KarenAG

Finally!!! Using my PC, I can post a video, not so with my tablet, why I do not know

Enjoy, fellow balletlovers. This is another very nice interview with Patricia McBride.

Oh, thank you, Amour! This is good news. I wonder why the box office didn't tell me. that?

Greetings, Abatt. I called the box office when I received my subscription guide and saw no way to make a 'your own' series. I explained that living 160 miles from NYC did not allow me to subscribe conventionally and they had nothing to offer. NYCB does offer a create your own and that's why I can be an annual subscriber, considering the travel issue for me.

I, too, have found the solicitors at NYCB to be pushy and aggressive. Regardless that I've explained that I support the company with my subscription in NYC and at Saratoga and that I don't live in or near NYC, it falls on deaf ears and I have to admit I've felt pressure to give additional monetary support. I don't mind supporting by the extra gift in and of itself, but there is only so much one can do and we have our arts organizations here in Albany that we have a duty to support - the marvelous Albany Symphony and others. The folks at the NYCB subscription office can be pretty pushy, too. oh, well I suppose that is their job........

On a related note, it's very irksome that ABT does not allow a create your own subscription - grrr.

Happy New Year, Everyone, and I'll say again, thanks to all who keep this forum alive and well, enthusiastic and interesting. May 2015 be a good one for all.

Sandik and Dirac, very true. And also because ballet is a classical art and therefore, unfortunately, not the mainstream public's taste. It would have been lovely if Baryshnikov could have introduced the segment, although I don't demean Christine Baranski's intro by saying so.

It's interesting, though not in a good or satisfying way, how the ballet segments are edited to be kind of short and sweet, while they allow other tributes, Tom Hanks', for example, to be broadcast in all their over-the-top glory.

Regarding the broadcast, I agree that Patricia's segment felt 'short' and also hurried. I would have also liked more examples of her extraordinary dancing in the video to celebrate her unique and gorgeous gifts. And it was fun to see Ms McBride enjoy herself so much at the celebration.

Tiler never fails to dazzle and uplift. How lovely she is! Misty's performance was nicely done, even if it didn't quite sparkle. Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux is one of those tour de force ballets that absolutely demands wit, brilliance and effortless speed. YouTube had (probably still does) a clip of several ballerinas dancing it - Bussell, Zhakarova, Somova - outstanding ballerinas all and great artists in their own right - that demonstrates quite clearly how difficult Balanchine choreography can be for dancers not trained in Balanchine technique.

Happy New Year, BA! Thank you, emilienne. Please also see on YouTube 'Raising the Bar' - PBS News Hour Nov 6 - a news report on Patricia's Kennedy Center Honor and Charlotte Ballet. It's as lovely as the Winton interview!. I found it when I viewed the above clip and it ended. I'm sorry, I still don't know how to post a video it just doesn't work for me.If someone would post it, that would be great and thank you.

Anyway, Patricia McBride is a great artist and ballerina in the best sense -such a gracious Lady. Congratulations, Ms McBride, and many blessings to you!

Karen

Thank you, Abatt. I don't want Robert away from NYCB either, but I certainly would love to see this production, given the good reviews.

Will Robert and Leanne star in their roles in NYC in March?

My quoting option does not seem to be working, why is that, I suppose?

Anyway, I think Tiler Peck has more than enough acting skills to tackle the role of Giselle and Sara as Myrrtha - she'd have such presence and command! And their dancing is superb, of course. if NYCB were to stage it, given as kfw states, its track record, I'd want them to keep it traditional and just let that extraordinary company work its magic with the steps, if that makes sense.
And Giselle should never have ugly sets or costumes, but SL shouldn't either.

So is it time for NYCB to stage Giselle?! As I watch two brilliant and versatile NYCB ballerinas continue to dazzle us, I have fantasies of seeing Tiler Peck and Sara Mearns dance those iconic roles - Tiler as Giselle and Sara as Myrtha. I think they'd be incredible!! But please, no sets and costumes similar to NYCB's SL & R&J ( sorry, I had to mention that). Any thoughts?

Thank you, Artem, and Happy Holidays. Welcome to Ballet Alert! -Karen

Holiday greetings to Ballet Alert!

