would reassure me they're counting on going on as planned. I'm holding off on buying tickets till this happens.

Thanks for the hopeful note, canbelto!

I don't see how a winter season is going to be possible. If they test everyone (not just symptomatic people) for COVID regularly (I assume a few times per week), and anyone who tests positive must quarantine, and given how transmissible omicron is -- it just doesn't add up to allowing for regular performances. Depressing.

If anyone sees the final week of Nutcracker, please post reviews. Also, I'm just wondering about the long-term viability of this strategy of cancelling for cases of omicron. Without knowing the extent of the outbreaks that led to NYCB and Broadway cancellations, it's hard to form an opinion. But if people aren't symptomatic, is this really necessary? They can test and mask all they want, but this variant is so transmissible that it seems like anyone could get it riding the subway home. I fear for the Winter NYCB season. Can anyone help me out here with the logic? I'm all in favor of masking and vaccine requirements (and I'm triple-vaxxed despite getting extremely unwell from the second and third shots), but I don't think these shutdowns are sustainable, or (???) necessary.

Maybe so, and no doubt they are looking for new roles for the new principals. I would love to see Woodward in SL. But, didn't Sara Mearns get her "big break" by doing Swan Lake while still in the corps?

Unity Phelan is a beautiful dancer, but I have doubts about her in Swan Lake. It's hard to put into words, all I can think is that she seems too flimsy for the role. I'd be glad to be proven wrong, of course. On the other hand, I can totally see Emilie Gerrity as O/O. She has the grand, dynamic presence needed. I'd be there in heartbeat!

I was very much looking forward to a performance tomorrow of Mark Morris Dance Company, at Berkeley, California's Zellerbach Hall. Just got an email -- positive covid test in the company, performance cancelled. Wow, what a bummer. And awfully expensive for an arts organization. Having it affect me personally makes me wonder more about this - who is going to pay for these cancellations, is it the dance company or the presenter? Also, is this really necessary if no one is actually sick/symptomatic?

Disappointing! (Even though I also could not see any of them, spending a month away from NY). LaFreniere and Miriam Miller should be doing Sugarplum, and how about a Kristen Segin Dewdrop?

Week 5 of casting is up. Nothing new, no debuts. Kind of disappointing! Maybe for Week 6?

They have posted Week 5 of casting, but someone made a mistake - the posting is just a duplicate of the Week 4 casting. Come on NYCB, let's get the Week 5 casting!