Balletwannabe

Will the new AD also be head of SAB?

37 minutes ago, nanushka said:

Here's one possible way of thinking about it:

Gender identity is composed of many different elements, and many people are familiar primarily (or even only) with those who are gender binary — which means that, once you know the answer to the first basic question (i.e. "Is this person male or female?"), you know or might assume the answers to many other questions (e.g. "Does this person go by male or female pronouns?" "Does this person have biologically male or biologically female genitalia?" "Does this person dress in traditionally male or traditionally female ways?" etc. etc.).

For people who are gender fluid, or gender non-binary, it's often the case that each of those subsequent questions needs to be answered separately rather than just assumed from the initial male/female distinction. (And in many cases, those subsequent questions won't have a single, simple answer — it might be both/and or sometimes or partly, rather than either/or.)

I think it's quite natural, then, to be confused when one is first becoming familiar with the concept of gender fluidity, since it requires a very different way of thinking about gender from what many are used to.

On the specific question of whether Johnsey is on hormones, I haven't seen any information either way. My inclination would be not to assume that he is, unless I were to learn otherwise.

Thank you, that explanation does help me understand a bit better.  

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm really confused by him...he uses male pronouns...but goes under the knife to make his face more "feminine"... is he on hormones to grow breasts? "Gender fluid" just confuses the heck out of me.

Genuinely curious!  

As a mother of 5 it sounds like pure torture at the thought of bringing one of my younger ones to a ballet.  Why do that to yourself?  Why do that to others?  All of the behavior you describe is normal.  The child was bored to shreds.  Shouldn't have been there.  

You can click on Ashley Hods Instagram story to see a pic of her foot and message.

I've always assumed these dancers have unknown personal accounts that they share with family/friends.  Public accounts like these are supposed to be for advertising, no?  It's to promote themselves/their ballet company.  If they can sell products too...good for them!  

The list I saw just says "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker".  

Balanchine's Nutcracker coming to Netflix June 1st.  

6 hours ago, Drew said:

Whelan is listed on Ballet Academy East's website as a member of their pre-professional faculty. Her appointment to that faculty was discussed here not long after her retirement. (I have no idea what the terms of her employment are. I imagine it would be fascinating to see her at work as a teacher.)

Somehow I missed that.  That's wonderful.  Lucky students.  

2 hours ago, Vs1 said:

what is a high paying gig

Well just as an example, I know for a fact that a teacher about an hour from where I live charges $175 for private lessons.  And parents pay it.  I believe Wendy Whelan has the star power to travel and book privates/master classes and make a killing; if she needed the money.  Maybe she doesn't.

Edit: I actually have no idea how much ballet teachers get paid! (for regular classes)  In my area however, there's a large well run studio, and the lifestyle of those teachers suggests they're doing quite well for themselves.  But that may be because they supplement their income with private lessons.

1 hour ago, Vs1 said:

There are fifty practically empty dance studios in the surrounding five villages to my house.  I doubt she'd want to teach five year olds at each once a week for a few bucks each

I'm really confused by this comment.  Who are you responding to?  Whelan would never have a problem getting high paying teaching gigs if she wanted them.

Just now, nanushka said:

I wasn't talking only about principals. I follow many dancers, from corps up to principal, on social media.

And I don't think being nervous and having low morale are really the same thing. Being in the lower ranks must surely have its pressures, no matter the situation. I just haven't picked up on any sense that the company morale is particularly low these days due to the absence of an AD. Of course, that doesn't mean that it isn't, out of my view (which is quite limited).

Understood.

5 minutes ago, nanushka said:

Just from what I’ve seen on social media and onstage, I don’t get a sense that company morale is flagging, at least for now. On the contrary, they’ve seemed in very good form and very good spirits since the December drama passed.

And I would not be surprised to see the interim team move forward with promotions. The fact that it’s a team, not an individual, I suspect makes that more likely and more viable.

Well, it's easy to be in good spirits when you're already a principal dancer ;). How can you not be nervous as an apprentice or corp member?

1 hour ago, cobweb said:

Yes, Agon will be fine. I wouldn't have appreciated it when I was 11 (I love it now), because of its formal, abstract qualities, but there's nothing inappropriate about it. (I think the person who mentioned it was probably referring to whatever other ballet was on the program with it.)

Thank you.  She's been wanting to see it for 2 years.  She watched some of it online and tells me it's her favorite ballet and that she could listen to the music all day.  Her words!

Just now, mille-feuille said:

The pas de deux (if danced well) has a sexual energy, but it's in no way explicit or overt. I think it'd sail WAY over a kid's head.

1 minute ago, mille-feuille said:

The pas de deux (if danced well) has a sexual energy, but it's in no way explicit or overt. I think it'd sail WAY over a kid's head.

Ok good!  Thanks.  Sounds like it will be ok.

Ummm help a ballet newbie out, I was going to take my 11 year old (will be 12) to Agon next season.  Will it not be appropriate?  I haven't seen it.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!

If principal dancers aren't able to execute principal roles why are they pricipal dancers?  At what age is a dancers peak, physically?  Are these dancers too old?  I'm really asking- I'm a new ballet fan.

They should always try to replicate the original as closely as possible out of respect for the artist; in my opinion. 

https://www.google.com/amp/www.dancemagazine.com/ashley-bouder-2556477610.amp.html

Most of the DVDs (not ballet) that are in my wishlist, now say they're only in stock for prime members.  They changed something recently; it's never said that before.

I really don't get the critisism of Wendy.  I have a body like that.  My spine is visible, ribs show when I bend a certain way, and hip bones stick out.  Some of us are just built that way.  I mean I get it if it's aethstetically displeasing to people; but I think people like to criticize her because they think she promotes an unhealthy body.  She could in fact, be healthier than some dancers people consider the picture of health. 

Hi,

I've never been to an ABT performance.  Can someone answer a newbie question?  How far in advance do they open up individual ticket sales?

14 minutes ago, abatt said:

Huge difference between a DUI with no injuries and being accused of sexual and physical abuse of employees.

I was adding to the conversation; not comparing the two.

His recent DUI isn't helping his reputation.