ABT Fan

1 hour ago, California said:

Here's the information on the performance, but nothing on performers:

https://www.bns.gub.uy/es/sobre-el-bns/temporadas/270/don-quijote

Thank you. I’m happy for her, she’ll make a great Kitri. Her Mercedes is the best I’ve seen. It’s good she has so many guesting opps since her ABT load is so small (she’s not the only one these days, but she still wouldn’t be on their SL tour even if she wasn’t guesting with Twyla). 

2 hours ago, Becki Lee said:

She’s dancing Kitri in Uruguay!

Can you share the details?

44 minutes ago, matilda said:It's been mentioned that Cassandra Trenary is rehearsing Kitri per her Instagram, in the ABT studios. Of course this could be for an upcoming guest performance, but it's very possible the ballet will be back at the Met in 2025. Not many prime Basilios to choose from if so. 

If she’s getting ready for next year she could be paired with Roxander who will (should!) at least be a soloist by then. 

11 hours ago, bingham said:

A couple of days ago , Cassie posted in Her Instagram account that she is learning Kitri with coaching from renowned POB Etoile, Isabelle Guerin. Is it possible that ABT will do DQ at the Koch in the Fall?

I saw that too and was curious. She’s not on the SL tour now so they could just be getting in extra coaching time and chose DQ to just work on something new. Trenary posted clips of her rehearsing a few short segments of O/O last year (one with Cornejo) and yet she’s never been cast. But, who knows. I’ve just learned to not get my hopes up. 😊

8 hours ago, Caballetfan said:

This is (I suspect) tangential to the contract negotiation topic, but does anyone know what’s going on with Zimmi Coker? I follow a lot of the ABT dancers on IG and noticed hers was pretty silent during the Nutcracker Segerstrom run this past December. I also kept up a bit with casting at the time and was surprised not to see her pop up in her usual roles (Party Scene dolls, Chinese, Sisters, Flowers, etc). Most of the dancers have been posting about the KC Swan Lake run, classes, rehearsals, etc. since the top of the year. Nothing on socials from her except for a few IG Stories about the labor negotiations and potential strike prior to the agreement being reached a couple days ago. She’s one of my faves! 

Yesterday I saw this comment by Coker on one of Fang’s IG posts and she seems to be recovering from a foot injury. See the other comment to Coker.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2VDxLEgTvp/?igsh=ajJzcHZxeTNsZXR2

3 hours ago, balletlover08 said:

She uses her neck and side profile so beautifully! I like her interpretation of Odette so far, and I can't wait to see it fully on Friday. I will report back afterwards! 

Yes, please! Look forward to your thoughts.

Here’s a clip of Misseldine’s first studio run through of Act II. Her port de bras are exquisite. Whoever gets to see her in DC, you’re so lucky.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3dxkSRgmiX/?igsh=MXJqdTYyY3RmdWJsaA==

Gosh, this is surprising and sad news. I was so fond of her dancing. She’s been a strong and reliable dancer for many years and I thought she had at least a handful left. But, she must be ready for another chapter now (I hope it’s her decision). Frankly, I’d rather see a few other long time soloists leave instead. 

3 hours ago, stuben said:

I wonder what is going to happen to the DC shows since it seems a strike is imminent based on these articles that AGMA has been posting, looks like word is spreading. I wish the dancers and stage managers good luck and management understands without them the stage will be empty! I did what the dancers have asked audiences to do, I called and told them I would not purchase any tickets to their shows until their management agreed to put the money where it is most needed - dancers and stage managers! I hope more of us here will do likewise - to support this effort.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/american-ballet-theatre-dancers-and-stage-managers-voted-to-strike

https://dailyfreepress.com/2024/02/14/let-us-not-forget-what-we-live-for/

Thank you, stuben, for posting these links.

The teen vogue article is especially eye opening. Quotes from dancers Basmagy and Williams and a few anonymous dancers were both informative and disturbing to read. Anyone who wants more information about what is at stake and what the dancers have been dealing with should read this.

2 hours ago, TheAccidentalBalletomane said:

I am very much hoping it gets resolved before the Kennedy Center performances which I understand are mostly sold out!  To lose that revenue would indeed be very bad for the company if not catastrophic.  Thinking optimistically, it makes sense that the strike will be resolved before those performances as there will be tremendous pressure for the company to make a deal so that those ballets can go forward and money earned.  The dancers deserve a contract that allows them to live decently in the area in which they call home base. It has always been tough for some of these dancers that have to bunch up with friends to live in small apartments or commute from other Boroughs. These are adults, not college kids, many with spouses and some with children. And there are the non-dancers that are integral to every performance.   Please get this done ABT!!

The KC run is completely sold out, so hopefully this will force their hand. Very sad and disappointing it had to come to this. 

29 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:

It's a hideous Muscovite tradition.

 

I find the original video above much worse than this, but this is still 🤢

Um, definitely not a fan of his solo here. What was the cross-body fist bump with the “yay!” facial expression following a series of multiple pirouettes? Had he never completed that many pirouettes before and was so gosh darned proud of himself? And, way too many “strike a pose” moments that looked awkward at best.

