bellawood

I too was there last night. Monumentum and Movements were terrific, particularly Movements. I was really absorbed. Of course you guys know I love to watch Mira Nadon's progress. Rotunda I had seen right before the shut down, and I remember being distinctly lukewarm about it then. This time around, I quite enjoyed it! It has the spirit of an acting class, almost, where each group "got up" in turn to read their scenes or monologues -- this is reinforced by their "practice" costumes. The solo he did for Sara is terrific, and I really enjoyed the pas de cinq that featured some great fast jumping from Gonzalo and Daniel Ulbricht. I also quite liked the pas de deux pairing of Miriam Miller and A D-W. One interesting thing about Rotunda is the A++ casting, so many soloists and principals, kinda for no reason. I mean, why two minutes of ensemble work for the lovely (and criminally underused) Sara Adams? It seems to be a ballet where rising corps stars would shine. Chaconne is such a terrific ballet I wish I could see it again this season -- particularly with a different cast -- I am eyeing a ticket to the LaFreniere/AD-W premieres next Friday. Teresa Reichlen has never been a favorite of mine but I don't think you can argue with her technical skills and clean movement. To me, she's never been the most musical dancer. Tyler was running out of steam by the end of that (frankly) long and very leap-y variation. The jumps felt heavy. I think he needs to decide how he's going to approach this part of his career; right now if feels like he's relying on his reputation more than his dancing. Overall it was a little raggedly danced last night, but you can't argue with the beauty. This is one ballet I wish I had seen Farrell dance in person.

Me too! She was wonderful in that insane soloist role in PC2 in 2019. She's very assured on stage and can really project personality. Faye perhaps also foreshadowed other departures (I may be reading too much into her review)? I can imagine a scenario where dancers were holding on for one more performance this fall.

Also noticed this bit of casting in Maria's farewell: SLAUGHTER ON TENTH AVENUE: Kowroski, T. Angle, la Cour, Mabie, Knight, Fahoury, Applebaum, Sanz He's back after a week! Is that for the gunman?

I did. It was really sweet. She got to dance the "bride" moment in Russian Seasons in place of Unity (who continues her superlative dancing this season), even though she was dancing the green girl during the rest of the ballet. (BTW, this must be a great role for Megan.) There was lots of enthusiastic applause for her and she was clearly touched. Her dancing was not great, but sometimes that's the way it goes -- we can't all be Joaquin deLuz going out with T&V. I forgot how much I like Russian Seasons, which I know is not everyone's cup of tea. I think Ratmansky does moments of comedy interspersed with moments of menace which you don't often see in other ballets (I'm thinking of non-story ballets). The rest of the program -- Joe Gordon debuted in Opus 19 which he handled beautifully. He's just such a pleasure to watch. The thing with Opus 19 is that there are several Opus leads in the company and I think Joe's rep is larger (or will be larger) than some other principals who dance it -- Taylor Stanley, for instance. If he's doing many of the white tight roles in a season I wonder if he will dance this at all frequently just to avoid overuse. I think Jovani Furlan might be an Opus type. The middle ballet was the Amaria piece for Maria. Bigonzetti did the costumes himself which resulted in Amar dressed like he was running out for coffee on a Sunday morning. I don't think we will see this again after the fall. Did KJ dance the Anthony Huxley role in PV?

Agreed -- and to continue the theme, Joe got a haircut between Tuesday and Sunday afternoon.

Someone asked about the tall blond with long hair -- that's Samuel Melnikov, I think. Just got back from tonight's performance. Serenade was more assured tonight -- certainly Ashley Bouder was much more "on" than on Tuesday. Glass Pieces -- Unity Phelan is making her bid for principal here. She was terrific. Who knows what goes on behind the scenes but my god, they have to promote some people! She, Indiana Woodward and Harrison Ball should be promoted this fall -- but who knows? Oh, and Jovani Furlan, whom I love. I mean, is Jared Angle ever going to dance again? Tyler Angle is clearly a legendary partner (just listen when Tiler Peck talks about him) but he fell out of his turns during the 4th movement on Tuesday. I have no opinion on the baldness except to say it makes him look shorter (and he's not short). And a costume question -- am I crazy or did the Glass Pieces costumes at one point have sweatband accessories? They haven't been around in years but I have a stubborn memory of Jane Fonda-themed headbands.

