Marga

Paul Sutherland and Brunhilda Ruiz were also at Festival Ballet last weekend (and the days leading up to the performances) bringing his latest production of Rodeo to the stage. During the time he worked with the company, my daughter was so happy to be taught by him. He is a wonderful teacher, coach, and all-around swell guy! Dancing Rodeo was such a fun experience, she said she would love to dance it every day. During one week of rehearsals, Paul gave a tap class to the second cast of "Leaves are Fading" while the first cast was in rehearsal. My daughter, who has never tapped before, enjoyed it immensely and concentrated hard on her footwork. He had them repeat a sequence for a long time, and toward the end, my daughter's foot began to lag and as she struggled to regain her rhythm he remarked: "Next time come to class sober". She got such a kick out of this, and his many other "lighten the mood" comments made during rehearsals, that she phoned me that night to share it. Rodeo, danced by Festival Ballet Providence, was a hit and it was wonderful for me to see it again after more than 45 years. Thanks to Paul Sutherland that today's audiences are still treated to the pure joy of this first deMille ballet.

How wonderful for LA Ballet! Eddy Tovar is amazing -- a real dynamo (and good-looking, to boot). Such a beautiful dancer! Wish I could see him in "Who Cares"! What a treat for LA balletomanes.

Another, reported by Jennifer Dunning: To Ms. Dunning's credit, these were the final words of her review. (This was at Monique Meunier's debut as Dewdrop, December 26, 1993.) At a performance of Festival Ballet Providence's Nutcracker last month, a little girl (maybe 3 years old) sat in her mother's lap across the aisle from me, positively enthralled by what was going on onstage. When the Mouse King appeared, however, she started screaming, and, visibly frightened, shouted "Get me out of here!!!!" (which her poor mother promptly did). But for the incidence of fright, it reminded me of one of my own daughters' first Nutcracker. It was NYCB's in 1981 and my daughter was 3 years old. Whoever says that 3 year olds shouldn't go to the ballet does not know children like mine. My daughter was so completely, fascinatedly, drawn into the story that not a peep came from her the entire ballet, only wide-eyed amazement. Parents who narrate the whole ballet, play-by-play, to their little ones can be irksome, especially when they get things wrong! On a different day this past season, this occurred in the seats directly behind mine, with the dad doing most of the talking. The ballet then became an interaction between him and his daughter, instead of between the daughter and the story on stage. Everything, but everything, got explained. Most annoying was the little girl repeatedly asking 'where's Clara?" whenever she didn't see her, of if Clara was offstage. By Act II, the repeated phrase was "I want to go home now".

I agree, carbro. While Solomon is very proud of their website, it's meant more as documentation for supporters to see all they've accomplished than a tool for up-to-the-minute information. All I can do is relay the concerns of posters to them. In addition to receiving postcards and emails about the galas and ballets like Giselle and the Nutcracker with "superstar" guest artists, I usually get a phone call asking to publicize their productions on the ballet forums. I do what I can, but walk a fine line because of forum rules. I am not considered an official source. I understand the need for the rule, but have to chuckle that the "official news" goes from the Tencers to the PR people, same as it's told to me (and others) by the Tencers when it happens, becoming "official" as turned by the wheels of public relations administrators. (Canadian dollars are called bucks. However, the one and two dollar bills were both replaced by coins years ago and are almost always referred to as "loonies" and "toonies".)

Nadia and Solomon are not computer-literate themselves. They hire out to have the webpages made up. (I've even typed input for them). They do not have someone who comes in regularly to do updates. Presently, they are incredibly busy with the gala as well as preparing the annual school showcases for their two studios. They are very hands-on with the childrens' costumes: collecting costume deposits, deciding the design of each set of costumes, distributing them as they come in, and dealing with hundreds of parents (and their accompanying problems) -- all in addition to mounting the gala at Lincoln Center. As well, Nadia teaches several ballet classes a day, 7 days a week, holds rehearsals and coaches soloists for her student productions (this year, one of them is La Bayadère). The webpage is a back burner item, I'm afraid. As far as the youtube clips are concerned, I took a look, and saw only one which seems to have originated with them. I don't know who put it on youtube nor at who's request, but, again, they (Nadia and Solomon) had no hand in it, personally. I understand your frustration, though!

