ClaraFan

Can't really add much that hasn't been said. I follow Betsy McBride, Zimmi Coker and others on IG, since I'm 2500 miles away from ABT. I'm a fan of the dancers. Of the theater. Of the city. But I'm limited in how I can see ballet on this level. So I've always been happy to watch ABT. But this was choppier than the post I'm making! I am missing the actual ballet (out here, that's California Ballet Company for me). Also, I know the companies to rely on varying levels on donations, but that part of this seemed almost like begging.

I've always been a big gymnastics (WAG mainly) fan. Started out watching when Kim Zmeskal was herself a gymnast. Now that she coaches, I tend to root for her girls. But as of late, my attention got turned to the Larry Nassar scandal due partly to connections with that university. But with college season around the corner, I want to get watching that again. College meets are a lot of fun. Ragan is going off to Oklahoma, so I want to see her do well. Miss Val and Ohashi have also retired from UCLA, so there's that. And then Tokyo 2020 isn't too far away, so at that time, I'll be able to get back in the elite loop. As much as I like elite, I've always found qualifying and such (and really everything in the off-Olympic years) confusing.

https://www.californiaballet.org/artists New headshots. Looks like Elizabeth Kenyon has moved on (married? anyone know?) to a dance teaching job in DFW (Frisco, TX). Lauren Anthony and Tylor Bradshaw are new this year. Didn't the company have more than two soloists? I dunno. The website change was so sudden. Nutcracker next!

I know I titled this thread for the 18-19 season, but it occurs to me that no one else has limited company threads to a single year, so I'll just carry on here. Here's the link to info for the Nut and Beer and Ballet as well as the Rock + Blues Project. . https://www.californiaballet.org/season-2019-2020

@Marta That I don't know. I'd be guessing corps. I know she has had a few injuries, IIUC.

https://www.instagram.com/powi295/ Pauina Waski has arrived in Boston. Not sure when she starts.

Good luck to Paulina Waski as she moves to Boston. I think her sister is out that way, so that'll be nice.

Yeah, I'm pretty geeked about the next Nut. I actually skipped out on Cinderella. Never been to it, and wasn't sure if it was a bit overly family friendly (that is, likely dull for a single 43-year old, no kids). I've never found the Nut to be that way, but Christmas has its own traditions. I guess I just didn't care for the pics in the ads. But having read a review, it seemed well done (again, Cal Bal, but i need to try City).

On their Instagram account, they talk of a "new Nutcracker in 2019". Anybody live around here and follow them? Curious about the specifics. Planning on going this year (hopefully. Medical issues have kept me from going to any of their productions since last year's Nut).

Betsy McBride of ABT (formerly a star at Texas Ballet Theater) is somebody I'd love to see in real life. I love her social media. She seems very talented and happy where she is.

https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/miko-fogarty #metoo Apparently "victim #2" of Viktor Kabaniaiev, who is in jail since January, if I understand all this correctly. Moving on into medicine, working part time at UCSF-Mission Bay.

OK, thanks for that. So there is that SFB connection.

Their website has a new look and seems somewhat easier to navigate (but not much). Looks like Tess Lane moved off from San Diego to a company in San Francisco (Smuin Ballet? Never heard of that one, but SF is a great town). Emily Reason is also absent, as are a few others, but there's new talent coming in. Schedulewise, they just have the Nut, Cinderella, and something I haven't seen called Noche Latina yet, but I hope they bring Gatsby back. That's been well-recieved here, and I missed it last season. http://californiaballet.org/

Miko Fogarty, from that movie First Position, came down to San Diego at least twice to do the Nutcracker (IIRC) at Eastlake High School south of town. I transited that direction twice to try to see her, but ran into bus problems both times along the way. And now it seems she's moved on.

Listening to "Opening", by Philip Glass right now. California Ballet Company here in town had a Beer n' Ballet last year (OMG, it's '18 now?!), and some of the works were more modern dance. This seems to fit either to some extent.

I didn't see any area for Cal Bal, a major San Diego company, so this seemed appropriate, if anybody is from here. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/sd-me-california-ballet-20180111-story.html California Ballet on Thursday announced that it has named San Diego native Michael Andrew Currey as its new executive director, replacing Maxine Mahon, who founded San Diego’s oldest professional dance organization 50 years ago. Currey — who has served in leadership roles at The Joffrey Ballet, New York City Opera, Chicago Children’s Theatre and Maine State Music Theater — comes to San Diego from Salt Lake City, where he was general manager of Ballet West, one of the nation’s top ballet companies. “I am excited to return to San Diego and lead this wonderful company into its next 50 years,” says Currey, “San Diego is truly America’s Finest City, and its natural beauty is only matched by the great cultural arts organizations that have long been a part of the fabric of this great city. I am exhilarated about leading this company to a new level, and working with the wonderful staff and artists to bring sustainable growth to the organization.”

...either tonight or lately? There seems not to be a completely miscellaneous "getting to know you" kind of forum or section, but Fine Arts seems almost to fit. I am very eclectic in my musical tastes. As far as radio, if I am not listening to NPR, I usually like member-supported radio like KEXP or WMNF. I am a fan of indie, old jazz, classical, drone, ambient techno, and 80's and 90's pop and punk, among others. Last song: Nathan Fake - "You Are Here (Four Tet Remix)"

And now her latest Insta post, which is from about an hour ago. More important updates soon: latest post Her Insta bio now has her as a "former professional ballerina".

In Doha, Qatar right now. Looks like more guesting. Seams like a great experience in a way, but all that travel would get tiring.

I was just thinking about Miko this morning. Hard to really find anything all current on her. I do hope she resurfaces soon, and preferably in ballet, but even if not, I wish her luck.

San Diego's California Ballet Company has hired a new associate artistic director: http://californiaballet.org/new-associate-artistic-director/ Bio: http://californiaballet.org/jared-nelson/

I enjoy looking at her Instagram, but I've lost track of her actual ballet. I hope she's doing well. She and her family were neat to learn about in First Position.

Plenty! The body no longer handling it? Mental burnout? Sure, negative feedback can wear on you, I'm sure, but that's not the only thing.

This is a duplicate post. I can't for the life of me see a delete button.

http://toe2toe.californiaballet.org/welcome-to-california-ballets-48th-season/ Rehearsals are already underway for our first production, the West Coast premier of Septime Webre’s The Great Gatsby. This production premiered at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Ballet. We’re very excited about the new choreography as well as some company promotions and many new dancers and guest artists. We are honored to have Jared Nelson, former principal with the Washington Ballet and Kirsten Bloom Allen, former Sacramento Ballet principal, join us as guest artists for The Great Gatsby. Jared originated the role of Jay Gatsby, and is re-staging the work on California Ballet Company. We are proud to congratulate new Soloists Allyson Barkdull and Tess Lane on their recent promotions. Former Company Apprentices Topaz Davis, Brigitte Edwards, and Rachel Cahayla-Wynne join us this season as members of our Corps de Ballet; Rachel returns to us after the birth of her son earlier this spring. We are delighted to welcome back former CBC dancer Cody (Gibson) Toscano this season after the birth of her second child. See more on the link. Jordan Bialock and Leila Mardoum go off to college back east at Northeastern and NYU. No word on whatever happened to Emily Bosworth. I read Gatsby in high school down in Florida, after I first left San Diego, but have never seen a ballet version of it. Sounds intriguing, and the artwork on the site looks great. I'm a sucker for great costumes.