On a Conversations on Dance podcast from the beginning of the pandemic, I remember Michael Breeden saying that Mira Nadon was being taught 2nd movement. I would also guess that Miriam Miller is a natural choice to be in the 2nd movement pipeline. I think both these dancers are going to go for several more years. I think Bouder, in particular, has said that she wants to dance into her 40s. I will say she looked rushed in Serenade on Tuesday though the jumps were there. I think Indiana will take over more and more of this rep, though.

Last night's performance is one I won't soon forget. I was so happy to be there. First, logistics: For people going, definitely download the clear app -- it was a snap and the clear/excelsior pass line was very quick. I didn't have any issues getting into the ladies' room right beforehand on the second ring. And you can get a glass of something or a snack, if you are so inclined. The audience was really responsive, as you might imagine. They applauded throughout Serenade (sometimes at strange moments!); my favorite spontaneous applause was for the famous dark angel wing moment. Sterling looked wonderful as the waltz girl; Maria and Ask were so moving in After the Rain, and got absolutely rousing curtain calls. Symphony in C was terrific and surprisingly crisp for coming out of mothballs. As mentioned Joe Gordon was *chefs kiss* in his variation, turning spectacularly. Megan Fairchild seemed a bit reserved at the beginning of the movement but really came out as she danced and had a great 1st movement moment in the 4th movement. Tyler Angle did shave his head! Good for him. I was really impressed by Harrison Ball and Indiana Woodward in 3rd movement. He came out with a huge leap with terrific ballon that got a reaction from the audience. The movement had that terrific forward attack that it needs. And as they say, the crowd went crazy at the end. It felt like a gift to NYC.

There's been a little shuffling on the casting for week one and here's another change that's not listed on the official pdf yet: This is the current casting as listed: RUSSIAN SEASONS: Phelan, Pazcoguin, M. Fairchild, King, Segin, Anderson, *Danchig-Waring, *Sanz, *Grant (replaces Walker), *Alberda, *Villarini-Velez (replaces Coll), *Henson (replaces Hoxha) [Solo Violin: Nikkanen] I

