ABT Fan

Lane is what, 34? The other thing that doesn't bode well for her, is that fact that Simkin (one of her two most frequent partners) is now barely performing with ABT now. And, Cornejo is being saved for Copeland (and I guess now Trenary and Brandt). I don't have high hopes she'll get T&V this time. There are only four performances and Murphy will be back and that's one of her roles. Teuscher will undoubtedly get two performances. So, unless Murphy only gets one, I bet Lane won't be cast. I could also see another dancer get a debut in the role over Lane. I do hope she gets The Rose again. She was so great in that role.

I'm going to be at Lane's Juliet with massive worry and hesitation, due to Gorak. I used to think they'd be dream casting for R&J (but also her with Cornejo), but that was before he showed a lack of improvement in the partnering area. Lane had an exceptional Met season this past summer and mostly performances with Cornejo. It's inexplicable why she's not being given more opportunities and, and I'll say it again, nothing with Cornejo?! I'd rather see Trenary be promoted if there's only one principal spot right now. She has an elegance and old-school grandeur and is naturally charming. Her technique is gorgeous. And, there's nothing show-offy about her presentation. I always thought the AD thought of Teuscher as the new Murphy. In any case, Teuscher has been the new favorite since she was promoted; almost always two performances of everything and a lot of opening nights. I do think she's gorgeous in the right things and she does have exceptional technique. But, not in everything. I just don't get it. I wonder if Hurlin will be promoted before Brandt. I do hope they keep Bell as a soloist for at least another year. He's carrying a principal load now, but he needs time to develop and mature.

That's correct. It's as if McKenzie sees a great thing, but decides, Nah!, for inexplicable reasons. Hurlin and Bell do need time to grow for sure. But, McKenzie is now sacrificing the dancers in their prime, though he's clearly never been a fan of Lane (I'm not against Hurlin or Bell getting opportunities, quite the opposite.) Hoven's absence is perplexing. He's been dancing exceptionally well. Paris, is really a solid soloist; she's never been on the principal track IMO. I'm not surprised she wasn't given any lead roles. Her debut as Princess Praline last year was only because Copeland was pulled. Otherwise, she's never had a major lead.

Geez, where to begin. So many surprises, and disappointments..... Lane: gets screwed...again (why am I surprised?). She FINALLY gets a Juliet, but not with Cornejo??? And, with a terrible partner instead? No Nikiya reprisal. One Giselle and a matinee, again? One Aurora. Shevchenko: gets a Giselle?! I would never have thought of her for Giselle. But, who is her partner? I guess she will take the TBA on tour in February. I'm thrilled she gets two SL's, and with Forster. Abrera: it's too bad we won't get to see her Lilac Fairy again. Hurlin: wow, gets a Gamzatti debut and Aurora and Myrta (we knew that one from the tour schedule). She's obviously getting a lead in the new Ratmansky, if judging by the photo with Bell. Clearly, they are really pushing her hard and fast. K Williams: only gets Myrta. No other debuts. Trenary: happy she gets a Juliet debut, I just wish they put Cornejo with Lane instead. Agree, that she seems to be on track for principal with Juliet, Gamzatti and Aurora this season. Brandt: Aurora debut, but not the Giselle she wanted. Or, a Gamzatti reprisal. Or, anything else. Surprising. Simkin: is he going the way of a la Hallberg? Or, should we expect him to leave soon? Forster: I think this could be his year to get promoted! Romeo! Albrecht! Siegfried! Wow. Hoven: Yeesh. Nada. I don't understand. Royal: wow, Romeo, Albrecht! (Though, I have doubts he'll be able to handle the bravura dancing of Albrecht.) Fancy Free - really, again? They couldn't have chosen a less-performed "Then" ballet? How about some de Mille and Fall River Legend. Gathering of Ghosts - I knew that would come back. Blah. Thank goodness no Whipped Cream or Harlequinade. Glad Jane Eyre is returning (I know I'm in the minority, but I loved it last year). Sleeping Beauty TBA's: is it possible Cornejo will be cast with Lane? And, who will take the other 2?

Yes, Sasha runs the studio co. Of course, she could work with him but I’d personally rather see her teach/coach with the main company where I think the need is greatest.

I really hope she stays as a coach or something similar as well, for the same reasons mentioned above.

Hammoudi is cast so infrequently anymore, I’ve been wondering if he’ll retire soon. Management has sent him a strong message.

Naturally this isn’t on ABT’s site yet. Very glad to see Forster cast. With a Siegfried and Albrecht debut coming, is it possible he’ll be promoted? Still surprised no Copeland.

Abrera and Hallberg were also wonderful together in Harlequin the year it premiered. I too would love to see them in Giselle, though I think that’s very unlikely.

