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ABT Fan

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Everything posted by ABT Fan

  1. The article profiles Lane and Seo who are making their Kitri debuts this week. Both of them (esp Lane) also discuss company life now that the onslaught of guest artists has subsided and how that time affected their careers. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/arts/dance/abt-don-quixote-sarah-lane-hee-seo.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fdance&action=click&contentCollection=dance&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront
  2. Happy Other Dances will be performed. But, Fancy Free? I realize it's a centennial celebration, but, it needs to be given a long rest.
  3. I'm very happy for Wiliams too. Hopefully she'll be doing this role on one of the nights I'm going. ABT has posted a spectacular, and cheeky, video of Simkin rehearsing Basilio. If anyone goes tonight, please report.
  4. Lendorf has posted that he just had knee surgery. He’s been out for months so I’m wondering if he had tried other means of recovery.
  5. I didn't see any of that on Monday night. Granted I had fairly high expectations, given what I've seen of Teuscher previously (though this was the first time seeing her lead a full-length) and what I've been reading about her, but she and the rest of the principal cast fell drastically short. I apparently never noticed before that she has a very low extension and arabesque and a rather stiff back. Or, the ballet's I've seen her in earlier it didn't matter as much. Most of the iconic O/O poses and symbolic choreography were lost. Unless she's getting over or dealing with an injury (but not that I've read) this aspect of her dancing probably won't improve at this point. I don't favor sky-high extensions, but in SL getting your leg past 90 degrees (and a few of her arabesques barely or didn't even make it to that) is important to the choreography, in my opinion. Her side developpes were also low. At times her arms were quite lovely, but missing the swan elements. Her exiting bourrees in Act II were devoid of any swan-like arms. Her fouettes in Act III were not great. I didn't count how many she did, as the actual number is less important to me, but they were unmusical and she traveled a great deal. Traveling forward in and of itself isn't problematic to me, but after moving forward she then traveled back and then to the side and I was worried she'd lose control. Her working foot moved up and down in her passé and flopped around. She did have some good balances and in other places her technique was solid. Her characterization was fairly flat, but hopefully in time that will improve since this is only her second year in the role. There wasn't enough yearning or feelings of love as Odette, and her Odile lacked evilness and attack (she did have a few glaring eye moments in Act III that were great). Stearns was predictably bland. He partnered Teuscher well but his dancing was just there, no excitement or passion. Royal faired better than Stearns, but he has a long way to go to make his Purple VR what it should be. He didn't dance big enough or command the stage and he had a few issues with his cape. His scissor jumps lacked explosiveness and his balance in releve was brief. The pas de trois was with K Williams, Hurlin and Hoven. Hoven's jumps were heavy but he partnered the ladies well. Both of the women danced exceptionally, esp Hurlin. The four little swans were excellent: Trenary, Brandt, McBride, Graniero. Graniero started to lose it on the diagonal pas de chats but regrouped quickly. I hope to see more and bigger roles given to McBride who continues to impress and stand out. I agree with others that Lyle really worked the Spanish dance with flair. I wish I had gone to Shevchenko's SL instead.
  6. He's guesting with the Mariinsky in July (info is on his Instagram), which is why I believe he pulled out of WC.
  7. I hate to say it, because Royal is one of my favorites, but I agree with you. I was thinking something similar while watching his Rothbart on Monday, though he danced better as Benvolio a week ago. I don't see him conquering the technical feats of Siegfried or Albrecht yet. Though I still adore him and can't wait to see what he does as Espada. He lights up the stage like no other.
  8. In that video, Boylston is sitting in front of the camera with her back to us. She's paired with Simkin in Don Q so I believe that's who she's referring to. Brandt isn't cast as Kitri, but she could always be an understudy.
  9. Teuscher is not doing Kitri. But, regarding fouettes in general, given what I saw Teuscher do on Monday night in SL, traveling extensively forward then actually going backwards/sideways while just doing singles at that point (with a sloppy working leg/foot) that nearly got away from her, there's reason to worry about hers too.
  10. What an understatement. At least they can poke fun at their situation:
  11. I agree. I'm regretting not going yesterday after reading everyone's reports (not surprising she was incredible), but I can't tolerate her partner in this.
  12. Re: Klein. I noticed him too on Monday night (haven't felt motivated enough to write about that "meh" performance from the principals). They must have decided he wasn't right for WC because as you and I have noticed, he's dancing fine now.
  13. No, but the taller male principals are already dancing with the taller women: Abrera, Murphy, Teuscher, Shevchenko, Seo, Boylston (she dances with short and tall men). As much as many of us complain about Stearns and Whiteside, they're workhorses and can't possibly take on more to partner the shorter ladies, since as you mention the other tall guys are really not available much. I think they've given up on Hammoudi and Gorak, and now have their sights on Royal, Ahn, and Bell, though Ahn/Bell aren't anywhere near principal level yet. McKenzie better spend his summer "break" doing some serious shopping. They have no choice but to bring in some new hires or at least more guest artists to fill the holes.
  14. As Cirio states, he'll get "to dance more roles", and I doubt that ONLY means in a diverse rep, though I'm sure that's part of it. He was probably told that he'll get a principal's load, unlike what McKenzie had him doing. I am very happy for him but I will miss him. This is a big loss, and especially for the short females at ABT. Simkin won't be around much (at least not full time) next year when he goes to Berlin, so who is going to dance with Lane, Brandt, Trenary, Copeland besides Cornejo??? Shayer will probably get promoted this year, but I don't see him ready to take on the big roles like Albrecht, Siegfried, etc.
