Old Fashioned

Thanks for the pirouette lesson, Mr. Johnson.

Uuhhh, is the answer to your question he's using his arms to "wind" himself up for the turn?

but you know it's a big deal when it is actually mentioned in my hometown's newspaper

Ugh, that's what disgusts me about the whole thing. People must always focus on the ridiculous, petty things in life.

Alas, no rush tickets available for tonight's performance. The only other performance with Bears as Aurora is next Saturday's matinee; I'm crossing my fingers they'll have some then, but I have a feeling it's going to be bought out mostly by parents taking their children. However, I did get the chance to pass by the theater today and watch a few dancers on their way to rehearsal. It's always disappointing to see one puffing away on a cig, though. (I hope that's not considered gossip...no name will ever be mention; I'm just concerned about the welfare of some people.)

vrsfanatic, thought you might like to know that Bridgett Zehr appeared in Forsythe's "In the middle....." in the first cast!  I saw her name in the program the night I went, but couldn't find anything else about her in there... no bio.  I guess if she's new, then that explains it.  Where did she come from?

Yeah, she was apart of the cast I saw, too, although I don't remember much of her. An inside source tells me she's from Florida. I was also told she'll be dancing in SB as one of the Lilac Fairy's assistants.

I have no clue. If it isn't, it won't be the first time I've seen Anderson in a mostly mime role.

Zehr is an apprentice. I'll keep an eye out for her!

September 18

Princess Aurora Mireille Hassenboehler

Prince Florimund Simon Ball

The Lilac Fairy Julie Gumbinner

Carabosse Lauren Anderson

September 20

Princess Aurora Barbara Bears

Prince Florimund Dominic Walsh

The Lilac Fairy Lauren Anderson

Carabosse Tyann Clement

September 21

Princess Aurora Sara Webb

Prince Florimund Zdenek Konvalina

The Lilac Fairy Julie Gumbinner

Carabosse Lauren Anderson

September 26

Princess Aurora Sara Webb

Prince Florimund Zdenek Konvalina

The Lilac Fairy Mirelle Hassenboehler

Carabosse Lauren Anderson

September 27 (mat)

Princess Aurora Barbara Bears

Prince Florimund Dominic Walsh

The Lilac Fairy Lauren Anderson

Carabosse Tyann Clement

September 27 (eve)

Princess Aurora Julie Gumbinner

Prince Florimund Robert Curran

The Lilac Fairy Mireille Hassenboehler

Carabosse Lauren Anderson

September 28

Princess Aurora Mireille Hassenboehler

Prince Florimund Simon Ball

The Lilac Fairy Julie Gumbinner

Carabosse Lauren Anderson

I will be seeing Sleeping Beauty this Saturday featuring Barbara Bears. Anyone else going?

Yeah, I saw it, too. I believe they mentioned her stats to be 5'7'' and 109 lbs.

I saw the Saturday, September 13th performance of the same program. My friend and I were running a bit late so we could only catch the last few minutes of the Dance Talks session. A woman asked Welch if he thought dancers and choreography were evolving physically and artistically. He replied with today's dancers are a lot stronger than they were even 10 years ago and how the field of dance is much more difficult among women, but the men are becoming more powerful technically.

The cast for A Dance in the Garden of Mirth included Dominic Walsh, Mireille Hassenboehler, Nicholas Leschke, Julie Gumbinner, and Randy Herrera. I believe there were some cast changes. I couldn't tell who the rest were, so if there were no changes for this piece, the other three dancers were Carl Coomer, Francis Perez-Ball, and Tyann Clement. Sitting down in orchestra really allows one to see height differences among the dancers. Walsh seems to have grown out his hair (possibly for the upcoming performance of his contempo dance company, as my friend informed me one of her ballet teachers that dances with the company has also grown his out); with his height and his new hair-do, he looked like a caveman onstage, dancing the almost savage choreography. He is still stunning, nonetheless. Garden of Mirth is set to recorded music of the 13th and 14th centuries, the French Manuscrit du Roi and an Italian collection. This piece slightly agitated me; I'll leave my opinions of it at that.

I'll have to reflect some of Pugbee's views. I'm a fan of Trey McIntyre's choreography- the Shadow brought a bit of relief after the first dance, but it's not among my McIntyre favorites. The ballet is based on five Hans Christian Anderson tales. In the first act, Walsh danced the central character, the soldier that becomes too power-hungry with the tinder-box in his possession. I liked the pas de deux where the sleeping princess, Sara Webb, is forced into a violent dance with the soldier (the "rape" scene). I didn't think the music particularly suited this section of the ballet; it was too sweet and melodic. The Dead Child and Thumbelina weren't as disturbing as The Tinder-Box. There was a lovely pas de trois in The Naughty Boy. The final tale was that of The Shadow. The Professor (Lucas Priolo) and his Shadow (Walsh) vie for the love of a beautiful woman (Julie Gumbinner). I think this ballet would fare better if there was some connection between the individual ballets within it. Maybe there is, I don't know, but there wasn't an obvious relation among them.

