bellawood

It’s been on Stories so no links; kj’s is from this afternoon though so is still there.

Instagram is giving a few hints on who is rehearsing what: Unity and Jovani in second movement Glass Pieces and KJ Takahashi has rehearsal footage of Chris Grant doing Sanguinic — who knows what the actual casting will be!

I saw Sean Suozzi at Amar's farewell up close and didn't think he looked like someone who was dancing professionally anymore. Did he dance post-pandemic? I remember he was hurt in 2018 or 2019.

Just got back from Amar's farewell. This was from start to finish maybe the best performance of MND I have ever seen. Just excellent from everyone, and Harrison Ball was a revelation as Puck. I've never seen him have as much fun on stage. Peter Walker and Aaron Sanz were perfect as the dimwitted Lysander and Demetrius. Unity has really made TItania hers -- and after dancing it 1,000 times this week, I'm not surprised! As expected, Andy Veyette did the opening sections and Amar came out to dance the PDD. When he entered there was wild applause. He then danced with Sterling so delicately and thoughtfully it brought me to tears. Each moment he danced like he was holding a treasure. The final moment was perfection -- the most gentile transfer from one side to the other, you could see Sterling's center of balance just easing from one side to the other. Incredible. Of course this was her final divert too! I saw at least two soloists moonlighting in corps roles: Claire Kretschmar as one of Titania's handmaidens, and Harrison Coll in the divert as one of the boys in blue. The farewells were numerous. He jumped off the stage to hug Peter Martins in the aisle first thing. Almost every principal dancer was there, and some old faces: Maria, Joaquin, Gonzalo, and Zach Catazaro was also there. I always felt that Amar paid a very steep price for what he did, and I was glad to see him so embraced by his fellow dancers and the crowd.

They must be reading this board for ideas 🤣!

Davide absolutely! There are some very compelling young male dancers in the company and it will be interesting to see how things play out, considering that there are many principal men right now; it might be a bottleneck at the top. Roman for sure, though, and probably soon. I remember watching Joe Gordon in the corps. Every time he was cast in a featured role I was blown away. He was someone who always stood out in a crowd and his rise to the top seemed preordained. Peter Martins promoted many of the current principal women when they were very young. Some had to grow into the role of principal more than others. But, in the balance, if someone has principal technique, the fearless Balanchine attack, and an undeniable stage presence, why not promote them? I for one can't wait for Mira to dance all the major principal roles and why should we wait three or four years for that? I mean, let's see her in 2nd movement Symphony in C sooner rather than later! As for Emilie Gerrity, I agree she should be promoted to principal. But, to me, she will never be a very exciting dancer -- a beautiful, elegant one whom I happily watch -- but not someone I seek out or gets my absolute attention, the way I focus on Tiler, for instance, right before the big solo in Allegro Brillante, when you know you are watching a master.

I notice Scordato is out of his final performances!

Yes, it took me a minute this afternoon but I finally realized the wigs were gone! They did add a certain amount of comedy but adieu. As to Amar, it struck me today that perhaps he can do the pdd and someone else — Veyette — could pinch hit for him before and afterwards. The pdd is really just a master class in partnering with very little jumping or turning.

I am going this afternoon with my children — I saw that Unity danced both shows yesterday so I wonder who will dance today, maybe Emilie Gerrity? This season must have been an enormous headache for Jon Stafford!

Ugh poor Amar! What terrible luck.

I am pretty surprised that Gerrity wasn't also promoted this spring; she dances only principal roles, the principal women are thin on the ground, etc. I think she is a lovely dancer (I think she has a beautiful arabesque used wonderfully as the Dark Angel) but I don't know that I find her terrifically compelling to watch on stage. Sometimes this comes with time and confidence -- for instance, I never found Megan Fairchild particularly compelling to watch (technically perfect but boring) until she came back from Broadway, ditched the husband, and allowed us to see her personality on stage. Both Unity and Indiana as baby principals have shown me new things about their dancing this year (very much true for Indiana). I just know that I am more excited by some other dancers who might be standing in line to be promoted -- Isabella LaFreniere and especially Mira Nadon whom I don't think needs a whole lot of waiting around as a soloist even if she is only 21. He's wonderful. Beautiful lines, beautiful jump, a great turner and clearly a thoughtful and supportive partner. I think Mira is dancing Summer again. We know Sara won't be on stage at all! Why have they become so lazy about updating the casting? It's very frustrating.

Wow Chun-Wei Chan was promoted today -- On Jovani Furlan's Insta stories.

It also looks like Mira is dancing Summer tonight in place of Ashley Laracey who might still be out with COVID?? It’s in her insta stories. Any reports appreciated! I have to go to little league tonight instead.

