cobweb

Casting updates from the lobby. Unless I’m missing something it looks like Furlan is out for the remaining performances. He is replaced in the first movement of Symphony in C by Chan, and Chan is replaced in the 4th movement by Peter Walker. Lars Nelson is out of his assignments. Pollack replaced by Woodward in Symphony in C but still in for Orpheus.

Kikta is very tall, Miller is taller. Surely Peter Walker can partner Kikta, but not sure about Bolden. No doubt that is a limiting factor, but given that they promoted so many tall women to soloist, I assume that means they're prepared to have at least one very tall principal. Right?? In any case, I find Kikta a far, far more intriguing dancer than Miriam Miller.

No reports on the gala and dancing?

I look forward to any reports from tonight's gala. Especially interested to hear about the excerpts from Who Cares? They haven't brought this piece back in awhile; I'd be eager to see it again. I attended last night. Agree that La Sonnambula is largely a snooze. I wish they had put in La Valse instead, there's more dancing, the costumes are mesmerizing, and I like the music a lot more. Taylor Stanley was fine, but I missed Harrison Ball, who was the Poet last time I saw it, and was insanely beautiful. Unity Phelan was also fine, but I couldn't help but think they should have given that role to Ashley Laracey, who would elevate it to another level of mystery entirely. It will be interesting to see Alexa Maxwell in the role, as @GB1216 said, I would not have pegged her for a role of mystery. On the other hand, she is always intense and dramatic. I enjoyed Apollo. Adrian Danchig-Waring etches the shapes so clearly, he just gets there so fast and looks great. I found Phelan and Gerrity both lovely but especially liked Sara Adams. Interesting that Taylor Stanley is not doing Apollo this time, I wonder why. I cannot WAIT to see the dynamite cast of Chan with Nadon, Kikta, and LaFreniere on Saturday!! Finally Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 2 -- wow, what a great, grand piece! I wish they did this more often, it should be in the regular rotation like Symphony in C and Serenade. Emily Kikta was commanding and totally scintillating. (IMHO she should have been promoted instead of Emilie Gerrity.) More please. Sara Mearns is also commanding and has the innate sense of drama needed for this piece, and as noted above Tyler Angle was better than expected. All in all, such a GREAT PIECE!!

I was also there last night and like @deanofdance had a great time. For me I especially loved Stars & Stripes. It is irresistible. I never would have thought to put Nadon and Walker in the pas de deux but both looked more comfortable with the choreography than they did on the first night, and both are very appealing. Emma Von Enck again dazzled in Tarantella - so responsive to the music! Sebastian Villarini-Velez did well and was extremely genial.

Thanks for your comments, deanofdance! (love the handle!) I too have noticed Ava Sautter, from when she was one of the Tall Ladies of Phlegmatic a year or so back (two years?) I look forward to when she gets a more featured role.

I too was wondering if Mearns and Woodward were going to go through class with loose hair, then I looked away and suddenly their hair was up! Fairchild was really there to work, you could see her serious approach. Also interesting that Gilbert Bolden put himself front and center again and again. I would probably resent that if I were one of his peers, but since I'm just an audience member, I enjoyed seeing him. I also thought Alexa Maxwell looked very, very sharp, and that LaFreniere looked more comfortable than she does onstage sometimes. Jovani Furlan seemed to be having a good time.

I was at the open company class this morning, which was fun to see. Wouldn't class usually be 1.5 hours? Gonzalo Garcia was a lot more positive than I remember the teachers being when I was a teenager. Garcia was constantly like "Good, Jovani!" "Looking good, Andres!" "Beautiful, Mira!" and few if any individual corrections. Or is that the difference between being a teenage ballet student versus a professional dancer? Due to schedule conflicts and my disinterest in Slaughter on 10th Ave, I didn't get to anything else today, and probably won't get to Borree Fantasque till it reappears in the Spring. I'm very interested in hearing reports on this, however -- it's a Balanchine piece that I have heard almost nothing about!

