BalanchineFan

Omg, her LINES in that arabesque! Wow.

NYCB had full casts for Bourree and for Slaughter at the dress this afternoon, so they have a good 50-60 dancers at the theater already. I took the subway down to Columbus Circle from way uptown (and back, the ABCD subway line) without any incident, so I’d be surprised if there were any changes, but who knows where the dancers are coming from.

NYCB is still having its open dress for Bourree Fantasque. Susan Pilarre (or a woman who looks EXACTLY like her) is repertory director for the corps de ballet. Maybe that’s why she’s not at SAB. I haven’t seen Rosemary Dunleavy so far.

What fun!! Looks like a great program. I'm not a Medici member so I'll wait until the PBS broadcast. Thanks for the heads up!

Someone asked about a tall, red head upthread. I think it is Oscar Estep https://www.instagram.com/p/CxsvnaPMH8b/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== And congrats to all the new apprentices!

Russell Janzen is such a beautiful dancer. So princely and elegant. He got a huge ovation on the Diamonds entrance and it looked like he was trying not to laugh. They pulled themselves together and dig into the choreography. I think he and Sara had every emotion possible. After the ppd, she was fighting tears (briefly) and mostly he registered joy and relief. The next moment the emotions were switched. It still amazes me in Diamonds, how they walk in from opposite corners and end center, so far apart, arms outstretched, just fingers clasping. I particularly enjoyed seeing Teresa Reichlen and Maria Kowrowski returning for the farewell. Kristen Segin also seems to have a special bond with Russell.

Please NYCB, cast Gilbert Bolden III and Christopher Grant into more Balanchine Prince roles, please! Davide Riccardo, Alec Knight and Aaron Sanz, too. But mostly Gilbert Bolden.

Why would we do that? Would that imply anything about our worth?

Olivia Boisson didn't dance for a few seasons due to an injury, which must impact one's trajectory. She's only been back a year or two.

I find they often cast dancers in a hierarchy, like getting 3rd movement Bizet before first, or (in SB) doing Bluebird before the leads. I look forward to seeing Emma Von Enck in Symphony in C! I think she’ll be great and spritely with all those jumps. I’m also not surprised to hear that Isabelle LaFreniere was beautiful and expansive in Diamonds. Iirc, she was slated to debut the role with Zachary Catazaro (back when he was with NYCB). There’s an IG post with both of them in studio, in costume, somewhere. She’s a beautiful dancer and she’s been working on Diamonds for years.

I thought the pink clad intermission lover was Marika Anderson. I don't have any confirmation, but I thought the woman looked and acted like her. Also, Domenika Afanasenkov danced both Emeralds and Diamonds on Tuesday!

A few dancers are in the corps of Emeralds and Diamonds. India Bradley often has that assignment. The corps in Diamonds tends to be taller dancers.

The orchestra is not on strike. They are playing for all performances. The orchestra reached an agreement with management that lasts through the end of this fall season. They were demonstrating in front of the theater and a crew from Eyewitness News was there to cover it. The evening was really magnificent. Fabulous debits from Indiana Woodward and Tyler Angle in Emeralds. Wendy said there were 250 alums there and they all came onstage for the final bow. In the front Suzanne Farrell was in a white jacket, next to Lourdes Lopez in a long red dress. Heather Watts in black with sensible shoes. Merrill Ashley led Patricia McBride who was helping Edward Villella. Suki Schorer and Kay Mazzo were also among those in the front. I saw Amar Ramasar, Nikolai Hubbe, Alexei Ratmansky , Darla Hoover and Christopher Wheeldon in the audience but I couldn’t name all 250! If you pass by the theater before Oct 1, the slow motion films run beginning at 7 pm each night.

I do NOT think Stafford is a megalomaniac. Not at all. It’s a large school. I’m sure many different factors with staff come into play. IIRC, SAB’s statement said Hoover asked to leave. If you have information from another public facing source you should cite it. from upthread: “SAB just sent out email that elaborates (slightly) on some of the staff changes discussed here. Of special note: Suzanne Farrell will be a visiting teacher!” Chair of Faculty Darla Hoover informed us in August that she was stepping down from her position and ending her tenure on SAB’s faculty effective with the start of this Winter Term. We extend our sincere thanks to Darla for her leadership and wish her all the best in her next steps.

Maria Kowrowski returned to perform once after her retirement. So did Robert LaFosse (more then once!). Maybe, once you’re T. Peck, you’re always T. Peck. I suppose it’s not out of the question that Justin Peck might also set foot onstage again, in some role or another.

I don't see Stars & Stripes listed in her NYCB rep. Did I miss it? I've also googled "tiler peck" and tarantella and I only get results from Vail, but maybe I missed the NYCB performances, too.

There's not SO much in week 2 that I would consider to be in her regular rep: Agon, Slaughter, Bourree Fantasque, Western Symphony. Does she usually dance Stars & Stripes or Tarantella?

It’s not like Tall Girl has a lot of petit allegro. Christina Clark was so lovely in the Haieff, I’m glad she’s getting more roles.

Peck has cast The Times Are Racing without regards to gender. Both the tap "couple" and another couple in the piece (two roles) have been both same -sex coupled and cis coupled.

What information did you get about Darla Hoover and Sheryl Ware leaving? I'm an SAB patron and I don't think I've been sent anything. Are they looking for a new person to replace Darla Hoover? I was looking forward to her tenure.

I disagree. I also find it strange to assume so much personal preference goes into casting. I've run a dance company and sometimes you're just looking around for someone who can do the role that won't eat up all of your available rehearsal time. Or you have young women debuting the role who need a steady and experienced partner. Aren't we getting a lot of debuts this season? I love Tyler Angle and I'm glad he's dancing with his bald head onstage whatever his weight!!!!!!!

People are finding dancers on YouTube, but not ballet companies. Beyonce found many of her dancers in her current tour from YouTube (ballet trained). Twyla Tharp cast a few young dancers for her City Center season (2022 or 2021 I believe) from YouTube. There were also dancers featured at Vail that Heather and Damian found on YouTube.

SAB still has the announcement that Darla Hoover was hired, though. I thought this would be her first full season heading things. https://sab.org/school-of-american-ballet-appoints-new-leaders/

This is entirely speculation but Susan Pilarre doesn’t seem to be listed in SAB’s current faculty. Maybe I’m just missing her name, but she definitely taught there until last spring and would qualify as chosen by Balanchine. I hope she is well. https://sab.org/faculty/ https://m.facebook.com/SABNYC/videos/30-seconds-with-suzy-pilarre/3021531621416150/

Fabulous pairing for that ballet! I bet it's the first movement. Did he dance the first movement for SAB workshop? I think Savannah Durham did it, but there were two casts. I think it's a good role for her. Not too much jumping, IIRC.