BalanchineFan

While I am sure Gabe Thayer has experienced racism, citing how Nina Simone missed out on a classical career without mentioning her towering contribution to popular music and her activism, came at the end of a long line of myopic, poorly judged points in this article. I wish someone would write something fabulous and paradigm shifting about racism at ABT and in ballet in general. Gabe Shayer will not be the one.

I say this as a Black woman, as someone who lived and danced professionally in several foreign countries, as someone who studied ballet and wasn't just miscast, but was treated as invisible as people took my money for class.

It does make me want to cross the plaza to see Taylor Stanley in Kyle Abraham's The Runaway, again. Or his Apollo.

And I have to mention, asking to be cast as The Prince while photographed in knee length blonde braids? He's not making it easy for anyone.

29 minutes ago, abatt said:

I saw Wendy Whelan on the subway last week and said hello.  She was very nice and down to earth.  She asked me what I would like to see programmed in the future, as the company is already planning the 2024-25 season.  I mentioned that Davidbundertanze  had not been performed in a long time.  She replied that "You need the right tall guy for that one."  So that was my brush with ballet royalty on the subway system.

Too bad Russell Janzen is retiring. He'd be perfect in Davidsbundlertanze.  Maybe Taylor Stanley or Joseph Gordon, now. Adrian D-S would do it justice too.

On 7/4/2023 at 8:56 AM, uptowner said:

I could be remembering incorrectly, but I think the apprentices are usually announced when when the fall season begins (September) or later if they start for Nutcracker. Is it always “announced”? I think sometimes their names just show up on the roster. I recall that in recent years SAB usually does a little feature on Instagram congratulating them and showing now/then pics of when they started at the school. 

Thanks for the info on Charlie Klesa, I have heard he's one to watch and I think he's already had a role or two stepping in as an understudy or something.

As I remember,  the IG stories are for new company members (corps de ballet) and not for apprentices. 

On 7/1/2023 at 5:56 PM, dirac said:

Unfortunately, for every insight it seems like there's another distracting boo-boo. I haven't encountered such a misuse of fulsome since Gelsey Kirkland's reference to "fulsome breasts."

Doesn't fulsome also mean 2. of large size or quantity, generous or abundant? 

On 6/16/2023 at 6:30 AM, Balletwannabe said:

Has anyone seen an announcement of new apprentices?  I saw one that had congratulations on IG.  

Charlie Klesa is the only one that comes to mind. Now I can't remember if he's a new apprentice or a new company member. Who was being congratulated on IG?

On 6/9/2023 at 8:25 PM, canbelto said:

Disheartened by the negative comments about Love Letter (On Shuffle). I found it to be a very moving ballet, much better than The Runaway. The final duet was beautiful.

I'm also very encouraged to see a (basically) modern dance choreographer doing so much, and so well, with classical technique and pointe work. I liked the ballet and think Kyle Abraham deserves kudos for that, too.

I found The Runaway more revolutionary, however. Love Letter on Shuffle is sweeter and more soulful.

On 6/3/2023 at 10:23 AM, KikiRVA said:

And Naomi Corti is in for Solo.  That’s a great opportunity for her.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtEUz7QABjP/

A little taste of Naomi Corti in Solo. Breathtaking, if you ask me...

Well, I saw Pereira in Square Dance and it was after Megan Fairchild had been out a week. I thought they should have had Alexa Maxwell do the ballerina role and moved Ruby Lister, Quinn Starner or Mimi Staker into Maxwell’s corps role. 

Or Emma Von Enck in the lead. Pereira would have kept her previously scheduled performances. It’s not like they don’t have the talent available. 

I can’t imagine that’s what Pereira is thinking, now though. 

Thank you for the links!! I'm rooting for Natalie Glassie. Wherever she goes, whatever she does. She's that lead in Brahms-Schoenberg.

NY Times review of the season from Gia K. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/29/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-dancer-standouts.html?searchResultPosition=1
Standing (and Dancing) Strong at New York City Ballet

Kind of makes me feel sorry for Erica Pereira.

On 5/20/2023 at 1:11 PM, cobweb said:

I think the audience should be warned this isn't really Swan Lake -- just a cut-up version of the second and fourth acts.

Perhaps I am quibbling, but of course it’s “really” Swan Lake. It’s certainly not Agon. It’s just not a full-length. Who says you need four or five acts to tell the story? Does it turn into a different story just because it’s shorter? Or do you need Odile for your Swan Lake?

Is Ashton’s The Dream not really Midsummer?

Is Balanchine’s Midsummer not really Midsummer for wrapping up the plot before intermission? Does that make it less authentic?

Perhaps I’m in a mood. 

7 hours ago, tutu said:

In the audio for the video, Peck says, “I’m out” and the PT asks what happened — it’s definitely a conversation in the tone of injury 

I stand corrected. 