I’m sure she will, but probably not a lot. If they do Bayadere, I’d expect one Gamzatti opposite Murphy. And, if Harlequin returns again, she’ll do two Pierrette’s, a role she’s perfect in. I would think so. When the Met season is announced this week along with preliminary casting we should have a pretty good idea which soloist that would be. A major debut in Giselle or SL? I’m betting Mack will return as a guest artist next summer.

Well, this made me gasp. We all knew it was coming, but I hate the thought of it. She hasn’t been cast much lately (not much this summer and fall and no Nutcracker) so I wondered if this could be her last year. Still, a shock. Abrera is pure class, grace, and sophistication. I’ll be at her last Giselle with bells and tears. Wonder who her Albrecht will be? Whiteside? Will Murphy be her Myrta?

I agree with this. And if she had a better partner, I think her overall performance would have been better (though I think she did really well anyway).

I thought Lane was gorgeous in T&V tonight, but I wish she had a better partner. As nanushka said, Gorak lacked gusto. Lane couldn’t luxuriate in some areas since Gorak seemed to pull her back or off of her leg. His tours weren’t really there. Trenary made an impact as one of the soloists. She’ll be grand in the lead one day. And, I thought the corps looked great. Someone wrote that Cornejo deserved a better piece than the new Tharp for his anniversary and I couldn’t agree more. What a mess. He looked great and at least his choreography was catered to his strengths. But, I never need to see this again. The characters’ names made no sense and the choreography was only so-so. At least half of the costumes need a do-over: Hoven’s dress (yikes) and Williams’ fluffy skirt were just in the way; Bell’s bike shorts and Cornejo’s cape at the end. However, Royal looked fabulous in his silver jacket and Shevchenko as well in her bell-bottomed unitard. The music was dreadful and didn’t work at all. It would have been so much better with a more powerful score. Imagine Upper Room to Brahms. Not saying this needed a pounding Philip Glass score, but this was all wrong. The Seasons was as wonderful as at the Met’s debut. I still wish there was a backdrop to tie everything together, including the costumes. Coker as the Rose is one to watch. She has a big future ahead of her. She doesn’t dance like a new corps member.

What am I missing here? (Honest question.) I don't read anything here that points to Lane having a bad night. The music was slowed down, not in her control, and Gorak flubbed a lift (typical of him). Her turns were too slow at the end, is that it? I don't understand why Gorak was cast in this. There's a reason he's had a lot of roles taken away from him and opportunities have dried up. He's brilliant in some things (the Golden Idol is one), but is a consistently unreliable partner who can't lift the smallest dancers. Lane should have been paired with Whiteside, who has danced this role before, and who is a very strong and capable partner. It's not like he has a heavy load this season. Or, they could have paired Ahn with Lane instead of with Boylston (Ahn and Lane have danced together before and are doing Nutcracker), and paired up Boylston/Whiteside.

The Times review from last night: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/arts/dance/american-ballet-theater-review.html

In light of Alicia Alonso’s passing today, and the fact that she not only danced at ABT for many years but performed in the world premiere of T&V, I would HOPE that ABT announces pre-curtain that they’re dedicating tonight’s performance of T&V to her (Lane/Gorak are dancing). If anyone is there, please let us know if they do (and about the rest of the evening).

An article in the Times about Cornejo's career and upcoming anniversary performance: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/arts/dance/herman-cornejo-20th-anniversary-abt.html

Since this is for Cornejo’s anniversary, there aren’t a lot of seats left as it is (I just checked). I’d be thrilled if Lane was put in. She should have been cast all along. Duh. I’m really tired of seeing her being relegated to a second class principal aka understudy to Copeland. Yep. She was just in Fall for Dance at City Center in a piece by Kyle Abraham. I didn’t see it so I don’t know how demanding it was.

I agree. Lane posted on her Instagram a list of her upcoming performances and Gathering of Ghosts was not one of them.

Didn’t basically the same thing happen to Paloma? Julie Kent was the only woman of that generation who seemed able to retire on her terms (and way too late).

I agree, but I find it odd that that slot is still TBA and not filed in with Forster since he’s performing this the following month with Murphy. That’s why I think they’re holding it for someone. Maybe not.

I missed the “more” section. Maybe this will finally be Forster’s year.

Yeah, I don't think that's possible. This explains why ABT has cast Forster alongside Murphy in Giselle March 29 (since Hallberg is doing SL w/ the Royal March 11). They're still holding a TBA Feb 15 in DC w/ Murphy (for Hallberg? Unless he finds a more preferable performance/partner somewhere else?).

I would LOVE that.

Casting has not yet been announced on ABT's site, but the Michigan Opera website lists the "artists" but not for specific dates. No Copeland. And, of course no Lane. The order in which they're listed: Bell Shevchenko Stearns Teuscher Murphy Seo Boylston Whiteside Two more guys are needed, unless they're going to have one or two of the three do more than one performance. https://michiganopera.org/season-schedule/abt-swan-lake/