There will be a goody of the operatic kind from the Bolshoi accompanying Savkovic and Nakamura in one of the pieces!

I just phoned Solomon Tencer (upon reading your post) to find out for sure. Nadia (Tencer -- AD of the gala) answered and said that Osipova and Vasiliev are definitely NOT coming. She also said that Shoko Nakamura is one to watch. She is dancing with Ronald Savkovic and is absolutely amazing. Daniil is also looking very good!

How very, very beautiful. Your tribute to your mother is breathtaking! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Paul Sutherland will be at Festival Ballet Providence starting next week, setting Rodeo on the company. It's wonderful to read such nice things about him!

I remember Ernestine Stodelle. She was a positive role model and an inspiring teacher. One of the quiet greats of modern dance, specifically in continuing the legacy of Doris Humphrey and in her writing and dance criticisms, Stodelle left her own legacy. Her family name was horribly blemished by her grandson Joshua Komisarjevsky, who, this past summer, was one of the two murderers of the Connecticut endocrinologist's wife and two daughters. That was a grisly, unfathomable killing. For a woman so deserving of every honour and respect accorded her, I weep for her sorrow and that of her sons who had to endure such negative public scrutiny. Those murders hit so hard when they occurred, and to learn that this wonderful modern dance pioneer was directly related to one of the killers was heartbreaking. Stodelle was 95 in July when the murders occurred. My admiration for Ernestine Stodelle is immense. She led a very full life, riding the first wave of modern dance and passing on her expertise to dancers of varying abilities, from student to professional, in prominent as well as unheralded dance locales, and with motivational fervour. Rest in peace, incomparable woman. Rest in peace.

I thank you as well as welcome you to Ballet Talk! It was a delight to find out that Lise la Cour has been director of the Ballet San Jose school since 2002. I always think of her as working in Denmark. The things I learn via BT! What a wonderful award she has received. Lise la Cour edited to add: In case some of you don't realize who Lise la Cour is, she is the first wife of Peter Martins and mother of Nilas Martins and Ask la Cour.

Since I have never officially "welcomed" you, Cristian, I will do so now, at Christmastime. I welcome your input every day and enjoy your passionate posts. I also loved your postcard greeting! Until 1991, what I wanted every Christmas -- and never believed my wish would be fulfilled -- was a free Estonia. I join you in the spirit of freedom from Communism, which is a passionate desire that doesn't stop at the holidays, but is, indeed, amplified during the holy season. So, a very late welcome to BT and a very Merry Christmas to you, Cristian, with another voice added to your fervent wish for a free Cuba. Marga

I chose to go see the National Ballet of Canada this afternoon in Toronto, but was curious about the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker which was playing up the street at another movie theatre. It seems that only 13 people were in the audience for San Francisco! How ironic that the rare time ballet is available to all at the movies, the 2 productions are being shown at the same time. Yes, SFB started at 1 PM and NBoC at 2, but still.....

Shaun O'Brien, hands down, with Balanchine in second place. I grew up with the NYCB Nutcracker as an integral part of our Christmas celebrations. As a child, I did find Drosselmeyer to be a bit frightening, but it seemed right that he be. It reflected the way some adults in my own life (in the 50s) frightened me. In a good way. I almost enjoyed being nervous when they were around! Drosselmeyer was a validation for that kind of grownup. He is kindhearted beneath his façade, and most certainly well-meaning for his strictness. That is the kind of father (and uncles) many children had in the first half of the last century and children got used to growing up under a firm hand. It brought its own brand of the security every child needs, the feeling that they are protected by you, even when afraid of you. Balanchine was absolutely wonderful in the role, but I would've been very happy to have Shaun O'Brien as my own uncle. As to the changes of stage set, and after having to get used to Clara (now Marie) and the Nutcracker Prince taking to the air in a sleigh (I really missed the walnut shell boat ), my least favorite is moving the clock to center stage. It was always in the corner before, and that's where I expected to find it, as in any grand living room. When Drosselmeyer appears in place of the owl, it was scary-delightful to see it happening in the corner of the room, where the clock belongs. Bringing this piece of action into the middle of the stage removes some of its magic for me. It makes the nightmare's clock too prominent, as if we would not have noticed this transformation on our own and had to have it shoved in our face.

