ABT Fan

Nice article in The NY Times on Irina Kolpakova that mentions her coaching soloist Park with Stearns in Ratmansky's Nutcracker. So, we expect to see Park's name on the casting shortly; it would be her debut.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/arts/dance/irina-kolpakova-90-american-ballet-theater.html

https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

Curley now replaces Bell as Sergiy in On the Dnipro on October 29.

https://www.abt.org/events/on-the-dnipro/

22 minutes ago, lacdescygnes said:The point is - we are not owed updates by individual dancers.

No, we aren’t. I’m sure we all wish Bell well, whatever the reason for him withdrawing. It’s still a disappointment to not see him dance in the Fall season, and that is an indication of how much many of us admire his dancing.

Curley has now replaced Bell in Piano Concerto on the China tour. That doesn't bode well for his Albrecht with Teuscher, and I suspect we'll see the rest of his fall shows (the gala and Dnipro) be substituted as well. I hope he'll be ok.

12 minutes ago, choriamb said:

Janet Rollé, their former executive director, announced her departure roughly 4-5 months ago.  Regardless of her exact stance on the contract's terms, her departure in the midst of negotiations has probably prolonged the discussion.

Geez, I forgot about that. Yeah, poor timing.

10 minutes ago, Papagena said:

Come to think of it I've actually never seen an ABT dancer really nail female T&V lead. I'm always relieved with they just get through it with no obvious issues. Have they had a great interpreter in the past 20 years? 

Sarah Lane was great in this. But, her last performance of this at ABT was with Gorak, which was shy of a disaster. With Cornejo it was pretty magnificent.

10 minutes ago, FauxPas said:

The decision to cast Jarod Curley in Piano Concerto No. 1 may have come from Alexei Ratmansky who has an eye for up and coming new talent and isn't afraid to tap deserving corps and underutilized soloists in major assignments.

Good for him!

Agree completely! 
 

Added: After Stearns/Whiteside, came Bell and then Camargo as season workhorses. Hopefully under Jaffe that over-reliance on one/two male principals will cease. It will take time as new blood is needed first, either from within or hired. 

Well, this could explain a lot.

1 hour ago, matilda said:

Jarod Curley is now dancing in place of Bell in Piano Concerto second cast, according to website calendar 

I’m very sorry to hear Bell is out, but I’m thrilled that Curley is the replacement. I hope Bell can make the China tour.

Bell only has the gala and Dnipro left. Forster will probably replace him in the later. 

Misseldine has some gorgeous footage on her IG stories of her and the company rehearsing Ballet Imperial. She’s partnered by Han and Frenette.

https://instagram.com/chloemisseldine?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

22 hours ago, abatt said:

If Bell is not injured, then ABT pulled a major bait and switch on its ticket buyers.  Nothing against Carmago, who is a wonderful dancer.   It is possible that he was injured during the training/rehearsal  period scheduled for the Dream and Etudes.  It is frustrating nevertheless.

56 minutes ago, matilda said:

ABT master calendar has upcoming China performances listed now: two shows of Piano Concerto/Petite Mort/Etudes in Shanghai followed by a Giselle run there and in Beijing. Casting is the same as recent performances. Glad they're touring internationally again. 

Thank you, Matilda. I’ve been watching for that.

So, given Bell is cast for this tour in Piano Concerto and Giselle, with performances less than a month away, seems he is not injured or sick. And, he’s still cast in Piano Concerto, the gala and On the Dnipro starting next week. So, was he considered a poor fit for Etudes and The Dream after being initially cast? I would find that hard to believe. What gives ABT?

The fall season starts next week (!) and Bell is still listed for Piano Concerto, the gala and On the Dnipro. If he’s injured/sick are his replacements for these ballets still being sorted or was he pulled from Etudes and The Dream for other reasons? (I’m throwing this question out into the universe because I don’t think any of us have seen an official post on any of this. He’s silent on IG. It’s all just odd and frustrating.)

10 hours ago, California said:

I went to the Works and Process at the Guggenheim Sunday night with Susan Jaffe. Two pieces of news I hadn't heard: (1) Alessandra Ferri will do two performances of Woolf Works next summer at the Met, and (2) Chloe Misseldine is prepping to do Swan Lake in February at the Kennedy Center and at the Met next summer. She did openings of white Swan pdd and black Swan with Thomas Forster.

10 hours ago, Papagena said:

Thank you for this! So happy to have Alessandra back at The Met. 

I wonder if adding such a young O/O (Misseldine) to the already stacked SL slots means one or two of their swans are retiring this year (Murphy/Copeland would be my guess). 

Wow. Huge news for Misseldine! To accommodate, either all O/O’s will only get one show at the Met (Seo or Teuscher usually get two) or they’ll do more than their normal 8 shows. 

Hopefully when Ferri is in town, she will do some coaching as well.

3 hours ago, Josette said:

MacMillan?

Sorry, brain fart. Balanchine vs Ashton. 

1 hour ago, coffeelover said:

Didn’t Robare rehearse Oberon with Trenary last year? He seems like a logical choice to be a replacement for the role. But alas😂

Yes! I saw the clip on IG. I think he’s too untested for a major role at this point though, so to beat a dead horse: give it to Curley!

