ABT Fan
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Posts posted by ABT Fan
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33 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:
Except that these bits of crass razzle-dazzle would throw the program's artistic integrity out the window.
They could do the central pas from Leaves are Fading. Remember when they did that on tour several years ago with Bell and Abrera - Bell was in the corps and it was his first “big” role. Imagine Curley with Hurlin or Park. Or, Klein and Coker. That would be stunning.
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2 hours ago, nysusan said:I was so happy to see Gorak and Hoven. Both did well and I thought Gorak looked great - don't know why they havent been casting him. Gonzales was a good Mercutio but not a great one, I can't wait to see Roxander take on that role. Forster's Tybalt was very menacing and a good match opposite Bell's Romeo. It was wonderful to see Abrera onstage again but Lady C isn't a dancing role.
Gorak does pretty well in this role, he’s done it for years, and it’s also of minimal consequence for him - no partnering, which is a continual weakness of his, little solo work, and it’s largely overshadowed by Romeo and Mercutio. A good role for someone to debut in or for someone who needs opportunities. Many of us have mentioned the numerous young, talented men in the corps who are more than ready for bigger and better roles (and promotions) and a lot of them are getting said roles, roles that have gone to Gorak in the past. And, I think a bunch of them are better dancers than Gorak and show more promise, at least at this point. Not looking to open this subject up again as we’ve discussed this ad nauseum (re Gorak’s lack of development despite the chances he got) but from my viewpoint I’m glad these other dancers are getting cast instead. They need the opportunities more.
I also can’t wait to see Roxander as Mercutio, one of the corps men I’m referencing above. I think he has a huge career ahead of him. Forster’s Tybalt is one of the best I’ve seen.
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1 hour ago, RUKen said:
It's not a misspelling. "Dnipro" is the transliteration of the Ukrainian name for the river, whereas "Dnieper" is transliterated from Russian.
Ah, thank you!
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42 minutes ago, nanushka said:
Forster was fantastic in On the Dnieper in 2019. It was a great role for him.
I too am excited to see Ballet Imperial in tutus, which I think is as it should be — given the work's original title, and its echoes in the choreography.
Forster really was fantastic, as was Hurlin (in one of her first principal roles). Anyone else notice that they misspelled Dnieper repeatedly in the announcement?
Very excited about this line up!
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Honestly I think it depends on which ushers are working. At Saturday’s SL matinee, one usher was loudly and repeatedly telling everyone to put away their phones as the lights went down.
And, I agree - I’d love some kind of Stella “farewell” or curtain call to sort of make up for what she didn’t get.
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Lane just posted that she’s the new school director of Ballet RI, starting in September.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu2BHxdMB2z/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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2 hours ago, fondoffouettes said:
Stella Abrera will be performing Lady Capulet, per Carlos Gonzalez's Instagram:
WOW! I wonder if Stella will perform this only on opening night or others too? (Please, oh please Stella, include Saturday night, too.)
1 hour ago, nanushka said:I think reading this is the most excited I've been all season!
(I really miss the old Met seasons. They were always among the best 8 weeks of the year. A real annual highlight. It's just not the same now.)
Completely agree. I just haven't been very excited this season.
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Teuscher just posted what had happened to Stearns during their Friday performance:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuw-g5HutwP/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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It's the last week already! Since Murphy and Stearns had to withdraw (or, partially withdraw for Stearns) from SL, we'll see if they're able to dance their respective R&J performances.
Two side notes: thanks to California, we know that the Fall season will be announced this Wednesday. And, promotions have frequently been announced during the last week of the season (though Jaffe may change this up). So, we have a lot to (hopefully) look forward to this upcoming week.
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I agree with others who have said Bell is the complete package. He has an incredible maturity and dramatic sensibility for such young a person. His technique is so solid and he was really strong throughout the ballet.
I also agree that Seo had some issues today. Her Act II was extraordinary - she is natural Odette: lyrical, beautiful use of her head and especially her arms, and she showed real depth and pathos. Technically she was very strong except for one little issue with a pirouette. Act III started off well, but she lost steam. Her solo immediately before her fouettés was really underpowered; even her exit off the stage. Maybe she was saving energy, but her fouettés were quite good, all singles, I didn't count but you could tell she finished them early. Despite that, I thought she was overall really beautiful.
