ABT Fan

I think Woetzel is a terrific candidate, but this is an issue of bad timing. I'd be stunned if he accepted the leadership at NYCB and left Julliard after only one year. Regardless of what type of contract he has with Julliard, say it's only for one year, would they really be cool if he left after that? (Unless his term is disastrous, which I highly doubt would be, and they chose not to renew his contract.) Or, worse, if he broke his contract?

From all of the names I can come up, which isn't as many nor as well-informed as what others have thought of, he seems to be the most qualified to lead NYCB. But, he strikes me as a very intelligent person and I can't imagine he'd want to burn bridges with Julliard. I can't think of a way for this to happen without doing so. Granted, I'm not privy to a lot of information behind the scenes (nor are most of us), but still. If the need for a successor had happened a year or two earlier, it would be a no-brainer I think.

Steifel is better suited to lead ABT someday, but I think that day is far in the future (I don't think McKenzie is going anywhere anytime soon).

17 hours ago, pherank said:

This quote relates a bit to the responsibilities of the future A.D., and to Kathleen's statement:

SALSTEIN Did you ever do “Fancy Free?”

[JUSTIN] PECK I always want to do “Fancy Free.” I ask to do it, and they won’t let me do it.

Who are they? You’re on the interim team — just cast yourself. Are you applying for Peter Martins’s job?

PECK No. I’m not. [Laughs] I wouldn’t get to focus on the creative things I want to focus on if I were to do that. But I hope to be involved with who that is or what the setup is.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/arts/dance/a-ballet-crowd-bustin-out-all-over-carousel.html

This exchange struck me too.

I wonder who "they" are in the "they won’t let me do it" remark by Peck. The others on the interim team? Since he is the only one still performing on the interim team, I wonder how his casting gets decided, not to mention anyone else. (A rhetorical question....)

Also interesting is the fact that Peck "hopes" to be involved with choosing the next leader and deciding on what that job description will be, as opposed to already being involved or knowing that his opinion will be sought. I wonder if the rest of the interim team is also in the dark. Shouldn't the interim team be part of that decision-making process?

For anyone looking to buy single tickets to the All Balanchine, 21st Century Choreographers I or II and Robbins 100 programs, you can get 30% off certain seats using promo code FRIEND19. I just snagged a great orchestra seat at one of the All Balachine programs.

Edited to add: this discount is only valid until August 24.

More details:

*Offer valid only for dates listed on website and must mention code FRIEND19 at time of purchase. Promotion may not be combined with any other offers or used on previously purchased tickets, and may be revoked at any time.

PLEASE NOTE: after entering the promo code on nycballet.com, the seat map will reflect tickets available to you at the promotional price range/s associated with this code, as well as full priced tickets, in order to provide you with the full range of seating possibilities.

How awful and sad. She's one of those people who I thought (wished) would live forever.

48 minutes ago, Amy Reusch said:

...isn,t it sexist to assume the femine form is insulting but the male form is not?

I never thought of it like that, but I'd agree that it is.

I haven't understood the recent preference of females calling themselves "actors" instead of "actresses". I guess I'd need to hear the explanations as to why. Possibly it's because "actor" means "one who acts" and in its true definition isn't gender specific, at least according to Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actor. (Though, that word has come to signify "male".) So, perhaps the female actors see the feminization of their job title as sexist. Along the lines of "I'm an actor. Period. What does my gender have to do with it?" If that's their theory, I'd completely agree with that.

Anyhow...

Personally, I prefer "Artistic Director" and, I agree that Ballet Mistress in Chief doesn't work for numerous reasons.

I too appreciate the thoughtfulness the search committee is putting into this, but also wonder how long it'll be before that person takes over. 

32 minutes ago, Barbara said:

I'm intrigued by many of these suggestions but with one caveat. There is sure to be poor morale if someone is brought in IF some of the current taller male soloists aren't also given opportunities in the full lengths. I'm thinking of Hoven but Forster in particular. My choice would be to hire someone exciting from outside who knows the full length rep, promote Gabe Shayer to soloist this year, give Forster and Hoven real opportunities to test them out, and if one of them seems to have the goods, promote them pronto. Also hoping Lendorf can return soon. I believe he could partner both the shorter and taller women.

I agree with you completely. 

50 minutes ago, Fleurfairy said:

They need probably three, two at the least. One of them must be on the shorter side or experienced in partnering short ballerinas because there's only Herman to partner Lane and Copeland right now. And Trenary and Brandt if they are cast in lead roles. A very bad situation to be in right now since Herman is advanced in years, career-wise. 

Yes, and Shayer isn't ready to take on a lead in a classic full-length, IMO.

Also, looking at their 2019 tour schedule, they're doing 12 performances of Harlequinade in January between L.A. and D.C. Cirio and Simkin won't be there (Simkin will only dance in a yet-TBD number of shows at the Met). They'll need two brand new Harlequin's to alternate with Shayer/Whiteside. I doubt Cornejo would be cast since he didn't dance it initially. Who else is there, Scott? I don't see it. And, I can't picture any other dancer taking on this role (Gorak could be a wild card), so they'd be wise to hire a guy or two before the Met season.

Edited to add: they're also doing WC on tour before the Met season, so they'll have the same problem w/out Cirio/Simkin to dance The Boy.