1 hour ago, miliosr said:

Do we all remember this discussion from over nine years ago?

2014 Met Season - American Ballet Theatre - Ballet Alert! (invisionzone.com)

On p. 11 of the '2014 Met Season' thread, forum members - many of whom are still with us! - discussed the embarrassing spectacle of ABT having to draft Andrew Veyette from City Ballet to replace an injured Cory Stearns in Theme & Variations. This, despite the fact that there was time to teach an ABT soloist or corps member the part - Jared Matthews being the prime candidate.

I sure do. I suppose we should be grateful that ABT hasn’t recruited Veyette again, or Gordon, Huxley or any other NYCB guy to take Oberon (despite it being Balanchine vs MacMillan).

More casting changes have been posted. In Etudes, Camargo is now out. Ann now has 3 shows, and soloist Han now has the 20th slot with Hurlin.

9 minutes ago, vagansmom said:

I think it is way too soon to think Jaffe's tenure is a return to the "McKenzie directorship," although I do sympathize with the frustration and disappointment in the changes. We really don't know what has caused them: illnesses and/or injuries could be playing a part. Maybe a dancer has asked to be removed (!) to a family circumstance...we just don't know. 

Murphy and Trenary are now doing their Titania’s back to back; previously they alternated. So, it’s possible one of them had something come up and needed the change. Doesn’t help my frustration though. But, my other frustration, and some others’ too, is that for whatever reason Bell was withdrawn the only solution they came up was giving Camargo all four shows. I positively love Camargo! His Oberon last Fall was sublime. So was his Romeo. But, despite how much I adore him, or any dancer, other dancers (especially the ones who need and are ready for more) need to be cast as well. Having one dancer carry a ballet for all performances cannot be the answer when someone gets injured. And, heaven forbid Camargo gets sick or injured, what will they do then? You have Curley, who would be fab as Oberon. And, I’m sure others. Anyway, rant over. 😊

2 hours ago, Olga said:

I don’t understand the Titania switch. Gillian was already dancing only with Camargo. So what does this accomplish other than irritate those who already bought tickets? Gillian also dropped her Swan in the summer but she had an injury then. And as far as Cassie adjusting, she has three weeks to adjust. 

Yeah it makes no sense why they shuffled Titania. Trenary did Titania last Fall with Camargo (they were great together) so she’ll be fine. I’m just annoyed. I know Murphy still has lots of fans, and on this board, but despite her long career and stardom she is no longer up to snuff in my opinion, so I’m disappointed that she’ll be dancing the day I’m going instead of Trenary. 

14 minutes ago, On Pointe said:

I do not understand why any ballet company would allow the public to watch company class,  and I don't understand why anyone who isn't a ballet professional would want to see it.  It seems so intrusive.  It's designed to get dancers ready for their working day,  not to show off.  It isn't really "class" anyway - once there's an audience it becomes a performance,  whether or not it seems like one.  It's pretty hard to pretend that hundreds of people are not watching you,  as you pin up your hair or fall out of turns you never fall out of during the show.  Opera singers and concert pianists don't warm up in public,  and I don't think dancers should either.  Or maybe it's just me.

No, it’s not you. I’ve never understood it either and agree that it’s intrusive. If I was still dancing I wouldn’t be happy with hundreds of people watching me take class. 

10 minutes ago, matilda said:

If he's injured, he might not be dancing those other roles either.... and they would have to put someone else in the second second male lead in Piano Concerto no. 1. Roxander is already doing double duty with that ballet and Etudes on two of the nights. 

Yeah. They could be working their way through replacements for his casting. Roxander isn’t tall enough to partner Hurlin anyway, Bell’s partner in Piano Concerto. I’ll be refreshing the casting page often.

13 minutes ago, matilda said:

Oh no, Bell is no longer dancing Oberon

Also Titania casting is now switched on the 22nd and 25th, for anyone attending those performances. 

Ugh! I was so looking forward to seeing Bell in this! Carmago was beautiful in this last year, so no complaints seeing him again, I just wanted to see Bell’s debut. But now Camargo has all four?! Guess they don’t have an understudy, so what’s the plan if Camargo gets sick or injured. Curley would be a great Oberon. But why the Titania switch? I wanted to see Trenary again. 

For anyone who isn't aware, ABT's YouTube channel has been putting out "Behind the Ballet with Elizabeth Kaye" videos on the upcoming ballets for the Fall season. They did this for the past Met season as well. I did not see Alonzo King's Single Eye last year when it premiered, but after seeing Kaye's Behind the Ballet on that piece I'm looking forward to seeing it with her comments in mind. She also talked at length on Ratmansky's childhood and gave some insight on his specific choreography that I wasn't aware of.

https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanBalletTheatre

I wonder if it was deemed that Bell had too much? I hope he remains cast as Oberon. I cannot wait to see him in that. 

46 minutes ago, Golden Idol said:

recruit Aran Bell from across the plaza

 

God forbid! I want to see him in story ballets, thankyouverymuch.

Same! Hands off.

How was Janzen's retirement performance this afternoon?