bellawood

I think the adrenaline was pumping last night because there was wonderful energy but sometimes a lack of control. as @matilda mentioned, Lauren Collett fell on her face (to no lasting ill effect) about 8 seconds into Bouree (I found Bouree really adorable and LOVED the "battle of the grand jetes" in the last movement). Then Victor Abreu almost dropped Alexa Maxwell when she jumped into his arms. In Symphony in C Janelle Manzi lost her arabesque in the 2nd movement, and Charlie Klesa did a Risky Business-style slide on his knees in the 3rd movement. I'm chalking it up to the excitement of the new season, the myriad casting changes already posted, and the thrill of having Suzanne Farrell in the house. It's too bad about Isabella LaFreniere's injury/illness -- I think she would be much more compelling than Emilie Gerrity in 1st movement Symphony in C and I was looking forward to watching her in Brahms and Dances. Not sure what's going on with Woodward? She was in the background in sneakers watching the Dances rehearsal on Instagram yesterday, but is out of Brahms and the new ballet that's going next week. The program was very fun, even though I was moaning and groaning about Steadfast before I watched it, I cackled meanly at the doll's immolation. Errante feels like a fragment of a larger ballet—an absolutely stunning and wild solo that Mira knocked out of the park and then a sort of odd ballet that gets tacked on at the end. I had seen snippets of this on YouTube but never the whole thing, and it's always been the solo. I thought both Megan and Sara looked excellent in Symphony in C. Sara, in particular, looked "back" in a way she hadn't this fall/winter. Tyler Angle also looks more in form than he has recently.

My thoughts exactly! Other interesting debuts: Nadon/Sanz in Errante -- saw photos on Nadon's Instagram of Suzanne Farrell's coaching, seeing this Tuesday LaFreniere in Symphony in C 1st movement -- would have thought she would be tapped for 2nd movement (of course I'm dying to see Mira dance 2nd movement) LaFreniere as green girl in Dances Mejia in Dances, as brown? Woodward in Dances as pink -- don't know if she can bring Tiler/Sterling levels to this role Nadon 2nd movement B-SQ: perfect role for her, can't wait, and with Bolden

Just back from the matinee -- Debuts in Opus 19 for Alexa Maxwell and Anthony Huxley. To me, this part belongs to Joseph Gordon right now. He embraces both the classical parts and the weirdness in the choreography. Anthony Huxley came off a little paint-by-numbers in this one. He's going to need a moment to relax into it. Alexa Maxwell was very good in her debut. She gets a bunch of what I would consider "Sterling" rep -- but Sterling's stage persona was quite different than Alexa's. Sterling was IN CONTROL. She was sometimes playful, sometimes imperious, but always at a slight remove. It was impressive to watch if sometimes chilly. Alexa is much more vulnerable on stage. It serves her well in Opus. However, with Huxley's natural reserve, it felt like a casting mismatch. Solitude was devastating. I cried. I'll need several viewings for a more academic analysis of this ballet. As usual, Mira stood out. My only quibble is why was Indiana Woodward in this ballet? Sometimes, the talent pool is so big at City Ballet dancers are used because they can. She was a principal in a soloist part, and there were soloists in corps roles. Symphony in 3 was crisper than I think it was earlier in the run. The searchlights looked great. Jules Mabie has been the lucky winner of Jovani Furlan's rep this season and he continues to live up to it, but the clear "who are you?!" sweepstakes winner is David Gabriel. He's made a major impression this season. The women were Isabella LaFreniere, who was terrific in the 3rd principal role, Tiler, who is Tiler Peck, and Erica Pereira, who was fine in this role she's done many times.

Brittany Pollock is pregnant with her second child after her brief return post-injury per her instagram. LeCrone has not danced this season, I don't think?

I think the only dancer who is in line for promotion this year is Emma Von Enck. Outside chance for Emily Kikta and Alexa Maxwell to principal (I would be shocked, however) and Alec Knight to soloist.

Hi! Just saw the matinee today. Ballo is a delightful ballet. I know you need the right principal woman for it but it's just so effervescent and fun. Tiler was amazing, as expected. Joe Gordon had a very strong debut except for an entertaining blooper when he entered 8 counts early, realized it, ran off stage, and then reentered 4 seconds later. The middle ballets were interesting because of the casting. Dominika A. was excellent as the "Wendy" in Albert Evans's duet. Really mesmerizing. Alec Knight handled the exceptionally complicated partnering very well. Hallelujah Junction was punctuated by a performance full of verve by David Gabriel as the solo man. Taylor Stanley looked a little out of shape. Lauren Collett was very good. The problem here is that the Martins' choreography is so overdone that it's hard to let anyone breathe. The Concert was, as usual, very entertaining. Mira was very beautiful as the hat girl. Andy Veyette chewed the scenery. If this rumored debut for EVonE happens, I might return to see this program again and leave after Ballo!

