pherank

La La Land's writer-director Damien Chazelle just gave a nice introduction to the film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on TCM - making it pretty clear where he was coming from with his own film.

Definitely an intriguing lineup. A couple of the dancer pairings I question - Kochetkova with Di Lano, and Tan with Robison, but galas do tend to have that "you won't normally see this, but what the heck" spirit. I can't quite picture André, Castilla and De Sola in Agon either, but once you make principal, you do have to up your game considerably. I'd love to hear a report on this gala.

It's easy to take it all for granted - what these companies have to go through for just a single year's program and tour. They move mountains to earn a buck. ;) And there's always room for improvements (as Ulrich talks about), but the 'improvements' do depend upon your values. Every A.D. emphasizes different things.

Hmmmm - where does the "werewolf" part come into it?

This article by Allan Ulrich is worth a read - it sums up SFB's repertoire over the last 32 years under Tomasson: http://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Parade-of-premieres-continues-in-SF-Ballet-s-10848459.php "...But for a dose of dazzling reality, one should consult the company’s hastily assembled performance annals. There they are — 153 commissions stretching from 1985 through this coming 84th season. True, a substantial number of those dances were created by Tomasson himself. But most represent a cross-section of American and international choreographers that no other stateside ballet company can rival."

Here's a great "blast form the past": Sofiane at NYCB, and Baryshnikov is with them, talking about her dancing life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5KTdhpBezQ Note the "Property of Alcatraz" t-shirt. How's that for a glimpse into the future?! Her description of the constantly changing repertoire/roles at NYCB gives an indication of why she would move on to SFB - where she is still able to perform in classic story ballets, while also being part of the creation of new ballets, each year.

Sofiane in Sleeping Beauty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfbO_twDD1Q

Just a quick interruption of our sadness to show that life goes on, and the 2017 season rehearsals are getting underway again: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPGaI5MBFYU/?taken-by=lapetitefrench_ Is that Feijoo and Cruz shadowing Froustey and Walsh? I couldn't help but laugh at Masha's predicament - she's been trapped on Highway 1 (due to weather closures). Perhaps she's finally made it through? https://www.instagram.com/p/BPGTlN2gmyv/?taken-by=balletrusse https://www.instagram.com/p/BPEDeB1gSHr/?taken-by=balletrusse

Aesthetically and technically speaking, you are quite right - Davit is irreplaceable. But, still, some danseur has to be brought into that principal position. It's too early to tell how Greco will develop. For me personally, there isn't any soloist or Corps member, currently with SFB, who can dance and act on Davit's level. That person may have to come from outside the company.

It's funny how quickly things start to look 'unstable'. Ah well. SFB keeps losing its most experienced danseurs (and best partners). Now I'm wondering if the early promotion of Sasha was meant to mitigate this heavy loss. Will Jen Stahl, or Lauren Strongin, be promoted at the end of the season? I'm very curious about who will be chosen from among the Corps to be soloist - who is truly ready? Edit: And who to replace Davit? Will Hansuke be promoted? The most exciting male soloist may be the brand-new Angelo Greco, but he has to prove himself over the course of the season. It's very possible he may follow his countryman, Carlo Di Lanno, and be promoted very rapidly.

Yes, not a happy announcement for SFB. I wish them both much luck in their new careers though. Two excellent people. My guess is that Davit's back injury is proving to be a real problem for him, and I'll bet they both want to start a family. And plans have to be made for the future after dance...

Danilova describes The Gods on pages 100-101 of her autobiography (but there's too much for me to reproduce here). I'm always wondering where the film of Cotillion went to - a portion of it appears in the Balanchine American Masters program. 'The eminent critic Edwin Denby called "Cotillon" the glory of the company's repertory and wrote that "this piece profoundly affected the imagination of the young people of my generation." In her book "De Basil's Ballets Russes," Katherine Sorley Walker wrote: " 'Cotillon' has haunted the memory of everyone who saw it. Many feel that it should be revived." Balanchine himself was clearly not among those "many." "He talked about the ballet, but he never talked about bringing it back," recalls Barbara Horgan, the late choreographer's longtime assistant and the administrator of the George Balanchine Trust.' http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-30/entertainment/ca-3021_1_joffrey-ballet-robert-joffrey-lost-cotillon La Valse re-purposed some of the choreography, and perhaps there are bits and pieces reused elsewhere too, so that may be the reason why Balanchine was willing to let go.

