bellawood

Hi all! Just returned from 3rd cast. The place was packed, and in a continuing trend, a notable number of patrons were young/stylish/there to be seen. Emeralds -- MIRA. The thing that I am realizing while watching her discover these ballets is that she dances them like they are absolutely natural to her body. This is true for Violin Concerto and Emeralds, two totally different ballets. Second, she shows me things I never noticed before. The beautiful Violette solo, which can come off as "cute" in the wrong hands, is absolutely riveting and internal in Mira's interpretation -- it's about Mira being in the moment, not any showing off at all. Davide Riccardo was an able partner. Megan Le Crone, in an unfortunate contrast to Nadon, was effortful. Her solo and the walking PDD felt like steps. I've watched her dance for many years, and while she has gifts, it's always this sense of effort that holds me back from being there with her. ADW danced in place of Aaron Sanz. Rubies -- WOW EMMA. I mean, wow. She's so precise, so playful, so fast, and dances BIG. She's much better in this role than Lauren Lovette ever was. This is Sterling territory but with more warmth and humor. It's no surprise now that Erica Pereira did not get a second go at this. Emma is principal material, and soon! Jovani was an absolute delight. There were many cheeky, non-choreographed moments, and frankly, I ate them all up. Christina Clark was just ok. She had the smile pasted on (not great) and is so tall I think that feeling of attack is muted just because her limbs can't move fast enough. It is pretty tough to do this role, I imagine, when another current company member has so quickly claimed it as her own after Tess's retirement. Diamonds -- There are boys in this ballet -- a redhead who was partnering Naomi Corti in particular -- who look SO young. Chun was very polished, very elegant, a wonderful and handsome lead, but I imagine that Joe Gordon was more impressive in the solos. I was underwhelmed with LaFreniere. This feels miscast? She was secure technically, but there was no perfume. It takes time to inhabit this majestic role, I know.

I CAN'T WAIT! Seeing her Saturday night. I also changed my tix for Friday Oct 6 to see her Terpsichore debut Sat matinee. How was Emma in Rubies???

Re: Unity, I’ve seen a bunch of her debuts and I think she’s very nervous the first times through. She was basically petrified during 2nd movement Symphony in C, and I’ve seen her fall in other debuts or near-debuts (once, memorably, three times in one performance — tchai suite No. 3 second or third Movement, I can’t remember which one). But when she settles in — as in Agon — she can be so spectacular. Her rep is large as others have noted — and that could definitely be an issue.

They still do "T. Peck" even though Justin retired at least five years ago, right? And T. Angle is still T. Angle.

I'm seeing first cast (for Russell's retirement performance) and third cast -- can't wait for this fall season to begin!

That line was written in consultation with SAB's lawyers, for sure.

I think Darla Hoover must be out after a year, too. You would think they would have to have a press release or similar. Was Peter Martins ever Artistic Director AND Dean of Faculty? I thought that was Kay Mazzo forever.

wow! Did not sense from her IG that she was really dancing again yet.

More Instagram rehearsal footage: Chun as Apollo. I wonder if Joe Gordon will ever get cast in this?

Also on her insta stories, Mira said she was understudying diamonds — so I would guess the diamonds leads would be (barring injury) Mearns, phelan, and LaFreniere. I would guess Mira is dancing Emeralds and rubies tall girl. i was really excited to see Emma von Enck dancing Rubies w/Jovani. Seeing Jewels twice so maybe I will get a chance to see her!

https://www.balletherald.com/russell-janzen-diamonds-final-performance/?fbclid=PAAaavl4lrUMzzpiyehsOP0AUc0s5tY7Oif07hbiMO58sulghh8C3Fw6x00JA_aem_AR8E91Z_joIID9Km51ccjoy4lsKZgmoayujWQH3zJZezODNSw3hvm4Zqxh0zh5PLTJE September 24 dancing diamonds.