I agree with so many reviews here -- S V-V was sloppy last night -- but he's ALWAYS sloppy. A few days ago, Chun posted an Instagram story about Tiler's new ballet where he joked about her constantly reminding her cast to point their toes. In her interview with Wendy on the podcast, Tiler mentions that Heather Watts, one of her long-time mentors, always talks to her about the feet and foot placement and making deliberate choices. These things feel so integral to ballet but so often forgotten! S V-V 's feet (and arms) are always all over the place. His exit in the deep backbend was marred by scuttling feet and bent knees. I have the same reservations about Isabella as many here. She was spectacular in Concerto Barocco this fall; in 4T's, dancing a role she should be perfect for, she was visibly thrown by her stumble (which she semi-saved, by the way!). ADW is an old hand in my favorite section, but my memories of this ballet always begin with Albert Evans' masterful dancing in this role (this gives you a sense of when I first started coming to the ballet!). LW: I am decidedly not an expert on this sort of singing, so I will leave it to others here to comment on the quality! I thought it was a lovely, moving evening; I particularly enjoyed watching Tyler and Tiler dance together. Their partnership is so strong and has been overshadowed by the flash of Tiler/Roman. Watching them dance reminded me of how much I love seeing them together in Dances at a Gathering. Mira is a gift; if Peter Walker is one of her default partners, he needs to up his game a little. I've actually seen Roman dance with Unity before -- in an ill-fated Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3 performance where she fell three times! A little treading on the hem seems like small potatoes after that.

Was at the matinee today -- Rotunda: not worth discussing, really. I had seen it right before the pandemic and had been underwhelmed. It felt like a bargain-basement Cliffs Notes version of Dances at A Gathering in athleisure and pantyhose. That feeling was reinforced today. It is so lazy! The circle motif is so obvious. As for the dancers, if they must bring it back again, why not do it with all baby corps? Unity Phelan in this ballet makes no sense. Sara Mearns looked tired and tentative. I hate the Muhly music which sounds like a soundtrack to a depressing indie movie. An added thumbs down for the extremely performative "everyone gets a bow" sequence at the end. The tepid applause did not warrant that plus two curtain calls. BUT . . . are we in a Daniel Ulbricht renaissance? He was by far the best thing in this and excellent in Odesa, as well. Tiler's Ballet: I really enjoyed this! It was so interesting to watch other dancers pushed to Tiler-esque daring, She is a witty choreographer! From the moment the curtain went up there was a crackling energy, and all her quirky arm positions and syncopations really worked. Of course, she had the A+ cast; I wonder if it will be as good when say, Miriam Miller dances in place of Mira . . . and there's no one in the company who can do the male lead except for Roman. The Poulenc was terrific; I love two pianos. The ballet was very well received by the audience. Odesa: I saw this in 2017, but I think this is the first revival. I was really absorbed by it. The sleazeball polyester 70's shirts on the men really give it a louche quality. The choreography is compelling, particularly for the Fairchild/Ulbricht pairing (I guess originally Hyltin/deLuz?). Why did Sara choose to dance the sub-par Rotunda instead of the role that Ratmansky made on her in this ballet? Unity Phelan danced it instead.

One beneficiary of injuries has been Alec Knight -- he's gotten a lot of the Sanz roles. Also Huxley is out of 4 Ts but is still doing Ballo?

On Insta Jovani says he's out for the rest of the season.

If Sanz can't go I wonder who will dance second cast Hallelujah Junction at the Saturday Matinee? Gordon is debuting both HJ and Ballo, so can't possibly do both in the same performance??

Yes Rondo also! That was Nadon/LaFreniere one cast and OMcK and Indiana Woodward maybe in the other? I forgot about Rondo.

I am surprised she's not dancing Summer -- I hope this means that she has big things coming up later, including the new Ratmansky. I certainly hope it doesn't mean she's sidelined for any reason! In her Instagram stories last week, she reposted a Kyle Froman gem of Darcy Kistler dancing the Concert and said, "She wished she could throw her hair around like that" (I am paraphrasing) -- so she might be debuting the hat girl? It was Christine Redpath for the dramatic PPD in Brandenburg -- this time danced by two casts, one Mira/Aaron Sanz and the other Unity/ADW(?)

I think key to this Wendy posting discussion is that we don't really understand the role she plays in the company -- in particular, what are her responsibilities and does Jon Stafford have final say over everything? Is she coaching? Teaching? Casting? Scheduling rep? For instance, I seem to remember that she was the one who reinforced Ratmansky's casting decision not to have Abi Stafford dance her Russian Seasons role except at her retirement. That could be because Jon Stafford recused himself, or it could be that it's her job to liaise between choreographers and dancers. Is she commenting on dancers about whom she has a major say in promoting or minimizing? As to her posting, I think it gives clues about who is on the rise, which is probably indiscreet -- her post about lending her gig SPF tutu to Emma Von Enck was similar to the India Bradley post in tone. (I don't think it takes a post from WW to understand that EVE will soon be a principal, however!)

Yes, between Prodigal and the poet in La Sonnambula there was a lot of acting this season for Huxley. He is at his best in interior roles like Melancholic, I think.