Allegro

At our SERBA we also had problems...the director who was hosting SERBA liked to talk about God a lot. Which generally, I don't mind, because I am religious, but it just wasnt the time or place, especially in light of everything that was going on. BTW, lots of people thought we should have closed GALa, but oh well. And for some strange reason, they didnt' give out the "best choreography" award that they give out every year, and is put on the national register, but I think our piece would have gotten it. And that is so cool that Utah danced it, being a professional company, after it was made on us! I feel so special....

WOW! Pizza9.... I am very sure that a ballet company from Utah is doing the exact same piece that we did for SERBA. Look for it. It will be second to last on the Gala, and it is called Glennies, and it is choreographed by Alan Hineline. HE originally choreographed it for us, but then went and set it for I believe, Utah Regional, or something like that. He added a pas de deux and a male solo, but other than that, it is the same. Look for two girls en pointe that do 2 duets in the silence. That is what I did, at our SERBA, which BTW, was on the gala and was second to last, just like Utah.

I don't think I made myself as clear.... I really wasn't saying that we had a leg up on the Russians (no pun intended.) What I was intially saying is that the organization of RDA is something to be proud of, and I know, from my experience, that our company wouldn't be at the level we are at without RDA. I'm glad we did Alan Hineline's work also. It was great to be able to work with him and have him set a ballet on us. It is nice to have him now before he is out of our reach. I have a feeling that he will be very successful. His piece was really cool. It was very challenging, and different from anything I have ever done. There are three movements, (all to percussive music) and between the first and second and second and third, this other girl and I run out in the silence and do a duet in the silence. And yes, to my knowledge, all of the other companies in SERBA dance their pieces at other venues than SERBA. We did all the pieces we ajudicated in previous shows. And our ajudicator was Richard Dickinson.

Thanks for giving me the go-ahead! I attended SERBA with my regional ballet company, and had a great time! I liked the classes, but as always, the performances were the best! I can't remember ALL the performances, so I will just say the ones I really liked. On the Emerging Choreographer's night, I enjoyed a piece ("Sweet Sorrow") that was danced by Louisville Civic Company. The choreographer won the Monticello (An award to the best female emerging choreographer) and it was danced by four girls with a woman playing the harp on stage. I also liked a really cute piece called "Down" that was danced by Gwinett Dance Ensemble. It was a humouous ballet about a plan crash. Alabama Dance Theatre did a piece called "Indigo", which was set to (I think ) Louis Armstrong's music. The closing piece was Atlanta Ballet Centre Theatre (I think that's the name, but I do know it was formerly Atlanta ballet II) and they did a really pretty classical piece, with gorgeous tutus and great technique. The next night, Friday, wasn't all that memorable, but Ft. Lauderdale Ballet Classique did a nice to Moonlight Sonata. They had three soloists who did a good job, and the corp was very strong. Our company was second to last on the Gala, so I didn't get to see much of the Gala night. We (Appalachian Ballet company) did a piece called "Glennies," choreographed by Alan Hineline, set to the music of the deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennies. It went well, and the audience really seemed to like it. But I did a piece right before ours called "Diamonds," danced by Gwinett Ballet Theatre, and choreographed by Thom Clower. It was really good, but SO hard! At one point, the corps was doing laps around the back of the stage! They all were running on in the upstage left wing and running diagonally downstage right, then running behind the curtain to do it again!!! Alabama Dance Theatre did Balanchine's Valse Fantasy, and I wanted to see it SO bad! But it opened the show, so I couldn't watch. Thanks for listening to my review!

Hi. I was just wondering if any of you have attended any Regional Dance America festival. I attended SERBA, and was curious to know if anyone else has. I am sort of wanting to talk about the evening performances...Sorry if this post isn't appropriate for this board! Thanks!

Just a comment, but all those different body shapes is part of the reason why I like DTH. All beautiful bodies, but not one "cookie cutter" dancer. Also, in dance magazine, I recently read an article about SAB doing something about girl's eating disorders. Like they had hired and in-school nutritionist or something. And that each girl was on a "program." I might have the school or the details wrong, but I thought I read someting like that.

Although I think those super ballet thin bodies are very unattractive, and I think that anorexia is way to common in a young dancer's ballet world (Having seen friends and other dancers going through the disease), that article in the LA TImes made me mad. THin by whose standards? This may abe just a term pinned on healthy ballerinas by an overly obese society whose main occupation is eating and then trying to exercise it all off. Lots of dancers are very HEALTHY, and they take care of their bodies instead of overindulging.

I think there should be a Barbie Ballet. My teacher and a few members of our company were talking about it. It could be to that song- "I'm a Barbie Girl, in a BArbie World..." and all the girls could be in platinum blonde wigs......

If the people who have Seen Billy Elliot will respond.... Is it rated R just for the bad language? I hear that anyway in school, so mom and dad wouldn't care. It's the "Adult Situations" That they have problems with. THANKS!

No, I have never read "Conversation with the Muses." I would like to, though. I guess I should look up this kind of topic on the archives. I saw Darci Kistler in La Sonnambula, and I loved the ballet at first sight. I think it is my favore Balanchine piece. But I would love to see Kent do it, if it is better.

I am sure this has been talked about before, but I would be very intrested on people's comments about Balanchine's muses......who do you think is the best? I, personally, like Suzanne Farrell and Darci Kistler, but I would be intrested on some additional perspectives on the others. What do people think of Allegra Kent? I haven't heard much about her.

I think Balanchine is the past, present, and future of the NYCB. If you look at their season repatory, the most prominent choreographer is surprise, surprise, Balanchine. They still exist on BAlanchine, and I think they always will. As for Balanchine being other companies future, I really think it depends on the company. There are many companies that would rather do their own stuff, like Maurice Bajart's company, and the Old old institutions, who will always and forever be dancing old as well as new pieces.

I have a couple of favorite dance movies......I like this one movie calle "Ballet Shoes," which is a book based on a book by Noel Streatfield. (Check out her books...they are fun.) It is about three English orphans who go to RAD and become famous. The other dance movie I like is "Riverdance, live from New York" That is really good.

I should have worded myself better on my last post. I don't believe sports have 'ruined' ballet, but I think there could be much better ballet programs in the USA, and the world, if sports hadn't turned the public's attention. Imagine a world where instead of Monday night football, there was Monday night at the ballet. Not to say that I don't like sports, because I do. All the girls in my family dance, while all of the boys play baseball or football. Also, sports may have increased the virtuosity level in dance. I think in the past 50 years, dance has been raised to a level that would have been unheard of before. Pavlova, and all the other famous dancers of her time, were known for their grace and artistic ability. I think I even heard somewhere that Margot Fontyn didn't believe it was nesscessary for an extention to be above 90 degrees.Now, it is the age of higher jumps, more turns, and greater strength. I hope I clarified myseld somewhat! ~Kathleen

I would vote for Balanchine b/c he revolutionized modern ballet theatre, and added so much to the betterment of dance. I noticed something that wasn't on your "poll".....What has harmed ballet the most? My vote: Sports. Need I say more?