I Hope that this Nadon/LaFreniere casting is a preview of what we will see on September! I think this is an ideal casting that (knock wood) we should be able to enjoy for a while.

Last night was my second go at this program. Brandenburg was spectacular, I connected with it much more this time. The first time, the first cast of this ballet (first movement) was Woodward/Huxley. This cast was von Enck/Mejia and it was a completely different ballet. Major youthquake time. Woodward/Huxley were elegant but a bit remote; the second cast was all verve, openess and playfulness. Emma von Enck is a special dancer. Roman just seems to grow as a dancer and partner with every ballet. I preferred Mira/Aaron Sanz in the second PDD from the first cast but Unity/ADW were very polished. The corps was very strong. Fancy Free was nicely danced. Andrew Veyette subbed for the bartender which was amusing. Peter Walker seemed miscast as the “sweet” sailor. Agon was good but not the absolute home run it was two weeks ago (that was a superlative performance). Isabella LaFreniere danced the “bransle” sections and was terrific. I am finding i am very impressed with her in b&w ballets (Episodes, Concerto Barocco). The demisoloist girls were not as strong as they could be, I thought.

Also, Tiler Peck seems to be out all week too, still listed for the final week in 1 performance --

It would be fun, but I would guess if Unity only does one she would do Agon and Nadon the Brandenbug PDD she has already performed.

Chan sprained his ankle so I doubt we will see him.

Also, I notice that Miriam Miller is now out for the rest of this week in updated casting -- though she looked in good form Monday night! Hope its a speedy recovery. Chan is still out.

I was at the performance last night -- originally scheduled as Brandenburg, Agon, and Fancy Free, but actually performed Fancy Free, Agon, and Brandenburg. Beforehand I had the opportunity to hear Wendy Whelan, Gonzalo Garcia, Rebecca Krohn, and Christine Redpath talk about the restaging of Brandenburg. They talked about its history as Robbins' last piece, and Christine Redpath told an amusing story about how she had a young golden retriever at the time, and the pianist Nancy McDill would stick her head out the door of the rehearsal room to see if Christine and the dog were around, because the dog was the only thing that made Robbins cool off when he was in a state. He was very impatient with the young corps who have very complex choreography throughout. They restaged over about 6 weeks, and JP Frolich was the lead, though both Gonzalo and Rebecca Krohn had experience with the ballet, having danced the roles -- Gonzalo as his first big role at City Ballet with Ashley Bouder as his partner. As you might have read in the Times, Wendy was in the original cast, dancing with Peter Boal. Watching Indiana in the same role last night I was struck at how little of Wendy's movements I saw in the choreography, unlike when you see some Wheeldon or Ratmansky works that have been made on her. I had been planning on leaving after Agon when Brandenburg was first up, but I'm glad I saw Fancy Free. It was the A team, with Joe Gordon, Roman Mejia, and a very funny Andrew Veyette. He seems to have gotten past some of his injury and other issues and is enjoying being on stage -- kind of like Ask LaCour's stage presence before his retirement. Alexa Maxwell was the purple girl and she was very good, more confident than when I saw her in this in the fall. Agon was spectacular last night. Just mesmerizing. Taylor Stanley was a debut in the non-pdd male lead, and I am shocked he hasn't been doing this part for years. His particular genius of movement really comes through here. Unity and ADW danced the pdd. She was astonishingly good, the best I've ever seen her. They got an extra bow at the end of their pdd. Emilie Gerrity was the other female principal, in a role she's done a bunch but never really made much of an impression on me in. She's made strides but was overshadowed by Unity's dancing. (I also watch the Wendy-Albert Evans-Arch Higgins(?) video from when they danced this pas de trois from time to time and I miss that attack in Emilie's dancing.) Brandenburg I was very much looking forward to, and I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. I might have seen it in 2007-2008, but I didn't remember any of the choreography. The first section is quite sprawling, with a recurring theme of a triangle or wedge arrangement of dancers, with the point facing the audience. Indiana and Anthony Huxley dance in and out of the corps dancers and have a pdd of their own. This was my least favorite section. Then there's a pdd for Mira Nadon and Aaron Sanz which seems dropped from the sky -- quite beautiful and haunting, with lots of movements where they almost touch but don't. Aaron seemed a bit sidelined in his career but Mira's need for a tall partner might give him some momentum; they are very attractive together (as they were in another Robbins piece, Piano Pieces, last year). The third movement is a series of pdd for 4 corps couples, nicely danced. The finale is really fun with lots of humor, including a lengthy section where everyone jogs backwards for way longer than you expect. The house was quite full, including 3rd ring. Audience was quite engaged.