They are using Villarini-Velez a lot, but IMHO he's not always looking so great. I would be surprised if he got promoted. Bolden and Riccardo on the other hand, YES. Also, PLEASE put Alexa Maxwell in charge of the first regiment in Stars & Stripes for Winter!

Hope you made it, abatt! Look forward to hearing your report. I finally made it home on the D train. Never have I been so happy to see the D train!!

I sit here trapped at work, was unable to find a way home -- subway barely running, buses cancelled, Metro-North not running from Grand Central... so picked up dinner and eating at my desk. Will try again soon. Meanwhile, I enjoyed the Western Symphony-Stars & Stripes program again last night. The program mentioned above by @abatt, of these two with Who Cares? sounds great! However, that's probably a much more complicated program to put on, as opposed to having Unanswered Question and Tarantella in the middle of the program. For The Unanswered Question, I wonder if they considered putting Dominika Afanesenkov in there. I didn't see her in Afternoon of a Faun, but everyone said she looked just like Janie Taylor, so this would seem a natural fit for her as well. In Tarantella, Daniel Ulbricht charmed and delighted the audience with the ease of a confident, seasoned performer. In Western Symphony, Gilbert Bolden again impressed with his elegance and sunny smile, while Jovani Furlan is a wonderful, aw-shucks Rhinestone Cowboy. Emily Kikta absolutely sizzled in the final section - so much authority it's dazzling! Andrew Veyette gave it his all, not exactly a paragon of exactitude or form, but with great energy and charm. Stars & Stripes was also great fun. I look forward to seeing this again in Winter. I believe this was a pretty last-minute change, not only of cast but of programming. I can't recall why the change was made, someone must have been injured. Claire no doubt didn't have much time to prepare for this high-profile opportunity (with Joaquin de Luz, not sure I'm remembering that right?). Unfortunately that may be a painful memory for her.

Interesting discussion about the changing interpretations of Liberty Bell, and/or our changing attitudes towards patriotism. Nadon definitely brought elegance and glamour.

Thanks! I watched the snippet from Square Dance. Huxley and Fairchild look great.

Okay, I have to take back my criticisms of this program. I felt I didn't need to see Western Symphony again, but once there I couldn't resist feeling the fun of it. And Stars & Stripes -- wow, I had forgotten how much great dancing there is in this. I see they're bringing it back in the Winter, as they should! Tarantella is in tune with the fun mood of the evening, and the only discordant note is The Unanswered Question, which seems to have slipped in from some other program. Gilbert Bolden looked terrific in the first section of Western Symphony -- dancing large, his smile lighting up the stage, and clean and elegant. He really looked great -- hope this is a breakthrough moment for him. In the second movement, Jovani Furlan was dreamy and charming, again showing a sly humor like he did in Rubies, and letting the audience in on the joke. In the last movement, I don't think this role is a great fit for Unity Phelan, she doesn't come across like a showoff and a flirt. Roman Mejia, on the other hand, is a GREAT fit for this flirty showoffy role, and he and the audience both enjoyed it tremendously. Emma Von Enck was terrific in Tarantella. You'd never know it was a debut, so comfortable and assured did she look. Playful, spontaneous, and musical. And she always includes the audience, with what I read as a demeanor that says she is eager to please and eager to give us a good show. She is a very, very likeable performer. Finally, Stars & Stripes ramps up the fun even more. Erica Pereira continues to come across as wan and unfocused with little attack and less technical facility than she used to have. Alexa Maxwell (who was sitting near me in the audience) would be terrific here. Emily Kikta was a dominating Amazon with charm, if that makes any sense, in the second movement. She is such a confident, polished performer -- it's a mystery why she wasn't in the recent batch of promotions to principal. The movement with all the men was fun, and Daniel Ulbricht looked terrific. Finally, El Capitan and Liberty Bell, Peter Walker and Mira Nadon. I don't think of either of these two as having bravura technique (but maybe they do have it, I just haven't seen them in roles calling for it?), and in truth neither of them looked completely comfortable. They kept their sense of humor, though, and both looked great anyway. I have to say that I love that teal-colored tutu bodice with the gold accents and tassels, and the little yellow feather. Glamour and charm! The finale was fun. Good show!