50 minutes ago, nysusan said:

They seem to be comfortable casting him as the lead in more modern full length pieces like Whipped Cream or in the second fiddle character roles like Hilarion, but I agree - they need to cast him as the lead in a full length classical role like Albrecht or Siegfried or Solor.

I'm hoping they realize his potential after he stepped up this season (like so many of us). He was given WC due to necessity, but that's frequently how dancers get roles. I didn't see his Prince Coffee but his Espada and Tybalt blew me away. 

13 minutes ago, nysusan said:

I wish they would give Forster and Gorak more opportunities but management doesn't seem to favor them. Its clear that ABT has to import some male dancers while simultaneously developing their own. I'm sure there are lots of talented men around besides the few we've been discussing - the question is whether ABT has the will & the money to do some real top shelf shopping.

They've been giving more opportunities to Forster this year, but they need to cast him in a full-length. If he doesn't get an Albrecht or a Siegfried next season, he never will.

With Gomes' and Cirio's departures, those two salaries should enable them to hire at least one top shelf male principal. Whether they have the will or are able to attract the right talent is something else entirely. I was surprised that they didn't bring in another male principal or guest for this past season besides Kim and instead overloaded Stearns and Whiteside. It's a miracle neither got injured. ABT got off easy. I pray to the ballet gods that that's not their plan for 2019.

Gatti has started his own ballet troupe, United Ballet Theatre (it's been discussed on another thread), so I'm sure he's not available to join another company.

Interesting situation you suggest re: Sarafanov and Shklyarov.

They definitely need to hire some guys or at least bring in some guest artists for next Met season.

Zhang says in his Instagram, and in the comments section, that he's taking a break from dancing. He says he suffered a serious injury in January that he's still recovering from.

11 hours ago, bingham said:

Zhiyao Zhang

Wow, I didn't see that one. That's too bad! I wonder where he went. He was very good and I thought he had potential to move up.

The roster has been updated to reflect those who have resigned/retired, including Cirio, Davis, Stewart and others. Gisele Bethea has been removed, so that answers the questions surrounding her (why did they bother to update her photo in the last few weeks, though?). The new promotions haven't been reflected yet, but they don't take affect for another month (though last year I remember them updating the site early with the new principals).

I wonder when Luciana Paris will return from maternity? Her Instagram makes no mention of it, but since she's still on the roster she must be coming back (hopefully, in the fall).

https://www.abt.org/the-company/dancers/

8/2/18: Auditorium Theatre and ABT "announced a four-year partnership between the two institutions, beginning with the already announced engagement of Whipped Cream in April of 2019 and continuing with engagements each spring through 2022."

https://www.abt.org/auditorium-theatre-and-abt-announce-four-year-partnership/

I see that on Nov 11, ENB will show highlights from Akram Khan's Giselle, which will be the only NYC showing of that piece.

Several of us on this site, myself included, have wished that this ballet would come to NYC. At least this gives us a chance to see parts of it. And, it would be great if Jeffrey Cirio dances as well.

I wish this (or something like this) also happened in NYC.

1 hour ago, nanushka said:

As often before, though, I’m struck by how AM views his role as a critic to be one of a directly intervening advice-giver to dancers — not at all the only (or predominating?) way of viewing the enterprise.

Yeah, I'm not crazy about it.

10 hours ago, Drew said:

Today ABT published this photo on their FB page of Abrera and Murphy in Symphonie Concertante -- have no idea if that's just the two ballerinas who did the photo shoot or an actual planned pairing for Fall performances. But if the latter...that's definitely a cast I look forward to reading about. (Would love to see, but won't be able...)

 

That's an old photo, and yes, those two did this piece together years ago. 

I agree that Morgan looks gorgeous in these photos and seems to really be in dancing shape. I hope she's happy and healthy. I'd love to see her return to the stage.

11 hours ago, FPF said:

Thanks Sandik, Jayne, and ABT Fan.  You and the video have convinced me to go. I've just bought my ticket. 

Let us know what you think!

This year's award winners have been announced.

A few of them include:

Catherine Hurlin, newly promoted soloist at ABT
Sydney Dolan, PAB
Kyle Abraham, choreographer

https://www.pgfusa.org/awards-winners

1 hour ago, cobweb said:

Thanks for these analyses of the financial considerations of presenting the arts. This is something I don't know anything about, and it's been fascinating to read the specifics. 

I agree. Thank you Kathleen for those figures. That was very insightful.

I love Stanton Welch's Clear. ABT has performed this in the past; I wish they'd bring it back. It's a work for a male ensemble and one woman. Music by Bach. I would consider it a "pure dancing" piece and a great showcase for the men to just dance (there is partnering with the lone woman, but some nice solos for the guys). I'd recommend seeing it, especially if there are male dancers you don't get to see dance very often, or not often enough.

Here's an old review that describes the choreography:

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/30/arts/ballet-theater-reviews-seven-men-and-one-woman-equal-explosion.html

And, a short clip:

23 minutes ago, California said:

Yes! Partnering Sarah Lane? Boylston?

With Lane!

To clarify: Cornejo didn't say Lane, I am. 😉

1 hour ago, fondoffouettes said:

A Forster/Abrera Manon? I'd be there in a hot second. 

A thousand yeses!

And, Cornejo recently said in one of his Instagram stories that his dream role yet to dance was Des Grieux.

That is a great photo and a wonderful message from Fairchild.