pherank

Yet another loss in the acting community - hard to believe really. Hoffman was a truly great talent. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/movies/philip-seymour-hoffman-actor-dies-at-46.html

I just happened to post this news in the Froustey thread. From what I hear it takes 6 to 8 weeks to recover from this type of injury. Of course it depends on just how bad the fracture was. If there's anything 'good' about this I suppose Froustey and Messmer are likely to get more dancing in than maybe was planned. But Vanessa Zahorian has been a real go-to soloist in the past. It's a big bummer. And I have a feeling it may affect her husband Davit's dancing in the short term (psychologically speaking).

Just a quick follow up on Zahorian - some unfortunate news: "I learned from this post-gala correspondence what apparently few among the audience of 3200 noticed. When she (Zahorian) fell — probably slipping on sweat on the stage, and her shoe, with rosin on it, got caught — she broke her foot (the fifth metatarsal) ... and she continued to dance the entire piece on a broken foot." --Janos Gereben https://www.sfcv.org/article/sf-ballet-gala-fun-profitable-and-showing-up-the-nfl Last year, the company was seeming short on female principals, but with the addition of Froustey and Messmer, the company had regained its depth, but now Zahorian is out for who knows how long. I really hope this is the only freak accident for this season, but who knows?

Froustey with Tiit Helimets after her first principal performance, in Giselle, January 26th, 2014: Giselle: Mathilde Froustey Albrecht: Tiit Helimets Hilarion: Pascal Molat Myrtha: Simone Messmer

I'm glad I got a chance to see her end of last season at the Director's Choice performance.

Casting changes: Mathilde is now dancing on the 31st instead of the 29th. Lorena is now dancing on the 29th. Also, SVP now has a second performance and Vanessa is out. I wonder if she got injured during the gala. Of course, casting could change again. I was looking forward to seeing Mathilde - I was so impressed with her at the gala. One of the reviewers mentioned that Zahorian was having an off night (and I can't remember the last time I heard that about her dancing), so an injury could very well be the reason. Sad to get injured right at the beginning of the season. The SFB schedule says that Froustey will perform on both the 26th and the 31st.

I almost get the sense that Macaulay has been making amends with his recent posts - they seem unusually well balanced in their criticisms and praises: "Ms. Fairchild, always a strong technician, danced the lead of “Rubies” with a twinkling confidence and percussive musicality that seemed to be personal breakthroughs. She still lacks eloquent line, upper-body plasticity and stage-filling amplitude, yet the way she took risks in covering space set high standards for Balanchinean impetus, and her lower-body sparkle was terrific. As her consort, Mr. De Luz exemplified the same virtues, with more than a touch of braggadocio." http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/arts/dance/jewelsreturnstonewyorkcityballetsrepertory.html "The opening night of New York City Ballet’s six-week winter season, at the David H. Koch Theater, was such a sensory overload that I feel I’m only scraping the surface. Every millisecond felt a matter of consequence. In my nearly seven years in this job, I don’t remember this company starting a season with such commanding freshness. There’s fault to be found with individual dancers, while several have room to grow, but the general level of musical precision and sweeping physical freedom was scintillating, exhilarating, galvanizing." http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/arts/dance/balanchineeveningignitescityballetwinterseason.html Methinks Macaulay is actually enjoying himself at the ballet. ;)

Was anyone able to go see the gala in person? It would be great to get some first-hand comments on the proceedings.

I stumbled across this website that has some nice ballet related artworks posted: http://artoftherussias.wordpress.com/tag/ballet/ Portrait of a very young Alexandra Danilova

I'm not sure that this article has been linked to before: Mindy Aloff in the WSJ on Kendall's book - http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324354704578637853197244968 I can agree with some of Aloff's critique, and disagree with a few points too.

Yes, this covers all bases. ;) I sincerely wish I could be there for the gala, but no.

