ABT Fan

Thank you California for posting that wonderful clip! I agree with GeorgeB fan that Marcelo's love for his partner is always evident and that he is the best male ballet partner today - at least the best that I have seen. It's not just that Marcelo's partnering is flawless, strong and engaging, but that he doesn't differentiate between "dancing" and "partnering". With a lot of male dancers, even if they're good partners, there is an visual separation between when they do their own steps (as in "now I'm down stage right doing entrechats") and when they partner ("now I'm stage left spinning my ballerina"). With Marcelo I don't see that - they're one in the same (as they should be). To him, partnering IS dancing; there's a visual synergy. Sometimes with other male dancers, partnering sections look like something that they have to get through (or suffer through) in order to get to the "real" dancing. I'll bet if ABT did a fund-raising auction where the highest bidder got a chance to dance with Marcelo at a gala dinner or something similar, the ladies (and probably quite a few gentlemen) would bust their coffers at the chance! And, if ABT has already done this, then shame on me for missing out!

From the New York Times: September 18, 2012, 5:23 pm Dance Magazine Names Lifetime Achievement Award Winners By DANIEL J. WAKIN Dance Magazine has named the winners of its annual lifetime achievement awards. They are Julie Kent, a principal dancer at American Ballet Theater; Renee Robinson, a member of the Alvin Ailey company since 1981; the tap dancer Dianne Walker; and the former New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff. The honors will be bestowed on Dec. 3 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. ------------- Congratulations to all! I've been wondering if we'll soon be upon Julie Kent's retirement from ABT. Is this award a sign that the 2012-2013 season will be her last? She's always been one of my favorites - so lovely and such clean technique. Renee Robinson is retiring at the end of this year from Alvin Ailey. I'm not familiar with Dianne Walker. Definitely miss Anna Kisselgoff's critiques!

Great to see Stearns cast as Iago (I assume). That's against type, in my opinion; nice challenge. Wonderful about Lane getting Stars/Stripes. Strange to see so many of the principals missing from the CC season (which was already announced), but at the same time I love getting to see the soloists and some corps members in more prominent roles.

I agree...or Other Dances, which was created for Makarova & Baryshnikov by Robbins (the latter two being past KC Honorees). Yes - that would be terrific too!

I second that! And, great to see that they're honoring a dancer this year. I think a Swan Lake ppd (especially the Black Swan ppd) would be an appropriate on-stage tribute for Markarova.

"Cory Stearns: Cory is developing - his Albrecht with Hee Seo showed strong improvement as an interpreter and in his technique. He has beautiful line and finishes his steps elegantly. He isn't flashy but has a long-limbed open lyrical style of dancing that has potential. I did not see his Romeo this year but did see the Siegfried and Conrad partnering Veronika Part. This is not a good combination. Her authority, womanliness and depth make him seem very bland and boyish - totally callow and out of his league. That is IT right now for the regular male principals. Let's talk about the male guests who papered over the cracks: On the soloist level: Gennadi Saveliev is leaving which leaves us with: Alexandre Hammoudi: Just promoted. Needs a lot of coaching. The charisma is there but not the technique. Not the greatest actor too though he looks great onstage. Jared Matthews: Did a lot of fine work this season - particularly as Lensky in the "A-list" opening night cast of "Onegin" Losing the blandness and dancing better than ever. Go Jared! Sascha Radetsky: Going nowhere at ABT - should possibly consider leaving ABT with his wife and seeing if San Francisco Ballet will take them. Craig Salstein: I love him but not principal material Superb comedian and very versatile stylistically. His Mercutio showed what a fantastic dancer he is. Daniil Simkin: I did not see the Siegfried with Boylston but read the reviews. Seems that he still feels and looks very young onstage. A boy wonder, not a danseur noble. Can do anything with his legs he wants to but is not yet a complete artist. Still he has done well in enough roles (Prodigal Son, Puck in "The Dream", Franz in "Coppelia") that he is worth continuing to develop. He will be promoted and soon. Lots of potential soloists still in the corps: Mikhail Ilyin, Joseph Gorak (breakthrough season for him), Joseph Phillips, Arron Scott, Thomas Forster and Eric Tamm (he hasn't done much this season). I would like to see more of Roman Zhurbin, Roddy Doble and Vitali Krauchenka in real dancing solo roles rather than mime heavies. They could take over some of Gennadi's old assignments. I also would like to see more of Luis Ribagorda (I liked his Neapolitan dance in "Swan Lake" Act III.)" ----------------------------------------- I agree with much of the above. Cory is developing, but is not nearly strong enough in technique or partnering to be considered a "war horse" principal. I think Gennadi's departure will really be felt. He was terrific in character parts that also required a good amount of solid dancing. He wasn't always exciting (but sometimes really was) but he was extremely reliable and solid. Sadly, I agree that Sascha/Stella have been going nowhere and perhaps it's time they move on before they get too old. Though the obvious difficulty in getting principal jobs together at the same company is perhaps why they've stayed at ABT so long. I can't help but wonder if Sascha's going to Dutch Nat'l Ballet as a principal was his last ditch effort to be taken seriously by ABT and get promoted. I love them both and will never understand why Stella wasn't promoted years ago. Daniil, is a boy wonder but he should not be promoted any time soon. His partnering skills are scary and he needs to start performing with more maturity (and less mugging). Gorak and Tamm should be promoted to Soloist level. I thought seasons ago that Hoven was also Soloist material, but I'm afraid his chance has been lost, as too much time has gone by.

Thanks mom2! I'm new here, but just found the ABT page where that topic has been discussed. Looking forwarding to joining it!

Hi everyone! So ABT just announced that James Whiteside, a former principal from the Boston Ballet, has joined as a Soloist. I've never seen him dance, but hopefully will get to see him at the City Center season in Oct. What do others think of the current Soloists at ABT? Why do you think the elegant Stella Abrera has never been promoted to Principal? There are a few corps members that I think should be promoted already - Shevchenko, Tamm, Teuscher, Gorak. They're overflowing with talent and potential.