And Maxwell has been killing it all season. I'm also impressed by Olivia MacKinnon. She seems much more herself onstage. More comfortable, more relaxed. Impressive technique without straining. And MT MacKinnon showing her talent as well. She was great in Times are Racing.

9 hours ago, fondoffouettes said:

This post on the recently formed Dogs of NYCB Instagram account suggests that she's injured:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsXRk4TJkGF/

I hope it's OK to link to this account, as I assume it must be dancer-run and therefore "official" news? It's so sweet to see the dancers with their dogs as they get PT! Highly recommend this account to any dog lovers out there.

The site is cute. Thanks for the link!
 

 Just FYI, getting PT really doesn’t prove a dancer is out with an injury. It can be a way of keeping things on track so they don’t get worse and prevent you from performing, too. 
 

Tiler did post on IG that her spring season is over. Re: Copland Dances “it was a great way for me to end a wonderful season.”
Maybe that’s just casting and rep, maybe it’s something else. 

1 hour ago, abatt said:

There is no $8 per ticket online handling fee if you are a subscriber. 

Thank you. I found it a bit confusing online. You have to sign into your account and search for $38 tickets in each ring. When you click on the seat, it says there may be a $12 fee per ticket, but then when you actually check out (as a subscriber) the fee is only $4. 

So I could have saved myself a trip to the box office and gotten the tickets online for the same $42 each.

Someone was asking upthread. They have opened the third ring for certain performances. Today I got $42 tickets for 5/27 matinee ($38 + $4/ticket service charge in person at the box office.) There's a $12/ticket service charge if you order online or by phone. Still, it's a deal.

Go in person. Ask for the $38 tickets.

Charlie Klesa and Olivia Bell are now in the NYCB corps de ballet!! Congratulations. 
(It’s on Instagram.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsGqwZ-O1UC/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr7PvNgMEx1/

On 5/7/2023 at 2:16 PM, California said:

Has anyone found information on how they are handling tickets for the October 11 75th anniversary performance? It's excluded from all the subscription packages (standard and flex) and the web site also says subscription tickets cannot be exchanged into that performance. I assume that performance will be much in demand, and I wonder how/when they'll make it available.

I wonder if they're aiming for a gala type evening. Celebrities, red carpet, etc. Or maybe something just for balletomanes.

I’ve seen the posts.
Rehab was definitely a good idea for him. Many people who have been through extensive rehab, therapy (and other traumas) become therapists. Certainly none of us are as bad as our worst mistakes. 

I am taking a wait and see approach (not that he needs my approval), though I’m glad there are messages of support on his IG. 

Wasn’t Ashley Bouder  wearing a black lace dress and black heels?

On 4/28/2023 at 10:39 PM, abatt said:

 

I think they should do See The Music during the intermission.

 

I can’t imagine the orchestra would agree to that. Nor their union. 

8 hours ago, BalanchineFan said:

8 hours ago, abatt said:

Most people don't know that it is a See the Music program when they buy  tickets.

Do they announce it at the beginning of the season? See the Music is certainly on the schedule by the time casting is announced. That's enough time to exchange your tickets, if that is of interest.

31 minutes ago, abatt said:

Most people don't know that it is a See the Music program when they buy  tickets.

They could definitely let people know earlier. At a certain point they know when they’re going to schedule See the Music. 
NYCB used to have more programs run by docents and volunteers. They would do 4th Ring talks during intermissions and talks before certain performances. I seem to remember they got rid of the staff person who ran these programs during the pandemic. Not sure they replaced them. 

6 hours ago, abatt said:

I think they don't have time to do quick training of someone new in a lead role, so Erica has been the beneficiary of Megan's absence.  

They should rethink that, if time is the issue. Just my opinion. A few hours in the studio and try someone else. They had a week.

Also, Merrill Ashley is pretty tall. Height should not be an impediment to Isabelle LaFreniere dancing Square Dance at some point.

I'm sad to hear people don't enjoy See the Music. I loved Andrew Litton and his talk about Stravinsky. Most orchestras only play 4 Stravinsky works (Firebird, L'Histoire du Soldat, Petrushka, Sacre du Printemps ) while NYCB has, IIRC, 37 Stravinsky pieces in regular repertory and, has performed 61 ballets to his music in company history. People know the breadth of Stravinsky's work largely because Balanchine choreographed it! He said Symphony in Three Movements requires a lot of orchestra rehearsal and that orchestras can't spend that much time rehearsing a piece that is an "opener." We probably hear more Stravinsky than anywhere else.

I also remember Litton's See the Music on Midsummer. They played the musical themes for different characters.

Was See the Music focused on the Debussy or on another piece of music?

On 3/22/2023 at 8:08 AM, miliosr said:

We'll see if Christopher Wheeldon's 'name' is enough to get people into seats at the Met. My sense about MJ is that Michael Jackson's music is the draw for audiences.

I think it's Wheeldon's work on An American in Paris that they're hoping will help in NYC. It's similar in the film-adapted-into-ballet genre, even though it also has singing and a spoken narrative.