In the middle was thrilling. Again, echoing Pugbee, I didn't think the dancers would have the attack to pull it off, but they were sublime last night. I never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait to see them do Balanchine (not that Forsythe is Balanchine...but the choreography requires the same amount of energy). Gosh, I can't get over how amazing Mireille Hassenboehler is. Pugbee compared her to Guillem; I compared Mireille to Wendy Whelan. As someone else mentioned, though, Ms. H has a more feminine quality to her dancing while still exhibiting the same strength and precision Whelan does. Leticia Oliveira, a petite and powerful dancer, made a nice visual contrast. Simon Ball partnered Hassenboehler beautifully, even though I have to say she outshone him in the pdd. It's an adequate guess to say all eyes were on her that night.

Or, the ballets are televised and callers call in to vote. It's become "Ballet Idol"! Wonder who the judges would be... :rolleyes:

Did anyone attend this performance?

I really had planned on going on the 6th, but then something happened... I'll probably be writing about it in my new ballet blog.

Thank you for that, Hans!

Eek.

Let's see...perhaps a Tomb Raider ballet? If anyone has seen the first movie, Angelina Jolie was supposedly doing "bungee ballet."

Although she isn't immediately known as a ballet dancer, Cyd Charisse is the image of my ideal ballerina. She has the most gorgeous pair of gams I've ever seen and her feet are lovely, too. I've always imagined her dancing in a vast variety of ballet repertoire.

This is swerving off-topic, but I came across this article on the net comparing Catherine Zeta-Jones to Charisse. Does anyone else disagree with what's stated?

http://www.inq7.net/ent/2003/apr/02/ent_4-1.htm

I would also like to know why she was disliked.

Like you, I've only seen her on video, and in the little I've seen of her I really enjoyed. She didn't seem to fit the role in Emeralds, but she was spectacular in Stravinsky Violin Concerto, especially the first pas de deux, and was lovely in Elégie. She also makes a fiery Siren.

Molly Glentzer takes a look at the 2003-2004 season.

Welch replaces long-time director Ben Stevenson, who built the company from a regional troupe into the nation's fifth-largest. He's brought in a wave of new teachers and coaches, but hasn't yet shaken up the dancer roster much. He's slightly beefed up the male ranks, testing out four new men, two of whom are principals.

Perhaps more significant, just three of the company's six new apprentices were trained in Houston -- indicating that the Stevenson mantra of building a company from the inside, so important in Houston Ballet's formative years, has been relaxed.

The company's prim British ballet technique is also evolving. Bears thinks audiences will see a different company this season, with more freedom in their upper bodies.

I found this part of the article a little unsettling:

The pace is swift. Like Welch and other young ballet choreographers, McIntyre is hungry to reshape tradition.

Story ballet plots typically boil down to a few points told through mime, embellished with corps dances and variations that can eat up several hours -- a drag to audiences who also watch MTV and play video games.

If sitting through Swan Lake is such a drag for today's audience members (and I'm not talking about those bad productions), then they shouldn't be watching ballet at all.

You have to put yourself into the mind-set of the time the movie was made; at that time it was like no other musical and it was sensational.

I just came upon it this summer and thought it was sensational! I thought the love story was a bit underdeveloped, but the music, singing, and dancing made it for me. All of the songs are now among my favorites and as for the dream ballet at the end, I only saw it as jazz en pointe, not as a serious attempt at creating a ballet. Whatever you want to call it, I thought it was enjoyable, nontheless.

Casting up: http://www.houstonballet.org/gen/PRCasting0304Rep1.asp

I'm crossing my fingers I'll get to see this on the 6th. The season is finally starting! :jump:

Thank you, Ms. Leigh!

I was aware that Barbara Bears has returned to the company. She was another dancer I saw at open house, and I didn't recognize her for a second! Can't wait to see her back on stage again.

A video clip of Ben Stevenson's Sleeping Beauty was recently added to HB's website. The preview features dancers Simon Ball, previously of Boston Ballet, and Mireille Hassenboehler. I met both of them at Houston's annual Theater District Open House, which I was volunteering at; both were very friendly, and I can't wait to see the two of them dance this season (hopefully together in SB). I asked the HB Guild members if a roster of all the new dancers was out yet, and they just kept telling me to check the website. The casting for the Fall Repertory, including Forsythe's In the middle, is not up yet, either. They usually post a couple of weeks in advance. I will keep you informed as more information comes up.

Besides the amazing dancing, Gene Kelly just seemed so EXUBERANT in his films.  Some performers, when they take the stage, inspire smiles by their very presence.  So many years later, even knowing how long ago the movies were filmed, HIS smiles still bring sunshine when we watch. 

That's exactly what I wanted to say about him.

I loved reading all of your wonderful comments on Kelly. I miss him. Watching him on film never fails to put me in a cheerful mood.

Yep, his film debut.

OOOH, I'm so jealous you got to meet him! What was he like?

Today would have been his 91st birthday. This should be a time to remember the great legacy he left behind.

What about him was so appealing to you?

Now, I think I'll go have a Kelly movie marathon, starting off with "An American in Paris" and "Singin' in the Rain"...

HB is currently working on the dancers' section of their website; it is not up yet. I don't think there is a roster or press release of this year's dancers yet, or at least that's what I've been told.

I'm confused...I ended up as Rimsky-Korsakov.