Looking forward to Program 3, 2014... MF in La Bayadere

A couple of things that I really appreciated her mentioning were the Tanny Le Clercq documentary, and the effect of the AIDS epidemic on the arts/dance scene in the 1980s. And your conversation about Macaulay/critics and their attitudes in print was rather humorous. Looking forward to the next one. ;) I hope that later on in the year you are able to speak with Mathilde Froustey or Simone Messmer at SFB. Or Tan, Kochetkova, Van Patten... [EDIT] This reminds me, when you feel up to talking to another photographer - Erik Tomasson, son of SFB Director Helgi Tomasson, is the company’s photographer. And if that sounds like nepotism, you just have to see the quality of his photos to get why they would really want him. He may well have an interesting perspective on things. http://www.eriktomasson.com/ “First, I never ask anybody to pose anything,” he says. “I don’t move around. I let dancers work. They’re more comfortable, more relaxed, and I get what I want, the more natural stuff. “I see both the dancer and the environment: the lighting, the background, the shadows. I see it as a product. The dancer should look right and good as the focal point. The ‘look’ of my photographs, my signature, comes from the idea of ‘crushing the blacks’; of achieving the truest black background with no gradations, making the dancers really jump out.”

Thanks, RG - I've always liked the Illuminations costumes.

Thanks Lion, I did miss copying a few items. ;)

Wendy Perron's Best of 2013 http://www.dancemagazine.com/blogs/wendy/5554 • Borderlands, choreographed by Wayne McGregor for San Francisco Ballet at War Memorial Opera House. With snaking spines, vibrating arms, and torsos diving through a partner’s negative space, this kinetically exciting premiere was danced magnificently by SFB. Lucy Carter's saturated lighting immersed the dancers in a unique environment. PERENNIALS Superlative dancers, heretofore unmentioned, who continue to top their own artistic achievements: • Michael Trusnovec of Paul Taylor • Yuan Yuan Tan and Sarah Van Patten of SFB • Stella Abrera and Sarah Lane of ABT • Matthew Rushing, Alicia Graf Mack, and Linda Celeste Sims of Ailey • Sara Mearns, Tiler Peck, and Georgina Pazcoguin of NYCB • Jon Bond of Cedar Lake • Carla Körbes of Pacific Northwest Ballet • Julie Diana of Pennsylvania Ballet

I always enjoy these POB rehearsal videos. Well Ms. Froustey will get her chance with Giselle this January - she is, after all, a Principal at SFB.

Wow. This interview covers a lot of territory. And all fascinating.

My guess is that she will be a Friday/Saturday night performer, since she's new to the company. Not that that's a bad thing in any way - the entire week will have worthy soloists in action.

No, she's not expressing doubts, but she took a sabbatical from POB as insurance. So she can return safely after, I believe 1 year's absence. If something develops for her at POB (a promotion), then she might want to return. But I think she would develop a more distinctive approach/style by staying with SFB for a while at least.

Yes, I actually find myself re-watching the footage. The really encouraging part is that MF is brand new to the company, and over time (if she decides to stay on) she will only grow as she's exposed to so many different dancers of different backgrounds (SFB is very eclectic). "But as the Sugar Plum she has real nuance to the performance" - Masha's version on the DVD is of course precisely danced, but she's basically said she doesn't feel enthusiastic about doing Nutcracker, and so probably doesn't take the time to find and develop the details. I keep saying, the problem isn't the concept of the Nutcracker, and certainly not the music, but what choreographers have done (or not done) with the concept over time. Few choreographers have taken the ballet seriously.

How are the Balcony seats? My main interest, by the way, would be to see Maria Kochetkova and Simone Messmer, If they were to feature them consecutively, I might start commuting. Balcony seating, near the front, really isn't bad, but it IS distant, and high up. I personally prefer to sit on the edge of the Orchestra, closer to the front, if I can't get a better seat. Although the sight angle is skewed, you are at least fairly close to the dancers. I definitely recommend seeing Froustey too, while you can - we don't know if she will be around beyond one season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDaMvwi9bKg

Craigslist is generally the way to go to find tickets for sale in the Bay Area. Try searching under the following categories: CL >SF bay area >for sale / wanted >tickets - by owner And this direct search link for "ballet" tickets may work: http://http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/tix?catAbb=tix&query=ballet&zoomToPosting=&minAsk=&maxAsk= Edit: we buy at our own risk from individual sellers - you will just have to trust your gut feeling about what the seller describes. Some people allow PayPal payment which is a good thing.

That was actually quite enjoyable - thanks. I'm usually not so intersted in this PDD, but Helgi seems to have updated some details, and MF and DK look great together. Someone in the box seats is going to get in trouble for providing this video. ;) A Froustey family member, or friend, perhaps? Hear, hear - though I think it will be more up to Ms. Froustey - she may want to see more of the world...

It certainly grew last night. Oh good, I was hoping I just misunderstood the statement. Must have growing tree. ;)