And thanks so much to Alexandra, Helene, Dirac, the admins and moderators, and all who post their thoughts, memories, opinions, observations photos and videos - enjoy the season and be well. -Karen

Féliz Navidad, Cristian, and thank for sharing your thoughts and memories of 'La Nochebuena' and this gorgeous music. I am of Italian descent and our Christmas Eve celebrations were so beautiful and loving. A time gone by, indeed......

Felice Anno Nuovo and may 2015 bring you and everyone at Ballet Alert all good things. And many great ballet joys!

Karen

YID - I agree, the switch is very annoying. Unfortunately I won't be able to go to the sunday performance so I'm sticking with the one I bought.

Albany Girl - Tereshkina is wonderful, a monster technician and very soulful, beautiful dancer. Also, her partner Shklyarov is the best of the Siegfrieds. Lopatkina's partner is Ivanchenko who, while technically competent and an excellent partner is like wood -

completely unresponsive. Kondaurova is partnered with Askerov who is a better actor than Ivanchenko but not a great partner. Although Lopatkina's O/O is legendary and I doubt that we'll get a chance to see it here in NY again the Tereshkina/Shklyarov is probably the most well rounded and, really - you can't go wrong with any of these casts. They really brought the A team this time.

As for partial view seats, this theater has huge round boxes at the sides which really block the view from many of the side partial view seats. I ordered orchestra partial view seats for Cinders and the woman on the phone said to go with row N or higher. Doesn't really make sense to me but I took her advice.

nysusan and Barbara, thank you so much for the great advice and suggestions. I appreciate your feedback, especially the distinction between the casts. Happy Holidays to both of you! ~ Karen

In answer to the subway ride, I'd say at least half an hour probably a little more and then a bit of walking. I'd allow for 45 min - hour so as not to feel rushed. (imo) I've always had good luck with the HopStop website when planning subway trips. Hope this helps!

I haven't heard of HopStop but I'll definitely check it out. I don't travel the subway much at all since I stopped working in the city. nysusan and Barbara, thank you so much for the great advice and suggestions. I appreciate your feedback, especially the distinction between the casts. Happy Holidays to both of you! ~ Karen

Thanks to both!

Season's Greetings, All,

I am considering going to one of the SL performances - either 1/15 Tereshkina, 1/16 Lopatkina, or 4/21 Kondaurova. Members aren't saying much about Tereshkina - any thoughts? The 1/15 is probably the best choice for me, because I have to travel from upstate NY. Also, I've never been to the BAM opera house and I'm looking at the $70 seats in the mezzanine _what are they like? And for the partial viewing seats - do they cut out a lot of the viewing? Finally, how long is the subway ride from Pt Authority/Penn Sta to the BAM opera house?Any help with these question will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!-Karen

Thanks for weighing in Katherine, Ivy and Volcanohunter. I appreciate the feedback. I also read a couple reviews of the Mariinsky Jewels on Amazon and it does not receive much in the way of a favorable review. I guess the POB Jewels is much better.

Oh, and how I would have loved to have seen Irina Dvorovenko (sp.?) in the recent production of On Your Toes!

Reading through this old thread, Vera Zorina may not have been a typically classical ballerina, but her dancing in Slaughter was anything but typical and for me it is one of the most beautiful dance sequences ever filmed. You can't take your eyes off her! I just wish it were longer. And I agree with her assessment that her dancing would/may have developed under George. Didn't Tallchief write of her poor technique but after blossoming with Mr. B., became one of the greatest and beloved American dancers, and with a style all her own. I certainly don't know what sort of ballerina Ms Zorina would have developed into if she'd danced in Mr. B's companies, and her beauty is so dazzling that her star power may have taken center stage if she had continued with him, but it seems that many dancers working with Balanchine could grow, learn and develop if they were willing to.

Isn't that one of the things that makes a dancer great, his or her unique artistic talent and perspective and contribution to the dance? I would enjoy

hearing members' thoughts! - Karen

I'm unsure how to post a video, but there is another preview for this on YouTube entitled "Curtain Up: If There Were A Story".

Those students are AMAZING!

Oh, I cannot wait for this!!! Thank you, RG and Dale.