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I researched the NEA grants by category -FY 2017 approved in 2016 total $51,515,500 [not equal to 60% of 2016 budget shown on the 2015 fact sheet].  Total NEA budget was about 146m.  These are grants for projects and only represent a portion of NEA funding which includes grants to states.  This fact sheet explains the NEA and use of appropriations:https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/nea-quick-facts.pdf    The fact sheet is for FY2015. 

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In the past week I've seen multiple dancers capable of executing 25+ fouettes, in character before/during/after, filling the music, etc.  The Kennedy Center is selling a LHBH DVD Plisetskaya and a preview includes her  fouettes. 

I love the choreography and the performances were brilliant. Some costumes...The minimalist sets and lack of background action leave the Tsar Maiden exposed in a challenging role with a lack of visual distraction [ continuous Balanchinesque movement].  Vaganova epaulment adds another dimension to performances for me. 

A Kultur DVD of Plisetskaya/Vasiliev LHBH is for sale in the lobby-online it's a grand production including 31 fouettes /32nd a double or triple.  Ratmansky LHBH is a happy production of a favorite childhood fairy tale.  Each show had applause throughout and bravos with standing ovations.  Some cheers when Ivan pops out of the tank.  Awakes the inner child.

A review http://freebeacon.com/culture/romp-kennedy-center/  includes excerpts of the Seussian quality  to the program libretto  as well as descriptors of choreography.  The Cat in the Hat echoes in the swarmy Gentleman of the Bedchamber. 

I wish the Mariinsky's next Kennedy Center visit would be Bronze Horseman, the new Pacquita, Sleeping Beauty, or Balanchine's Midsummers Nights Dream.  Fatayev on the Kennedy Center productions: https://sputniknews.com/art_living/201702011050221919-mariinsky-ballet-washington/

The Washington Post reviews of Boylston, Teuscher, Copeland:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_danc/a-show-of-virtuosos-swan-lake-shimmers-with-strong-women/2017/01/29/e17c35e8-e664-11e6-acf5-4589ba203144_story.html?utm_term=.8edf8ffcbac7#comments

Unfortunately I did not see Boylston-Lendorf except at open rehearsal.   Exquisite WS.  Lendorf was  a strong seductive PR.  Kaufman notes the energizing effect [like a great quarterback] O/O has on a performance.  Part gave me the impression she had a physical issue effecting suppleness, arms, pliancy.  Whiteside had good saves, dynamic trajectory, high tight speed chainnes.  Part relaxed into her roles connecting with Whiteside after the fouettes [started late-remained in the plie prep for pirouette, reduced number, secure finish].

The PR role is brilliant sinister seduction:   entrance at top of stairs, interplay bewitching the queen drawing her off  the dais, kissing hands, bounds to throne, later leans on wall, and princesses-1 lured towards him specifically, special effects [smoke and explosion] when he leaves and morphs into Lakeside. In white SL sequence of alabesque lifts-arms faster on up and softly down-no impression of beating him with the wings.  There's 2 or 3 turns with support where she does an extra movement [not in Mariinsky] with the head and upper body-multiple arches in the same turns-smoothly executed.

I do not miss the jester but wish it ended with a lift as the sun rises after a forced leap of LR.   In Mariinsky  O/S are still alive and they do the lift from the  swan corps double diagonal, move downstage, chase Rothbart.  ABT does a lift in the double diagonal formation, go upstage, then along the front swan diagonal after changing to arabesque. 

A star was born from the moment at open rehearsal when Teuscher entered with PR Lendorf at the top of the stairs and sous soused.  

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Kolegeva and Kondaurova [magic moments with Korsuntsev] as Raymonda.  Kolegeva deserves an extra special Raymonda save award for the KC 2016 Sunday matinee. 

ABT R&J- Murphy and Whiteside. They brought the magic.

Current peeves:  casting and cast lists.

On ‎12‎/‎21‎/‎2016 at 6:00 AM, Mashinka said:

Casting looks terrific to me, I can't see the problem.

Hoped for Shirinkina with Shklyarov- I see online that they now do Spartacus-Phrygia on pointe.  Decades ago I saw the Grigorovich pas de deux with Bessmertnova.  I wish the KC would have a mixed bill Maryiinsky for some shows like the BAM last year which I did not see.  When the Kirov first came to the USA in the eighties they did full length plus mixed bills. 

As I noticed in the Bolshoi and ABT clips there are differences in the positions for the lift.   The Ratmansky are all with the man facing downstage so her back end and prep are emphasized.  Vasiliev was facing the wings and so is Tsiskaridze so his partner is shown to the best advantage.  Vorontsova faces front not back to get into the lift and the leg is bent front not in second.  Best seen in slow motion from 16:59. 

