yudi

China's Central Ballet Troupe rehearse Swan Lake in Paris Ballet dancer of China's Central Ballet Troupe rehearse classic Swan Lake in Paris, France, Sept. 24, 2013. China's Central Ballet Troupe will give performances of the classic Swan Lake and Chinese ballet Red Detachment of Women here from Sept. 25 to Oct.3. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaowei) Open the following link to see more pictures: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2013-09/25/c_132747924.htm

As Feng Ying, its director, rather nicely puts it, “the strength of the National ballet of China is that it is a kind of ‘three-legged duck’: classical ballet, contemporary dance and Chinese dance”. Open the following link for details: http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2013/09/national-ballet-of-china-with-swan-lake-and-the-red-detachment-of-women-in-paris/ National ballet of China with Swan Lake and The Red Detachment of Women in Paris By Henning Høholt on 9/18/13 • Categorized as Ballet

NATIONAL BALLET OF CHINA at Théâtre du Châtelet Swan Lake / The Red Detachment of Women Founded in 1959, the company has long borne the imprint of Russian Ballet. The National Ballet of China will present the "Swan Lake" by Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa andLev Ivanov, a jewel of classical ballet. Since 1964, the company proposes a unique Chinese repertory such as the seminal work "The Red Detachment of Women" that you can see as second program in Paris. http://www.dlbdance.com/en/news/detail/items/bnc2013.html NATIONAL BALLET OF CHINA http://www.dlbdance.com/en/companies/detail/items/24.html

Let me give you folks an AP link: List of 2013 'Genius Grant' recipients (This link to AP is FREE.) http://bigstory.ap.org/article/list-2013-genius-grant-recipients With this grand, I guess, Ratmansky can hire some assistants to help him. Actually, there are many restrictions on how to use this kind of grand, e.g. what the programs are, where the money is used, .... ABT might benifit most from Ratmansky's grand money; and Russian might have to wait.

No, not in the theaters near where I live. Last year, they had shown ballets from Bolshoi, Royal, ... This year I have to drive 1+ hours to go to the nearest theater where the Bolshoi ballet is on screen, but no Royal. Next year I will have to drive 200 miles?? ( Thnking about another tour to goto London, Paris, Moscow, St. Petersburg, ... )

I thought, that could be harder for Osipova-Giselle's jumping to match the music, if music is played slower. ...... I might be wrong. I have never danced Giselle. I like the slow motion from 4:20 - 5:00 very much. Albrecht was swaying Giselle a little bit, then carrying her two steps further down. Very beautiful and full of emotion! In some Giselle performances, I saw Albrecht just liftting Giselle and putting her down, I would cry out in my head: hey, Giselle is not a box!

In this scene the music sounds very slow. Slower than "normal", isn't it?

Not on any account could I do that. I have seen 19 performances out of 21 (work prevented me from seeing 2 more) and enjoyed them all. Every single preview and review in the press mentioned the Bolshoi's problems but the dancers didn't disappoint. I enjoyed their powerful exciting performances, some were truly outstanding and unforgettable, 'The Flames of Paris' among them. When I booked the tickets about 10,000 miles away from London, on the other side of earth, the "Bolshoi turmoil" completely vanished in my mind. I only thought of the wonderful Bolshoi's dancers, I wanted to see Bolshoi ballet in theater! However, after watching the Flames of Paris on the 16th night, I felt very sorry for Bolshoi's management to let Osipova and Vasiliev go. It seems to me that Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev danced with exceptional passion at that night. Maybe, Osipova and Vassiliev had missed this ballet for too long, in which Ratmansky made some special choreography for Vasiliev. Their accumulated energy finally had chances to explode out. Their jumping and turning on the stage just like flames, free & unfettered, flashing & dazzling. Every dancer on the stage responded to their instigating, danced perfectly from hearts, with passion & inspiration, cheering each other. I was so moved by their performance that I couldn't help tearing, especially in the final scene, when I saw Merkuriev's sad face and bewildered gazing. Will I ever see a ballet like THAT again?

