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its the mom

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Posts posted by its the mom

  1. 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.'" 

     

     

     

  2. On 11/27/2017 at 1:13 PM, Kaysta said:

    It is definitely a slap in the face to those of us who regularly support the company.  Apparently, Angel thinks the NY audience is more important than his Philly audience.  Guess what, Angel?  I care about casting too.  I wait until casting is up before I buy my tickets, so now I get second pickings for seats after NYers select?  That's a bunch of crap.  I think I'm going to be frequenting Washington Ballet and NYC much more now.

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

  3. 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.

     

     

     

     

  4. 2 hours ago, ABT Fan said:

     

    I just noticed that Simkin is also doing Romeo at the Saturday matinee with Copeland. Was that always there or did it just pop up?

     

    "it's the mom" - perhaps this is how you got to 7 earlier, and I just missed his Romeo casting.

     

    That gives him:

     

    Albrecht - 1

    DQ - 2

    Romeo - 1

    Mercutio - 1

    Whipped Cream - 2

    Total: still 7

     

    There's still a TBA for SL w/ Copeland, and that will probably go to him, and, he'll also most likely get Harlequinade (and maybe Pierrot too, I'd forgotten about this role). He also usually does the Bronze Idol in Bayadere, which even though that isn't the lead it's still a plum part.

     

    So, once the final casting is out it looks like Simkin will wind up with the same or a higher number of performances than Hallberg, Lendorf and Stearns. Much better than I originally thought.

     

    Maybe Cirio will fair a bit better too. Right now he has:

     

    Mercutio - 3

    DQ - 1

    WC - 2

    Total: still 6

     

    We're already assuming he'll also get Harlequinade (and maybe Pierrot). Cirio did the Bronze Idol in Boston, so hopefully he'll get a few performances of that. I still wish we were seeing him in SL. He deserves more leads in the full-lengths.

    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. 

     

  5. 34 minutes ago, Fleurfairy said:

    Lane and Cirio were cast together in The Nutcracker last December, if I’m remembering correctly. 

     

    Edit: Hmm after checking, I guess I’m wrong. I don’t know why I thought they were? Maybe they did a Nutcracker gig at another company...

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

  6. 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.   

     

     

     

  7. 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.

  8. 1 hour ago, ABT Fan said:

     

    Same here. I was hoping for Brandt with Scott or Shayer. If Cirio was in town, he'd be my first choice.

    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.  

  9. 1 hour ago, ABT Fan said:

     

    I don't think you have to worry. The company rarely has guest artists in the fall and none have been announced. I'm hoping it'll be a debut cast instead of going to one of the two scheduled casts (nothing against them, I just want to see another couple get the chance, preferably two up-and-comers).

    Agreed, ABT Fan.

  10. 7 hours ago, vipa said:

    Agree with all whole heartedly, Kaysta. I also expect Lane to be a factor in Ratmansk's Harliquin and get a couple of Giselles. Personally I don't see why ABT needs Kochetkova.

    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.  

  11. On September 12, 2017 at 1:08 PM, Helene said:

    Casting is up for first weekend:

    https://www.pnb.org/season/17-18/jewels/

     

    (Look under the "Performance" section)

     

    Lucien Postlewaite makes his return on Opening Night in "Emeralds," partnering Noelani Pantastico in her debut in the Verdy role.

     

    Here's the downloadable spreadsheet:

    Jewels Casting Week 1 12_Sep_17.xlsx

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

  12. 1 hour ago, ABT Fan said:

     

    Since it says that he's joining EN for the Autumn/Winter season, I wonder how long of a commitment that really is. Looking at Cirio's Instagram, he's currently in London presumably already rehearsing. Is he only doing their MacMillan celebration in Oct? Or joining any of their tours in Nov/Dec and/or performing into January? ENB's website doesn't elaborate. He's not cast for the lead in ABT's Nutcracker (but, he hasn't been in the past). ABT is touring from the end of January through all of February and then to Asia for part of March. Wondering if he'll join only part of that. Since they're touring Whipped Cream, that could open up opportunities for another short dancer to take on the Boy (I'm thinking Aaron Scott and/or Gabe Shayer). They should add a fourth Boy anyway since Cornejo is frequently out with injuries and we don't really know Simkin's full involvement going forward either. 

     

    Edited to add: with Hallberg, Bolle, Lendorf, Gomes, Cirio and now Simkin all committed to other companies and projects that take them away from ABT's performing schedule, that only leaves Stearns and Whiteside as their full-time / year-round male principals. Oi!

    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/

     

  13. 1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

    I suppose this means that we in Washington, DC, will not get to see Simkin in Ratmansky's Whipped Cream at the Kennedy Center next winter. From what I'd read, the leading role seemed to have been tailor made for him.

    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.  

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