FPF

And Justin Peck was the choregrapher. https://variety.com/2021/music/news/dolly-parton-remake-9-to-5-squarespace-super-bowl-ad-campaign-1234898226/

Taylor Stanley from NYCB is going to be featured in an Inside the Pillow Lab" on February 18th. More information here: https://www.jacobspillow.org/events/inside-the-pillow-lab-taylor-stanley/ Links to information for other "Inside the Pillow Lab" presentations, both past and future, can be found here: https://www.jacobspillow.org/programs/opportunities-for-artists/pillow-lab/

Jacob's Pillow just premiered a short film about a Dorrance Dance's residency in late 2020. Watching them dance really cheered me up. Joyful!

The New York Times has published an obituary for Barbara Weisberger, founder of the Pennsylvania Ballet. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/arts/dance/barbara-weisberger-dead.html

My local paper has an article today about plans for the summer for some of the many local arts organizations with summer seasons/festivals. https://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Classical-Notes-15821518.php Among the small signs of hope for the summer: SPAC says that NYCB, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Opera Saratoga are all committed to a summer presence, with discussions ongoing. Elizabeth Sobol says, “Whatever door to presenting our resident companies is open to us next summer, we want to be primed and ready to walk through it,” It also sounds like Glimmerglass will have some programming, although the Francesa Zambello says "the season will be “an adventure” and make new use of the company’s 26 acres of outdoor space. “You will just find yourself taking in more fresh air while enjoying performances.” Not sure if this was already posted, but Kaatsbaan also recently announced plans for a spring festival in May that will include performances by ABT and Mark Morris Dance Group, plus performers from Alvin Ailey and NYCB (including Maria Kowroski, Ask La Cour, and Gonzalo Garcia). Press release here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c46010375f9ee29faa8134b/t/5fd7b6bd085ac14bd12186ff/1607972543222/Kaaatsbaan+-+Spring+Festival+2021+Press+Release.pdf NYT article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/14/arts/dance/kaatsbaan-announces-spring-festival.html

This is the smaller of the two theaters at the Pillow, and it's a total loss. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Pamela Tatge (artistic director) says they will rebuild. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Duke-theater-at-Jacob-s-Pillow-destroyed-by-fire-15733854.php?IPID=Times-Union-HP-CP-Spotlight https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/arts/dance/jacobs-pillow-massachusetts-fire.html https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/jacobs-pillow-theater-destroyed-in-fire/article_0e5885d2-28db-11eb-aea2-a3d92bb1741e.html

The New York Times has published an obituary. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/arts/dance/susan-hendl-dead.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Obituaries

The NYT weighs in: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/25/arts/dance/alexandra-waterbury-chase-finlay-lawsuit.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Arts

I don't understand all the legal ins and outs of this case, but it looks to me like Chase Finlay is appealing some of the decision. Among the many "interesting" claims this appeal makes is that Waterbury assaulted Finlay. Details: https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=1w8RR10q1obR_PLUS_l_PLUS_goRiN3Q==

The NYCB Facebook page has announced Susan Hendl's death: The New York City Ballet family mourns the passing of Susan Hendl, a beloved member of the Company for more than 50 years. Susie joined NYCB as a dancer in 1965 and was promoted to soloist in 1972. Upon her retirement from dancing in 1983, Susie began a career as a repetiteur, generously sharing her extraordinary first-hand knowledge of the works of NYCB’s co-founding choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins with countless NYCB dancers and numerous ballet companies throughout the United States and Europe. A treasured friend and colleague, her remarkable contributions to the world of ballet will live on through generations of dancers and teachers. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her extensive ballet family and many friends. She will be greatly missed. I remember seeing her as Dewdrop in Nutcracker when I was a girl.

Between the lawsuit documents and this article, Longhitano comes across as a really lovely person. From the article (on protests about homeless people being housed at an UWS hotel to mitigate coronavirus spread): There are references to second amendment rights, and one commenter Jared Longhitano, who declined to comment further on what he had written when reached over the phone, proposed “having round the clock militias shooting these assholes.” He also suggested that residents “kick them in front of a bus if possible.”