She used to dance it with Robbie Fairchild -- at least, that's the last time I saw her dancing it. So, it's been a minute. I've never seen Lauren Lovette dance it; the last few times it has been either Sterling or Unity Phelan, I think. Also, week 2 casting is up: NEW YORK CITY BALLET PRINCIPAL CASTING FOR SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 3, 2021 TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 28, 7:30PM (Conductor: Otranto) SERENADE: Mearns, M. Fairchild, Gerrity, la Cour, Chamblee pause PULCINELLA VARIATIONS: Adams, M. Miller, Phelan, Hod, E. Von Enck, Chan, Applebaum, Garcia, Takahashi pause GLASS PIECES: Nadon, Sanz, LaFreniere, Riccardo, Habony, Chamblee, Reichlen, Janzen WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 29, 7:30PM (Conductor: Sill) OPUS 19/THE DREAMER: Hyltin, Gordon [Solo Violin: Nikkanen] pause NEW BIGONZETTI: Kowroski, Ramasar [Solo Piano: Baldwin] pause RUSSIAN SEASONS: Phelan, Pazcoguin, M. Fairchild, King, Segin, Anderson, Danchig-Waring, Sanz, Walker, Alberda, Villarini-Velez, Hoxha [Solo Violin: Nikkanen] THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 30, 7:30PM 2021 FALL FASHION GALA GLASS PIECES: Hod, Applebaum, Adams, Walker, Dutton-O’Hara, Alberda, Kowroski, Ramasar [Conductor: Otranto] pause NEW BELL – WORLD PREMIERE: *Reichlen, *M. Fairchild, *Nadon, *LeCrone, *Kikta, *LaFreniere, *Ball, *Huxley, *Walker, *Henson, *Grant, *Takahashi [Conductor: Litton] pause NEW MILLER – WORLD PREMIERE: *Gerrity, *Mearns, *Kretzschmar, *Smith, *Bradley, *Bologna, *Dutton-O’Hara, *Woodward, *Stanley, *Chan, *Riccardo, *Read, *Fahoury, *Villarini-Velez, *Alberda, *Chamblee [Conductor: Litton] FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 1, 8:00PM (Conductor: Litton) NEW MILLER: Gerrity, Mearns, Kretzschmar, Smith, Bradley, Bologna, Dutton-O’Hara, Woodward, Stanley, Chan, Riccardo, Read, Fahoury, Villarini-Velez, Alberda, Chamblee pause NEW BELL: Reichlen, M. Fairchild, Nadon, LeCrone, Kikta, LaFreniere, Ball, Huxley, Walker, Henson, Grant, Takahashi pause WESTERN SYMPHONY: King, la Cour, *Lovette, Ramasar, *Kikta, Veyette SATURDAY MATINEE, OCTOBER 2, 2:00PM (Conductor: Litton) NEW MILLER: Gerrity, Mearns, Kretzschmar, Smith, Bradley, Bologna, Dutton-O’Hara, Woodward, Stanley, Chan, Riccardo, Read, Fahoury, Villarini-Velez, Alberda, Chamblee pause NEW BELL: Reichlen, M. Fairchild, Nadon, LeCrone, Kikta, LaFreniere, Ball, Huxley, Walker, Henson, Grant, Takahashi pause WESTERN SYMPHONY: King, la Cour, Lovette, Ramasar, Kikta, Veyette SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2, 8:00PM (Conductor: Sill) OPUS 19/THE DREAMER: Lovette, Stanley [Solo Violin: Nikkanen] pause NEW BIGONZETTI: Kowroski, Ramasar [Solo Piano: Baldwin] pause RUSSIAN SEASONS: Hyltin, Mearns, Laracey, Woodward, Maxwell, Habony, Stanley, Veyette, Gordon, Zuniga, Villarini-Velez, Fahoury [Solo Violin: Nikkanen] SUNDAY MATINEE, OCTOBER 3, 3:00PM (Conductor: Litton) NEW MILLER: Gerrity, Mearns, Kretzschmar, Smith, Bradley, Bologna, Dutton-O’Hara, Woodward, Stanley, Chan, Riccardo, Read, Fahoury, Villarini-Velez, Alberda, Chamblee pause NEW BELL: Reichlen, M. Fairchild, Nadon, LeCrone, Kikta, LaFreniere, Ball, Huxley, Walker, Henson, Grant, Takahashi pause WESTERN SYMPHONY: King, la Cour, Lovette, Ramasar, Kikta, Veyette * First Time in Role PROGRAM AND CASTING SUBJECT TO CHANGE (09/15/21)

More casting courtesy of Instagram: That feels like a lot of Western Symphony for Lauren. Casting I'm interested in for the first week is the Saturday matinee: PULCINELLA VARIATIONS: *Adams, M. Miller, Phelan, Hod, *E. Von Enck, *Chan, Applebaum, Coll, *Takahashi pause GLASS PIECES: *Nadon, *Sanz, *LaFreniere, *Riccardo, Habony, Chamblee, Reichlen, Janzen I would be very interested to see Chun Wai Chan dance (he posted video partnering Miriam Miller, is he tall?) and I think KJ Takahashi is a very dynamic young dancer. I am also glad to see Isabelle LaFreniere get featured in Glass Pieces first movement. I don't have tickets and have to go to a little league game instead so I hope someone will report back! I'm going opening night, very thrilled -- though I don't really understand why Megan LeCrone is first cast Serenade. I'm also excited to see Joe Gordon premiere in Opus 19.

Jovani Furlan's insta continues with the casting hints! He seems to be cast almost exclusively in unitard roles 🤣.

She's definitely doing Opus 19/The Dreamer, I don't know about Serenade.

Another hint to the other waltz girl, from Jovani Furlan's Insta:

No luck yet. All I saw was this from Megan Fairchild: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTh7913HZd3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

And Pointe Magazine cover girl Mira Nadon. I hope they announce some promotions in the fall.

I know! Some promotions would be great. Who knows when we will get any, though. I agree about Silas' dancing, but he's destined for great things at Colburn and beyond.

