seattle_dancer

I know the run is over (sniff, sniff) but I went to the Sunday matinee and it was a terrific ending for the rep. I thought you might enjoy some tidbits. Empire Noir: all the opening night cast was back and Miles Pertl seamlessly debuted in Bold's role. Everyone seemed to pull out the stops for the last show, especially Elle Macy in her solo. I swear she was like a storm! New Suite: It was so nice to see some dancers in their original roles - Lindi Dec in Berio 3, Steven Loch in Berio 2, Sara Ricard Orza and Karel Cruz in Bach, and a delightful surprise in that Carrie Imler and Jonathon Poretta danced Handel 4. Most of these were not listed online so it was really fun. Her Door to the Sky: Sara Ricard Orza was so perfect in the leading lady role. Leta, Miles and Jerome all danced in EN and this ballet, what troopers! Post- performance Q&A: It was so nice for Lindsi Dec to stay for this talk even though she didn't dance in the Lang and had a Pagliacci pizza waiting for her (and her son at home). This session was one of the funnier ones. Someone asked how the little EN leotards stay in place and Lindsi said they often use a product called "Butt Glue" but it wasn't actually needed for EN. Someone asked why this glue is needed and Lindsi said there's a lot of partnering and sometimes body parts come out. Another funny comment was a lady who said she was taken by Karel's performance and his "sexual energy". We all had a good laugh at that one. Goes right up there with the guy who said Bold and Carla's Don Q kiss looked too real, and Carla's then fiancé was in the audience! Toward the end a lady commented that right after the Cendrillon run she saw NYCB on PBS and she thinks PNB is a lot better and that NYC has nothing on us!

The second week-end of All Forsythe Jahna, Carli and Liz had their debuts. Chelsea was the only taller gal who danced it and I was really impressed since it is so fast. Lindsi did not dance at all at last year's NYC tour as she had just had her baby, which was kind of funny because she was the poster girl in a Kisses leotard. Angelica had her Vertiginous debut on this tour. At Celebrate Forsythe it was Leta, Carrie, and Maggie for one cast and the other was Rachel, Liz, and Angelica. Dang! The Encore program is still not announced. I thought it might be today since tickets went on sale to the public but no dice. Sigh...

Now that I think about it, just because a dancer is in a photo doesn't mean she's in that ballet. I remembered that Lindi Dec was featured in the Vertiginous costume and I don't believe she ever actually danced it. Sorry for the possible false alarm - late night wishful thinking on my part. We'll see what happens...

I just noticed a (new to me) photo of Carrie Imler on the PNB website. It's the main photo for Rep 6. It's the same photo of her in a long black dress that's posted outside McCaw Hall. But on the website she balancing in a gold frame, which implies she'll be dancing in Pictures at an Exhibition. It was such a treat to see Carrie and Jonathon Poretta close out New Suite tonight! They really looked like they were enjoying themselves and having fun.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the program, especially Empire Noir! EN and Her Door are very choreographically dense, so I'll be back next weekend as I still haven't taken it all in. It's nice to have New Suite in the middle for a breather. Also since we're familiar with it, it's less demanding to watch. For NS I tried a new thing and didn't look at casting, and sometimes there's fun surprises like seeing Jonathon Poretta in the Berio 3, Leta came out twice, and seeing a new(er) face Sarah Ryan. The rep trailer does not due EN justice. In addition to the video of the Leta/Michaela solo, there's now a bit of Noe and also the entire cast featuring Ben Griffiths. I loved the sweeping curvature and size of the set. It matches the music well. I heard some complaints that the music was too loud, but I didn't think so and it wasn't at all hurtful to my ears like Pas/Parts 2016. The women's costumes are gorgeous! It was so nice to see Lindsi and Karel back in full force. Everyone was more than amazing, and I really hope Elle Macy did not kick her head too hard in her solo (kind of kidding but did look almost like she kicked her head in the Kitri-like jumps). The partnering looks extremely difficult. There's an overhead lift, then the gal spirals down somehow, and then I think she's spun asymmetrically just above or skimming the floor. Like I said, I could not take it all in. Again, I was rewarded by making all the social media rounds. I found Doug Fullington's pre-show lecture recorded from opening night on Twitter. I don't know if PNB posts those all the time, but I sure hope they continue to post it.

I'm so excited for this rep I keep checking PNB's social media accounts and I was rewarded! On Instagram a video was just posted of Leta Biasucci in an Empire Noir stage rehearsal and you can hear David Dawson over the god mike. It's amazing I could watch it over and over! There's also a gorgeous photo of Elle and a beautiful one of Noe. I just love the shapes David Dawson creates. Going back to the casting, the second weekend it looks like Steven Loch debuts in Empire Noir but the asterisk is missing. I hate typos on the website! Anyways, just wanted to give him some credit he has displayed so much range and talent this season and he totally cracked me up every time I saw Cendrillon!

I just noticed PNB's Instagram says Dawson arrived here on Monday. There is also a PNB tweet he'll be here for two weeks "polishing" Empire Noir. So was he stocking up on Aleve and such for all the dancers? ?

Ha ha, before the Space Needle is a photo of the Royal Opera House, and before that the letters are from Citizen Nowhere at Dutch National Ballet. CN just premiered mid Feb and I caught the last show this past Saturday. It is an amazing 27 minute solo for Edo Wijnen based on Le Petite Prince. Edo was one of the original cast members of Empire Noir. I hope PNB acquires another Dawson piece so we can see an all "All Dawson" rep!

If anybody has info on when Taming of the Shrew tickets go in sale, please post. I know Jewels is part of the Festival, but is Shrew also? I believe there is a pre-sale for Festival friends. I'm planning on seeing it. Last May I saw an excerpt at the Benois de la Danse Shakespeare-themed program, and I'd like to see the piece in its entirety. It seems there is appetite for Maillot's works in New York. His company brought Cendrillon last year and Lac a couple years earlier.