I hope you take the time to write to PB expressing your concerns. I'm reminded of the appearance of Nikolay Tsiskaridze in the documentary "Dance of the Little Swans" - he really doesn't come off well. Not the sort of person that most of us (in the West) would want teaching or directing our children. But of course the Russians in the documentary are shown to worship him. I have to think it's more about status level than anything else - if you're a prince, then everyone thinks you're just wonderful, no matter what one's actual character might be like. Corella is being feted as just this sort of prince, but his people skills seem to leave a lot to be desired, and that does mean something to us. It would be interesting to hear from some of "his" dancers in a year or so about their experiences. We can always use a really good scandal.

A fairly long clip of Masha dancing in Don Quixote in Havana Cuba this past fall: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOuv6fBA9N4/?taken-by=balletrusse

Agreed - the Nutcracker divertissement roles, and Drosselmeyer's dolls from Act 1, are performed by veterans who at least look to be promising soloists (if they are not soloists already). It would be good to give proper credit to these people in the listings. Tomasson is juggling quite a few 'promising' dancers, but that's not a bad problem to have for an A.D. Other regional companies have to fight to keep their best dancers. The SFB audience has been quite lucky in that their dancers generally remain loyal. But I can understand a dancer leaving if they are offered a big opportunity that SFB can't counter - those opportunities are so fleeting.

I'm not sure if this video series has been mentioned before (they're not coming up in my forum searches), but a number of the NYCB Anatomy of a Dance videos have excellent footage and interesting observations. Some better than others, obviously. I thought Justin Peck's comments about Glass Pieces were worthwhile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVwUZPqPv5Y Anatomy of a Dance: EPISODES with Claire Kretzschmar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13pyQ5-o4MY Anatomy of a Dance: SERENADE with Sara Mearns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gza2jhUWl2Q NYC Ballet's Sterling Hyltin on Balanchine's STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_HuQVDO0wg Link to the complete set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8GOTCkrekU&list=PL6nf62I-S4yJIB3KaM3AIMOqzLmf0Nc6H

"After our meeting at the Albert Hall, we're all going to Downing street, to throw things at the prime minister." I always enjoy hearing that line.

Bob Fosse! Thanks for those video clips. The other night I was watching TCM's roll call of film industry people who passed away in 2016, and it was the longest list I think that ever aired. And it keeps getting longer, and longer.

Thanks for the review, Terez. Koto posted a post-ballet image of Hansuke and herself to her Instagram page: http://https://www.instagram.com/p/BOi-GikgVFo/?taken-by=koko21 Someone commented that it was "a proud evening for Japan". ;) I think everyone is a little bummed that Davit isn't ready to perform yet.

And now Debbie has passed away - only a day after her daughter Carrie. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/movies/debbie-reynolds-dead.html

For La Valse fans, Clifford has a video of Marnee Morris dancing with Anthony Blum, 1973: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ-vvsyJhgI And the final Pas de Deux w/ Sara Leland and Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, 1973: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCQ1UJak2r4

Thanks to all the very diligent administrators for keeping the forums an enjoyable community to visit and participate in.

So long Carrie, you will be missed. Pretty much everyone was amateurish in the original Star Wars, but that is very much part of its charm, and actually makes the premise more, not less, believable. The characters feel like actual people and not "roles".

Thank you RG! I agree that the Tanny photo is likely Lynes. I wonder if these Vogue and LIfe Magazine photos will become available to order online?

A few photos for your digital collection (I don't know the photographer's names): Tanny, Mr. B. and Mancion https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/62/82/2a/62822a35cc95879a2421609acc767dad.jpg Patricia McBride, Rubies https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Patricia_McBride_Jewels_1967.JPG http://ilarge.lisimg.com/image/6034642/905full-patricia-mcbride.jpg McBride with Mr. B. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vLKYdSmM5Go/maxresdefault.jpg Suzanne Farrell, naturally http://www.vogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/21/08-ballet-bodies.jpg The Kiss http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/george-balanchine-balett-choreographer-usa-is-kissing-prima-ballerina-picture-id545960691 Don Q promo http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/suzanne-farrell-july-03-1965-picture-id538839982