BalanchineFan

Did Unity dance Apollo with Adrian? I know she’s done the ppd at Vail with Calvin Royal. I’m also wondering who LaFreniere’s Apollo would be. Any clues, ideas or premonitions out there?

Jovani Furlan rehearsing Rubies with Emma Von Enck. So many casting nuggets going up on IG https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwQLveAgoji/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I'm hoping Savannah Durham gets a go. I think she'd be a great Tall Girl.

There’s a short clip of Balanchine and Danilova rehearsing three dancers in a pas de trois in the film In Balanchine’s Classroom. The man is Bujones. I think Connie Hochman is one of the women. Now I wonder if they’re rehearsing this Glinka pas de Trois. also, thank you to all who posted links to the livestream from Vail. I particularly enjoyed Jeffrey Cirio in the new Kyle Abraham, If You Run, I Might Fall. In and out of the floor like butter, and then triple pirouettes and gargouillades. WATCH IT BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS! It’s so nice to see K Abraham choreographing to Bach! I hope it turns into a study for a longer piece, it seems to just end when it could go on and on.

And his long blonde braids, too.

I saw Whiteside twice this season. Once with Hurlin in SL and once with Murphy in R&J. I have to say that R&J really suits him. He and Murphy were great together. I love her in everything! There's a moment in the first act, after Juliet has been playing with the doll and her Nurse, where Murphy discovers that she has a bosom. So funny and touching. Whiteside seems much more free as Romeo. Very full with his emotions, beautiful dancing! He turns and spins (which Romeo does more than Prince Siegfried, IIRC) and his jumps seemed easier and more assured. I also think the drama gives Whiteside more to sink his teeth into. In 1976 I saw Nureyev dance R&J at the Met. I can't remember if he was with Royal or a guest with ABT. Is this that same, exact production?

Hurlin was amazing. I saw it last night. Fully realized, resplendent, gorgeous upper back and port de bras as both Odette and Odile, quite different in each role, technically assured. Whiteside looks good in the role, but I didn't feel there was a great connection between them. The corps de ballet is splendid, particularly in the white swan lakeside scenes. Hurlin does the fouettés straightforwardly, musically and building to a climax. She had a fabulous balance as Odile, but mostly you just want to watch her when she's onstage. She seemed to be enjoying her power as Odile, which was great to see.

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.

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.

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.

Doesn't fulsome also mean 2. of large size or quantity, generous or abundant? 1. complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. "they are almost embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation" 2. of large size or quantity; generous or abundant. "a fulsome harvest"

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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?