stuben
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Posts posted by stuben
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17 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:
Geez, where to begin. So many surprises, and disappointments.....
Lane: gets screwed...again (why am I surprised?). She FINALLY gets a Juliet, but not with Cornejo??? And, with a terrible partner instead? No Nikiya reprisal. One Giselle and a matinee, again? One Aurora.
Shevchenko: gets a Giselle?! I would never have thought of her for Giselle. But, who is her partner? I guess she will take the TBA on tour in February. I'm thrilled she gets two SL's, and with Forster.
Abrera: it's too bad we won't get to see her Lilac Fairy again.
Hurlin: wow, gets a Gamzatti debut and Aurora and Myrta (we knew that one from the tour schedule). She's obviously getting a lead in the new Ratmansky, if judging by the photo with Bell. Clearly, they are really pushing her hard and fast.
K Williams: only gets Myrta. No other debuts.
Trenary: happy she gets a Juliet debut, I just wish they put Cornejo with Lane instead. Agree, that she seems to be on track for principal with Juliet, Gamzatti and Aurora this season.
Brandt: Aurora debut, but not the Giselle she wanted. Or, a Gamzatti reprisal. Or, anything else. Surprising.
Simkin: is he going the way of a la Hallberg? Or, should we expect him to leave soon?
Forster: I think this could be his year to get promoted! Romeo! Albrecht! Siegfried! Wow.
Hoven: Yeesh. Nada. I don't understand.
Royal: wow, Romeo, Albrecht! (Though, I have doubts he'll be able to handle the bravura dancing of Albrecht.)
Fancy Free - really, again? They couldn't have chosen a less-performed "Then" ballet? How about some de Mille and Fall River Legend.
Gathering of Ghosts - I knew that would come back. Blah.
Thank goodness no Whipped Cream or Harlequinade.
Glad Jane Eyre is returning (I know I'm in the minority, but I loved it last year).
Sleeping Beauty TBA's: is it possible Cornejo will be cast with Lane? And, who will take the other 2?
Completely agree with the disappointments: Lane 😔 and IMHO Hurlin is technically good but both her and Bell are quite young and needs time to grow yet into their roles, I know I will be the minority here, I know most audiences love technique and tricks but it should not sacrifice emotional connection. It is unfortunate for those seasoned dancers not given the chance like Hoven and where is Paris? Seems there is the ticket sales factor and as Hamrick says in her interview, it is "politics". So happy for Forster to get his break finally!!!
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26 minutes ago, nanushka said:
I really hope she ends up on the artistic/coaching staff at ABT, at least as part of her future work. She's so clearly and widely beloved among the dancers, and they could really use her.
Our wishes might come true, let's hope, since it seems KM is keeping this all in the family, as he is one of the founders as listed on site: Founders: Gregory Cary • Kevin McKenzie • Bentley Roton • Martine van Hamel.
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8 hours ago, Novice123 said:
I would disagree with this. First class people hire first class people and hoped that their hires would surpass them so that they will benefit from quality of their hires. Second and third rate managers will only hire those lower than them.
7 hours ago, Helene said:I agree with this. I was just listening to a podcast interview with skating coach Bruno Marcotte who spoke with admiration about how Patriots coach Bill Belichick surrounds himself with younger staff and is always interested in learning from them and keeping on his toes.
I see both points, indeed first rate employers would groom their hires, I guess I should have added - .....I would think an insecure boss would never want to feel threatened.....
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1 hour ago, FauxPas said:
My impression of a lot of Ballet Company AD's like McKenzie and Peter Martins is that they hire ballet masters who will not be a threat to their authority. That is why Martins refused to bring back star dancers like Farrell, Villella, Patricia McBride, Allegra Kent or Melissa Hayden as ballet masters. They had worked longer with Balanchine and could challenge his authority. Someone like Clinton Luckett or Carlos Lopez cannot claim authority over Kevin McKenzie. And they did not dance leading principal roles and therefore cannot teach them to someone like Aran Bell or Joseph Gorak.
Aran Bell had to go to Max Beloserkovsky to learn Romeo in the MacMillan R&J. He had never done a lead in a dramatic ballet before. Carlos Lopez was at best a Benvolio or Mandolin Player and couldn't coach him as Romeo. Max evidently got the job done since Aran Bell got excellent notices for his Romeo debut including in the New York Times.
My thoughts exactly! In any job I would think a boss would never want to feel threatened by their employees to surpass their successes. Sadly though in this case of performing arts the artists suffer for this type of power grab. Question about the coaching outside though, would the company pay for such help or does the individual dancer have to use their own salaries? Assuming that costs quite a bit especially for well known coaches like Max, if so this has to be tough on the small salaries that dancers make.
