its the mom

Tapfan - Don't know about the Seattle dancers, but the majority of the Boston dancers are Boston team fans!

http://www.prixdelausanne.org/2015-prize-winners/

There was a friendly bet between PNB and Boston surrounding the Super Bowl. PNB made good on it after the Pats won. Boston got to pick the song: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152800772073952 I don't think Boston has had time for a planned response, but they did their usual after-class fooling around and answered with this: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152800772073952

I hope he can hang in there. Every dancer I have spoken to about T&V has said it's the absolute hardest thing they have ever done. I remember reading this from a Dance Magazine article in which David Hallberg spoke about it: "When I ask David more about ABT’s 'cardio repertoire' he offers up Balanchine’s Theme and Variations as something that 'never becomes less stressful or excruciatingly painful' as the years go on. Theme has been a staple at ABT since it was created there in 1947. Though the ballet is only 20 minutes, Baryshnikov was famously quoted saying, 'If you can do a good Theme and Variations, you can do a good anything.' For the female lead the ballet is a dizzying display of hard-boiled technique; for the male there are combinations that David suggests are the most demanding feats in the classical idiom. 'I am so tired by the end of the marathon that the last thing I want is to have someone sitting on my shoulder,' David says of the famous last pose when the curtain goes down. 'No disrespect to any of the ladies, but I never get a ballerina down from a lift quicker than I do after Theme.' - See more at: http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/June-2010/Literally-Breathtaking#sthash.YVYLHTw6.dpuf

I agree. That's the same exact idea that I wanted to add to that thread. I feel the corps misses out on some wonderful dancing without a first act. I love the first act waltz and it's actually one of my favorite parts of the whole ballet.

I am thinking of Nureyev's version in particular. While not a huge dancing role, it does provide a young soloist or up and coming corps member a little something.

Is the gypsy king not considered a decent dancing role in this version?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do like a lot of the female dancers there, but know very few of the male dancers. I know a few of the younger ones - Kyle Davis, Steven Loch. I am sad to see that Leta Biasucci is not doing Kitri, as I think she would be amazing. (Maybe she is doing it. I did not check the casting.) She is the daughter of a dear friend, so I was so excited to hear about her promotion. A very deserving dancer. But I am sure she will be in mix the next time they do Don Quixote if she is not performing it this time.

Thanks for sharing that, Helene. How wonderful. I have heard from my own dk's that Korbes is one of a kind. I was wondering your thoughts on the men at PNB and the role of Basilio. I realize this was just rehearsal, but Bold seemed a bit underwhelming for that role.

An aside from the topic, but interesting on the word "casted:" http://grammarist.com/usage/casted/ https://books.google.com/books?id=z_VmtjAU01YC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=past+tense+of+cast+in+the+oxford+dictionary&source=bl&ots=6HbJcg4Uz6&sig=0J9qMgkGCKIkcomV8I-Qn-80eXg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qKq_VK2FGpCzyATsooDYDw&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=past%20tense%20of%20cast%20in%20the%20oxford%20dictionary&f=false

Thank you, Kathleen. Well-said.

None of us know the intention, unless Scarlett explains it publicly. I was referring to nysusan's comment, "And let me add that the Lane/Forster version was less offensive but it still did not make a good impression - it looked really stupid."

Yes, I know what "e.g." means. And I do know people who have opted out of ballets with movement they thought inappropriate. And, guess what? They never got the opportunity to work with the choreographer again. If the movement was so offensive, even when Lane and Forster did it, I blame the staff for not pulling it. Maybe not in the case of Copeland or some of the "stars" at ABT, but dancers' jobs are very precarious.

Despite their outside lives (Misty and James'), and whether or not they felt comfortable with it, they listened to the choreographer and his wishes. I cannot speak for Misty, I do not know her personally. I will even say that I don't always enjoy her dancing. And I don't agree with some of what she has said. I have minority children and I would not want them to use their minority status in the way she has. But, I do know James. He is a hardworking and intelligent young man. He is a caring partner and was often requested by the women of Boston, and is now often requested by the women of ABT. What James does off the ABT stage does not necessarily mean he would be comfortable with it on the ABT stage. After all, he wants to keep his job. Remember that Liam is a peer, in fact, in some cases, a friend to these dancers. He had something to say, and they did what he asked. I don't blame them. I am sure that staff (there is always a ballet master or mistress in the room with the choreographer and dancers) and even K.M. saw it before it went to stage. They could have changed it, but they didn't. Goodness, think about Nijinsky's Afternoon of a Faun and the commotion it caused.

