ABT Fan

Wow, what a shock. Terrible, terrible news.

The 2013 Princess Grace Award winners were announced today.

From dancemagazine.com - http://www.dancemagazine.com/blogs/dance-glance/5315:

"For 2013, the dancers and choreographers who have been recognized with scholarships and fellowships are Alexander L. Anderson (The Juilliard School), Skylar Brandt (American Ballet Theatre), Courtney A. Henry (Alonzo King LINES Ballet), Talli Jackson (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company), and Rachelle Anaïs Scott (Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet). Three choreographers have received fellowships at specific companies: Rosie Herrera at Ballet Hispanico, Loni Landon at BODYTRAFFIC, and Robyn Mineko Williams at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

In addition, special project awards recognize choreographers Eric Kupers and Zoe Scofield, a works-in-progress residency has been awarded to Camille A. Brown, and a choreography mentorship co-commission award goes to Alex Ketley at the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC)."

Tiler Peck won the 2013 Princess Grace Statue Award, which is given to a past winner who has "distinguish[ed] themselves in their artistic disciplines".

The awards ceremony will be held in NYC on October 31.

Here's the link to the Princess Grace site: http://www.pgfusa.org/awards-winners

Congratulations to all of the winners!

That's a very interesting trailer. Not sure I like the scenes from the subway and "everyday life" incorporated into it (and not sure I get why they're there).

Murphy is probably the best Myrtha I've seen. I'd like to see her Giselle, but she's so strong and powerful I'm wondering if she could be soft and vulnerable enough to be a convincing Giselle.

Qi Huan looks like a very capable Albrecht with lovely technique.

If anyone sees this film, please post your reviews!

DanceMagazine lists salaries in their "Jobs Guide" editions (not for every single ballet co. though). Try searching on dancemagazine.com.

I'm sure there are other more up-to-date ways to find this out that others can suggest.

Thanks Dale for posting this. It's still not on ABT's website.

Lane isn't doing a Theme/Variations?!

The following corps members from the Met 2013 season program are no longer listed on the web site: Roddy Doble, Mikhail Ilyin, Vitali Krauchenka, Renata Pavam, Sem Sjouke, Bryn Watkins, Katherine Williams

Just curious if anybody knows where they went. I hope they all landed on their feet, so to speak!

I'm not seeing any promotions from corps to soloist or soloist to principal, but perhaps that would be announced separately in a press release, if any happen.

Katherine Williams is still listed as a corps member on ABT's website.

I was hoping some promotions would be announced by now. I hope some are forthcoming.

I'd also include Darci Kistler, Heather Watts, Kyra Nichols, Cynthia Harvey and Leslie Browne.

What could be meant by the phrase, "part-time" ballerina, especially in connection with NYCB dancers?

I intrepreted this to mean a principal who doesn't dance all that often. I don't know Macauley's intent, but that was how I read it.

I can't find where this was previously discussed, but has there been any formal announcement anywhere on any ABT corps members leaving post Met season? It doesn't look like their website has been updated with the dancer roster yet (even Irina is still listed).

Keith Roberts. Don't know if he can sing but he's got the ballet and Broadway experience.

Also - Woetzel would have been great a few years ago. I think he may be too senior now and not in tip top shape. But 10 yrs ago, I'd say definitely yes.

What a fantastic idea!

Gomes and Fairchild definitely. No to Vasiliev. How about Angel Corella? (Even though he's trying to run Barcelona Ballet.)

Osipova yes. Tiler Peck and Sarah Lane too. I think Guillem is too senior.

The thing I find troubling about Macaulay is his apparent need to be mean and to personally attack his subjects. That is not dance criticism. He has an obvious wealth of knowledge about dance and music and often times I enjoy his reviews immensely. But when he decides to make fun of someone by going with a joke (when he said Jenifer Ringer had eaten "one Sugarplum too many" following a Nutcracker performance a year or so ago), he not only belittles the dancer but cheapens ballet and even himself. He once said at the end of an ABT review "why doesn't ABT take ballet as seriously as I do?" So Mr. Macaulay, if you take ballet so seriously, then why do you go for the cheap shots, that any fool with pen/paper or computer can type out? A few years ago he wrote that Ethan Steifel resembled a "Hitler youth" and was therefore not believable in his performance (I believe the ballet was Don Q). No intellectual thought went into making that statement. That was an attention grabber. Certainly not a comment from someone who takes the art of ballet seriously.

I think it's safe to say that if one of the "warhorses" gets revised, Ratmansky will be the one to do it.

I think Villella probably feels his was the hand that was bit.

Brilliantly said!

How was Abrera/Radetsky as BB? Didn't Copeland do BB in the evening? How was she?

Thanks to everyone for these great reviews.

Very interesting interview and terrific clip. Loved the part from Tarantella. I hope he finds a position worthy of his talents and depth of knowledge.

I found this on a Russian forum. Ivan Vasiliev and Isabella Boylston's Blue Bird PDD:

Awful.

Thank you Plisskin for posting this. Boylston looks fabulous! Vasiliev? Bent knees, feet not pointed, legs turned in. I don't understand. So what if he can jump as high as a skyscraper and turn like a tasmanian devil. He looks awful doing it. I would love to be a fly on the wall during his rehearsals. I wonder if KM and the rehearsal directors correct him for these persistent and unprofessional mistakes?

My question is - Will KM do anything with Sarah Lane? I wasn't able to see her performance this year. The one I saw 5 years ago was flawed but way beyond good, and certainly worth nurturing. Given her age (late 20's) and length of time with the company it's now or never.

I think many of us are wondering this same thing. I've seen Lane dance regularly over the years and she never disappoints me. Always secure, gorgeous technique, continues to grow, never any big problems. I hope she isn't left to wallow as a soloist forever. She'd also make a very lovely Juliet.

I swear I saw the Puss N Boots pas in their SB years ago. Very short dance but cute. Did they take it out??

I agree Kent was more technically proficient than Seo is. Kent danced everything and to me it looks like KM wants Seo to do the same. That's an interesting comparison - Seo and Ferri. And an excellent point: Ferri was extraordinary in certain ballets and she stuck to them instead of doing those that wouldn't show off her best assets.

Someone else lamented how/why Seo had gone from a promising corps dancer to a struggling principal. I think it's due to being promoted too soon, too many roles and premieres this season, heavy expectations, and not enough coaching.

" I believe that she was promoted (somewhat but not totally - she had proven herself in some roles) on body type. It is look that the AD favors. "

Whom does she look like?

I think Seo is quite similar to Kent in body type and especially technique/lyricalness. Looks to me as if she's being groomed to replace Kent when Kent retires.

Thank you all for these SB reviews. Wish I could have attended one myself (Lane's). It's disgraceful that a number of their female soloists are dancing better than one of their principals! I feel so bad for Abrera and Lane who can consistently dance rings around "someone" yet they're still soloists. So nice to hear about their wonderful performances! Not surprising but great to read about, yet a tad bittersweet.

How unfortunate to hear that Seo didn't do well at all. Many said her SL was terrific (despite her fouettes) so I was hopeful her Beauty would be too. I thought her Met season looked too ambitious. Would love to know what the female soloists are thinking!

Please post some reviews of SB this wk. Sadly I will miss all of them. Would love to hear how Seo's debut goes tonight and how Lane does tomorrow. As well as all the supporting roles.