  15. Nothing to that effect has been stated, by Cirio or ABT, that anyone has seen yet. However, I'm going on the assumption (as I think others are too) that since he missed ABT's fall and Nutcracker season (and I think one leg of their January tour) when he was just a guest artist with ENB, we can expect the same if not more of an absence when he becomes a full-fledged company member next season. Maybe he'll still dance full-time at the Met, if he remains with ABT, but either way he won't be with us year round and I see that as a big loss. The male principal roster was already in trouble before this. Who knows, maybe this decision of his is motivated by his desire to be closer to his long-time girlfriend in Norway. But, I imagine we'll hear something official sooner rather than later. Edited: I see I was typing at the same time others noted that he's leaving per his Instagram. Crap.
  16. Oh no!! Good for him, though, but even if he still performs with ABT, it will be limited I’m sure. A big loss to them (and us), but, that’s what McKenzie gets for not utilizing a talented principal!
  17. If anyone sees Shevchenko’s and Bell’s debuts this week, please report. Though I’ll have the day off, I dont think I can stomach seeing Whiteside in this again.
  18. I had quite a different take on last night's show. I bought a last minute ticket mainly to see Hallberg and Cirio, but I was curious to see Boylston's interpretation and how she and Hallberg faired together. Though much of their dancing and technical elements were very good to incredible at times, I thought these two had no passion. And for R&J of all ballets, without passion it just doesn't fulfill. They liked each other, a lot, but I saw no burning love that bordered on dangerous; it made no sense that they were willing to die for each other and I was left empty. However, strictly dancing-wise they worked well together, had no partnering issues and had some really beautiful moments. They had better chemistry than I was expecting. But, throughout the balcony and bedroom pas I kept picturing Lane/Cornejo and how their intense partnership would have torn up the stage leaving me in tears. Individually, Boylston's acting has definitely improved and her dancing was incredible. She played the part of a naïve young girl rather convincingly. But, when she met Paris she was just blank - did she like him, hate him, was she considering it? Who knew? When she was crying in Act I, I think it was, it looked fake and silly. Yet, in Act III when she gives in to her parents demands, she was quite heart-breaking in her pas with Paris and in her resolve. In the crypt when she wakes up and sees Romeo on the floor, there was no reaction. Did she think he was sleeping? Dead? Her "scream" was canned and not convincing. Boylston's dancing was better than her acting. She jumps and flies across the stage like a colt (no, I'm not calling her a horse...). She is incredibly strong yet more and more tempers that with an increasing lyricism. She was confident and at ease with all of the partnering, and she took impressively huge leaps into Hallberg's arms several times. Hallberg, the quintessential prince, was in full prince mode from the beginning to the end, and that's not a good thing. It bordered on posturing. He had no youthful impulse, no boyishness. He was Siegfried and Albrecht. Every reaction he had seemed studied, rehearsed. I have been a huge fan of his for years, but I did not like him as Romeo. He did this weird thing in Act I when he sat upstage facing the audience and stared out with ridiculously wide eyes, like he was trying to show the folks in the balcony the whites of his eyes. He danced really well, and his gorgeous lines were all there, and there seemed to be no hint of a recent injury; though he did have some trouble with some pirouettes early on. Hallberg does know how to work a cape and he used that to great effect in the balcony pas. The stars of the evening, for me, were the supporting cast. Cirio was an incredible Mercutio. What a strong, secure technique he has and his stamina was such that I think he could dance this part 8x a week. He was charming and full of personality, though I agree that his death scene should look more organic. The biggest surprise was Forster as Tybalt. Wow. He stole every scene he was in. A fully committed, evil, menacing, commanding performance. Royal was a terrific Benvolio. Teuscher was also surprising as Lady Capulet. Beautiful, natural acting though I thought her reaction to Juliet's "death" didn't register fully enough. Hurlin and McBride stood out amongst Juliet's friends, as did Paulina Waski who is now back fully dancing. She wasn't listed in the program for this role, so she must have been a last minute replacement for someone. Added: I can never watch ABT in R&J without thinking of dear Freddie Franklin as Friar Lawrence. He would always get a huge welcoming applause when he appeared. He was such a gem.
  19. Zimmi Coker, an apprentice that a few of us have noticed during the Met season, has been promoted to the corps along with a few of the other former apprentices. I noticed this in tonight's R&J program. The roster on the company's website hasn't been updated yet.
  20. ABT Fan

    Sarah Lane

    I didn't realize she's done Juliet before. With which company?
  21. I'm surprised no one has posted about the Hallberg/Boylston show. Did anyone attend?
  22. I suggest orchestra G or M. G being best. Orherwise I think it gets too far away to see faces. Bar Boulud across from Lincoln Center is excellent. Great food and service and they have a reasonably priced pre-theatre menu.
  23. Yes, his Met debut. He performed this first on tour a few months ago, I think that was in Detroit.
  24. He’s just 19! Which I think i knew, but gosh he’s so young. I didn’t think that article was too fluffy, it discussed his schooling and his debut, not his favorite yogurt. If anyone sees his debut, please report!
  25. Arron Scott has replaced Jonathan Klein as The Boy in Whipped Cream for his two performances. Klein was replaced in this on tour months ago, so assuming he's injured, though he's been able to do a few simple corps roles the past few weeks. I got an email advertising a flash sale for WC for 25% off. Not a great sign, but being scheduled the last week and during 4th of July doesn't help.
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