ClaraFan

She's done some amazing stuff in her life. lovely dancer and beautiful pics. Loved that movie. I don't have a smartphone, so I can't have my own insta account, but I do go to hers from time to time. https://instagram.com/mikofogarty/

Congratulations to Betsy McBride, formerly of Texas Ballet Theater, for her new job on the corps at ABT.

I don't know, though it wouldn't surprise me either. Are there any gymnastics fans here who can answer this? I watch gymnastics, and it's always first names in my experience. They're kids, and people like to keep them as such, even in college gymnastics, really. Last ballet I actually was able to go to was Nutcracker 2011, by California Ballet (the big company here in San Diego). TBH, I tuned out the announcer, so I'm not sure we do the Ms./Miss/Mister, thing. "Mister" I think sounds so old, but "Miss" seems like a term of respect, and thus, endearment, and I like that for a female.

We San Diego hicks need to wait until March?! Oh, well. It has an FB that I'm following now. Looks like it could be very good.

Sorry, I'm probably not clear. I'm not a dancer. I just enjoy watching. Back at college in Vermont, I did some intro dance classes that were modern/improv/whatever you call it. As well, the town it was in had its own gathering once a weekend for those that wanted to come and improv dance with eachother. Big hippie area. As USA Today once said, a college town (area) without the college (in the town proper). So, I'm speaking as just a fan. SDSU's School of Music and Dance has performances of music and/or dance that are open to the public to attend. Wasn't sure how widespread this was. But also, prpfessionally, any Cal Bal fans? I've only been to their Nutcracker (I'm a newb to ballet), but I thought it was lovely. Different than Mariinsky or SFB, which I was just watching online, but still very good. We almost lost our opera recently. Be tragic to lose ballet.

The only ballet company I have attended is California Ballet Company, who uses the Civic Theater in Downtown San Diego. I haqd thought they were the biggest/most prominent in town, but I only see San Diego City Ballet (?) on here. Does anybody else live here in San Diego (city or county, I live in the Hillcrest district)? Maybe you know the scene a bit better. Also, I was reading the Daily Aztec, SDSU's newspaper, and a young woman chatted me up about the article I was reading, which, IIRC, was complaining about the lack of ballet within SDSU's school of music and dance. Are there any universities anywhere that are prominent in their own rite as far as giving performances and such? I've heard U. of Utah, but I think they contract with Ballet West (no clue how an of that works). Anyhow, if there's any love for Cal Bal, raise your hands! https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaBalletCompany

I have a hard time looking at ballet as a sport, per se. However, we'r all aware of YAGP and other competitions, which almost make it looklike a sport. But last night I saw a jazz movie, "Whiplash", which featured some competitions. But that didn't make the playing of jazz seem any more like a sport. You can make a competition out of anything. Spelling, dominoes, eating...it goes on and on. That said, I thought I heard about a new ballet competition movie due out in '15. I need to look that up again, though.

I noticed somewhere along the line in this thread, three years past before the next post, so I guess this is always going to be valid subject matter for conversation. So pardon the necropost (unless its against the rules, then my apologies) My favorites, just lookswise, are the following: Betsy McBride, Texas Ballet Theater: https://www.facebook.com/betsylmcbride?fref=ts Allisyn Hsieh, Texas Ballet Theater: https://www.facebook.com/allisyn.hsieh?fref=ts ...and from my local company, California Ballet Company, in San Diego... Milana Del Rio Tucker https://www.facebook.com/milana.tucker?fref=ts&ref=br_tf Just personal opinion. YMMV

I'm a rookie. As a small child, I vaguely remember going to a Nutcracker here in my native San Diego. Upon my return after 18 years living elsewhere, I started watching the Nutcracker each year on a local cable channel that carried the California Ballet version. So, in '11, I went to it (again, California Ballet), out of a vague sense of nostalgia, and absolutely loved it.

Hello, all. I'm Cory, a thirty-something male, and live in Hillcrest, San Diego. I am not a dancer, but a fan, and a fairly casual one at that. I guess I'm just here to learn more. I went to the Nutcracker as a small kid here in San Diego. I have very scarce, but fun, memories of going. So, when the movie First Position came out at my local theater (which carries mainly art/budget films), I decided I'd give it a try (one can almost never go wrong at that theater). I came out of that movie in awe. I soon started following Miko Fogarty on Facebook. I went to the Nutcracker again that winter, put on by California Ballet, which appears to be the biggest company in our fair city. I found myself in awe of the dancing and especially the costumes (the latter inspiring my username on here). However, I needed to read up on the plot afterwards in order to understand what it was all about. Plus, I am not up on all the terminology, even plie (sp?) and barre and such. So...now I'm rambling. I come here as a fan and observer, in search of knowledge. Still looking at the Rules/Regs and hints for newbies, letting that sink in. So, that's all for now. Thank you.