AmandaNYC

How long has Sarah Mearns been in the company? I confess I don't even recognise her name.

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Sara Mearns performed in the SAB workshop in 2003 and served as an apprentice during the 2003-2004 season. She joined the company, i think, around spring of 2004. She was a Wien aware winner with Scheller at SAB in 2003.

-amanda

...appears at the NYCB website.

Three new Swan Queens: Bouder (with Millepied)

                                      Sarah Mearns (with Nilas Martins)

                                      Sylve (with Charles Askegard)

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WOW! Quite the first major role for Mearns! Isn't Spanish this week her first solo with the company?

Not to begrudge those mentioned... their mentions... but I was hoping they'd be singling out more people who are not already soloists and principals, like Ramasar. I'm certainly happy to read about Bouder (no surprise there) and others, but when i first saw this article, I thought they'd be singling out those who others might not know about / who have not gotten lots of attention already.

That said, I'm grateful for any non-review attention to NYCB in the press!

Have a happy new year!

-amanda

It got pre-empted because of the threatened MTA strike. I don't know if it was rescheduled.

-amanda

I'm with you, Oberon, on this one.  I've seen three of Ashley's Dewdrops so far this season, and I have been delighted and thrilled by her musicality and rubato, and am looking forward to her Sugar Plums.  Quite frankly, I am absolutely amazed that this is something that anyone would complain about!! 

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For all my love of Bouder, when she first did Dewdrop a few years ago, I felt she was pushing the timing too much. I felt she was concentrating too much on showing that she could hold positions than on being true to the music (as I felt Nichols did too much, as well). That, however, was a few years ago. Now, I think she has one of the most beautiful Dewdrops. In the coda on Friday, everytime she lifted her leg back out in arabesque it sang with the flute (or whatever instrument does that little flurry).

-amanda

Hyltin is small really? I am surprised as she was cast in the second girl role in Rubies which is usually cast tall. & she did look taller than Weese who is sort of medium.

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She was cast as the second girl? I find that extremely strange. She and Stephanie Zungre are probably the most petite girls (not shortest) girls in the company. Hyltin stood smaller than Ulbricht last night, when iI saw them after the performance.

The company roster in the program noted that Sterling Hyltin is the 2005-06 Janice Levin Dancer (given for a promising corps member).

She is most definitely a dancer worth watching! Congrats to her!

-amanda

Casting for comic effect? Isn't there about a foot difference between short Ulbricht & long Hyltin?

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Hyltin is actually not that tall. She's one of the "small" girls. But, I do agree she does look long-- she is so narrowly built that she's a petite girl who looks tall.

I love her as a dancer, but don't quite see her fitting Tarantella. She's more of a dancer with a quiet passion than showy exuberance. I haven't seen her do Stars yet. But, I am glad she had the opportunity.

Korbes. . . said she was plagued with injuries and an intestinal ailment during much of her time at NYCB. 

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It's advisable to be careful about what one eats when in North America!

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I believe she caught the ailment from being in Russia on the tour. That's what I took away from the piece.

-amanda

This week's Time Out NY (out yesterday) has an article and interview with Korbes that sheds a lot of light on the last few years.

I was so hoping not to see it confirmed in the press!

-amanda

Thanks, oberon!

6+ months to go, and I can't wait-- we get Barocco and Sym in C back. They're like my basic ballet nourishment. I need them!

And, we also get some revivals of Robbins (Mother Goose) and Martins (Songs of the Auvergne).

Lots more I could comment on, but, for now, I'm relishing having two of my favorite Balanchine's ballets back.

-amanda

I'll start...

Worst:

Retirements of Boal and Soto, Korbes leaving

Liang injury-- he just came back! it's not fair!

Best:

Return of Somogyi (if even for one ballet) and van Kipnis

Soto and Whelan in After the Rain

More solo roles for Ramasar, Hyltin, Bar and Carmena

Worst: That i can't come up with many "best" aspects.