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1 hour ago, FauxPas said:
....The other two female coaches are Nancy Raffa and Susan Jones who mainly handle the corps. The male coaches are Keith Roberts and Carlos Lopez. Lopez was only a soloist at ABT and not a great one.
Isn't Raffa and Jones ballet mistresses? I am not sure of the differences since they do coach as said here but mostly corps and soloists? Even the male "coaches" I do believe are listed in the programs as ballet masters. If so, there really isn't anyone other than Irina, who I think may be 82? I recall a birthday wish and postings about her recent birthday.
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1 hour ago, angelica said:
It shouldn't have to take the presence of any single choreographer to point out a dancer's flaws, since these appear in every ballet she dances. Somebody on the artistic staff needs to coach her or else present her with the need to get an outside coach, as many dancers do. There are too many ballets I have to avoid because she is dancing the leading role.
My thoughts exactly since choreographers like Ratmansky can't be at every single performance once of every single company, I would think it is up to each company's artist leadership and staff to follow through ?! In this case, seems like there is a lack-there-of, and for what it is worth who is really left to coach these days? Jaffe, Irina & Max, Reyes, Kent, Gomes (if he had stayed) would all have been wonderful coaches, sadly there is a lack of leadership to employ such talent!
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1 minute ago, ABT Fan said:
Abrera and Hallberg were also wonderful together in Harlequin the year it premiered. I too would love to see them in Giselle, though I think that’s very unlikely.
I am in shock after learning of this, she will be missed 😥 Agree with Hallberg or even Marcelo to return for this!!! Feeling like the golden age of ABT is dwindling these days, just saw Hallberg at the Royal in Manon, so he is dancing.... just not here!
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45 minutes ago, Fleurfairy said:
Darn, that is a shame laurel. I think Lane's nerves are her Achilles heel. And it seems to be a vicious cycle - she is disregarded by the AD, so then gets too "in her head" so to speak and lets the anxiety of proving herself get the better of her. Gorak not being able to lift a tiny dancer like Lane is ridiculous.
It is a shame indeed to hear 😯 based on what is said and what she has endured from the AD, the pressure of it all might have caused this result? I can't image how it won't effect anybody in any situation like this, agreed that a performer should know not to let it get to them but who knows what goes on behind closed doors?! All I can say is that times I have seen her and the last of which was Manon, she brought us all to tears and that will be my memory I choose to carry of her.
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30 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:
The Times review from last night:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/arts/dance/american-ballet-theater-review.html
Thanks for this and glad I had my fill at NYCB, as I assumed after seeing the season listing that it will be a money saving season for me!
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1 hour ago, ABT Fan said:
An article in the Times about Cornejo's career and upcoming anniversary performance:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/arts/dance/herman-cornejo-20th-anniversary-abt.html
Thanks for this and just read the whole article, thought of these few interesting part and seems telling IMO: ".... it took several more years for him to be assigned the roles he craved and felt he deserved. …. it took Kevin McKenzie, the artistic director of Ballet Theater, a while to see him in this light. …. Ms. Copeland, who will dance the role of Terpsichore opposite his Apollo..." - Why should anyone with his talent take so long to be given a chance that he felt he deserved? Lack of coaches? Feels like artistic won't look at a dancer unless it is someone that suits their taste buds? And finally seems up-thread comment is correct, sadly Lane is snubbed again for Apollo since it is clear Copeland is the expected lead ☹️ ! Is it too late for Lane to look elsewhere? She is clearly all our favorite yet not catching the artistic's taste buds! She was amazing with Cornejo in Manon and hit that out of the park!
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1 hour ago, Lena C. said:
Yes I agree. Very disappointing, especially since Cornejo has said that Lane is one of his favored, long time partners. We don't know the full story or decisions that went into this casting but still rather strange. Regarding Apollo, I don't see why Lane isn't included. She's certainly been Cornejo's partner longer than Brandt or Trenary.
Feels like another season of snub 😞 very disappointing indeed, their chemistry is by far the best in the leads these days, I almost feel they are the last of the best. IMHO there maybe up and comers but they need time to get there, and I am not talking about technique! Sarah has it and yet sadly through the years I have watched her be continuously snubbed for others less worthy. They seem to have more dancers easily handling the modern choreography, but I am not quite sure of any when it comes to the classics. All aside I just spent my limited income at NYCB and got me fill pleasantly, so will continue to read everyone else's thoughts for this fall and hoping the best for Sarah.
