LadyBubbles

I wouldn't count on ABT giving Lane O/O. Pretty sure one of the main reasons she wasn't picked to dance Medora is because she was already scheduled to dance Gulnare. And then, who would have dance Gulnare? Copeland could have (only other Gulnare short enough for Simkin) but her schedule is very busy this season. So now, why have TWO people learn a role in three days when you have just one learning a new role?

Speaking of which, the fact that Brandt was asked to learn the role (learn, not rehearse) three days prior to opening night confirms that they did not have a back up plan for the short cast. Way to go ABT (not).

The two tall soloists need to be groomed to become principal soon or at least to take on the roles, as most of the aging (sounds horrible because they're in their 30's, but it's ballet) principal ballerinas are all tall: Part, Murphy, Abrera. I don't know if a tall dancer will be promoted this year, but if one is, my money is on Teuscher.

I personally would like to see them both as a soloist for at least another year, they haven't been soloists for that long. A little more time in the soloist rank (with the opportunity to take on full length principal roles, obviously) will give them more stage and prep time to become full time principals more successfully.

Same goes to the younger short soloists: they're both great but I feel like it's too soon to promote them. Their time will come, but in my opinion it should not be this year. Then again, ABT always goes against everything I think, so what do I know?

I had a feeling she'd be replaced in Le Corsaire. If you're too injured for Giselle you're too injured for Medora. We'll see about Swan Lake, it's just under two weeks from now so she might be healthy by then.

Now IF she can't perform O/O, considering Simkin is Sigfried it has to be someone Boylston and under (height wise that is). Boylston has an injury of her own, but has plenty of time to recover so if she's healthy my bet is she'll take it. Misty has also performed SL with Simkin but she's already scheduled for two Swan Lakes. Otherwise that leaves the three short soloists (my guess is whoever has learned the role, the question then becomes WHO has learned the role).

Happy for Brandt, this is an excellent opportunity for her. I hope Kochetkova's injury is not serious though.

Casting change:

Skylar Brandt debuting Medora on Monday. Replaces Kochetkova.

http://abt.org/calendar.aspx

I'm not guessing because I don't want to jinx anyone. I do have a strong feeling about certain corps to soloist happening this year.

Nothing is certain, I don't trust ABT to make smart decisions anymore.

Oh my, so many withdrawals. This can't be good.

Hopefully Murphy is just resting her hip for Corsaire and Swan Lake (she's been a rock forever, but given the technical demand of those roles she might not be performing them for much longer). Having said that, I know she probably really wanted to share the stage with Gomes and Abrera for his 20th anniversary celebration, so it makes me sad that she won't be performing tonight.

Sorry to hear about Boylston's injury. Wishing her a speedy recovery. She's the third principal getting injured and it's only week 3. I hope everyone can get through the rest of the season injury free.

Of course. I meant prior to this season

IIRC, Sarah Lane has only danced Giselle once with a small company (LakeCities Ballet perhaps?) many years ago. I don't recall her performing it again after that.

22 minutes ago, DeCoster said:

But I was moved to tears watching Sarah Lane in her long overdue NY Giselle debut.  What a star!  Anyone know why she received two bouquets at the curtain call?

 

 

 

 

I believe she got 3, actually. Two big ones and a smaller one. It's not that unusual for ballerinas to get more than one bouquet on stage, although it doesn't happen that often anymore. All the big stars who guest with ABT usually get 2.

I remember a few years ago Veronika Part got 3 bouquets on stage after a Swan Lake performance.  

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. Brandt was able to try the role (and apparently very successfully) in Costa Mesa. I sure hope that they do have a male understudy but they just don't want to use him during the premiere week.

Intense for sure, but he's not doing Giselle later that week or the week after. So he will have a nice long break before he performs Ali in Le Corsaire in June.

Interesting though, because this pretty much confirms that they did not have an understudy for the lead Boy in Whipped Cream. Seriously? They better have someone ready for next season, you never know. I'd say line up the short guys who look young and test them out to see who is a good candidate for the role and then teach them the role. I mean, they did have Skylar learn Princess Praline (and eventually replaced Misty) so it's not like they're too busy to train backups.

I have high hopes for Bell, he has insane talent. I just hope ABT knows how to work with his talent and doesn't let him get rusty and bored. They should start testing/challenging him sooner rather than later (I realize it's his first seasons in the corps, so hopefully next year), and then allow him to move up in the rankings. Otherwise he'll either get bored/rusty or he'll go somewhere else. 

Natalia, I too can't help but think of the little one who competed at YAGP many years ago. That's why I was so shocked when I found out he had grown up so much. It was like "where did little Aran go?" lol.

