ABT Fan
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Posts posted by ABT Fan
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So, here's a question:
How is it that some of ABT's dancers have websites of their own that are FAR superior (more sophisticated, visual, etc.) than ABT's website? Whether or not these dancers funded the creation/management of the sites themselves or someone volunteered to do it, if they can find the means then why can't ABT do the same?
http://www.isabellaboylston.com/
http://www.jameswhiteside.org/
http://www.mistycopeland.com/home.html
Maybe their Head of Marketing or their Online Media Manager should get one of these dancers to hook them up with whoever did their website. Copeland's was done by http://www.starvingartistwebdesign.com/ which is a do-it-yourself'er. Their elite plan only costs $12.99/month for crying out loud.
ABT, renew yourself by gettin' with the program.
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Regarding Lane/Cornejo doing the fish dives:
How do we know they didn't do them because they were NOT able to..? That was my impression, and it could perfectly be the reason. We probably will never know. As per the choreography being not original, it is true that the fish dives are not part of the Petipa's original scheme, but as Ratmansky was rather following the London production, and the fish dives were originated by Olga for that very production, it makes sense that they would preserve them. As per myself I don't want to see them substituted by now.
Because Lane/Cornejo have done the fish dives in performance before, in the old Kirkland SB for one, without any difficulties.
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So very sad to read this. My condolences to his friends and family and to NYCB. He was a beautiful man.
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I'll be in NY tomorrow for Misty & Joseph's SL but have zero interest in staying on for the Royal @ the Koch at night...I vote with my wallet and have no intention of paying $$$ for Song of the Earth...total MEH even if coupled with The Dream. (Saw Song at Darcy Bussell's farewell. That was more than enough.)
Gorak isn't doing SL. Whiteside is dancing with Copeland. -
This part is essential! I would say that ABT marketing is a disaster, but it doesn't even exist in a sufficient form to be given that term. They seriously need help in this area. When it comes to ABT renewing itself, this is essential!
Definitely! Add to that a 21st century website and an app that works!
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It was believed that Kent was injured early in the season, as Murphy replaced her in Pillar of Fire. I don't remember if it was announced that Kent had an injury per se, but that's most likely the reason. Maybe she still hadn't recovered.
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Magnificent! Congratulations to him! So well deserved.
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Thank you for posting the link. It really is the end of an era with Kent retiring. I hope she stays on as a coach and teacher. It was no surprise, but still sad to see the difference between her interaction with Mckenzie and his interaction with Reyes and Herrera during their farewells.
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Setting aside the question of whether Sarah Lane could have danced Juliet to Marcelo's Romeo (which I'll admit is an open question), how different things would be now if Osipova's Juliet had been given to Lane a week and a half ago instead of to Hee Seo. Lane has studied the role with Ferri; she'd have had a full week to rehearse with Marcelo; Seo would have still had two Juliets this week (since she was then scheduled for Monday and Tuesday); and Lane would have been ready to step in again last night with a partner she'd already been rehearsing with. And then we'd have had another home-grown dancer with onstage experience in an important role, and less audience fatigue with an overworked principal.
Again, I acknowledge there may have been a partnering issue there. But these are the sorts of changes (even if this specific one wouldn't quite have worked) that could allow a company like ABT to weather its inevitable problems of injuries and cancellations, while balancing the costs, benefits, and needs of both guest artists and home-team dancers in an ultimately more sustainable way.
It's quite amusing to hear ABT now say that they sell performances, not performers -- when we learned from that quickly yanked YouTube video of a prominent company spokesperson that that's not at all the way they work.
I agree with all of this. Though we really didn't need that YT video to know they sell performers. If they didn't, they wouldn't post casting (and advertise their star guest artists) months in advance. They'd follow the City Ballet model. They must think their audience is pretty stupid.
I'd love to know what their Plan C is/would be if Seo wasn't available for all of these replacements. Heaven forbid someone else gets injured/sick for SL or Cinderella, will it be more Seo? Regardless of her ability or likability, it's a very poor business model to always rely on the same person. It goes way beyond giving a homegrown dancer another chance because other homegrown dancers should be able/prepared to step in as well.
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Yes, and so is Murphy and they dance together regularly. I don't see why Murphy couldn't have stepped in. I sure hope Seo gets through the season without injury. She's turning out to be the MVP whether folks like it or not. (I'm sure there will be a lot of angry folks at the ballet tonight.)
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Would someone please video the curtain calls and tributes to Julie Kent tomorrow evening and post them? I so enjoyed watching the tributes to Reyes and Herrera on this board. I can't come to the performance and I would love to partake in the spirit of the evening, if just a little. Many thanks!
Yes, pretty please!
