Kaysta

Thanks for the video, was very interesting. Makes me sad to hear her talk about the typecasting, though. We all know it exists at ABT (and probably at most places) but it's still makes me sad that someone as talented as her will probably never get a Giselle at the Met (nor will Gillian or Stella, as well). As a non-dancer who doesn't know much about the politics of a company, I don't understand why an artistic director wouldn't give one of his principal dancers at least one shot at dancing a role like Giselle (especially considering Giselle is performed essentially every spring) to see if they could handle it. Also sad to hear about the lack of support professionally. Her comments about Ratmansky were good to hear, though. The dancers of ABT are lucky to have him there.

I was thinking about it, but unfortunately (or fortunately, for my wallet), I'm on call for work that week and can't switch my weeks. The Met season can't come fast enough!

I cannot wait to see this. I really wish I didn't have to wait until the Met season.

That video by PNB was awesome. I love football. I think ballet and football have a lot in common. My students/residents often ask me why I'm so passionate about two things that seem worlds apart, and I like to show them this picture: Which has a lot in common with this picture:

Did anyone see Tsykangova's performance and have feedback? I'm curious what folks here think of her. A performance of her Giselle has also made it to You Tube and I really enjoy her dancing.

The Prix is this week and they changed things up a bit this year by offering live feeds for one hour each day (10 am EST), where they show coaching of the dancers and interviews with the judges. Thankfully (as I'm working during that time) they have uploaded the videos to their Youtube channel. They are also going to livestream the classical and contemporary variations of all of the candidates, as well as the candidates selected for the finals. It's really interesting to watch what these talented youngsters go through. Day 1: Day 2:

Love this topic! Marcelo Gomes is definitely #1 for me. I also agree with Federico Bonelli and Roberto Bolle. Even though he is old enough to be my father, I still think Baryshnikov is incredibly sexy. And last, but definitely not least, Fabrice Calmels. I could stare at his Instagram photos all day!

I actually love the seat, but it seems a lot of folks prefer to be in the center, instead of off to the side.

With the probable nor'easter coming through on Saturday, I don't think I'm going to make the 2 hour commute into NYC for the matinee. If anyone wants my ticket, which isn't a very good seat (2nd ring side), feel free to PM me your name and I'll call the box office and transfer it over to you for free. Pretty bummed, was looking forward to it, but I have tickets for the 31st and Feb 14th. Plus the Bolshoi Swan Lake in cinema is Sunday.

I agree with Amour that Gilliam Murphy is worthy of her principal staus. The frustrating part is that I think even she gets screwed by KM. Why has she not been given any Giselles, only Myrtas? I saw the you tube footage of her Giselle with RNZB, and thought she was wonderful. She shouldn't have to travel a world away to dance that role (and neither should Stella, for that matter), especially when you have Seo and Kent dancing it.

I would like ABT to try to recruit Marianela Nunez to come over more often. I think she is a gorgeous dancer and she seems perfect for ABT's classical repertoire. Maybe they can get Thiago Soares to guest with her.

They also didn't cast Stella as Cinderella at the Kennedy Center. Instead, they have Seo dancing twice, and Kent dancing. Thank goodness for the Reyes/Gorak pairing or I would have skipped it all together.

Even though I love watching them at ABT, there is a part of me that hopes both Stella and Sarah (assuming they don't get promoted at the end of the met season) leaves ABT and goes some place where they will be appreciated.

Ooh, so excited I finally get to see Bouder live, in Donizetti variations.

I saw Anna Tsykangova's Kitri online and it was fantastic! Really, one of the better Kitri's I've seen. Hopefully folks will be less disappointed once they realize how fantastic she is.

I would think about making the trek out to BAM again if there was a Swan Lake matinee performance. I just found this full length Lopatkina Swan Lake on You Tube and I love her White Swan. http://youtu.be/VL0Cr-WXhvM

No big surprises in casting, but I didn't expect to see Vasiliev there. He's not, I think you must have looked at last years Don Q?

Casting is up on the Kennedy Center website. I've decided to see the Reyes/Gorak cast again, as this will be my last chance to see Reyes dance before she retires. I saw this cast last year at the Met, but I look forward to seeing it again.

ABT has been calling my cell phone for months now, trying to get a donation. I do plan on donating, as I did last year, but I'm paying off my London trip right now so I'll renew my membership in the next month or so when its easier financially. In general, I don't answer my cell phone for numbers I don't know, I let my voice mail pick it up. I keep getting area code 212 phone calls, so I googled the number and it comes up as ABT per google. They never leave a darn message, they just keep calling and hanging up. It's rather annoying.

I'm coming to London and just booked my tickets for Fille! I'm seeing the Osipova/McCrae and Choe/Zucchetti casts. I joined friend of covent garden because I didn't want to have my seating options limited and was surprised by how much was already sold. Super excited to come to London for the first time!

Oh, and a shout out to the little guy who played Fritz yesterday. He was so cute, and a really good actor for such a little guy. He couldn't have been older than 5.

It was just sublime! As I mentioned, Lauren Fadeley's Dewdrop was the highlight. I was reading her bio online, and it seems she spent a few years at NYCB after attending SAB. It's funny, but her Dewdrop was so on point, that you could tell she was well trained in the Balanchine technique. I don't know why, but I always feel let down by the Sugar Plum fairy PDD. It was danced by Brooke Moore and James Ihde, and they did a nice job, but it felt a bit of a let down after the flowers. I'm no expert in technique, so I guess my question for those who have a dance background, is the Sugar Plum/Cavalier PDD considered to be one of the more difficult dances? All four times I've seen the Balanchine version, it's looked beautiful but a bit clunky at times, like I could see that it was difficult. Anyway, the corps was fantastic. Mayara Pinero was a sight to behold in hot chocolate. She is new to PAB this year, Corella brought her from Milwaukee ballet (and Cuba previously). He's already given her a Sugar Plum Fairy and Dewdrop, so he most hold her in high regard and I can see why. She has an interesting backstory, having defected from Cuba during a ballet competition. I look forward to seeing how she's cast. It would be interesting to see her dance Odette in March. Last but not least, I feel like no one will ever top Georgina Paszcoguin's coffee. Amy Aldridge was awesome, but I can't help but compare it to Gina P's, who was so entrancing. Is it possible that I saw the best coffee during my first ever performance? On a non-Nutcracker note, I really can not wait for Swan Lake in March. I will be in the front row to see Lauren Fadeley's Odette!

Just got back from the matinee. Don't have time to write much as I'm at work, but all I can say is that Lauren Fadeley was the best Dewdrop I've ever seen. I am debating getting tickets for when she dances Sugar Plum Fairy again, she was that darn good.

Wow, ABT is really hemorrhaging male dancers at this point. I would love to see Sarah and Luis at PAB, but that probably shouldn't be thrown out there if it's just conjecture.

I don't regret seeing it, since it's leaving for Cali. Maybe if I had seen it before the other versions I would have liked it better. One thing I forgot to add: the costumes for this production are just GORGEOUS!!! I was sitting in the back of the mezzanine and the pink flower costumes just lit up the stage. All of the costumes were beautiful, one of the highlights of the show for me. On an aside, yesterday's audience (at least where I was sitting) was so loud and inconsiderate. Children crying, people talking, phones lit up during performances, and ushers sitting folks who came in 20 minutes late. It was the worst. I guess I was lucky at my other Nut performances because the children were so well behaved. Not yesterday. Left a negative impression of BAM for me.