As the latest news reports explain, Jennifer was not dancing in the Nutcracker. Her husband and Nicole were the guest stars. Quote from the New York Times (see today's links for URL) : Calgary Sun (also in today's links): This tragedy has not left my consciousness since we all heard the news. I did not know Jennifer personally either, but as a mother with a child her age, I share the grief of her parents, who, we learn through Jennifer's sibling's beautiful post, have already lost one child, Jennifer's brother. That it is the Christmas season makes Jennifer's death even more devastating as we think of her family going through the holiday without her, and of Julio Bragado-Young not having his first Christmas with his beloved new wife. My heart is with her parents and sibling as they go through the next few days of necessary heartbreaking tasks. My whole family is with Jennifer's loved ones at this time, in thought and in prayer. God bless you all.

This is stunningly tragic news. My condolences to Jennifer Alexander's family. Prayers also to Julio Bragado-Young for a complete recovery.

And is that Pat Wilde with her head flung back? Paul, I'm sorry, I don't see Tanny at all in that ballerina.... ...but I strongly agree that Siegfried looks like Jacques! edited to add: I just looked up some of Tanny's pics and see where one might get the impression that she would be a candidate for "who's the ballerina?". However, from having seen her and Diana (and Nora Kaye, for that matter) dance, and from the eye one develops from one's own training, the way the body is held in the photo just doesn't come across as LeClercq for me (and neither do the legs -- even if lighting thickens them a bit). Tanaquil LeClercq

I see what you're saying, Ray. This photo of Nora Kaye shows the same line of nose , but, still, I don't think the legs are similar. Nora Kaye Here, Diana Adams' legs for comparison: Diana Adams Diana Adams

It certainly looks like Diana Adams. The profile seems unmistakably hers. I also think the Siegfried could be Jacques d'Amboise. The narrow frame of the body seems to be his. It's a wonderful picture! Nancy Reynolds, in R in R, writes that "Over the years, nearly all the male and female principals have danced the leads in Swan Lake".

A Times puzzle from a few years ago had the clue "prima ballerina" and I struggled to find a reasonable answer to fit the 6 spaces allotted. It wasn't until I had enough crossings that the answer became clear: "etoile". Now that's quite a bit beyond the standard "plie", I think!

"Astaire" always pleases me as he is my absolute favorite dancer and personality, and his sister Adele comes up from time to time to confuse some solvers with the cluing of "dancing Astaire". A short while ago we saw Fonteyn, as in Margot. There was even once a puzzle with Dancing Men as its theme which featured names such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Robert Joffrey, Alvin Ailey. Oh, and Tharp appeared in one NYT Sunday puzzle. I've also seen Rudolf, clued as Nureyev, and I do believe Moira Shearer has shown up. Cyd Charisse certainly has, cluing the "Cyd". There have been a few jetes (usually clued as "ballet leap" or "ballet jump") as well as the frequent plies which Helene mentioned.

I was going to bring that up, too, Helene! I do the Sunday puzzle on Mondays, when it is delivered here. When I saw the clue this afternoon, I was so very pleased to fill in the letters A B T! Speaking of the Times crossword, it is something that gives me so much pleasure every Monday morning. To hunker down with the Sunday puzzle and a cup of honeyed tea, especially on a cold, grey, rainy day like today, is the perfect start to my week. I the NYT Sunday puzzle!

The weekend's Globe (Canada's national newspaper) had a small pic of the ad in its Globe Style section as part of its "Person, Place and Thing" column (the online version doesn't show the picture). Bolle is unidentified! Globe and Mail

Festival Ballet Providence Agnes deMille's Rodeo Antony Tudor's The Leaves are Fading VMA Arts & Cultural Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts Friday February 8, 2008 at 7:30 pm Saturday February 9, 2008 at 7:30 pm Sunday February 10, 2008 at 2:30 pm

To add a little about the author of the article: Sarah Hampson is a veteran Globe and Mail columnist. She usually interviews prominent individuals ("The Hampson Interview") and is quite well known for her in-depth profiles. That she lets her own personality seep into her articles is almost inevitable given the amount of hours she normally spends with her subjects and the comfort level and familiarity she thus develops with them. Add to that the years she's been pounding the same beat and you're bound to come up with plenty of fodder for criticism. She has interviewed a vast number of celebrities and otherwise provocative people and I quite enjoy reading her stories.