I am no fan of the See the Music programs (at least on weeknights), but it seems really unfortunate things have come to this. It also seems unprofessional of the musicians to wear the t- shirts. Does anyone know if their contract specifies attire?

Thanks for an update from the scene, abatt! Bad news about Aaron Sanz.

Interesting, the casting sheet for this week looks like it was updated yesterday -- it is dated 9/25. But, I don't see any substitutions actually listed, for Laracey or anyone else.

Despite heavy duty rain, it was a lovely afternoon inside the theatre yesterday. The lobby was packed coming in, so much so that they were stopping the inflow into the lobby every so often, letting the "will call" line progress and the lobby clear, before letting in another group of people. Many former dances to be seen. Russell's farewell was fairly brief as retirement celebrations go, but fond and affectionate and well supported by the enthusiastic audience. Wonderful performance as well. Indiana Woodward gave an elegant, sophisticated, and richly detailed rendition of the Violette Verdy role in Emeralds. I liked Emilie Gerrity better than I did when I saw her earlier in the week; she looked more relaxed and less tense to me, more soft and gentle. Sara Adams in the pas de trois was, as always, crisp, airy, and charming. It's long been a mystery to me why she is a somewhat underused soloist. Mira Nadon ruled Emeralds. Agree with @pirouette that the arabesques penche were riveting. Huxley and Fairchild brought their "A game." I don't love having the portions of Jewels pulled out of context, but now I'm looking forward to seeing Rubies in the spring, since we have three outstanding casts -- Huxley/Fairchild, Peck/Mejia, and Von Enck/Furlan. My only wish is to see Alexa Maxwell too. Russell and Sara were beautiful together in Diamonds. When they were taking in audience applause after the pas de deux, Sara looked like she was trying not to cry. With Janzen retiring, I'm losing hope of seeing Davidsbundlertanze again anytime soon. Much appreciation to him for many lovely performances!

I was there again last night to see the all-debut (except for LeCrone) cast again. As he was on Thursday night, Aaron Sanz was out and replaced by Adrian Danchig-Waring. I really love Sanz' tall, elegant dancing and hope he's back soon. In Emeralds, Nadon once again was amazing. I've been trying to articulate to myself something about how she relates to the choreography. To me, it's as if she's speaking to herself as she moves, or thinking, or expressing some organic thought as she dances. As if every turn and every little movement of her arm carries the weight of a thought she just had, or is having as she moves. I can't quite get my mind around it, but I think I'm trying to get at what @bellawood said above, it's as if the movement is natural to her body. What an amazing gift Nadon has. I was excited about Davide Riccardo getting a big opportunity in Emeralds. Seeing him in this role twice now, he has all the makings of a danseur noble. But he didn't seem present enough, was perhaps nervous, not taking command of the stage or addressing the audience. Even during the curtain call, while others appeared relieved and joyful, he looked quite subdued. I know he has the talent, maybe with more experience he will gain confidence and authority. I always enjoy the pas de trois. The music is so catchy and the choreography for three is similarly "catchy," it lingers in the mind. India Bradley is wonderfully fluid, has an expressive face and a beautiful smile. With those fluid arms, I wondered if we might see her in the "walking solo" role one day. Mary Thomas MacKinnon again danced with a passion and musicality that I found really moving, and I want to see more of her. Rubies - again, Emma Von Enck danced huge, with verve, wit, and musicality. I love how open she appears onstage, as if she's just delighted to be there with her partner and with us, the audience. As someone said up-thread, more, more, MORE! Jovani Furlan often seems serious and intense, so it was great to see him having fun here. He and Emma had a good rapport. And he looked delightful in the section where he leads the four guys jogging along after him. Dancing with tremendous power, his elevation soaring above the heads (so it seemed) of the other guys, and slyly gesturing toward the audience to let them in on the fun as he led the youngsters down a path he knew they couldn't follow -- all great fun! Christina Clark again, was a fairly subdued Tall Girl who couldn't consistently nail a grand jete or arabesque penche. I have my doubts that she has the right qualities for this role. Diamonds -- Chun Wai Chan was beautifully noble. Isabella LaFreniere -- hmmm. In a way I loved it, I find her moving, expansive, and she doesn't have trouble with the choreography. But I kept feeling like something was missing - some interior quality that she is holding back, something that keeps her from fully unleashing grand expansiveness. Hard to articulate. Somehow the memory of big past performances she's had also color my view of her -- the dicey Sleeping Beauty debut, and the grand excitement of her Chaconne debuts. All adding up to a very talented dancer who is still pulling it all together. I can't always get to as many performances, night after night, as I've been able to do with this run of Jewels. (And depending on the programming, don't always have the interest. Looking at next week, I find it so frustrating that they are bringing back Western Symphony and Slaughter on 10th Ave, two pieces that I'm weary of.) Seeing a piece several times, night after night, really helps me get a deeper grasp of its structure and complexities. Looking forward to the matinee and Janzen retirement.

