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Kaysta

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Everything posted by Kaysta

  1. Saw the matinee. Too tired to write much, but I really didn't enjoy this version as much as I enjoyed the Balanchine (NYCB and PAB) and the Christensen version (Ballet West). I hated the bees, even though the male dancers danced well. I just thought they took away from the flowers, which is usually my favorite part. I hated the Russian dance. I thought it was too silly, not enough dancing. Especially compared to Ballet West's Russian dance, which was outstanding. I didn't really like the Arabian dance. I kept wondering (because of this board) whether the male was suppose to be a eunuch or married. If he was a eunuch, I'd never have known that if someone hadn't said that here. Things I enjoyed: the little mouse. That little guy had a boat load of energy and was adorable. Stella Abrera. Add me to her "three fans" but she is just amazing. Her musicality and expressiveness blow me away. Every movement has meaning. She deserves a promotion, period. Honestly, I kind of hated this version of the Nutcracker until her and Hammoudi's PDD. So I've seen four Nuts this year and I'd rank them as follows: NYCB, Ballet West, PAB, then ABT. Even gorgeous Stella couldn't save it for me.
  2. Ballet West is at the Kennedy Center again this year and I had a chance to see today's matinee. It was fantastic, truly a treat! I was super impressed with Beckanne Sisk as the Snow Queen. The whole show was so much fun, definitely worth the 2 hour train ride south to DC!
  3. Sorry, Kaysta, that I can't help you on the seating, but I'm writing to say that I, too, can't miss seeing Stella dance. I'm going to both of her performances. We must never give up hope for her promotion! I still have hope with all the retirements coming! I haven't seen the Ratmansky version (only the Balanchine and Christensen versions), so Im looking forward to next week.
  4. Best: Diana Vishneva and Marcelo Gomes in Diana's 10th Anniversary performance of Manon. Best: Angel Corella hired at PAB.
  5. So I've decided I'm going to make the trek out to Brooklyn, because I can't miss seeing Stella dance. I've never been to BAM, how are the seats in the back of mezzanine?
  6. Yeah, hopefully some promotions will come before next season.
  7. Will do. Lorin Mathis was incredible and like Hughes, I was surprised he's in the corps. I think the corps of PAB looks pretty strong, which is good for the future of the company. Sorry the Elizabeth/Jermel show was sold out on you, but that is great news for the company! On Cyber Monday, they had a 50% of sale and apparently things sold really quickly. Jermel did tea on Saturday night, and despite a minor slip, he was tremendous! I can imagine his Cavalier would be amazing as well.
  8. Anyone else going to see PA Ballet's Nutcracker? Tonight was opening night. Like NYCB, they do the Balanchine version. It was interesting seeing it so soon after I saw NYCB's, so I could really compare the two. Overall, I thought PAB did an impressive job! I thought the corps was especially strong, and I thoroughly enjoyed both waltzes. Alexandra Hughes was a radiant Dewdrop, who is just joyful to watch. I can't wait to watch her career develop, and I'm shocked she is just in the corps. I think she's going to be a star. I was impressed with Amy Aldridge's Sugar Plum Fairy, but even more impressive was Lorin Mathis as her Cavalier. He danced very strongly and made the lifts look easy during the pas de deux. I also greatly enjoyed Holly Lynn Fusco's Marzipan Shepherdess. The one solo I was mildly disappointed in was the coffee solo, done by Elizabeth Wallace. I think I'm spoiled though, because last week I saw it done by Georgina Pascoguin, and I don't think anyone can top her. Her extensions when she does that kick behind her head, and her overall performance and sultry-ness just can't be beat. So I was a bit disappointed. Overall though, it was a great night! I have tickets to a matinee in two weeks, so it will be good to see it again later in the season
  9. Wow, that footage of Yuan Yuan Tan was gorgeous. Makes me wish I could watch more than just a few minutes.
  10. Ashley Bouder did not dance the Sugar Plum Fairy last night. The casting in the lobby still listed her name when I left, and the internet casting has not been updated either, so I guess there is a question mark over today's Dew Drop. There is no clue from Ashley's Twitter page that she is either hurt or ill. As of last Wednesday, she announced she would be dancing Friday. Does anyone know if she danced Dew Drop? She didn't dance Dewdrop on Sunday. Teresa Reichlen did.
