its the mom

From facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203360742563828&set=a.1348522517657.2046477.1369140105&type=1&theater

In addition, Jeffrey Cirio danced with Lauren Lovette and four Charlotte Ballet dancers also danced.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/12/kennedy-center-honors-go-to-tom-hanks-sting-lily-tomlin-al-green-patricia-mcbride-109615.html

I found this interesting: https://www.rfcexpress.com/lawsuits/copyright-lawsuits/connecticut-district-court/944014/harvey-edwards-v-misty-copeland-et-al/summary/ http://harveyedwards.blogspot.com/

Yes, Japanese-born, Misa Kuranaga and Filipino-American, Jeffrey Cirio just danced this together in Boston. In addition, I don't think they ever danced Swan Lake together, but Lauren Anderson and Carlos Acosta danced La Sylphide and Don Q (among other things) together. If you read interviews with Lauren, she speaks quite differently than Misty on the race issue. Incidentally, I just saw this: http://cocoafab.com/new-show-alert-misty-copeland-to-mentor-future-ballerinas-on-new-reality-series/

I have no problem with this couple dancing Swan Lake together. I am just not sure I like the whole "history being made" attitude. Lauren Anderson did Swan Lake. Celine Gittens and Tyrone Singleton at BRB did Swan Lake. Although not African-American, two non-whites just did the opening of Swan Lake in Boston. So, part of me understands, but part of me just wants Misty's dancing and not her color to speak for itself.

I am not sure. I have skimmed through some of the AGMA contracts, but never looked into that before. I know other AGMA companies have hired part way through the season.

Ettiene Diaz, who was hired this past fall, is Eddy's brother and Samantha's brother-in-law. All in the family?

The last I knew was that she had been dealing with injuries and then was doing this: http://www.pointemagazine.com/blogs/keenan-kampa/keenan-kampa-star-high-strung

Have been following this thread. I did not see anyone post this yet. If someone has done so, I apologize. Please feel free to delete. To be honest, I am at work and have not listened to the whole interview. Skipped straight to performance clips. http://az32167.vo.msecnd.net/media-release-videos/ABT-Misty-Copeland-Swan-Lake-VNR-20140904.mp4

I wonder how the dancers feel about it.

A good read: http://www.jirikylian.com/visuals/text/critics_criticism/

mimisyb - I am glad to hear you enjoyed it! I thought Friday night was danced beautifully also, but I know the dancers are tired - it has been a long season with relatively little time off since London last summer. I believe one of the hashtags they are all using on twitter, instagram and facebook is "#longestseasonever." In reference to Bella, it's one of those ballets that I think either you love or you don't. I prefer some of Kylian's other works - probably Wings of Wax, Symphony of Psalms, Falling Angels and Sarabande among my favorites.

I was at the opening of that Program 2 (Friday night). From what I heard, Friday was a better show than Saturday night. I thought the casting was a little strange for a Saturday night - in one of the couples in Symphony (usually it's J. Cirio). But that would not account for the sloppiness in the corps. Also in Faun - Erica Cornejo in Faun was pretty spot on in Friday night's performance and was first cast. Why not put her on Saturday night? I also believe Elo's Plan is better danced with the original first cast (actually not the original from 10 years ago, but the cast who has done it the most the past few years), and they danced it on Saturday afternoon instead of the evening show. I think the audience appreciates how fast the dancers are able to move in Plan, hence the standing ovation. It's a bit crazy that they are able to stay with the music. I usually love Kylian work, and I think Bella has some beautiful moments, but call me a prude, I dislike the nudity. I feel that it's just not necessary. But, that's me.

I went back and looked over reviews of The Second Detail, both in Boston and in London. For the most part, all the reviews seemed very positive, some even ranking The Second Detail up there with In the Middle. One reviewer in London said she hoped Boston would return with another Forsythe piece.