Also, Titania in Midsummer, the Susan Stroman ballets, Slaughter on Tenth Ave.

I'm very happy about this. These programs really gave me something to look forward to every week this past spring.

SPAC is replacing the ballet floor and looking for donations to help fund it after the cancellation of this summer season. The floor was already ordered so that it would be in place for this summer and since it was custom-made, they couldn't cancel the order. Daily Gazette article here: https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/07/30/spac-seeks-help-with-ballet-floor-plan?utm_source=SPAC+Master&utm_campaign=0e5c5530bf-EMAIL_GFM_halfway0810&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_506934f83b-0e5c5530bf-217250197&mc_cid=0e5c5530bf&mc_eid=bee1c0630b GoFundMe link here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/a-new-dance-floor-for-spac?utm_source=Unknown+List&utm_campaign=2d968b968b-EMAIL_Ballet-Floor-Fundraiser&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-2d968b968b-&mc_cid=2d968b968b&mc_eid=[UNIQID]

This clip from John Clifford's YouTube channel has the Pas de Neuf and Valse Bluette (LA Ballet): Alexandra Danilova's Kennedy Center honor featuring Darci Kistler and Robert Lyon in the White Swan Pas de Deux.

Megan posted a new interview with Wendy Whelan where they discuss their memories of Albert Evans.

Jacob's Pillow is starting their Virtual Pillow series next week, which will continue through August 29th. More information here: https://www.jacobspillow.org/virtual-pillow/ Up for next week (each of these will be the first of a weekly series): July 7th at 4 pm: Ballet Master Class with Sascha Radetsky July 9th at 7 pm: Limon Dance Company (Chaconne, The Moor's Pavane, Suite from A Choreographic Offering, Corvidae)--this performance is from the 2018 season July 10th at 3 pm, Families Dance Together virtual class (continuing weekly at this time through 8/28) July 12th at 5 pm, PillowTalk with Dr. Shamell Bell (Dartmouth), Street Dance Activism Scholar Other upcoming performances include: Circa on 7/16; Ronald K. Brown/Evidence on 7/23, the Royal Danish Ballet on 7/30; Dance Theater of Harlem on 8/6; Bereishit Dance Company on 8/13; Tero Saarinen Company and the Boston Camerata on 8/20; And Still You Must Swing on 8/27. Upcoming PillowTalks include: Duets from Quebec on 7/17; 50 years of Ballet Hispanico on 7/24; Cleo Parker Robinson's 50th on 7/31; Liz Lerman's Wicked Bodies on 8/7; Dancerly Intelligences on 8/14; La Meri and Her Life in Dance on 8/21; and Black Artists in Dance Today on 8/28 Master classes are from: Ephrat Asherie and Archie Burnett (7/14); Desmond Richardson (7/21); Omarie Wiles (7/28); Virginia Johnson (8/4); Aszure Barton (8/18); and Ami Schulman (8/25)

Le Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal is back in the studio: https://grandsballets.com/en/news/detail/les-grands-ballets-dancers-are-back-in-the-studios/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gb2019&utm_content=retourdesdanseurs

The two cancelled Lincoln Center Dance Week NYCB performances have been rescheduled. Coppelia will be at 8 pm on 6/22 and Tribute to Balanchine will be at 8 pm on 6/29. More details here: http://lincolncenter.org/lincoln-center-at-home/series/live-from-lincoln-center

I haven't had a chance to watch either of these videos yet, but I thought some BalletAlerters might be interested. First, there's a Works & Process video from the Guggenheim with choreography by Josh Bergasse performed by Sara Mearns as part of their virtual commissions series: Then, there is a discussion with Bergasse as part of BSC@Home (Barrington Stage):

Thanks for posting fiddleback. I really enjoyed this.

I've checked the YouTube channel and Facebook page and I don't see it in either place.

Was tonight's Lincoln Center Dance Week program pulled (Tribute to Balanchine)? I just looked at the website and I don't see the program listed anymore.

I also really enjoyed this. Thanks to fiddleback for spreading the word.

Thanks for posting this yesterday--I couldn't figure out where the link was and thanks to you I didn't have to.