  11. I'm back from my first ever NYCB performance, and my first live viewing of The Nutcracker! It was an awesome experience, one that will stick with me for a very long time! But before I start my review, I should warn you I'm a newbie to the ballet world. My first live performance was only last year. I've become addicted since then, but having no dance background, I'm slowly learning terminology, and what turnout is, and what nice feet look like! So I can't can't critique anything. Before I left, I was a bit disappointed that I wouldnt get to see Mearns dance Dewdrop. Then I was even more bummed when I read (on this thread) that I wouldnt get see Bouder either. But I shouldn't have worried, because Tess Reichlen filled in and she was absolutely joyful to watch. Her Dewdrop was the highlight of the whole thing for me. I also LOVED (I actually teared up it was so gorgeous) the waltz of the snowflakes. I've seen mostly ABT and PA ballet performances (and as I mentioned, I don't have the knowledge to truly critique) but the NYCB corps seems so much more polished and strong in comparison to the others. Maybe it's just a Balanchine thing? Other highlights: Georgina Pazcoguin's solo! She was awesome. There was also a moment during the final Sugar Plum/Cavalier PDD where I accidentally gasped a wow out loud (sorry neighbors). Sterling Hyltin held a beautiful balance for what felt like forever (she also has amazing banana feet!) I just want to finish my rambling by saying how thankful I am to have found ballet (and this website, which is helping me learn so much). I wish I could put into words what I felt when I was watching the Waltz of the Snowflakes. It really was an amazing, beautiful experience. It's amazing how these talented dancers can make you feel so much with each movement. My life is definitely richer with each performance I get to experience. And I'm super excited about seeing more NYCB performances in the coming months. There's still so much I haven't seen yet! It's exciting! I'm actually debating whether to go see Nutcracker again this month.
  12. I'm going on Sunday. It's my first time seeing NYCB's Nutcracker. I'm really excited!
  13. I want to see Abrera but as I live in Jersey and already have an hour and a half commute to Lincoln Center, I can't see myself traveling to Brooklyn. So I'm seeing NYCB and PA ballet's Nutcracker.
  14. I'm surprised 85% think it's a sport. I agree it requires extreme athleticism, but to me it is definitely art. Despite the competition aspect, I find it closer in similarity to theatre or opera than to football.
  15. Just got back from the matinee and enjoyed all 3 performances. Thought Cassandra Trenary, Devon Teusher and Gillian Murphy were the standouts in Raymonda divertissements. Seven sonatas was my favorite work of the day. The PDD between Stella Abrera and Calvin Royal took my breath away. I also enjoyed Herman Cornejo and Xiomara Reyes, who both dance with so much passion. I wish I would have been able to see more of Xiomara before her retirement, because I think she brings such joy to the stage. Fancy Free was also very entertaining and Danill Simkin was the standout to me but I enjoyed everyone. Overall, I thought it was a strong day. But then, I'm still easily enthralled, being a relatively new ballet fan.
  16. I saw the film, but I didn't feel that either of the two leads was on par with Vishneva-Gomes. Nunez = Bonelli were very good, but there is a connection and a passion between Vishneva and Gomes that is unrivaled. Also, I think Vishneva's upper body and arms are more fluid than Nunez. I enjoyed Gomes more than Bonelli, but I love Nunez. Maybe seeing it up close has swayed me, as I was sitting in the back of the orchestra for the Vishneva/Gomes performance.
  17. Just got back from it, and Nunez was outstanding as Manon. On par with Diana Vishneva's performance at the Met. So thankful for these screenings.
  18. I am so excited about Obratsova and Nunez!!! Plus, Abrera in Cinderella!
  19. WOW! I really enjoyed that version. Going to have to put it on my list to see Osipova in person.
  20. PA ballet does use a live orchestra for performances (at least they did at the 3 performances I went to last year). But I also agree that folks who love ballet might go into NY instead of Philly, given the close proximity between the 2 cities. I definitely spent more time at ABT then PAB despite the fact that I live 15 minutes from the Academy of Music and 2 hours from the Met. I am very excited about Corella, and think I'm going to get a full season for PAB this year.
  21. Yay, super excited about this announcement! http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/07/prweb12038612.htm
  22. Happy to see the promotions, especially for Gorak, Teuscher and Boylston!
  23. I'll be in the Carribean during that time period, so unfortunately (or fortunately since I'll be in paradise!) I'll be missing out on the fall season.
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