Does anyone know anything about Obsidian Tear? That program looks the most interesting to me. I saw Company Wayne MacGregor when they were in Seattle a couple weeks ago and would like to see more of his work, although I could forego the digital doo-dads. I saw Pas/Parts 2016 in San Francisco last year. There's some amazing choreography and dancing, but I had hard time with the "music", especially at the beginning. I had to plug my ears the second time I saw it. It's too bad because I really like Thom Willem's composition for In the Middle Somewhat Elevated.

Hello Altongrimes, Sorry I have not posted my thoughts on Cendrillon yet. I am curious what has recently excited you about PNB? You should come to Seattle sometime, I'd be happy to meet up. And we need more people to post about PNB!

Jahna has given me a good reason to visit San Francisco. I had never seen SFB perform and really enjoy their variety of spectacular dancers and rep, and how they use their arms. I saw Jahna in Fearful Symmetries. That little thing was fierce! I saw a higher ranked dancer the next night and honestly thought Jahna was better and more impactful. i wish Helgi would announce casting earlier so I can catch her in featured roles like Olga. However I love those weekends when there's two mixed bill programs, then I can usually catch her in something. I do miss Jahna in PNB but have enjoyed having my horizons expanded and happily following her advancement.

For what it's worth, at the open reheasal in early December, Laura Tisserand was the Mother/Fairy. There was a handout that mentioned Lucien was going to guest and no mention of April. I'm sure this will be a topic at the post-show Q&A, so we'll find out Friday night. I am glad that opening night Prince honors are going to one of our dancers (James Moore). The first time they danced Brief Fling Sacha Radetsky danced the blue guy opening night. I saw Jerome in that role later and enjoyed his dancing a lot more than Sacha's.

I would also love to see Carrie's Kitri variation. That video has over 425k views. Her grand pas de chats are enormous! In her Hippolyta video she says she's not really a turner. Isn't that funny?

I usually sit in or near the front row of the mezzanine, it's similar to the first row of first tier in McCaw Hall but maybe a little closer. My preference is to be close so I can see faces clearly, but I'm only 5' 2" and haven't lucked out with open Boston orchestra seats where I'm guaranteed to be able to see. By that I mean the equivalent of McCaw Hall Orch 2 or 3 seat 1, where you are looking down the aisle or the very front row. The front of the orchestra has very little rake. If you go, please post your impressions. I tried to make it work on my way back from Amsterdam (to see Het) but decided it would be too jammed and I don't want to be there but too tired to enjoy it and take it all in.

PNB's FB has annnounced the livestream on Jan 27 that Helene mentioned. I went to the open studio rehearsal in early December. I must admit that before that day, I was not excited about Cendrillon but after I totally am. More because I hadn't watched a DVD or much You Tube footage so was void of information. I thought it was odd a livestream was not being offered. The rehearsal was such an amazing experience. How could anyone NOT be excited about ANYTHING Bernice Coppetiers touches? I've never seen her perform live, but I saw her take Willy Burrman's Saturday morning class at Steps and she was just a goddess, having such a way about her and her own unique style and interpretation of steps. I was totally in awe of this creature. It is such a treat to see her work, she is the most expressive person I have ever seen and heard. She has such a way of showing and articulating what she wants from the dancers. I swear she could breathe life into a statue! So don't miss out! It's free and I believe the technology worked well from other cities so you have no excuse. And it's a Friday - a perfect way to end the week! Thanks to PNB for this offering!

Cristian, thanks for posting the video of my favorite George Michael song. I hadn't ever seen it actually. I love his songs and associate them with "growing up" during college and my first years on my own as an adult. Occasionally I hear his songs on the radio and instantly I feel happier. I didn't know much about GM until I just watched 20/20 tonight. I hope he is seeing how much his music still means to so many of us and that it brings him peace.

I couldn't agree more with altongrimes and Helene! I went to undergrad in NYC and mostly saw ABT at the Met Opera House via student rush deals. I'll add that for me the ultimate feeling of anticipation is when the lights dim and the orchestra tunes. Added bonus to the experience if there is a BA meet-up group!

Thank you kbarber! The pitch looks pretty good in the photos but there's no substitute for first hand knowledge.

It turns out March 2 - 4 work better for me. Anyone else planning to see this program? Also I have not been in the theater before? Does anyone have seating advice for a short person? A safe seat is always front row of a section but I do like orchestra so I can see faces and expressions clearly. Anyone know where the floor starts to rise?

I'm not totally surprised, but my heart is saddened today. Sunday when Carrie made her entrance as SPF I was so glad when a lot of the audience applauded, and I didn't even need to initiate it! I noticed she had some musical accents different than other SPFs, it was neat to see her make it her own. I hope Bold can teach some other guys to land big jumps without any sound. And he's a pretty big guy!

It seems to me Elle Macy should have an asterisk for a Sugar Plum Fairy debut. In any case, I'm really looking forward to seeing her and Steven Loch as SPF and Cavalier. I was looking forward to seeing Elle as Dewdrop this past Saturday evening but she had a substitute, as did Noelani and James as SPF and Cavalier. Still a great show though!

A couple days ago I saw the Guild 45th in Wallingford (a Landmark Theater) is showing Anastasia. I am here since its cheaper and closer to my house. Only six of us though. Probably some PNB dancers would have come if they weren't busy with Nutcracker rehearsals.

Wow she is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen! She looks like an angel. ? And her stylist has done a terrific job!

Congratulations Cristian!. She is a lucky little one to have you as a father! Hope to see a photo of you together! Have you signed her for ballet classes already?