From her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CL9omDWnQnK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I am wondering if some of the soloists they thought would mature have stalled out a bit -- I'm thinking Sebastian Villarini-Velez and Harrison Ball in particular. Peter Walker actually has grown into his body more (less of a string bean) so I think there's still room for him to move up. Aaron Sanz -- so beautiful to look at, but I'm not sold on stage, yet. Other soloists -- Troy Schumacher, Sean Suozzi, Daniel Applebaum etc., are probably not going to be promoted. So, going shopping for talent is understandable, though the timing is strange. I had the fleeting thought that they might try to poach Aran Bell from ABT . . . Jovani was excellent and captivating last fall and winter, in my opinion. Just great to watch. He's 6 feet tall, so just a little taller than Joe Gordon -- and they are about the same age (under 30). He's the most obvious promotion from Soloist. Roman should be promoted (fast, like in the old days) but he is obviously in the mold of a DeLuz, not the tall guy. Alec Knight is the other corps guy whom I think could be promoted to soloist now. There are some very young guys -- Abreu, Weber, Fahoury, Christopher Grant, Gilbert Bolden III, LaJeromeny Brown and Kennard Hanson whom I think are intriguing. I think male dancers just need time. That's why losing so much stage work is a huge detriment to them, as well as such a huge disappointment to us. And as for retirements -- I think the three listed were the ones already planned -- Ask was going to be this month and Maria in the spring. Gonzalo had danced his last "Dances at a Gathering" last fall so that seemed like a hint of things to come. But you have to think there will be more next year. Abby Stafford is in law school and mentioned in a response to another blog post that she was on leave from the company last winter (I have no information on her current status). Jared, Abby, Andy -- I'm sure they all want to hold out for a few more opportunities on stage before saying goodbye (and I will say that getting healthy has reset the clock for Veyette a bit). Of course they could just continue not promoting anyone, which is a little depressing, frankly.

I saw Lauren dance Aurora last winter (I think it was winter 2019 but correct me if it was the year before) and she is really lovely in the role as it suits her stage presence -- but the variations are a stretch. She was OK during the rose adagio promenades -- a little quick to hang on -- but later had several problems with her technique, particularly in turns (as noted by abatt). Interestingly it seems she was coached by Maria Kowroski for O/O. In early January I was at a lecture about Swan Lake where Maria spoke -- she indicated that she had offered to coach as she was one of the O/O's in the original run (with Igor Zelensky I think) but that her offer hadn't been taken up. Obviously there was a change of heart about that, for whatever reason. How was Harrison Ball?

Harrison Coll was at the recent SAB lecture series they do for adults (It was a session about Justin Peck, who was discussing his process) and he said he was injured on the last day of WSS filming but was on the mend.

The fat ladies are a disrespectful way to reference the sculptures at either end of the lobby on the first ring at the NYS theater. https://images.app.goo.gl/JrSLBuPGBtj7KfKo8

At the matinee intermission. Tiler is wonderful. There is (no surprise) a new vulnerability to her dancing that has made Odette wonderful to watch, and she seems to be allowing herself more mobility in the back and neck. Her arabesques are lower than before (they were never that high anyway). The speed and precision are as strong as before. I know I am a little rah-rah when it comes to Joe Gordon but boy are we lucky to get to watch him. He dances with such ease and he (seems to be) an excellent partner — former dancers, correct me if I’m wrong! His first act solo was beautiful. Aaron Sanz was back as Benno and I forgot what a lovely line he has. I saw Sebastian Villarini-Velez in the dress rehearsal on Feb 14 in this role and I will say that V-V is more of an acrobat. Maybe it’s due to his height but Sanz can be an uncertain turner (and dancing in direct comparison with Daniel Ulbricht is unfair!) There’s a tall blond apprentice man who caught my eye, too. I won’t bother to complain about the costumes, etc. except to say that I wish the blue of Sigfried’s costume wasn’t so close to the color of the backdrop. I am not going to count fouettes (sorry cubanmiamiboy) because it makes me tense! I am just going to assume she will do whatever she does and it will be incredibly enjoyable no matter what. Audience notes: some lady next to me was checking her phone during the cygnets. Another gentleman was either looking for his keys or sorting change during the PDD. And right now, under the fat ladies, I am sitting next to a 9 month old baby. I’m guessing she won’t care about the number of fouettes, either!

Yes please Cubanmiamiboy! This is from a charter member of the Joe Gordon fan club. Please also report on Tiler’s fouettes!

I have seen her, but not terribly recently. I remember feeling as if she were miscast. White swan's vulnerability and delicacy are a stretch for her; she's a much more natural black swan. There's a lot of emoting with eyebrows, that sort of thing. But from her instagram she's working on some insane black swan tricks, AND her partner is Jovani Furlan who has been very impressive so far. I think this response answers your question not at all!