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Lena C.

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Everything posted by Lena C.

  1. Brandt and Ahn have one of the most remarkable debuts I've ever seen. Brandt seriously came close to Lane, who is the epitome of Giselle in my opinion. Act 1 started off nicely. Brandt and Ahn were technically good but she was definitely giving more emotion than Ahn. Act 1 seemed like a debut for them both. Brandt's mad scene seemed a little overdone, less would been more for her. Ahn didn't seem terribly perturbed during this scene. However, it was in act 2 that they both shone. I was astonished at Ahn's emotional transformation. Here was the distraught prince, heartbroken over what he's done and aching for forgiveness. Brandt was mesmerising. So very ethereal, light and forgiving. I truly felt her pain at Albrecht's punishment and she would've sacrificed herself to save him. Ahn was amazing. He really did look like he was on the verge of death. He and Brandt brought something deep and cathartic out of each other in that act 2. They really went there. I was astonished. If they somehow get a show this spring, run to see them.
  2. In my opinion, Lane's post seemed more directed at Copeland, who sells tickets. I recall that when Lane posted about having to sub in as black swan for Copeland, she was less than enthused. Something along the lines of well I guess this is happening. I just remember how unexcited Lane was about it. The fact that Lane herself has sought out coaching from Irina/Max makes me think that her post wasn't necessarily directed towards Brandt. Brandt paid for coaching that got her Giselle. Lane already has Giselle. But Copeland sells tickets and gets more shows/roles. Lane had to sub in as black swan last year. This year she still isn't cast yet Copeland gets two shows. The casting choices are seriously eyebrow raising. I agree with the points about Boylston and Seo being cast for everything while Lane remains pigeon holed. As for Lane, it is true that we will get to see her Juliet, Giselle and her Aurora. BUT those are her ONLY shows this spring, just THREE shows. The soloists have more shows than her. Lane will also not perform Nikiya at the met. (The fact that Boylston has been cast in that role with Cornejo makes me wonder if Lane is still understudying any show that has Cornejo. I held out hope that we could see a Lane/Cornejo show if Lane was the understudy but now...) I agree that the caption was perhaps in poor taste by Lane. But it's hard to fault her when she's so publically humiliated by her own company. (Again, THREE shows out of eight weeks. Perhaps she'll be cast as the rose in the seasons or have that housekeep part in Jane Eyre. But as of now, Lane's met rep reads like an aging dancer in her farewell season.)
  3. Yes, my evening show ended around the same time! I guess they just do really long intermissions.
  4. Thank you Cobweb! I try, lol. The amazing performances I was treated to made all the travel worth it. Thank you for the tip on laurel's review and I'll post my own of the Brandt/Ahn Giselle in that thread. Spring 2020 tip: At the stagedoor today, Sung Woo Han told a fan that he is learning Benvolio for Romeo and is still waiting to see if he'll be cast. I'd love to see him in that role.
  5. Thank you Laurel for this detailed review. I went to Lane and Stearns's performance yesterday and echo what you've said here. Regarding Stearns's emotion, I do feel like he brought more than usual yesterday. However, Lane was the clear star of this performance. "Fools" are exactly what I'd describe the ABT powers that be who deny Lane her own Swan Lake this spring.
  6. Yes, I completely agree. Lane has developed a great sense of drama in her roles, ESPECIALLY in her Manon. I was spent just watching her last night. She definitely brought the drama, and I'd say she inspired some emotion from Stearns as well. Even though I saw her her Swan Lake last night, I'd gladly go again! And thank you, I did have a lovely experience. I'm very travel tired, I took another bus this morning for Brandt's Giselle!
