ABT Fan
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Hallberg has been joining a few ballet/arts organizations' boards lately. I think he joined City Center and recently the Washington Ballet. I wonder if he is plotting his next moves. His future at Bolshoi might be unclear, with the new directorship. I wonder whats going on.
I too think he's laying the groundwork for his life after performing, whenever that'll happen. Who knows regarding the Bolshoi?
Dancerboy90210, on 01 Feb 2016 - 2:46 PM, said:
ABT is in need of a few strong principal males. Gomes cannot carry the entire Met season.
I think it's gotten a bit better recently. Gomes is still the company's MVP, but Whiteside has been churning out a similarly heavy load. Stearns isn't far behind. Bolle is still in good form, but he's now 40 and never danced nearly as much as the others. New principal Lendorf is scheduled to dance 10 lead roles at the Met. We'll see how he does. Cornejo and Simkin are limited due to their size (especially Simkin). They could use a few more I agree. Hammoudi hasn't met their expectations for a possible promotion. I wonder if Gorak will be promoted this year? He's the only male soloist with principal potential (and with him, it isn't a question of "if" but "when").
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Well deserved win based on what we saw at the Kennedy Center.
Did you catch his Bluebird? He's been one to watch in my opinion, and I hope to see him promoted in the near future.
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I received my second mailing of the ABT subscription brochure (it seemed slightly tweaked from the previous version) and Hallberg is still shown among the principal dancers appearing in the spring season. It will be interesting to see how long ABT keeps all the male TBDs on the calendar before potentially listing them as Hallberg. I presume they are even holding the Ratmansky Chamber Symphony for Hallberg, since I believe that is the only role he danced in the Shostakovitch Trilogy. Only a little over three months to go now...
I agree that many of those TBA's are probably being held for Hallberg, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't return to ABT. He is (very unfortunately) injured more frequently and seems to be for longer periods, and to me it looks like he favors dancing with the Bolshoi (his prerogative, and many of us have discussed his comments on getting better coaching there, so who could blame him). I haven't been able to see him dance in years. I hope I'm wrong, but even if his name does show up in some of those TBA slots, I won't be holding my breath that he'll actually dance.
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Thank you for posting this. Very sad to hear this. I studied with him and Nikolais many years ago when I first came to NYC. He was a great teacher. Another one of the modern dance greats is gone.
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James Whiteside has posted a gorgeous photo of him and Abrera decked out for Bluebird from last night:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBNoIv5PkJ3/?taken-by=jamesbwhiteside
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He posted on his instagram this morning that he's performing Bluebird with Stella tonight. I'm sorry for whoever is injured.
It was supposed to be corps dancer Blaine Hoven.
Here's Whiteside's announcement:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBKust5vkNM/?taken-by=jamesbwhiteside
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He posted on his instagram this morning that he's performing Bluebird with Stella tonight. I'm sorry for whoever is injured.
It was supposed to be corps dancer Blaine Hoven.
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James Whiteside was taking company class on Monday in DC.
Yep, I saw that on his Instagram feed but he's not casted on ABT's site or KC's for any role. I find that odd.
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Bolle and Vishneva are both scheduled to dance during ABT’s 2016 MET season. I have not heard anything about Hallberg leaving ABT. Isn't he still out from injury?
ABT has this practice of only listing the principals scheduled for that particular season. When I receive the Fall brochures, for example, it only lists those principals dancing then, not year round. But, I believe the playbills always list the entire roster (I don't have one in front of me to check). Maybe this is a Kennedy Center thing? But, Whiteside, Kochetkova and a few others aren't performing in DC, so why list them and not Bolle, Vishneva or Hallberg? ABT does some odd things, for sure.
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This will be broadcast on Tuesday, Dec 29 on CBS. This article doesn't say what time, but in the past it's usually started at 9pm EST:
http://news.yahoo.com/carole-king-george-lucas-feted-kennedy-center-honors-023933477.html
There's a nice group picture of the honorees here:
http://www.people.com/article/barack-obamam-kennedy-center-honors-oval-office-speech
Tiler Peck was there, but I don't know if she performed:
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I only found out the gala from a friend who found out from another friend. I haven't come across any ads, publicity, or anything on social medias. Whoever is doing the marketing should be fired.
I only learned of this from Ballet Alert! Surprisingly, I don't see any mention of it on any of Simkin's social media feeds, and he usually advertises all of his gigs.
I wouldn't say the seats are any more expensive than other shows at Lincoln Center. It does have to compete w/ NYCB's Nutcracker though which is probably part of the problem w/ selling tickets.
I will say that for me, stating you need to raise funds for "a pension plan for older dancers, who have no resources" is not going to motivate me to buy a ticket (although they also state they need funds for equipment and training, etc.). I was a dancer so I realize how little they make, but unless their dancers retire at 65+ (I honestly don't know at what age they do), they should be young enough to still work, go back to school, switch fields, etc. By saying they "have no resources", do they mean the dancers have no other retirement plan at the company than their pension? (It's an honest question.) But shouldn't other "resources" be working after retirement, assuming their dancers retire in their 40's? I realize I'm looking at this through American eyes, and life in Romania may be very different.