It was a pretty ho-hum season for me. I saw some splendid performances (always, of course, from Bouder... and others...), but, for the most part, I quietly enjoyed performances at the time and can't remember them now. This does not surprise me, as I was not excited by the programming this season (many of us discussed this before the season even began).

What do others have to say? Maybe you'll trigger my memory for other great aspects of the season.

-amanda

The NYCB site was updated yesterday to show that the TBA for Butterfly will now be danced by Hyltin, making her debut in the role.

And, yup, the site indicates it's a role debut for Carmena.

-amanda

From the NYST Lobby

Some of the TBAs have turned out to be very interesting.

Two new Hippolytas: Ellen Bar, on Wednesday and Sat. Mat.; Ana Sophia Scheller, Thursday and Sunday.

Pascale vanKipnis is  back as Hermia on Thursday and Sunday.

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Any Bouder listings?

-she of the one-track mind... amanda

Sometime in my tenure attending NYCB performances (15 years, since 1990), i saw the scherzo performend by, I think, Samantha Allen. Not sure who her partner was-- perhaps, Tom Gold? The four corps members in it are senior or up-and-coming girls, as they don't have it easy, either.

-amanda

No...that's not Ashley Bouder, that's Maria Kowroski (in all white).

Who's behind Wendy (to HER left)?

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Behind Wendy's left side is Marcovici.

-amanda

I'm going to be one big emotional mess at Soto's farewell, between the sadness at his retiring and the joy at having some of my favorite dancers back!

-amanda

Friday night, Philip Neal replaced Stephen Hanna in Brahms-Schoenberg, and according to the cast list in the lobby, Amar Ramasar will replace Hanna in Saturday's Goldberg.

I didn't notice if Concertino was changed and was unable to check any changes for next week.

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Thanks carbo! Ramasar is finally getting cast in solo/principal roles a LOT! I have admired him since his '99 SAB Workship as a Percussion in Fanfare. While most of the dancers seemed nervous, as would be expected, he just had beautiful fun. I hope they continue to use him well!

-amanda

I guess everyone already has his or ticket... but you can now bring a friend!

Yes, the ticket is still available. Message me if you would like the ticket.

-amanda

Diamonds.  Nilas continues to defy the laws of physics.  How can anyone of his build be so incredibly light in petit allegro???  Wendy had an off night.  She was clearly fatigued by the end and missed some signature moments in the pdd.  Of the demis, Dena Abergel's musicality and warmth made her a standout.

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For once, I think we disagree! I have never seen Whelan give such a beautiful performance of this ballet before. Perhaps, I was just in the mood for it, but she seemed more ethereal than usual and seemed to capture the essence of a Diamond-- exquisite and slightly untouchable/unreachable. She had some back bends that gave me chills.

-amanda

I have an extra ticket for this Sunday's matinee. 4th Ring G center (I can give specific assignment to anyone interested).

Please contact me if you would like to buy the ticket from me (at cost).

Thanks.

-amanda

The last of the items are posted on eBay:

Autographed Apollo poster with autographed Peter Boal sweatshirt

Autographed Rubies poster with autographed Maria Kowroski pointe shoes

2005 Headshot Book signed by company members

NYCB AIDS Walk Team Page with eBay listings

Good luck!!!

-amanda

I'll add to the thanks and kudos...

Thanks, carbro! Great job! I couldn't get out of work early enough to make the seminar, so I am so grateful that you took notes and posted them!

-amanda

The robe and the headshot book are still on eBay, now at lower prices-- they're steals at the current price!!!

Remember-- if you bid and win, you not only get a great NYCB souvenir but you're helping AIDS organizations, as well.

-amanda

Thanks for bringing this feature to our attention, Amanda.  Do you know if it will change weekly?

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It does not speak to when and how frequently these pieces will be posted. But, it does say that she will be posting pieces throughout the spring, so we can hope for a few more, at least!

-amanda