PeggyTulle

Casting for Napa and Stern Grove are up. FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY Friday, July 27, 2018 - 6 pm TARANTELLA Composer: Louis Moreau Gottschalk Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola, Esteban Hernandez* Pas de Deux from THE INFINITE OCEAN Composer: Oliver Davis Choreographer: Edwaard Liang Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Vitor Luiz YOUR FLESH SHALL BE A GREAT POEM Composer: Chris Garneau Choreographer: Trey McIntyre Benjamin Freemantle Isabella DeVivo, WanTing Zhao*, Jennifer Stahl Steven Morse, Jaime Garcia Castilla, Alexandre Cagnat, Davide Occhipinti*, Lonnie Weeks IN THE NIGHT Composer: Frédéric Chopin Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Pianist: Roy Bogas Dores André, Joseph Walsh Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets Sarah Van Patten, Luke Ingham Pas de Deux from DON QUIXOTE, Act III Composer: Ludwig Minkus Choreographers: Alexander Gorsky and Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Conductor: Martin West Ana Sophia Scheller, Vladislav Kozlov STERN GROVE FESTIVAL Sunday, July 29, 2018 - 2 pm SERENADE Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Waltz Couple: Sarah Van Patten, Luke Ingham Russian Girl: Frances Chung Angel: Jennifer Stahl Dark Angel: Ulrik Birkkjaer TARANTELLA Composer: Louis Moreau Gottschalk Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola, Esteban Hernandez Pas de Deux from THE INFINITE OCEAN Composer: Oliver Davis Choreographer: Edwaard Liang Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Vitor Luiz Pas de Deux from DON QUIXOTE, Act III Composer: Ludwig Minkus Choreographers: Alexander Gorsky and Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Conductor: Martin West Ana Sophia Scheller, Vladislav Kozlov RODEO: FOUR DANCE EPISODES Composer: Aaron Copland Choreographer: Justin Peck Conductor: Martin West Dores André, Ulrik Birkkjaer Max Cauthorn, Hansuke Yamamoto, Wei Wang Jaime Garcia Castilla, Steven Morse, Myles Thatcher, Sean Orza, Henry Sidford Nathaniel Remez, Diego Cruz*, John-Paul Simoens, Solomon Golding, Lonnie Weeks, Alexandre Cagnat

Casting is on the website: https://www.houstonballet.org/globalassets/pdp/201718-season/swan/swan-lake-casting.pdf

ENB will put Cirio closer to his girlfriend (Whitney Jensen, who is at Norwegian National Ballet).

Yes, it's small. But from IG posts and this past Pointe article, they are dating/significant others. Youtube videos and IG clips seem to show Gorodiskii at a lot of galas and one-offs. He seems to dance with bravado, but maybe without much care to details like clean 5ths, pointed toes, and timing. Will be curious to see how he gets cast and performs in the corps.

Dancers missing from this year's roster, that I can tell of: Maria Kochetkova (freelancing) James Sofranko (AD of Grand Rapids) Jillian Harvey Blake Kessler Rebecca Rhodes Isabella Walsh Benji Pearson Larisa Nugent

Also, apprentices promoted to corps appear to be: Ethan Chudnow, Anatalia Hordov, Carmela Mayo, and Swane Messaoudi (no Benji Pearson or Larisa Nugent listed on the corps page)

Apprentices are also listed on the website: Esteban Cuadrado, Max Follmer, Jasmine Jimison, Joshua Price, Leili Rackow, and Jacob Seltzer

Nicolai is Ana Sophia Scheller's bf.

A few dancers have posted on their public Instagram that they (or fellow dancers) are leaving. Isabella Walsh (c/o Shene Lazarus): Blake Kessler: Via Shene: Benji Pearson: And via Shene:

Ellen has definitely put in her dues and danced wonderfully over the past few years. I, too, hope she gets the recognition she deserves. Bizalion danced Carabosse, too, and was in "Bound To".

Interesting promotions. I was expecting Ludmila Bizalion and maybe Ellen Hummel before Lizzy Powell...

Interesting to note, Wona Park is listed in Frances Chung's role for 4/28. This is the only major casting switch that I've seen so far for Unbound. Saturday, April 28, 2018 - 2 pm LET'S BEGIN AT THE END Choreography: Dwight Rhoden Music: CJohann Sebastian Bach, Philip Glass, and Michael Nyman Conductor: David Briskin Piano: Mariya Borozina, Natal'ya Feygina Wona Park, Angelo Greco Esteban Hernandez Sasha De Sola, Benjamin Freemantle Jennifer Stahl, Ulrik Birkkjaer

I swear there was a Maria-is-leaving thread awhile ago in the SF Ballet company folder, but it seems to be missing. Seems relevant to the ongoing discussion about the company roster and promotions. I am certainly sad to see her go. She's always been a bright, shining light on stage! With Maria and the company announcing her departure on public social media, maybe this will make way for some additional promotions for the women?

Wow, I didn't see this one coming. I'll miss seeing her energy and finesse on our stage.

Is it odd that promotions for the men were announced, but not for the women?