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Gomes has been doing a lot of choreography lately including this music video in which he also stars in. He basically plays a hot shirtless man brooding in a forest (with some ballet steps thrown in). I'm not complaining. It's Gomes. I'd watch a video of him sweeping out a garage.
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On the ABT site it's Lane/Simkin and Boylston/Gorak
There was a short video posted on Boylston's Instagram of her and Gorak rehearsing Nutcracker a few days ago. I didn't catch onto the change. However, they looked lovely together.
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I went to the matinee Saturday. The house was pretty full and it was nice to see a young and diverse crowd mixed amongst the traditional older (and whiter) crowd. If that’s the Misty Copeland effect, then it’s fantastic.
Side note: am I the only one who hates the new (really not so new) seats in the Koch theatre? For someone who’s tall they just don’t work. I feel like I’m sitting on the edge of my seat or in a kiddie chair.
This was my first viewing of Tharp’s Brahms-Hayden Variations, and what a feeling of deva vu when the music started. A former teacher of mine used this same piece to choreograph a work I danced in eons ago. I was immediately transported back, ahem, many years. Anyway. My only real complaints about this piece is that one, I wish at times there weren’t so many bodies on stage doing different things because it was hard to concentrate on anyone for long, and second I wish it were longer. Such innovative choreography and wonderful use of the music. Most of the dancers looked like they were having a ball. Copeland looked better than I’ve ever seen her (though her part wasn’t very long). I’m not her biggest fan, but her technique was crisp and strong (without looking forced, one of my biggest complaints about her) her legs looked leaner, less bulky. She had a charming radiance about her and her pirouettes were sharp and clean. Her partner, Sterling Baca was fantastic; very confident and secure partnering (and this piece has some tricky partnering). He’s had some soloist parts this year, and he more than held his own partnering a principal. I hope he’s one of the next corps dancers promoted. Blaine Hoven also looked better than I’ve ever seen him. Years ago I thought he was on the soloist track, then he seemed to lose momentum and opportunities. Now, he’s looking better than ever (physically and technique-wise). I think his friend (the best male partner out there, Marcelo Gomes) has been giving him tips because his partnering looked stronger than I remember. Stephanie Williams – where has she been hiding? Luminous, lovely. Calvin Royal III (another dancer I hope to see promoted soon) continues to improve, though he still needs to work on pointing his feet. And, as someone else noted he’s gotten control of those very long arms indeed (such arms!) and they’re gorgeous. It was nice to see Catherine Hurlin get some solo opportunities in this program, though she and her partner Cameron McClune had a partnering mishap (completely missed a lift) but I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t been looking straight at them, because again, there was so much going on. Skylar Brandt and Craig Salstein made a wonderful pair. Brandt didn’t look like a newly promoted soloist; she had a comfort level that exceeded her experience. And she has an expansive upper body and expressive face that draws you to her.
Gomes’ Aftereffect was next and I still have mixed feelings about this piece. It was wonderful to see how much dancing (without partnering) he gave his male dancers at the beginning. I loved the scenery by Francoise Gilot (the NY Times had an article about it, but why wasn’t this collaboration advertised by ABT? If it was, I missed it.). And even the cool unitards (though I didn’t understand why Jeffrey Cirio put on a sheer shirt near the end). I felt Gomes should have used much different music. The piece by Tchaikovsky just didn’t match the modern, earthy choreography (and dramatic overtones in the beginning) and if he was going for contrast that didn’t work for me either. I also didn’t understand the point of the piece. It began with a strong male section of pure dancing without any women, followed by a dramatic section with Cory Stearns and Cassandra Trenary, flanked by others, conveying loss and yearning, and then it ended with another pure dance section with everyone smiling and happy. The program note said “To those who have fallen…..and those who prevail”. So, the ending was the prevailing? Um, ok. Choreographically, it was fine, better than I’ve seen by him so far, but he had some partnering maneuvers that were that were too reminiscent of Tharp’s in the previous ballet. Stearns has surprised me dramatically in a few pieces (The Moor’s Pavane) and I was hoping he’d come through here but he fell flat. Trenary – wow, wow, wow. Someone mentioned upthread that they felt she was already a major ballerina, and from what I saw here in a short piece, I’d have to agree. Like Brandt, she doesn’t dance like a newly promoted soloist, but, even more so. She has a maturity and command of the stage that usually only senior principals have. Her technique is already there. I cannot wait to see her in a major role. Cirio (my first time seeing him) is a fine technician. I can’t say more than that. I’d need to see him again. But, the oddest thing that happened was when Courtney Lavine’s ribbons on one shoe came completely undone and were literally dragging on the floor. Miraculously, no one tripped on them, not even her. I hope next time she’ll sew them in.