I do know that this is in Boston's AGMA contract: "Right to Refuse – Artists shall not have the right to refuse to appear in any dancing role as assigned by the Artistic Director except when morally unacceptable to the Artist (e.g. nudity)." And, I will say that when Boston performed Kylian's Bella Figura, the dancers were given the right of refusal. There were women who did refuse to appear in the piece. But, there were those, who although they did not feel comfortable with the nudity at first, jumped at the chance to do the piece. So, I would imagine ABT has some sort of clause in their contract that says dancers cannot refuse roles. Most dancers are used to doing what the choreographer says. Were Misty and James uncomfortable with it? Maybe. Maybe not. Could Misty have taken herself out? Maybe, but at what cost? These dancers do want to keep their jobs. The fact that Lane did it differently may mean they toned it down after the initial evening, or even that she just could not do it in the same manner.

Each dance segment was cut for the television program. They all danced longer in the live show.

Thanks for your reviews. I did get see the PA Ballet Nutcracker once this season. Actually, I was disappointed, for the most part. I feel that the costumes and sets are very old and tired. There was very little magic in the party scene. The bed barely moved during the whole transition to snow scene. I am used to seeing it swirl about the stage. (I also do prefer other versions with a Snow King and Queen, but my understanding is that Balanchine did not want to take away from the music - correct me if I am wrong.) The best parts for me were Alex Hughes, who did a very good job of capturing the essence of Balanchine's Dew Drop; Olivia Hartzell (new to PA Ballet), who did a nice Marzipan lead; and Elizabeth Mateer, who was very elegant in the Sugar Plum role. I did not think that Jermel was the best of Cavaliers, as I believe his partnering is a bit weak. I had forgotten how "fast" the Arabian divertissement is danced in the Balanchine version, and I feel that it loses something in the translation. I much prefer other versions. It appeared that the whole thing was just under-rehearsed or the dancers were just having an off night.

A few pics of the dancers at The Kennedy Center Honors. I think there are five or six photos included: http://www.cbs.com/shows/kennedy_center_honors/photos/1003030/76-can-t-miss-moments-from-the-37th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/69967/tiler-peck-dances-at-the-37th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-85366 I realize that this was a very small space in which to perform, so the variation may have been changed. Can anyone tell me, is this Ratmansky's SP choreography? I don't find it appealing at all.

I guess it would be interesting to go back and look at previous honorees and performances. Is there always a direct connection? Were all the other performers directly connected with those they honored?

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/12/08/the-37th-annual-kennedy-center-honors-to-air-tuesday-december-30-on-cbs-honorees-include-tom-hanks-sting/336758/ "A spectacular series of dance pieces in honor of Patricia McBride commenced with “Fascinating Rhythm,” performed by New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck, followed by “Rubies” pas de deux danced by New York City Ballet soloist Lauren Lovette and Boston Ballet principal dancer Jeffrey Cirio. Next, American Ballet Theater dancer Misty Copeland was sublime in the solo from Tchaikovsky’s pas de deux. Then, Tiler Peck returned to the stage with New York City ballet principal dancer Jared Angle for “Dances at a Gathering.” A rousing finale of “I Got Rhythm,” featuring all of the previously seen dancers as well as additional dancers from Patricia McBride’s company, The Charlotte Ballet, completed the stirring performances."

I am also surprised that Lorin has never been promoted. He was a second soloist in Boston. As well, I am surprised that Elizabeth has not been promoted, as she has also done some pretty good roles over the past few years. Perhaps with the change in leadership, any promotions that may have been have now been put on hold. We will have to wait and see what Angel does, but here's hoping that some of the dancers get their due!

From USA Today: "Dancers Tiler Peck, Jeffrey Cirio, Lauren Lovette, Misty Copeland and Jared Angl and others performed a medley for McBride." The "others" were dancers from Charlotte Ballet.

I know only because my son was there. Jeff Cirio and Lauren Lovette did the Rubies pas. Misty did Tchai pas variation. Tiler and Jared did Dances at a Gathering (I am not sure how much of it). The finale was the finale of Who Cares?

Thanks for your review. I am so glad to hear Lorin Mathis did well. Loved him when he was in Boston. I wanted to get seats to see Elizabeth Mateer and Jermel do the Grand Pas next weekend, but it appears they are sold out. I guess I'll have to try another show. Please post another review if you go!