6 minutes ago, California said:

Here's some data on a living wage in NYC -- but I'm quite sure ABT dancers are not on 52-week contracts. Does anybody know how long their contract is? 

https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/36061

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/01/fewer-40-new-yorkers-earn-living-wage

I’m pretty sure it’s 36 weeks.

I’m in shock that striking is now their only option. This is catastrophic. Wonder how many dancers will now find positions elsewhere.

21 minutes ago, DPell said:

Breanne Granlund, Lea Fleytoux and Jake Roxander, are dancing the Pas de Trois (no dates listed) per Breanne’s instagram. I think this is a debut for Lea and Jake. On February 23 Paulina Waski, Sierra Armstrong and Kento Sumitani are dancing the Pas de Trois https://www.instagram.com/p/C28Kg3PA9Jl/?igsh=MTluZ3J0dWF0MXRmcA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/C22nuaLAYTn/?igsh=dzEwMGZoMXV6OWR0

Great to hear. Definitely a debut for Roxander.

2 minutes ago, abatt said:

 

The bigger problem for me is that I have not seen a cast at NYCB in recent years that measures up to what ABT did with Fancy Free  - Carreno, Corella, Steifel.  Oh those were the days.....

 

 

Gomes and Cornejo were also magnificent in FF.

4 hours ago, abatt said:

City Center would have no incentive to even attempt to move Ailey out of its decades-old December performance slot.  Ailey is the only company that remained loyal to City Center and never left for greener pastures.  In contrast, ABT bolted for the Koch for the fall season and never looked back once the Koch became available.  Ailey will always be the sole December tenant at City Center.

Agree. And, ABT leaving CC was such a big mistake. Gorgeous theater and not a bad seat in the house, and so much more intimate (yet not tiny). Many ballets would simply look so much better there.

1 hour ago, BalanchineFan said:

Ailey has a tradition of playing multiple weeks at City Center in December. They open both balconies and regularly sell out. IMO, moving them would be bad for Ailey and bad for City Center, outweighing any other considerations. 

Completely agree. I can’t imagine Ailey would agree, they’ve played at CC in December for many, many years.  And if they were “moved “ elsewhere because another company wanted that space I think there would be a massive public outcry (including from me). 

4 hours ago, California said:

The Ratmansky version premiered at BAM in 2010. I assume they thought they had a good venue and were disappointed after a few years at the drop-off in ticket sales.

As much as I really wanted to see ABT’s Nutcracker, I couldn’t talk myself into the commute. I live far out in Queens and like a lot of New Yorkers I don’t own a car. The subway from my apt to BAM would be well over an hour one way, and with the frequency of weekend subway construction and delays, I’d have to expect at least 90 mins and possibly longer. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wasn’t going to schlep that far to Brooklyn no matter how much they love the company.

I can’t believe there’s still no word on the contract negotiations. I’ve seen no posts from any of the dancers either promoting their cause or otherwise. Could it have been quietly (and not publicly) resolved? But, if it was, there are STILL no promotions?? 

Boylston has an IG story saying she can’t wait to keep working on Ballet Imperial this year, thanking Jaffe. So, it must be coming back again next fall?

https://www.instagram.com/isabellaboylston?igsh=MWQ5b3V1dHJueHVqcw==

vipa, thank you for posting that video. I will never not miss her dancing. It was wonderful to see Mack as well.

Did anyone catch Sunmi Park’s debut yesterday?

2 hours ago, California said:

Teuscher just posted in Instagram stories that she can't dance Nutcracker Saturday night due to a "health issue," but Boylston-Whitehead will sub. I don't see that change on either the ABT or Segerstrom site. 

Interesting that they’re subbing the entire couple instead of just Teuscher. But, partnering-wise I’m sure that’s best. 

I received the Met season's promotional brochure today, and they will be celebrating Cornejo's 25th anniversary on July 19 in LWFC (this is not indicated on their website). I'm sure that will be a sell-out.

I know several of us have said this before, but I really wish they'd list secondary casting along with the principals (instead of waiting till closer to the performance dates). I want to know who is dancing Olga, Lensky, Purple Von Rothbart, Mercutio, etc. For some of us, that is nearly as important (and sometimes the tie-breaker on deciding on which performance to see). 

I really hope Coker will get Olga, Roxander/Curley/Frenette a Lensky, Roxander a Benno, Curley a Tybalt....

2 hours ago, California said:

Thank you for this report on the Brandt-Cornejo performance. It's not surprising that Cornejo is slipping technically.   People saw the same thing in his Etudes and Dream performances this fall. This isn't in a league with Nureyev's painfully visible deterioration when he refused to leave the stage, but I hope Cornejo is realistic about his strengths and increasing weaknesses and retires on a high note. 

Gosh California, I thought of Nureyev as well while reading this report (I saw Nureyev when he was in his late 40’s and it was so bittersweet- beyond painful yet exciting to see Nureyev!). I think Cornejo being able to leave on a high note has come and gone.