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ABT Fan

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    ABT 2017 Spring Season at The Met

    in American Ballet Theatre

    Posted

    1 hour ago, angelica said:

     

    At this point, I have a severe case of Hallberg Deprivation, and am so excited that he's coming back. I'd go to see him in almost anything.

     

    Yes, same here! Even if I happen to not like the ballet or his partner in which he's cast, I imagine I'll go just to see him especially since it seems he won't be performing in too many things.

    ABT 2017 Spring Season at The Met

    in American Ballet Theatre

    Posted

    19 hours ago, maps said:

    I am baffled by ABT cast lists or the lack thereof.  No 2017 performances until May 7 except the 7 Swan Lakes at the Kennedy Center  [Wed 1-25-17 thru Sun 1-29-17] and 3 Giselles [April in Oman].  No cast lists but May though July at the Met are loaded with principal cast lists.  DC should get prompt cast lists which were out for the LA Nutcracker.  Why is this?

     

    The Met season has a few blocks where I could see different things but  NYCB [with Midsummer] is closed on Mondays and ABT on Sundays so ...

     

     

     

     

     

    ABT's delay in listing tour casts and the listing of other performances is their norm. I assume for DC and Oman, the delay in releasing casting has to do with figuring out which principal dancers will be available for those tours, as not every principal dancer goes on every tour since many of them have other performing obligations. Maybe some of those dancers' schedules for 2017 haven't been nailed down yet, or they're still trying to iron out conflicts. But, every dancer performs at the Met for obvious reasons. I would think their touring schedule for next year would be finalized by this point, but maybe not, so I'm not sure why no more performances have been listed yet. However, it's customary to see more performances added to their schedule as the months progress, so I'm pretty sure they'll be going to more places besides DC and Oman in the Winter/Spring.

    ABT 2017 Spring Season at The Met

    in American Ballet Theatre

    Posted

     

    So many surprises! And some disappointments.

     

    Lane as Giselle (Murphy too!) - never thought I'd see the day. That's a must see show! And, Abrera w/ Gomes in Giselle, AND for his 20th anniversary show. How sweet that'll be.

     

    Wonderful to see so many other debuts: Teuscher in SL, Shevchenko in DQ and as Myrtha, Abrera in Onegin.

     

    I think a few of the TBA's are being held for Bolle, not Hallberg as someone else suggested. Hallberg wasn't included in the list of principals in the press release so it seems certain he's not coming back. Time to remove him from their roster. And, I'm sure Hammoudi will get at least one of the TBA's for SL, as he's done that role before. I would love to see Forster make his debut in SL opposite Teuscher.

     

    I'm very surprised Brandt didn't get a DQ as well. I think she'd make a fantastic Kitri. Three women are getting 2 shows each, so one of them could have gone to her. I was also expecting to see another major debut for Trenary. But, they are spreading the wealth around (finally) so there are only so many opportunities.

     

    Gorak does seem to have stalled a bit with casting. Maybe he'll get one of the TBA's.

     

    I agree with the Nutcracker comments. That and the Aurora pas could have been replaced with something else not taken out of context.

    Male Beauty in Dance:

    in Aesthetic Issues

    Posted

    Tom - If this was still the 17 or 18th century, I imagine no one would have a problem with men wearing tights, at least on their lower legs, as that was the fashion of the day. Anytime you have one gender (especially women) that predominantly wears one type of garment that the other for the most part does not (at least not out in society), it's most likely going to be viewed as not acceptable for the other to wear it, and yet if they do they'll be considered "feminine" as in your example.  A hundred plus years ago, the same would have been said if a man chose to wear a corset, even if he wanted a little help in the middle area.

     

    This picture below is from the mini-series John Adams (I hope I'm allowed to post this):

     

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472027/mediaviewer/rm765826560

    MV5BMTY1OTAwMDU4NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDExNjA2MQ@@._V1_.jpg

     

     

    Regarding your comment/question about showing a man's lower body outline, I see it as identical to the conundrum of full-frontal female nudity vs. full-frontal male nudity. We as a society have become so accustomed to the sexualization of women, that seeing women fully nude on TV and in movies is more and more common and "normal". But, rarely do we see men in the same way (at least I do not with what I watch ;). Games of Thrones is a good example. But, I also agree with you that there is a discomfort, generally speaking, with viewing men that way. So, I think there is more than one issue here. 

    2017 Met Season Prediction

    in American Ballet Theatre

    Posted

    I'm surprised there was no announcement on Semionova.