Not patronizing at all. I was just stating that the review was clearly not a review, but an attack on Mr. Forsythe, or at least I and ithers frlt that way. Just difference of opinions. Not everyone is going to like the same thing. But why would they bring a full-length during abt's met season? And bringing a full Balanchine program - well that's what is performed here all the time. They don't dance Justin Peck's choreo. I would imagine at some point they might do Scarlett. These are the choreographers they dance. I would think it would be a good thing to see something different. I see different companies when they come to Boston and Philadelphia. I don't expect them to bring what those ballet companies dance. I recently saw In the Middle, too. I was sorely disappointed. It was clearly under-rehearsed and not done on the correct stage. When it's done well, it's, in my opinion, amazing.

Macauley's review was nothing but a display of his personal vendetta against Forsythe. In fact, one of the dancers told me that Mr. Forsythe messaged the company and told them as much. And in talking with Mr. Ekman on opening night, he knew Macauley would hate it. After all, the piece is directed at and poking fun at dance critics and would-be dance critics. What would you want them to bring? Sleeping Beauty? Cinderella? A full Balanchine evening? Don't New Yorkers get tired of that? Isn't it refreshing to see something different? Not many U.S. companies dance Forsythe and Kylian as well as Boston does. And for the Elo haters, Plan to B was actually nominated for a National Dance Award in London last summer. I spoke to several nycb dancers who said, "thank you, Boston, for bringing something different and exciting."

Thanks for the spelling correction!

ord7916 - the loop around the stage is a menage. Also, the prince's choreography is limited, but, having said that, it's difficult because the first thing he does is come out and start jumping, then straight into a double tour, a la seconde turns and pirouettes. There is no warm up. There are some nice double cabrioles and the double tour, double pirouette sequence. I don't know if everyone does it that way - I was told by a Boston Ballet dancer that Somes taught it as double tour, single pirouette, but allowed them the double/double sequence if they could do it. I do feel the Prince can shine in this if he is an attentive partner and good actor. Every time I watch this version, I hold my breath as Cinderella comes down the stairs on pointe and then when the Prince lifts her and carries her down the stairs once again. Glad the shows are going well. Every show in Boston was sold out.

Boston Ballet hires a new Executive Director: http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2014/05/27/boston-ballet-names-new-executive-director/cHh7WeHDYixsSquoSaDIQL/story.html

Dale, my vote would be for Damian, too. He is the first person that came to mind. He not only has the Balanchine connection, but I believe he would be open to expanding the rep in other directions - more pure classical and more cutting edge contemporary. I believe there are others who would be able to do that, but they don't necessarily have the Balanchine connection/sensibility. I am hoping the board really thinks it through. There are those out there and available with a "name," but I am not sure they would necessarily be good for the company.

I wonder if the Interim Director, David Gray, will bring his wife with him in any capacity??

Dancers will jet lots of places for big paychecks.

I have been lurking, but need to respond. I will probably ruffle some feathers. I disagree, Bingham. I think there are dancers of equal caliber or better than those you list. There are other issues at play here. ABT is not the "be-all and end-all" company it was once considered. With the increase in competitions and more opportunity for dancers to train elsewhere, some of the top dancers are simply not choosing ABT as a company. Think Het National, English National, a few up and coming at Royal, National Ballet of Canada, SFB, and that's just naming the large companies. There are several dancers I can think of in each of those companies that are definitely worth seeing. (In fact, a few of them once danced at ABT and left.) Some auditioned for ABT, but were not hired. That doesn't even include a few I can think of at the Mariinsky. Don't you think dancers look at the company and see the lack of opportunity there? Not to mention that so many of the other companies I mentioned have far more interesting repertory than what ABT has to offer. Sorry, there are plenty of dancers out there who are amazing. They are just no longer in one company.

I am hoping to watch both this week. I do think there was a very short period of time when Jonathan McPhee acted as director. In addition, Maina Gielgud was hired after Holmes, but in a very short period of time she came to an agreement with the Board that it was not going to work out. That was in 2001, I believe. I am not really sure what happened; I have only read that there were artistic differences.