Ahn was quite good technically as PR; dramatically he was better than usual. Whenever he gets to play a bad guy (like Tybalt) he comes alive and gives us some personality. It wasn't the best PR, but it was better than some others.
Park as one of the Big Swans was absolutely incredible. I think she has more than earned that super fast promotion from last year - I was skeptical, but everything I see her in she leaves me thinking "wow".
I didn't think the peasant pas de trois was that amazing. Coker was fantastic - I'd even say she was nearly perfect in every way. Lall - wonderful to see her get this opportunity. And yes, the height she gets on her jumps was really something. She had some trouble on a diagonal set of turns and it looked like her right shoe either wasn't broken in well or she just wasn't pointing that foot - it frequently had a dead fish appearance. But, she has one of the loveliest presentations - beautiful upper body, natural unforced smile and such joy. Gonzalez overall was very good - some solid landings and clean jumps. He and Lall had an issue with a turn, nothing too major but it was awkward. But, there is something about his presentation that always leaves me wanting more. I'm thinking it may be a lack of confidence because his face and upper body are always a bit restrained or shut down. If he could open up a bit and let loose, I think it would make a big difference.
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16 minutes ago, nanushka said:
Blaine Hoven is dancing Benno tonight (with Paulina Waski and Sierra Armstrong).
Where do you see this? ABT’s IG story from an hour ago says it’s Han.
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8 minutes ago, California said:
I Am at the matinee. People at Friends desk said he is performing. I just saw him at company class on stage for Friends until 1 pm. The fact that he did not leave early made me wonder!
He’s very young and strong so I’m sure that helps! I’m so happy he’s still performing this afternoon- my first time seeing him as Siegfried.
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Have Gorak and Hoven appeared in SL this week, in any role?
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27 minutes ago, abatt said:
I saw last night's SL. Carmago danced and acted beautifully. A very impressive performance. Boylston has the same problems that have been an issue for her for years in this. She is a brilliant technician, but her head and torso are often the least free parts of her body, which is a significant drawback in portraying Odette. Her ballroom act was amazing - an unsupported balance that seemingly went on forever. She did at least 30 utterly wonderful fouettes, finishing with at least a double pirouette (it may have been a triple). Yet despite the brilliance in technique, this SL lacked a tragic dimension.
Park was breathtaking in the pas de trois. Sebastian did well as Rothbart but had difficulty controlling a spin in his solo. Roander and Klein were fantastic in the Neapolitan dance. The audience was packed.
That’s how I felt about her Odette last time I saw it.
Roxander posted a video of the complete Neapolitan on his IG. A bit far away but you still see how amazing it was. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuivnPCAlbC/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Gonzalez posted a story today saying he’s debuting as Benno tonight with Coker and Granlund in the pas de trois.
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I thought Boylston and Forster were fantastic together in Jane Eyre, the ballet that most everyone hated except me. 😊 Their chemistry was surprising and very natural. Hope that is the case with SL, though completely understand everyone’s disappointment over Murphy.
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6 minutes ago, DPell said:
Sung Woo Han posted on his story that he’s doing the Pas de Trois with Chloe Misseldine and SunMi Park tonight.
I saw this trio last year - they’re the new dream team pas de trois.
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I’m so surprised to read all of this about Trenary’s technique. I wasn’t there yesterday so I cannot comment. In fact, I’ve never seen her Giselle. I did see her Juliet last year, plus her Titania, among other roles and I never thought her technique was lacking, quite the opposite. Perhaps Giselle is not her forte. But, generally speaking I’m of the camp wanting BOTH technical and artistic excellence.
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I'll have to miss most of SL as I'll be out town, but looking forward to Saturday's performance. As always, I'll look forward to reading everyone's reviews throughout the week, for not just O/O and Siegfried but also VR and the peasant pas de trios, etc. Really wish I could see Hurlin's.
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That’s a wonderful article on Trenary. How incredible that she had two weeks with Seymour before she passed.
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34 minutes ago, abatt said:
The NY Times frequently publishes response letters. I hope someone on here submits a rebuttal to Mr. Shayer's letter.
