BalanchineFan

I saw her point more as, why get rid of Peter Martins and keep his lousy choreography? The best parts of NYCB's SB are from Balanchine or perhaps Petipa. Most newspapers reprint a statement rehashing the history of the Martins allegations. I think it's so that they can say to casual viewers, this is the ballet company that you remember from that story, rather than another ballet company. When NYCB stops presenting Martins' choreography, they'll have to stop doing it. IMO, it makes more sense for people who don't read about ballet that often. It's not that great a SB, as SBs go. Better than Martins' R&J... but that's faint praise. I think Kourlas got it right regarding Woodward and Fairchild as Aurora. Phelan too, though I missed her performances. She obviously saw LaFreniere's first night. The only thing I like about this SB as a production is that the hunting scene is shortened. Aside from the Garland Dance, individual dancers make it or break it. If the accompanist played Tschaikovsky I'd be just as happy watching them take class. Thank you @cargill for posting the reviews of Copland Dance Episodes. I thought it interesting that Marina Harss skips over first cast Tiler Peck and goes on to describe Alexa Maxwell in the role they shared. Nothing against Tiler Peck, but Harss is correct, Maxwell was the revelation, the discovery.

Lauren Lovett also danced Waltz “Girl” beautifully at her final NYCB performance. Thanks @Helene and @bellawood obviously I’m not up on how the roles track.

She’s the one getting lifted up on people’s shoulders at the end.

I understood the question as “who would you like to see dance Concerto Barocco?” rather than a prediction of who will be cast.

I saw her dance it with Maria Kowroski. I was hard to "see" them both, they are built on such a different scale.

Mira Nadon has pictures of herself rehearsing Serenade on her IG stories. There's a clue. Not sure how long it will stay up. She's also doing something new, dancing with Emilie Gerrity. https://www.instagram.com/stories/mira_nadon/3061552371167544425/ Megan Fairchild rehearsing Square Dance https://www.instagram.com/stories/mfairchild17/3061431737649796140/

Maybe it's an orchestra issue. I'm totally guessing. Do they bring the full orchestra to DC? It says Pictures at an Exhibition has a piano score, Solo has a string quartet playing the Barber and IIRC, Love Letter (on shuffle) has recorded music. The other program should have an orchestra with Square Dance, Donizetti, Afternoon of a Faun and Concerto Barocco. My mother once choreographed the Barber and she found three recordings, one at 6 minutes, one at 8:50 and one that was 11:20 minutes long!

Phelan and Gerrity Phelan and Woodward Nadon and .. anyone, sure LaFreniere Woodward and Maxell LaFreniere and Kikta (flip a coin for who dances the ppd) Laracey and ... again, anyone ( I saw her debut with Silas Farley, lovely, but maybe this time a man who isn't a foot taller) I'm not sure they could come up with casting that I WOULDN'T like.

Thanks for posting. It's a great read. What a prince of a guy.

Marika Anderson said on IG that her last NYCB performance would be Serenade in Madrid. Sorry to hear about Clara Miller.

I saw LaFreniere's second SB on the Sunday matinee and it was beautiful. None of the mishaps you mention.

I don't think it's height that is holding her back, at least not in terms of partnering. All the women who were promoted this go-around had had debuts in Balanchine rep. I haven't seen them throwing leading Balanchine parts at Kikta. I also don't think she's done the Reichlen role in Everywhere We Go, which doesn't have a lot of partnering. I saw Kikta as Hippolyta awhile back (was it last spring?) and she seemed unfocused physically. If it wasn't just a one time issue, maybe she hasn't yet developed the strength and speed for those kinds of roles. A lot of taller dancers need more strength to move their limbs quickly. Hippolyta must be a bear to perform, all those turns with the smoke, the cape, the headdress, the bow and arrow.

I was shocked and disappointed that Maxwell was not promoted yesterday, but also really happy for the dancers that became principal.

Mejia danced Bluebird ppd today, so no, I have no idea why he would be replaced Saturday. He was fabulous. The crowd went wild. I liked LaFreniere as Aurora. Some of the story gets lost or flattened out. I can see why you wouldn't want to play too young or skittish if you're trying to calm your nerves for those balances. It may be a house of Balanchine thing, or just being new in the role. The Rose Adagio was solid technically and she seemed freer once the balances had gone well. Peter Walker really moved me in the Vision scene. He has the bearing of a prince and the intense, searching aspect of the character is strong. He had a bit of trouble landing his jumps in the Wedding, but no matter. The fish dives were great. The way they do it (at least today) it's almost like he gets her in the dive in penché arabesque then she lifts her bottom leg. It was fully danced and exciting. It's a tall cast, with Christina Clark as the Queen and Emily Kikta as Lilac Fairy. They work well together. Emma Von Enck is great in Puss & Boots. Alexa Maxwell really shone. She's had an amazing winter season, preceded by an amazing fall and spring. The jewels section isn't great. I agree with whoever was questioning the choreography. I think it would be hard to make a huge impact with what they're given. Davide Riccardo danced Gold well, aside from a little bobble ending his last turn. He is so beautiful to watch. Lands his jumps like butter. Silent. The jesters killed it. Brought the house down. Excellent timing, in canon, unison, everything. It's been a season with lots and lots of debuts. It's exciting, after years of seeing the same five or six ballerinas do everything.

Dominika Afanasenkov is in On Pointe, and she's done (at least) one of the SAB pointe shoe hack videos. I don't remember Afanasankov getting her apprenticeship during On Pointe, however. I could be mistaken but I only remember Zoe Bliss Magnussen and (later) Ruby Lister getting theirs. I think Dominika is a year or so younger.

I know that male dancers in Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux have different variations, sanctioned by Balanchine. I don't see why that wouldn't be the case here as well. In his book, D'amboise wrote that Balanchine sometimes asked the men, "What can you do, dear?" meaning, what are your best tricks, jumps, turns, etc. and the variation would be based on that. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn0rNQ9ok0u/

I could see doing it right before the Spring season begins. Build lots of excitement for future performances of the newly promoted dancers. It doesn't make sense to me to do it now when they have... what.. five shows left before a break.

According to her IG, she had to drop out of a Nutcracker around Dec 6, 2002 due to achilles tendinitis.

My prediction is that Mira Nadon and Isabelle LaFreniere will be promoted to principal. My crystal ball and my ballet-going companions are practically yelling it out.

I saw her in the patrons dress rehearsal and she was just astounding. So vibrant, technically secure, reveling in all her moments. It was a joy to watch.

She had a baby somewhat recently. Her daughter can be seen on her Instagram.

THANK YOU! I never saw her live and I so wish I had. What sheer joy and mastery. I can't stop smiling.

Speaking of Fairy variations, has anyone seen this https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoxAkUQgL-0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= It’s been awhile since I’ve seen any of the fairy variations danced with such dynamics and authority. Whelan practically does a straddle split leap into that 4th position to start. I’m not sure how the tempo compares, but it’s clear that THIS is the tempo she wants. So, so musical!

Nieve Corrigan danced in her place, as she's doing Bradley's schedule and her own shows the rest of the week.

Darci left SAB shortly after Peter resigned. I deleted my entire post when I started thinking about how Martins would have known Unity Phelan, Indiana Woodward and any other dancers he took into the company and promoted, quite well.