Thank you for posting the link to the interview, a very interesting talk! Ha, A. Ratmansky told D. Hallberg to go for it, when Hallberg got the Bolshoi's offer. At that time Ratmansky might not know that Osipova and Vasiliev were leaving Bolshoi soon. Did Hallberg say that he joined Bolshoi because he wanted to dance with Osipova? Maybe, Hallberg and Ratmansky had the foresight that Osipova would finally come to ABT.

TO commemorate the 20th anniversary of Nureyev's death in January 1993 and the 75th anniversary of his birth, the National Ballet of China is reproducing Don Quixotte that Rudolf Nureyev had taught and directed by himself 28 years ago, in 1985. Manuel Legris has worked with the National Ballet of China quite often for Cultural Exchange programs between France & China last few years. He danced in Beijing when POB visited China, in international ballet galas, also as guest artist with the NB of China. This summer he is invited back as the artistic advisor/director for reproducing D.Q of Nureyev’s version for the NB of China. The National Ballet of China has published an interview with Manuel Legris on their website: The complete interview in English and some pictures can be found @ : Interview with Manuel Legris More pictures of Manuel Legris in D.Q. dressing rehearsal has been published on the NB of China's blog - http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102er3o.html Manuel Legris is not only an outstanding dancer and artist, he is also a very respectable MAN having big heart. I would like to share the news about his work with Chinese dancers with the ballet world. But, I don't know where to post the news. If Administrators of Ballet Alert! think my post should be in a better suitable sub-forum and like to move it, please do for yourself.

Has this movie been released, yet? I googled, but found no releasing info anywhere. BTW, regarding a check sent to Ballet Talk 11165 Abbotts Station Dr. Duluth, GA 30097 whom should it be "Pay to"? http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/36837-donations-by-check/

Yes, certainly. On stage he gives his ballerina heart and soul, and he is very musical. He typically partners the biggest and tallest, but looking over the Bolshoi's archive of cast lists, I see that he has danced full-length ballets with all of the company's primas, from Kaptsova and Obraztsova to Alexandrova, Zakharova and Shipulina. from his performance in the russian streams, i have realized he is very dramatic. he can play serious, funny, lyrical, cute, good, bad, ..., all kind of roles. BTW, i think smirnova should try the street dancer in D.Q., which can help her to open up.

As for Andrei Mercuriev, when I saw his dancing Rubies that night, suddenly an idea flashed in my head: this guy can dance Gene Kelly! They both have nimble and quick feet; they both are gentle and graceful, humor and pleasant; ...

I am glad to read your praising of Shipulina's performance in S.L. When she danced in Rubies on 12th night, she really surprised me: WOW, a wild American girl! Shipulina's performance reminded me of Diana Vishneva's dancing in Rubies, Diana also showed a little wildness, which is perfectly OK for an open & happy, BSO American girl. -- So, I am not agreed with some professional critics who said "Ekaterina Shipulina is more Soviet siren than American chorus girl." On the second day, in Emeralds, Shipulina surprised me again: WOW, she changed! She became an elegant grown-up girl/lady! It seems to me Shipulina is not only a good dancer, but also a good actress.

Very interesting! When I watched the Diamonds, I thought these are FREE swans; not like in the Swan Lake, those swans are being abused. Last night's Rubies was much better than the night before. The leading dancers, Kretova, Merkuriev and Grebenshchikova made rubies shinning. Their frolic for joy finally infected everyone on the stage, then audiences! I had seen a video clip of Gudanov's modern dancing. He is very strong technically. Why couldn't he flirt a little bit on stage? Even Krysanova's vigor and vitality failed to move him.

Anyone in London knows how to order flowers to deliver to the ballerinas on stage? Last night Obraztsova & Smirnova both got big baskets of flowers. Why no any flower for Krysanova after Rubies?

I was there, in the ROH, yesterday. Very surprised to see Filin showing up at the end! Well, Smirnova and Chudin are HIS dancers. I feel so disappointed for not being able to see both Alexandrova and Zakharova dancing this time. I am afraid I need more time to write down my impressions of the performances. No reviews from me, sorry! I cannot do the ballet technique examinations. I am a scientist and engineer, and was never in ballet class. The House is smaller and 'warmer' than Met. My seat was at the Balcony Right. There is a bar just in front of me, that covers a half of the stage. I have to almost stand up to see the show. Tonight I will have a better seat.