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A pair of orchestra row C center seats for Kent farewell are selling $1175 each:
Whoa. Not cool in my opinion.
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I'm a bit perplexed by Perron's review. She's entitled to her opinion of course but I've never read a ballet review whose main critique was that it didn't spark dialogue about "life's dilemmas" and have more than one "single message". As others have said, I too go to the ballet to be entertained and to relish in the beauty of the art form. Why is this escape from all of our worries, hardships and the world's problems a bad thing? Art does and can imitate life, but must that be a requirement for it to be valid and important? If Perron goes to see Giselle to better understand how to deal with her mistakes, then that's her prerogative, and I've certainly learned a thing or two about myself from a dance piece or a painting or a great film. But when I'm debating which cast to see in Swan Lake, I'm looking for which dancers will best embody the main roles, in my opinion, not which dancers (or which production) will help me deal with my personal issues. A self-help book would be a heck of a lot cheaper than a ticket at the Met.
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She's not giving them much notice it seems.
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Wish List: In addition to Paquita, bring back On the Dnieper, Citizen (for the fall season, even though I think I'm the only person who liked this ballet), La Fille Mal Gardee, Nine Sinatra Songs. Please retire Fancy Free for awhile. Promote Abrera to principal and cast her as Giselle at the Met again (I know she'll never be promoted, but this is a wish list); promote Forster, Royall III, Scott, Brandt to soloist.
Predictions: The new SB will return. Copeland and Hammoudi will be promoted to principal at the end of this year's Met season. Gorak will be promoted to principal at the end of the 2016 season. One or two female ready-made-principals will be hired. More talented/senior corps dancers will leave.
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With Simon Ball having just retired, I'm wondering (hoping) if Jared Matthews will get promoted to principal. Anyone know when Houston typically announces promotions?
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Yes to Paquita and bring back more Tharp.
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I believe this is the end result:
Fantastic! Thanks for the link.
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Indeed. Tacky, tacky, tacky.
People shouldn't have to look up something that's implied to find out it isn't true.
Well, I can see it both ways. If I were reading this for the first time without knowledge of the casting, I would assume she's starring in all 3 ballets but the promotion doesn't say that. It doesn't even say she's starring in the 2 that she is. It's very clever marketing as, yes I agree it's implied, but they can get away with it because of the vagueness. As the saying goes, buyer beware.
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She's not starring in Cinderella, but she probably has a supporting role as she has in the past. The promotion doesn't say she has the lead but since she does in SL and RJ I could see people assuming she does in Cinderella too. But, that's easy to look up.
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I just saw this in the NY Times.
A HOTEL STAY, WITH BALLET
The ballerina Misty Copeland is an attraction of American Ballet Theater’s season at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City this summer, and the Smyth, a Thompson Hotel, in TriBeCa, has a package where guests can see — and meet — the dancer. “Behind the Curtains: Misty Copeland” is offered through July 4 and includes a two-night stay in a deluxe room with upgrade upon availability, a signed copy of Ms. Copeland’s autobiography called “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina,” two tickets to one of her performances of “Swan Lake,” “Romeo and Juliet” or “Cinderella” and a post-show meeting at the stage door with the star. Rates from $599 a night.
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From a financial standpoint, particularly if ABT is struggling as has been suggested, giving Misty an extra performance makes sense. Her Swan Lake is completely sold out, and last I checked, her Romeo and Juliet on Saturday was close to being sold out. I think the only other performances that have sold out this spring season are Julie Kent's farewell and the anniversary gala.
As for the shuffling of Hee Seo into Wednesday's performance, perhaps the thought was that replacing Osipova with a principal would look better on paper than replacing her with a soloist. (For what it's worth, I've seen Seo perform a few times and thought she was quite lovely.)
That said, I had been keeping hope alive that Alina Cojocaru could have graced us with her presence again, but alas, it was not to be...
Copeland's SL is not completely sold out, I just checked, but it might as well be. There are only 7 seats left and those are in the expensive Parterre section. Impressive. And her original-slated debut in R&J on 6/20 has sold much better than even the all-star cast of Vishneva/Gomes of 6/19. Very impressive. I'll bet the management is expecting her additional R&J on 6/16 to now sell like wildfire. From a strictly financial perspective, I understand giving Copeland another show (if their reasoning is financial). I don't like it, but I understand it. Ballet is still a business and they need to make money.
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Usually press releases regarding withdrawals include the replacement. At least they made the announcement but this must leave many ticket holders in a lurch.
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Regarding height alone, Osipova is small just like Lane so if Osipova can dance with Gomes so can Lane.
Roster Changes at ABT
in American Ballet Theatre
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Wow, that's quite a handful. It's making me dread seeing which other corps members are leaving that must have warranted so many additions so soon.