I've never seen the Ratmansky Nutcracker and do love Nutcrackers like WB with a child or young teen on pointe Clara, Snow King and Queen, Sugar Plum and Cavalier, Dewdrop, candy cane-Russian-Frontiersman -Gopak .  WB's  Anacostia [Arabian] has the on floor press lift-no hands.

 If I remember correctly Washington Ballet has a torchlift in Snow - done perfectly by B Mack and E Lee.  Mack was downstage L facing upstage R for the approach.  I don't know if J Kent added the torchlift.  On the 3 Bolshoi clips Maximova is more on the side of Vasiliev [almost facing the wing].   The other Bolshoi clips have him partially facing downstage. 

I was surprised at the KC programming this season.  Another poster lamented the lack of the Mikhailovsky at the KC under that company's forum.  My reply had similar sentiments. KC seems to moving away from grand productions with world class dancers.The KC is a perfect venue for an ABT Thanksgiving Nutcracker.  Pennsylvania Ballet's Philadelphia opens Dec 9th and is in Cleveland for a short run prior to that...a PA Ballet Nutcracker which is Balanchine performed under Corella would be wonderful at the KC.  Plus it is close for the dancers and set transport.

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On 10/26/2016 at 9:20 PM, Drew said:

 

 Count me as one visiting fan pleased with the two ballets within a single week option. 

For Whipped Cream, they must also be hoping for Mark Ryden's fame/popularity to pull in NY audiences. I'm quite ignorant of the current art world, so I had to look him up when the ballet was first announced -- not at all sure what I think about his work. (The giant doll-like female heads sort of put me off even when I liked the otherwise "surreal" vibe.) But I admire Ratmansky and the casts are certainly appealing as well as the music.

 

I'm also someone who has more than enjoyed the occasional guest artist at ABT, and wouldn't mind seeing one or two on the roster but perhaps the new approach will lead to good, very good, or even great things for the company.

 

 

I am baffled by ABT cast lists or the lack thereof.  No 2017 performances until May 7 except the 7 Swan Lakes at the Kennedy Center  [Wed 1-25-17 thru Sun 1-29-17] and 3 Giselles [April in Oman].  No cast lists but May though July at the Met are loaded with principal cast lists.  DC should get prompt cast lists which were out for the LA Nutcracker.  Why is this?

The Met season has a few blocks where I could see different things but  NYCB [with Midsummer] is closed on Mondays and ABT on Sundays so ...

  http://kennedycenter.tumblr.com/post/151148761085   .

The post explains some of the intricacies in Gounod and one quote is " music is symphonic so it’s all very big and lush. Mr. B clearly knew what he was doing by choreographing this music to so many dancers—otherwise, what the ears hear would outweigh what the eyes see. "    I've noticed that some choreography is the equivalent of visual noise. 

Gounod is a masterpiece.  I am baffled as to why I have sat through so much choreographic drivel from some companies when this exists.  Hopefully Gounod will be coached by Farrell in the future at companies like PA, WB, SF, Mariinsky, Bolshoi.  It needs the highest caliber principals of a certain type  which Farrell gave us in  Noelle/Garrett [also Stars 4rth]. 

The pas de deux and intricate patterns of the corps are brilliant.  The corps has the fifties style dresses - they do move like flowers in the wind.  We were thinking clouds with black lines [disconcerting visually] so would have preferred trim [if any] on top only in pale gold/sage.  It was like SL where the principals are so riveting one doesn't notice the corps or big swans except for the beauty of the wholistic movement.

Farrell's coaching of Gounod and Stars and Stripes was brilliant.  Under Farrell the phrasing of Garrett's entrance [diagonal flat developpe croisse] even became a moment.  I do prefer the bright red/white/blue  but it was interesting to see the more muted/European costumes.

23 hours ago, Drew said:

I don't know the dancers of San Francisco ballet, but Lauren Strongin (thank you Apollosmuse) really drew my eye at several points - not just in the Cinderella rehearsal - and watching Yuan Yuan Tan work with Possokhov was (and not for the first time) one of the absolute highlights of my World Ballet Day viewing. I wish I could see all of these dancers live but especially Tan who really seems extraordinary.

 is she  the dancer in maroon with a long skirt at 1:08:08 in the World Ballet Day class? 

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The Washington Post has an article providing more insight into this closure.  I shall miss this company.  The KC is expanding with more studio space.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/suzanne-farrell-ballet-to-disband-in-2017/2016/09/21/c9877a2e-8025-11e6-b002-307601806392_story.html 

Congratulations!  I'm so happy for you and your entire family. Such a beautiful name for your daughter.

 Rose Adagio lift? Is Lilac similar to K Sergeyev or Ratmansky recon? How does the Balanchine Garland compare to Ratmansky reconstruction? 

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I now have an option to attach files but only see the 2 brief posts above and  part of the third on a small laptop/ipad screen.  Is there a "classic view" option where you see more "transactions" or posts?    https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/