Green Table was last (what a depressing way to end a program) and surprisingly Roman Zhurbin didn’t blow me away. He’s one of the finest dance actors there is and a favorite of mine, but maybe I was underwhelmed because his facial expressions were hidden by the elaborate make-up and that’s what makes him special. I’d need to see the piece with Gomes to compare, but maybe Death needs someone bigger with a more physically commanding stage presence. Simkin as the Profiteer was fine, but he looked too elf-like. I’d like to have seen Cornejo instead. I was most impressed with Zhiyao Zhang as one of the soldiers – big, expansive with long strong legs. I’d like to see him in a bigger role.
I wanted to go back today, but didn’t want to try to brave the marathon traffic and street closings. I do wish their fall season was longer.
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This season is actually the answer to many posters prayers regarding their complaints about the previous two seasons - too many guest artists, not enough Ashton especially "La Fille", Part only being given matinees and no new roles, Abrera being neglected and slighted as an underused soloist who is overdue for promotion, too much Hee Seo in everything and not enough opportunities being given to talented soloist and corps dancers. Now we are being given what we asked for and we are complaining. This season may be a necessary corrective to McKenzie's previous policies and predilections.
Well, I'm not complaining.
Hopefully, we won't see a plethora of injuries like last season, and heaven forbid that happens again, I also hope that Hee Seo isn't the replacement for nearly everyone.
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Ms. Ferri's special status with ABT suggests that the pricing for this event may not be a trend that will be followed for all guest artists. (...And so far, they have not scheduled other guest artists.)
Since they're not doing La Bayadere that helps cut down on the "need" for guest artists. But, of course there's plenty of time for an announcement (or two, or three). At this point, a Met season without guest artists (and I'm not including Ferri) is like a Met season without a full length ballet. I'm wondering if they're waiting for Hallberg to commit. I can't find any Bolshoi events that conflict w/ ABT's Met season, but maybe Hallberg thinks he still won't be healed by then. There are many male TBA's on the calendar. They could be waiting for Hallberg, commitment from other guest artists, and perhaps holding out hope Hammoudi will improve by then. It'll be interesting to see how it all comes together.
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I wonder who will take over La Scala from Vaziev.
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Also very surprised Hallberg isn't listed. Gorak wasn't given a Romeo but maybe he'll get one of the TBA slots. Still strange he's not listed now. Was really hoping Lane would get a Juliet or Lise. Nice to see Trenary get an Aurora. Copeland and Simkin paired in SL is the biggest head scratcher to me.
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Catazaro was badly injured during a dress rehearsal yesterday. Poor guy. He explains in his Instagram:
https://instagram.com/p/7_ZPj8Qqah/
Sounds like NYCB is taking a page from ABT's playbook w/ having Veyette take over to do 4 performances in one week. Eeeck!
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Don't know if the first tweak will make it to DC this January: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204989309437268&set=a.1133754148868.2020465.1377723438&type=3&theater
I don't want to read too much into Ratmansky's comments in this Facebook post, but he says that the boys at La Scala's school shouldn't have any problems w/ the garlands, so does that mean he had no confidence that the boys at ABT's school could handle them?
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Ovcharenko indeed resembles Nureyev a lot, IMO. Nostrils and all. Good casting choice.
Indeed! And pretty good cheekbones too.
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Congratulations to the happy couple!
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Not exactly the same, but this rather reminds me of when they brought Carla Fracci back at age 55 to do one Giselle with Julio Bocca.
I'm betting that McKenzie is hoping for the same "delirious, flower-strewn ovation from a star-hungry audience" for Ferri's R&J.
I have mixed feelings about Ferri's return. While she is undoubtedly one of the greats, I agree with others who've said they'd rather see this performance given to another dancer who's never had a chance at Juliet before. I saw Ferri/Cornejo in Cheri and they were magnetic. What a partnership! But, it's a completely different role (no point work, limited dancing, and the story is about a younger man/older woman) and I have doubts about how the age difference will play out. However, I will probably try to be there (because, it IS Ferri and maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised) but I will take my chances and wait till the last minute to buy a ticket in case there's a classic ABT switcheroo.
Maybe in McKenzie's eyes this is also some sort of appeasement for the growing complaints about guest artists. Since Ferri was a full company member maybe he thinks folks won't view her as a guest artist, per se. Bringing her out also reminds everyone of the stars ABT has produced over years, and with Kent, Herrera and Reyes having retired this year, perhaps he thinks the audience will need a reminder and a reason to come back.
Report: Millepied Will Quit Paris Ballet
in Paris Opera Ballet
Posted
I found this rather shocking when I read about in the NY Times this morning. That was fast! He knew what he was getting himself into. The awful things he said about the company and the dancers are disrespectful to say the least. Me thinks he won't be asked to commission any new ballets for them anytime....ever...(and I wonder if his two new ballets that are already scheduled for the 2016/2017 season will get canceled).