I did not hear any boos. In fact, she got an enthusiastic welcome from what sounded like lots of young people/students(?).

... after 3 nights in a row, I took a night off (and enjoyed a surprise impromptu flute concert in my building!!). Any reports? How were Mearns & Janzen?

Emma von Enck not only stole the evening, she may have stolen the whole season! Like others above, a friend and I were sitting at intermission wondering what other big roles they can put her in. I see she's debuting 3rd movement of Symphony in C, MHO they should give her the first movement. How about Stars & Stripes? For this season, only the final week's casting has not come out yet, so I pray for Serenade, Russian girl. In addition to everything others have said above, I really enjoyed her facial expressions. She let go, uninhibited, joyful, sexy, and unafraid. Loved it!! I have to add, Jovani Furlan was fantastic as well, fun, intense, and beautiful. In Diamonds, I found Chun Wai Chan really, really beautiful. His tours are so clean, the positions and rotation are so clear in the air, nothing is smudged. He is a GEM. I find this kind of noble, restrained, clean, and committed dancing to be an inspiration -- not to wax too poetic, but it makes me feel good about life in general. Joseph Gordon, with a similar nobility, made me feel the same the night before. Isabella LaFreniere inspires more mixed feelings, but at least she is never boring, as I found Unity Phelan the night before. LaFreniere danced very large and expansive, and something about her also comes across as vulnerable and touches my heart. TBH, I loved her! I remember her first year of Firebird which looked very good, and the second year she added tremendous confidence and authority. I imagine the same for Diamonds. She has room to grow here, but this is an excellent start. I am convinced she is a very special dancer (note to @vipa!), and I am glad they gave her this important opportunity. A note on the pas de trois in Emeralds. Spartax Hoxha looked good. India Bradley is wonderfully fluid and airy. Mary Thomas MacKinnon gave it her all, she is a dancer with passion and imagination, and it made me want to see more of her. Agree. Her temperament is not right for this role. This is a missed opportunity for some other deserving corps member, or the most obvious choices, Ashley Hod or Miriam Miller.

I found her a very un-impactful Tall Girl. It’s a mystery to me why they thought she was a good fit for this role. She doesn’t have the kind of bold, dynamic movement quality, nor the dramatic presence, called for here. At times it seemed to tax her technique as well.

… and Emma was fabulous in Rubies!

Another comment about last night, I wanted to add that I really enjoyed the pas de trois in Emeralds, with KJ Takahashi, Baily Jones, and Alexa Maxwell. Takahashi had a beautiful restrained nobility, while Maxwell danced the heck out of her variation, musical and so passionate and animated. I would LOVE to see her in bigger roles.