     

    That does free up some possible opportunities for others though and I can't help speculating. If they do SL and Giselle, they normally do 8 performances of each. And there are currently 6 women who perform O/O and 5 who perform Giselle, leaving potentially 2 and 3 debuts, respectively, for each (assuming no one gets a second show).

     

    Current O/O's: Boylston, Copeland, Kochetkova, Murphy, Part, Seo

    Potential O/O debuts: Abrera (the only principal left), Lane (doubtful, but I can dream), Trenary, Teuscher, Shevchenko (she'd be gorgeous), Hurlin (major wild card, but doubtful this year)

     

    Current Giselle's: Abrera, Boylston, Kocketkova, Seo, Vishneva (though I think Vishneva is only doing Onegin for her last season, according to the press release, so if that holds true, there are only 4)

    Potential Giselle debuts: Copeland (likely), Murphy and Part (I'm only listing them as potentials since they're principals, but I think it's highly unlikely; they're pigeonholed as Myrtha at this point, yet wonderful in that role), Trenary (likely), Lane (doubtful, but I'd love to see it), Shevchenko (unlikely IMO, but I see her debuting as Myrtha though)

     

    I do think it's very unlikely to have 3 debuts in a major ballet, even 2 is pushing it, but they've surprised me before with casting. Of course, all of my speculating could be blown out of the water as soon as they announce their list of guest artists. But, maybe that'll be a short list like this past year.

    Male Beauty in Dance:

    in Aesthetic Issues

    Posted · Edited by ABT Fan

    3 hours ago, Tom47 said:

    Here is a quote from a website I found that deals with pictures of male ballet dancers:

     

    “Male ballet dancers are manly as ****.  Just because they're in tights, doesn't mean they're feminine. This blog was created because of the prejudice I've (as a female dancer) witnessed towards male dancers, mostly from straight men/women arguing that dance makes dudes lose their masculinity. I disagree. Dance requires a level of athleticism higher than most other sports, and there is nothing 'weak' or 'flimsy' about someone literally soaring through the air with all their muscles bulging . . .”

     

    Tom,

     

    Absolutely. I talked about Marcelo Gomes before as one example, and I like to follow his Instagram where he sometimes posts videos of himself working out in a gym. Anyone who thinks male ballet dancers lose their masculinity should attempt to do half as much as he does in this video, with the same level of strength, control and good form:

     

     

    And, plenty of people (who are considered to be in good shape and who are 10 years younger) would wind up in tears after doing (or trying to do) this many reps:

     

     

    Of course, maintaining masculinity should not be judged (in my opinion) by brute strength alone. But, Gomes could do this exercise in a pink tutu and tights and would still be masculine to me. I think some people just don't realize how much strength male dancers need to continually hoist ballerinas around, and make it look effortless. 

    Ansanelli to retire from dancing.

    in Royal Ballet

    Posted · Edited by ABT Fan

    18 hours ago, vipa said:

    I found myself oddly disturbed by this article.  I am sure that A. Ansanelli has had a difficult time, but the article gives a grim picture of being a dancer and a dancer's life after retiring.  In reality there are many dancers in NYCB taking courses at Fordham.  There are countless dancers in companies all over who support causes, have many interests, are married or in relationships and who have children.  I actually think the kind of life Ansanelli lead (as portrayed in this article) was the exception, not the norm.  

     

    It left me feeling sad. Her experience (and complete dedication at the expense of anything or anyone else) is more typical of the "good old days" than it is now. When I was a dance student (especially) and later out trying to make it, if you pursued any other interests or hobbies you were thought of as not serious or dedicated to your art, and definitely not professional dancer material. You were supposed to eat, breathe, sleep, dream ballet. I'm sure there are still many dancers who subscribe to this, and I'm not criticizing their ways. I've been there. As you say vipa, dancers today are generally a lot more well-rounded with many outside interests and pursuits (and even other part-time careers). And, that seems to be more accepted and, gratefully, encouraged. Having more balance in your life can only make you a better artist, and probably a much happier person.

    Roster in Review - 2016 Edition

    in American Ballet Theatre

    Posted

    Thanks goodness Calvin Royal is still listed! I didn't think he was leaving, but since he still didn't get promoted I thought you never know....

    So nice to Blaine Hoven finally listed with the soloists. Though, I wish they'd have a new picture taken of him. His current one looks so outdated.

    Apparently, David Hallberg is expected to return (hopefully).

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