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7 hours ago, CTballetfan said:
In reply to Stuben’s last comment, I agree with you. During the last few years when Irina, Paloma, and Xiomara were principals, I had a subscription to the spring season and I took out an annual membership to ABT as a contribution. Although each had a different style, each could dance the major roles exquisitely, and even if one of them was a last-minute substitution for an injured principal, I was never disappointed. And look how each was ushered out. Since then I have only purchased an occasional ticket. To my mind, the last of the great ballerinas of that time is Gillian Murphy, and I look forward to her return and plan to select one ballet to enjoy her performance. As for the rest, in my mind today the company can’t hold a candle to NYCB, where I subscribe and contribute. Just my opinion as a very long time balletgoer.
Likewise my sentiments and with my ticket purchases, they own the right as "Prima" ballerinas, and IMHO there isn't anyone who can hold a candle now. I just have this strange feeling that the training/coaching just isn't there any longer. I miss those great days 😞 let's not forget Marcelo.... not knowing what happened, yet I see he is dancing with others, so I have to wonder and since the principal men category is too slim for my taste, and even though the new soloists are showing promise, and technically quite good, the emotions and connection just isn't there for me, as it was during the days of Marcelo, Max and many others who have left.
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14 hours ago, Josette said:
Xiomara Reyes was still dancing as if it were the first day of spring when she was forced out by Kevin McKenzie. It was not her choice to retire, as was apparent from her interviews at the time.
13 hours ago, canbelto said:I believe Irina said that she saw the cast list go up and she wasn't cast. At all. So she made the choice to retire.
10 hours ago, ABT Fan said:Didn’t basically the same thing happen to Paloma? Julie Kent was the only woman of that generation who seemed able to retire on her terms (and way too late).
If not mistaken, didn't Irina say something to that effect in her NY Times interview, if my memory serves me well, she was not pleased at all about how her exit went after all she gave to ABT and her fans ? And, sadly I will never forget how Xiomara and Paloma were given their exit show 😖, in my books after all they gave to us so many years of their beautiful and incomparable work, only to be left at the curb, unconscionable in my books and personally gone now are the Golden Age of ABT.
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A friend from Boston just shared this with us, how exciting it must be for Paulina Waski! We will miss her on the NYC stage, but glad she seems to be settling in very nicely and what a wonderful video from the company too 😍 Sure hope the company will tour in NY again! Interesting that Boston does a description of who Myrtha is in the ballet. 👍
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On 9/6/2019 at 1:23 PM, Phrenchphry11 said:
Woah love that so many of the new members are getting cast in main roles. Chisako Oga as Giselle! She's come such a long way... I remember seeing her years ago as an apprentice at the SF Ballet. So excited for her.
Plus, Soo Bin Lee and Paulina Waski getting cast is great! Sad that Waski left ABT but it seems to be the right decision for her now that she's getting opportunities here.
I was really hoping Joy Womack would get cast in more things (especially since I believe she performed Myrtha in Russia?), but it seemed on her Instagram she was at the doctor's office - perhaps injured?
Good news indeed for all and agree about Waski leaving ABT, we so enjoyed her dancing and sad she never got to dance her Myrtha there, I believe due to injury but wishing her the best, lucky for Boston indeed 👏! Even better it seems Boston offers discounts for dancers to share, how wonderful that is!
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31 minutes ago, aurora said:
There is a good article from March on the Sacklers and donations in particular, which broadly supports your point regarding Britain being ahead of us on this, although US organizations are also refusing contributions and others are considering doing so:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/arts/design/sackler-museums-donations-oxycontin.html
The Met has since decided (in May) to reject their donations as well:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/arts/design/met-museum-sackler-opioids.html
Interestingly enough a new book: Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America by Christopher Leonard just released about the dark money, and how the Koch brothers manipulated their wealth, to make themselves look good while the entire time destroying our planet and democracy. IMO these non-profits all bend rules or turn a blind eye for large donations unless they have significant small donors and tickets sales in the case of ABT to survive.
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1 hour ago, nanushka said:
Generally agree with much of what's been said, but just one minor point to KMcK's credit: he did cast Waski as Myrta, I believe, a few years ago, but then she got injured.
Thanks for the reminder and I guess I stand corrected 😊
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16 hours ago, FauxPas said:
No I misremembered it.
But the big problem is that McKenzie would nominate just one dancer or maybe two dancers to be the next big star - Hee Seo, Cory Stearns, Isabella Boylston etc. When you have a whole generation of principal dancers who are all about the same age you can't just have one new dancer being groomed. And when a generation retires suddenly you have dancers who have been waiting around for a decade like Misty Copeland, Deven Teuscher and Christine Schevchenko learning all the principal roles all at once in their thirties. Everywhere else dancers are given "Swan Lake" or "Don Quixote" debuts in their twenties.