I would like to see a rebuttal come from Ratmansky. It’s his ballet, Harlequinade, that Shayer slams. Ratmansky not only gave him THAT leading role, but Shayer’s FIRST principal role in his Piano Concerto #1 when he was still in the corps. He later gave him MORE lead roles in The Tempest, Serenade after Plato’s Symposium and Songs of Bukovina. Oh, and let’s not forget the lead in Whipped Cream, The Boy. As the former artist in residence of the company for 13 years, not just a contributing choreographer, and as the former director of the Bolshoi, I think Ratmansky is uniquely positioned to set the record straight. He is also not shy about publicly sharing his opinions, some of which are questionable to say the least, but in this particular situation he may be the best voice to educate Shayer and the public.
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On 7/6/2023 at 12:53 PM, abatt said:
Who knows if Kevin did any coaching. I think he may have been there to see Hurlin, who has been a part of ABT since childhood, make her debut in this major role.
I think McKenzie would have been there anyway, for the reasons sited here. But, on Camargo’s IG he has a new story showing McKenzie on stage watching him rehearse SL. It is his production, but safe to assume he also provided additional coaching as well.
https://instagram.com/camargosart?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== -
I’m happy to hear that Shevchenko was so wonderful last night. I haven’t seen her Giselle yet and would like to, but just couldn’t do a fourth show this week. When I saw her and Royal do Songs of Bukovina awhile back, I thought they were a marvelous pair, completely in sync in every way. But, as abatt noted above, when pairings are shuffled around so much it’s hard to build on chemistry and really get comfortable with someone. Only Seo/Stearns and Brandt/Cornejo are regularly paired together.
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This isn’t the first time Shayer’s gone public accusing ABT of holding him back due to racism. And, it’s not the first time he’s singled out Royal. He posted this on his IG back in June 2020 (I remembered it well, so I went back to find it) - he was promoted to soloist a few months later.
In this post he doesn’t refer to Royal by name, but a colleague who was promoted to soloist a few years prior.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxy5iJgh8H/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Going back to 2019, he and Royal had an exchange in the comment section on one of Shayers IG posts (comments still visible), link below. A magazine was publicizing Royal/Copeland being cast as the leads in R&J and they proclaimed it as being the first black dancers to be cast as a lead couple in a ballet at ABT. Yes, I vividly remember that too. (Some dancers like Shayer I don’t follow but occasionally check their page for performance info. And, when something like “this” gets posted, it’s hard not to forget.) Shayer has since scrubbed his initial wording in that post (he wrote he was angry that Royal/Copeland were singled out for being the “first black couple at ABT…”, something like that and went on to say that he and Copeland have been paired together in a leading role - and he still has “leading” in parentheses - hence the Bluebird picture) but the comments are still there including Royal’s comments.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvGQoJAK6a/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I bring these two posts up because I think in light of the recent Times article it’s important to show the background and history of Shayer’s other public comments regarding race at ABT.
I think the article and what he says is extremely flawed- as noted above so well already, he leaves out ALL of the other roles, plum roles, he was cast in and also does not give appropriate context to the “sinister” roles he mentions - ie they’re principal level roles that are usually performed by white men (yes because the roster is mostly white), and that those roles require a level of technique and artistry that he was deemed capable of. Also, he was promoted to soloist, not principal, so him accusing the company of not giving him the prince roles when he was promoted is not an argument.
Also, maybe someone with more knowledge of union contracts can weigh in, but even before this article hit I’ve wondered how he can just choose not to perform when he has a contract? Did he take a leave of absence? Is that allowed? There has been no asterisk with “leave” next to his name like they’ve done with others, or maybe they just didn’t add the asterisk for him since he’s not a principal.
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1 hour ago, nanushka said:
Oh I disagree. I thought the lifts were very effective. He lifted her overhead, and then very slowly raised her higher and higher. As @fondoffouettes described it above, it looked like she would float away. I imagine it would have been rather easier for him to simply raise her up and keep her suspended.
I also thought they were very effective. I didn’t notice a pause either, maybe for a split second, it was just very slow and impressive to me. But, I also very much like the traditional way of doing it.
ABT Romeo & Juliet: Met 2023
in American Ballet Theatre
Posted
I saw Camargo's Romeo last year with Seo and I felt exactly the same as you (his chemistry with Seo was unexpected; he filled in last minute for an injured Stearns). Ditto regarding Klein's Mercutio. Carmargo did Oberon last Fall and was stupendous, so I expect/hope he'll be cast in that again. He'd also be wonderful in On the Dnipro.