I also have some problems to appreciate Chudin's "princeliness". But I have to SEE his dancing on stage, then to make sure. @airport

I would love to see Krysanova dancing as Jeanne! I am wondering who would replace Alexandrova as Odette/Odile? So far, Alexandrova has had a big season. Wish her getting recovered completely and quickly!

When I booked the tickets, the casting for Flames of Paris on August 17 night is packed with principles and soloists. Saturday 17 August 2013, 7.30pm | Main Stage Alexandrova, Merkuriev, Lantratov, Gudanov, Kaptsova, Krysanova, Ovcharenko, Zibrova, Biktimirov, Skvortsov, Tubalova, Petukhov, Ermakova, Stashkevich, Lunkina, Vlashinets, Zharkova, Grebenschikova, Marchenkova, Vinogradova, Okuneva, Parienko, Litvinova, Leonova, Tikhomirova, Golovin, Annadurdyev, Baranov, Abdullin, Antropova, Karasyova, Vodopetov, Savichev, Tsvirko, Matrakhov, Surov, Fadeyechev, Loparevich, Ostrovsky, Vinokur, ... Now Merkuriev, Gudanov, Kaptsova, Krysanova + Alexandrova are out. Few days ago, the announced casting was "Flames of Paris" August 16, 19:30 August 17, 14.00 and 19.30 Joan - Natalia Osipova (August 16), Catherine Shipulina (August 17 / morning), Maria Alexandrova (August 17 / pm) Philip - Ivan Vasiliev (August 16), V. Kazakov (August 17 / morning), Vladislav Lantratov (August 17 / pm) Adelina - Anastasia Stashkevich (August 16), Anna Rebetskaya (August 17 / morning and evening) Jerome - Andrew Merkuriev (August 16), Denis Savin (August 17 / morning and evening) Mireille de Poitiers - Christina Kretova (August 16, August 17 / evening), Anna Tikhomirov (August 17 / morning) Antoine Mistral - Artem Ovcharenko (August 16), Dennis Rodkin (August 17 / morning), Ruslan Skvortsov (August 17 / pm) Some dancers would dance for both 2:00pm & 7:30pm shows. However, It is hard to imagine that there is a super-ballerina(!) who could dance as Jeanne for both shows. Who would replace Alexandrova? [ I am not complaining, but taking a historical note here. ]

if you "HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE", Bolshoi probably has no experience in dealing with this kind of situation. For opera, the “B” role can be brought in to replace the “A” role during a show, if the “A” role cannot continue singing. But, for ballet, I have never heard of the “A/B” role thing. How sad! I feel for Maria. Hope she could get recovered as soon as possible. There is a report story about Bolshoi prima Maria Alexandrova gets injury at guest performance in London at http://pda.itar-tass.com/en/c32/828730.html

Many thanks for all of your reports and reviews of Bolshoi's performances in London. I wish some people would return their tickets on August 14th/15th night , as volcanohunter did for the first night, so I could grab one to get see Bolshoi's Swan Lake also.

Some video clips of reconstructed The Flames of Paris by Mikhailovsky Ballet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r76JjqGA1dU This girl looks pretty happy now! Angelina Vorontsova is a such good dancer!

Although Smirnova and Chudin are more shining stars, I will say I love to see Krysanova's dancing more, at least for now. So far I have seen their dancing on YouTube only. From the ballet clips I have watched, Krysanova dances every role, classical and modern, in D.Q., in Cinque, ..., with passion and inspiration. I have heard that her performances as Odile/Odette are very exciting. Unfortunately, I cannot make my London trip until the middle of August, so I am not able to see her dancing in Swan Lake. However, Bolshoi is going to N.Y. next summer, I will try my best to make it! BTW, I booked the tickets for two nights of Jewels and two nights of The Flames of Paris. Seeing Bolshoi Ballet, this is my dream since I was 10 years old. ... Finally, finally!

It's too bad that I could not see her dancing this time. I have the DVD of Bolshoi's The Flames of Paris. Her performance as Adeline, just as her Tatiana in Onegin, is so heartbreaking.