I saw last night’s performance. Emma VE was incredibly charming and musical in this role. Physically, she’s quite slight with long legs, more like a taller M Fairchild than an Ashley Bouder or Tiler Peck. She has a beautiful port de bras which she used to great effect in La Source last night. Technically she seemed quite secure except for a near disaster literally three seconds before the end of the ballet — a supported pirouette before the final shoulder lift was 45 degrees off perpendicular but Anthony Huxley muscled her upright and got her on his shoulder as the curtain came down (he was excellent, too). Baily Jones did double duty in La Source/Namouna last night and I preferred her to Olivia MacKinnon as the La Source soloist. The corps was much sharper this time around. Namouna was delightful and I particularly enjoyed Unity. I saw the other principals last week and I preferred Roman’s boyishness and huge jump to Taylor’s performance — I always find Taylor’s dancing interesting but this role (for Robert Fairchild originally I think) felt like an odd fit.

Thanks, going tonight. Was wondering if Joe Gordon would dance.

Chan (on insta stories) says he has COVID, so here's hoping that dancers out are not hurt but just under the weather.

Namouna reminds me of why I am so excited to see what Ratmansky does with this ballet company — Alexei Ratmansky and Mira Nadon in the same room?!? — it will be a blast. I love this ballet. Débuts for both Roman and KJ, and they had a dance-off. So much fun. Sara looked incredible. Ashley was extremely commendable in the Wendy role, though Ashley/Roman is not the most natural pairing. Mira is just a phenomenon; we are lucky to watch her trajectory. The whole company energized.

Back again tonight. This is certainly a good ballet season for Joseph Gordon — Raymonda, Donizetti and La Source are all in his wheelhouse. He tosses off the variations in La Source like they are no big deal. This is a ballet that really suits Indiana. I’ve become more and more invested in her development as an artist — no longer B cast Tiler and Megan but her own person. She really has beautiful feet and legs, a playful spirit and brings energy to the stage. The soloist role was Olivia MacKinnon, who acquitted herself well barring a little wandering turn moment. Is it wrong to think that Mary Thomas is maybe the more interesting MacKinnon? The corps in this ballet was very young and someone slipped, but not badly. I’m trying to figure out everyone’s faces!

Second intermission— Afternoon is a great ballet when it’s cast correctly — I think Christopher Grant and Dominika A. Did a wonderful job playing the roles, coltish, unsure, self-absorbed. Audience loved it. I’ve now seen Haieff four times over two years and I think that’s enough. (Amazingly it’s been four different casts.) It is a nice showcase for corps members and Alexa Maxwell, who has danced corps roles in two ballets tonight despite her promotion. Corps standouts to me in this are Andres Zuniga and Jacqueline Bologna.

I agree with BalanchineFan about the behind the music, particularly when they do Stravinsky! At the ballet tonight and there is a large gaggle of SAB students who were just greeted by Suki Schorer. Just watched Square Dance and reflecting on this afternoon’s discussion, I think Erica Pereira was technically secure in this shot-out-of-a-canon ballet. My hesitation is that she doesn’t play, and there are so many opportunities to play within the speed. She’s just hanging in there; there’s no confidence to give a wink to the audience. This could be that she doesn’t have the elite musicality we expect in principal roles. I can’t believe Tiler doesn’t dance this.