Now it seems from the Fall casting that Ahn and Bell are on the fast track being groomed to do principal roles. Calvin Royal definitely could do more - I like the idea of Apollo. Give Gorak some more chances? It wouldn't hurt to give something to someone else besides Ahn and Bell - Gonzalez, maybe Patrick Frenette, Marshall Whiteley, Cameron McCune or Luigi Crispino? Ratmansky uses Tyler Maloney, Jonathan Klein, Gabe Stone Shayer and others - he always utilizes young talent from the corps and ABT has benefited from it. And there are dancers like Scout Forsythe who I haven't even seen in anything because they have never been given a solo - from what I have heard Forsythe is extremely qualified.
Totally agree as McKenzie has lost so many through the years, I recall Hinkis and Votolini whom have both gone onto soloists elsewhere and am sure, as FauxPas says, given more chances than their time here. And let's not forget Matthews and Kajiya, and so many before whom we loved, and left under the direction of McKenzie! Feels like he has his flavors of the season. As in the current year of Waski, who just left to Boston Ballet, seems to be suggesting on her social media that she is getting ready for Myrtha 😊. I wish the best for her as my family and I have enjoyed her dancing all these years and see her potential if given the right opportunities.
I agree too about the age issue and waiting around for a decade, and happy those who don't see chances to move on vs sitting around hoping or praying! I know this must be a big draw since it is in NYC and when it was under Misha, but through the years I see the changes under McKenzie, plus back then there were only a handful of great companies around, but now things are different and there are more options, so I can't imagine sitting around waiting for a part of 10 years?! I can see the stamina and strength you need for the full-lengths, and there is a difference between a 20 to 30 year old IMHO.
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1 hour ago, Marta said:
I'm planning to attend if the Giselle is Kapitonova. I don't know who the other Giselles would be, but there are a few dancers I would avoid. I think BB doesn't usually publish casting until the week before.
Seems late for posting casting but then again I’m used to NY companies posting earlier, then of course their changes too! Thank you Marta and let’s hope you’ll get your wish to see your dancer 😊
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Seems Waski might be dancing her Myrtha with Boston after her injury that took her out at ABT? I could be wrong since there is no music to this video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1cBHmojPWw/?igshid=9u2imdutk0vs
Would love to hear about her debut should anyone from BA attend. -
22 hours ago, naomikage said:
Paulina Waski joins as corps de ballet.
https://www.bostonballet.org/Home/The-Company/Dancers/FullCompany.aspx
Good to see Waski has landed there 😊 I see first up for their season is Giselle, and that’s something she has done well based on her YouTube performance with Xiomara Reyes, plus wasn’t she slated to dance Myrtha last Met Season? A loss for ABT maybe a nice gain for Boston. Best of wishes to her and all the new hires.
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7 minutes ago, BalletFan said:
Yes, Paulina definitely mentioned Boston Ballet in her original post. It's funny how things sometimes work out. As Lady Bubbles noted, if Paulina hadn't been injured, then she would have danced Myrtha and maybe she (and not Katherine Williams) would have been promoted to soloist. Oh well, that’s life. Paulina is still very young, and perhaps it’s best to join another company at this point in her career and stretch her wings. I wish her, and the other corps members who are leaving, all the best.
1 hour ago, LadyBubbles said:She deleted the post. It was a single picture rather than a collection of them. Maybe Boston asked her to take down the post and wait for a company announcement?
23 minutes ago, PeggyTulle said:She edited the text, most likely because BB hadn't formally announced its roster for the upcoming season. You can still see Boston referenced in the comments.
Thank you everyone for clearing this up as I thought I was losing my mind or eyesight 😊 and agree with BalletFan how life works out, and actually Boston has a wonderful rep this coming season starting with Giselle no less (listed now on their website). If so, wouldn't it be wild to see Waski finally do her Myrtha?! Hope she will continue her updates on social media so some of us can keep track and who knows, maybe she will be back again for Met Season .... like Graniero (Washington Ballet)!
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On 7/7/2019 at 7:12 PM, PeggyTulle said:
Nothing in Waski's post mentions Boston? No announcements either anywhere so maybe I missed it?
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8 minutes ago, abatt said:
I think there will be many, many disappointed Misty fans if she is replaced.
It might be that Sarah is replacing Stella since I have family who have tickets for their CA performance on Dec. 16th as it was Stella and Aran, either would make them happy, but wishing Stella well.
Spring 2020 New York Season
in American Ballet Theatre
Posted
I am with you on this about Trenary vs Lane here, after all these years watching Lane and the last in Manon, I say this is a travesty to not give her the well deserved Juliette ☹️ (Trenary is a wonderful dancer) I am sorry but I guess I am reminiscing the days of Kent, Herrara and Reyes, and I just can't see Trenary there yet, however, Lane has it all for me to successfully execute these dramatic roles. This is likewise for my feeling of Forster vs Bell, and hope Forster will get his moment this season.