If anyone missed piano pieces and wants a glimpse, Mira Nadon has posted a snippet on her instagram. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CdvYrn6DycL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I was there, too -- I had never seen Piano Pieces, but it looked a bit underrehearsed in general to me, but particularly in the "Russian dancing troupe" parts. I will note that I think Jacqueline Bologna has become a corps stand out. This Robbins bill feels a little "bitten off more than they can chew" for this company right now, what with the injuries and COVID protocols. Why not do a little more Stravinsky? They barely ran Violin Concerto. I was very sad that Joe Gordon was a late scratch because I think he would be wonderful in this role and a much better match for Tiler's speed. V-V couldn't really keep up. Or what about Harrison Ball? Where is Harrison Ball!? Roman looked great (my husband who was with me last night said Roman gave him "Damian vibes." He also picked Davide Riccardo out for praise from the male demis in Spring so he was 2-2 last night). Roman looks taller to me -- maybe he's still growing or maybe he's really paying attention to his feet and extension. Four seasons is always fun, freezing ballerinas and all. I think of Tiler/Ashley Bouder as Fall -- Tiler's dancing Friday with Roman and KJ Takahashi in the "faun" role (D. Ulbricht was as terrific as ever last night). I thought Andy Veyette had a really tough time last night, it was a slog for him. The best couple by far was Woodward/Chan in Spring. Sara has announced on her instagram stories that she won't be back this spring. Titania casting thoughts?

Emily Kikta has COVID too so will be out of Rubies.

I'm not sure -- Chase Finlay and Zach Catazaro did it but well . . . did Tyler Angle ever do it in younger years? Who SHOULD do it? Harrison Ball? Jovani Furlan?

I think the bottom line for me is the Times has to rethink their dance coverage. This comes across as gossip. What are the facts in this article? 1. AS and her brother were estranged (for whatever reason, not our business); 2. JS became AD of the Company; contractually, he was not allowed to make casting decisions regarding his sister or wife; 3. A noted choreographer (whom I assume has casting say over his ballets) decided to remove AS from a ballet she wanted to perform in (his prerogative); 4. She was told by the appropriate member of the administration (WW) of this decision; accommodations were made for her farewell performance, including altered choreography. While that no doubt was painful and difficult for her, why is it being reported in the NYT? How is this news for anyone beyond AS's therapist, husband or best friend?

I was at the performance last night. The casting changes weren't published before the show so they were announced before the curtain -- I had been anticipating no Sara but was sad not to see Sterling in 3 Movements. This also meant that there were no principal women performing last night -- at least four of the seven are injured (or perhaps ill) right now. Scherzo was quite charming! I hadn't seen it before. KJ Takahashi danced the Anthony Huxley role and was quite good. This was the first of two ballets for Harrison Coll who is a terrific dancer with a lot of personality on stage. He's also taller than I thought he was. Miriam Miller danced the second lead which was originally Isabella LaFreniere. Symphony in 3 Movements is more incredible every time I see it. When was it last done -- has it been four or five years? Every moment is interesting to watch and the music is so good. When I think of Sterling in this ballet I think of the incredible pristine attack of her first entrance. Ashley Laracey brought something else to this ballet -- not so much attack (she was no slouch though) but her beautiful arms to the pas with Taylor Stanley. All those strange swimming motions and open and closed hands really resounded last night. Isabella LaFreniere was really assured in her Firebird debut. Her last leap out in the manege was huge. What great lines!

They still haven't updated the casting for this week and now ADW will be out of Symphony in 3 Movements on top of Sara's injury. Are Joe Gordon and ADW still an item? I hope he's masking up if so! Looking forward to seeing his Orpheus. I think this means that Stanley will take the first two Apollos and ADW the second two (a switch from current casting).

Hi! Saw yesterday's matinee and came away with the same feel-good vibes as everyone on the board. Divert was wonderful and Indiana is so lovely right now. My only criticism is I think she needs to deaden those shoes a bit more. Faun: ADW and Sterling were wonderful -- obviously this is one of Sterling's signature roles -- but every time I see this I think it would be great to see promising corps members dance this ballet (it happens more often with guys than the girls, I know Grant and Kennard Henson have done it recently). The characters are so young. There was dead silence in the theater (which was very full) during Tiler's Allegro solo. I don't think anyone was breathing! I agree with Vipa about Hod in Sanguinic -- she is technically secure but it felt like a series of moves to get through. She did not display much musicality. It made me think of some wonderful Sanguinics from the past, Ana Sophia Scheller and (particularly) Jennie Somogyi. Kikta REALLY went for it, almost wild. She was much more free than in her debut. Amar got a solo curtain call. It occurred to me looking at the principals that after Sterling retires there will only be 6 principal women! I can't imagine they are not going to promote Emilie Gerrity soonish? This Rubies casting feels like a bit of an audition for Pereira.

Also, I can totally see Joseph Gordon in Orpheus but Aaron Sanz as Orpheus is a surprise!

Mira Nadon said she was missing the new ballet because of Covid on Insta Stories, ugh. Hope she's feeling better. She's cast week 4 in Rubies so fingers crossed. As for Pereira, I'm not sure she projects enough sense of humor to dance Rubies but we will see!

Thanks! I thought it might be too late as it's past noon on a show day.

Hi! Not sure if this is the place but I have two tickets to tonight's show that I can't use at the last minute. they are second ring C seats 9/11. Send me a note if you are interested and we'll see if we can do a handoff.