its the mom

Exactly.

What really bothers me and speaks volumes is this section of the article: In the underpaid world of dance, many former NYCB ballerinas piece together a living teaching ballet and staging Balanchine works for the George Balanchine Trust, which licenses these highly sought-after works. More than a dozen dancers interviewed by The Post expressed fear of speaking up about Martins, afraid that openly criticizing him could cost them their jobs. "If you still want to work in the ballet world, it’s scary to have conversations like this," said one former NYCB dancer who stages works for various companies. "None of us can afford the ballet world saying, ‘Nuh-unh, we’re not letting that person set our ballets.'"

The dancers of Boston Ballet have been trying to negotiate a new contract for nine months: https://www.huntnewsnu.com/2017/11/boston-ballet-negotiates-new-dancer-contract/ The dancers have also created a facebook page and instagram page to garner public support called “Stand with the Dancers of Boston Ballet.”

I am just seeing this. This is nonsense. Cannot believe their pr department would allow this.

Vail Dance Festival commissioned a piece from her this past summer.

Helene, thanks for sharing the video. I have never had the privilege of seeing Pite's work, and hope to some day. As for Noelani, I am glad she is okay and wish her the quickest of recoveries.

Attended two performances of Boston's program, "Obsidian Tear." Although not really promoted a such, the evening was a nod to Finland, beginning with the orchestra playing Sibelius' "Finlandia." "Obsidian Tear" was next, obviously with choreography by McGregor, music by Salonen. The stage is stark and begins with two male dancers, one if black (Arrais) and one in red (Silva). They dance alone and together, engaged in some sort of getting to know one another. At the end of this portion, they walk off together, and return to the stage to meet the other men of the group. All dressed in black, this is some sort of tribe or group, with a leader, a bully, and varying other characters. Essentially, it is a "Lord of the Flies" type story, or at least that's how I perceived it. In the program notes, it states, "What are the rules and hierarchies that govern or drive this community? How is individuality experienced inside it? What is the nature of attachment - alliance born of necessity or love?" In the end, the group does not accept the man in red. There were varying duets and group dances throughout, and while it was danced tremendously, I am not sure it is a piece I would run to see again. I much prefer some of his other work. The new soloist, Derek Dunn, performed the man in red on Saturday afternoon. Next up was Elo's "Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius." This was a tour de force and unlike anything I have seen of Elo's work. Neo-classical in nature, with just a few touches of typical Elo, it was danced beautifully by what felt like the entire company. Ashley Ellis was some sort of sprite-like figure who wandered in and out of the ballet. The main couples were Cirio/Craig, Kuranaga/Lam and Combes/Zhao. Combes and Zhao were replaced by Fentroy and Yocum on Saturday evening. There were four secondary couples and a large corps. Each main couple performed varying pas, with Cirio/Craig being much of the focus. It was received with a resounding standing ovation at both shows I attended. This symphony is one I had never heard and it is gorgeous. Kudos to guest conductor, Daniel Stewart. Costumes by Yumiko should also be given a mention. Just lovely. Also, several of the new dancers from Houston Ballet stood out - Derek Dunn and Michael Ryan. Looking forward to seeing more of them.

The Simkin/Copeland R&J was there. I remember thinking that I didn't think it was a good match. It would be better with Lane. But I am happy he is not being slighted. I would imagine Cirio will do Bronze Idol, but it is a shame he doesn't get a Solor shot. He did that in Boston, too, as well as Siegfried.

It is a shame they don't give someone else a chance, i.e., Lane or Trenary. Would love to see one of them paired with Cirio or Gorak. Cirio is getting his Romeo opportunity over at English National, it would appear: https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/romeo-juliet/#cast-section

I will report in. And a video of Boston Ballet getting ready: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEVvbkxflZHzwALP4PxQt.?p=boston+ballet+obsidian+tear&fr=yhs-iry-fullyhosted_003&fr2=piv-web&hspart=iry&hsimp=yhs-fullyhosted_003&type=dnldstr#id=4&vid=2383fa49fae8a68164a97c852277809e&action=view

Yes, he filled in for Joseph Gorak. Not sure if Gorak was injured?

Bolle - 1 Cirio - 6 (if you include Mercutio) - I assume he will do Harlequinade and the McGregor piece, as he has worked with Wayne before, but assumptions are a bad thing. Cornejo - 7, but no Whipped Cream Gomes - 7 Hallberg - 9 Lendorf - 9 - He has been given a good bit considering the amount of times he has been injured. Simkin - 7 (one of these is Mercutio and two are Whipped Cream) Stearns - 9 Whiteside - 6 (Whiteside did not do Basilio last year, but this year is paired with Seo. I do think Cirio and Lane could have good chemistry, but, as we know, it does not matter what we think. Probably a number of us could cast these ballets better.

Sad to see so little of Lane, Cirio, and Simkin. I have not always been a fan of Lane's, but I feel that she is more than ready to take on more. I would rather watch her than some of the other principal women. Really looking forward to McGregor's piece. For me, it's a nice change for the Met season. I know most ABT fans do not like him, but I have loved his work. As most people have stated above, disappointed with casting all around.

I am really looking forward to this. I enjoyed McGregor's "Chroma," so I have high hopes for this.

Looks like Golding is a guest artist in Munich for this season: https://www.staatsoper.de/en/biographies/detail-page/golding-matthew.html

Beautiful couple! Congratulations to all!

I am surprised at the casting. I would have cast Brandt with Simkin, at the very least (since Cirio is gone.) Other Dances is the only thing I want to watch this fall, but I am not excited about the casting at all. Lendorf is a beautiful dancer with such great experience behind him, but I have been unable to get past his body type. I really hate saying that about any dancer.

It looks like the ENB Giselle is going to New Zealand and Dublin next year. Agree with abatt. Would love to see it in NYC.

Agreed, ABT Fan.

I am just hoping that it doesn't go to some guest artist!

I look at it differently. I don't see why Kochetkova needs ABT. She has enough going on between SFB and other guestings and galas, that the few shows she does get to do at ABT seem needless to me. With winning the Positano Premia la Danza de Leonide Massine Prize, I am sure she will be invited to dance in additional venues. I would not be surprised if we do not see her at ABT this year.

Looking forward to hearing about Lucien and his return to PNB.

Cirio did perform the lead in ABT's Nutcracker last year with both Boylston and Lane, I believe. In this interview, he says he is performing "Akram Kahn’s Giselle, [Kenneth] MacMillan’s Song of Earth, [August] Bournonville’s La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, and [Rudolph] Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet," and will be back to ABT on January 1. https://settingthebarreblog.com/tag/cirio-collective/

The article says not until September, 2018.

In the original article, it states "September 2018," so I would venture to say he will be performing in Whipped Cream. I will say I saw the other two "Boys" in Whipped Cream, and both were excellent.