You mean Aran Bell? Isn't he tall though? That's the impression I had, or maybe I'm just comparing 2016 Bell to Junior YAGP Bell lol. Shayer is short but doesn't look very boy-like (he looks like a grown man, whereas Simkin, Cornejo, and Cirio look younger).

How about Tyler Maloney? Ratmansky has featured him in major roles before and he's short to medium sized (5'8" or 5'9"). Not to mention he's quite young and kind of looks his age.

Murphy confirmed her withdrawal on Instagram. She's resting a bad hip. I hope she recovers soon.

I think (just guessing here, don't kill me) that he was promoting a lady who deserved to be promoted but who was not in his plans to be featured in principal roles. I'm sure Paris appreciated the promotion and I'm sure she certainly appreciates having been taken out of the corps. I don't know how old she is but she must be around Murphy's or Abrera's age considering how long she has been a professional. I hope she sticks around for a few more years

I saw that. I suppose they want to test his recovery before announcing it for the MET. I hope everything goes well so he can be back in his usual roles.

I also noticed that all three new Giselles will be performing in Muscat. It's nice that they let them try the role before performing it on the big stage in May.

If I recall correctly, the original cast for opening night was Simkin, Murphy, Gomes, Lane. Shortly after, Murphy and Gomes were removed. Gomes has been replaced by Hallberg but only for opening night (Gomes is still listed in the June casts with Simkin and Lane).

The big change really was Abrera in place of Murphy. Murphy is now with Abrera's original casts (Cornejo, Whiteside, Trenary in June, and Cirio, Whiteside, Copeland in May). Regardless of the reasons for the change, I'm sure it was for the best. Both ladies are incredible, so I'm sure it would have been equally great to have the other in their respective casts.

I really want to see the rest of the costumes. Princess Tea Flower's is beautiful.

Apparently Boylston and Lendorf performed instead.

In case anyone missed the livestream http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/iconic-ballet-company-motion-45067278

According to ABT's calendar, Joseph Gorak has been replaced by Jeffrey Cirio.

I believe he was also replaced last year. I wonder if this is an injury problem or if he has some technical issue with the character (I recall him having some trouble with the difficult lifts a while back). I hope it's not an injury, but if it is I certainly hope he recovers soon.

Obviously since I'm nowhere near NY (for yet another year, hopefully the last) I wasn't there tonight. But, I was chatting with my aunt who did attend and has been a major ABT supporter for decades. She commented pretty much what was already stated, that this was one of Lane's best performances in a long time. And that led us to talk about something I found interesting.

As we all know, promotions were announced today, and judging by Sarah's instagram I can tell she is sad/disappointed. Anyway, my aunt told me all about how she felt Sarah's nervous energy last year during SB, about how it seemed like she was trying a little too hard to be technically on point (no pun intended), which ultimately ended up in not her greatest performances. Well, perhaps knowing that tonight's performance would have no effect on next season's contract, could it be that she was able to relax and let go and just dance for the love of it? I'm not saying she only tries hard just to get promoted, but perhaps all the anxiety she felt last year was too much (remember that 3 ladies retired last year, including Xiomara, so there was a legit possibility that Lane could be promoted). Perhaps having found out before tonight's performance allowed her to just let it go and dance with her soul rather than her brain?

I definitely understand her anxiety. She's in her 30's, she's clearly NOT the AD's favorite, and there are those up and coming youngsters, some of whom are prominently featured on ABT's social media sites, who are willing to take her spot any day. I selfishly hope she'll stick around, because if she's ever cast as Juliet in MacMillan's version, I don't care WHERE in the world I am at that moment. You bet I'll be at the MET with my binoculars and lots of Kleenex tissues.

They indeed have dance Sleeping Beauty together. I believe they ere supposed to dance The Nutcracker last December but Gorak withdrew due to injury, so he was replaced by someone else (I forgot who it was).

Cast update: Murphy has been pulled from the gala (Kochetkova now doing the Sylvia excerpt) and from Tuesday's Piano Concerto #1 performance (Shevchenko is filling in). She is still listed for her remaining performances.

I really hope she's okay and they're just letting her rest a few more days to be 100% healthy for the remaining of the season/year.

I'm guessing it will go like this: Boylston/Gomes for act I, Kochetkova (and Simkin; perhaps they thought Kochetkova "fighting" Whiteside would look way disproportionate size wise) for act 2, and Seo/Bolle for act 3.

If Murphy is still not 100% then she should indeed rest. Not sure why Gomes is skipping act 3, maybe he also needs a little break. Regardless of why this casting change was done, I hope those who are or may be injured have a speedy recovery.