  7. I'm not sure on what thread to post this, so just thought I'd go with here. Last night I attended a THRILLING performance of Swan Lake danced by Sarah Lane and Cory Stearns. I took an eight hour greyhound bus down from NYC to Richmond. Let me say, the exhausting travel was so worth it! Lane and Stearns put on an amazing performance that got several standing ovations/curtain calls. In my opinion, Lane is a natural Odette but her Odile really surprised me last night. Deliciously seductive, taking great pleasure in tormenting the hapless Siegfried. Lane nailed the fouettes. As Odette, I loved Lane's very supple swan arms. So fluid. Amazing how in one performance, the dancer goes from soft, vulnerable, romantic Odette to evil, seductive Odile. Lane flawlessly took on both roles. The gentleman next to me actually thought two different dancers did both roles. He was surprised that Lane could so convincingly dance/act both roles. Stearns surprised me. I only went to see Lane but came away equally enjoying his performance. He's never really wowed me but last night he did, especially with the emotion he expressed. I don't think of Stearns as an emotional dancer but last night with Lane really brought something out of him. They had amazing chemistry and made me anticipate their Romeo and Juliet even more. He and Lane are quite good together, I'm definitely hoping their partnership continues to be explored. I'm not a ballet expert, so I can't really comment on the technical ballet terms. But from what I can tell after attending many ABT Swan Lake shows, Lane put on a fantastic, comparable performance. Again, ridiculous that she's still being denied her own show this spring. I went yesterday because who knows if she'll ever get to dance this again.
  8. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Becki. Don't worry, I'm always hesitant to post my own thoughts here as a relatively new ballet fan. It can be quite intimidating. So glad to read your positive review of last night. Cornejo is one of the best, most secure partners in my opinion. Right up there with Gomes. I wish Brandt and Cornejo were performing Giselle this Spring. I really enjoy their partnership. Interested to hear anyone's thoughts about Boylston and Bell tonight. They didn't wow me with their last minute SB last spring. But hopefully with more rehearsal time they've improved their chemistry. (I suppose Bell's promotion this spring is a foregone conclusion.)
  9. https://www.instagram.com/p/B8iCPFEjU_H/?igshid=1iqgx2qny77ny But...didn't Copeland do the exact opposite when she had Lane step in to do Black Swan for her? Why not "pass the baton" to Lane? This just kind of feels disingenuous to me.
  10. Lane and Cornejo are both professionals. Clearly something had gone down last year between them but they still danced Manon, SB and Black Swan together. They are not cast together currently, but I doubt they'd outright refuse to dance together if injury occurred. Lane did rehearse Apollo for Cornejo's anniversary. It logistically makes more sense for Brandt to fill in, rather than have Lane dance a grueling role in back to back performances. Unless the casting was made that way? So that Brandt could potentially fill in for Copeland? I wouldn't be surprised if Trenary/Brandt become Copeland's new understudies, especially when she dances with Cornejo. But I'm still holding out hope that one day Lane and Cornejo will dance together again. Of course, I want Lane to have her own Swan Lake. But clearly the AD has no intention of giving it to her. I hate to say it, but being Copeland's understudy might be the only thing that gives Lane more than her currently scheduled three shows this spring. As Trenary and Brandt have both not danced Swan Lake, it makes sense that Lane would remain Copeland's O/O understudy.
  11. I am devastated to be missing Brandt and Cornejo. If only it had been announced sooner. I gulp at the steep tickets but it's worth it to see these two together. Who knows when Cornejo will dance Giselle with someone other than Copeland.
  12. This is going to be a LONG review. I'm still on a high from Lane and Simkin's cathartic performance. Lane and Simkin were breathtaking. Truly, in my opinion, the best partnership to portray Giselle. Simkin had some truly wowza moments of his own. The height of his jumps! The stamina! How far he could bend his back! I'm still a new ballet fan so I don't know the correct ballet terms of what he did. But man, he really delivered. I didn't feel like his tricks were to just display his ballet prowess. They were like the brute force he was made to dance to save his life. The extremes he had to endure to fight to live. And Lane! Thoses hops were jaw dropping unbelievable. I've never seen her do them better. And the fast spins she has to do right after being summoned...OMG she looked like a spinning top! She was fighting just as hard as Simkin to save his life. At the same time, Simkin was very generous towards Lane as his partner. She simply flew in his gentle arms. While a ballet like R & J has passion in its portrayal of romance, Giselle has a more simple, innocent purity in its romance. The lovers don't even kiss. Lane and Simkin really captured that pure, rather spiritual romance together. I truly felt their love and forgiveness in the final moment when she kind of floats in his arms before departing. I can only describe Lane's mad scene as haunting. It truly jarred me. She has gone to new depths, farther than she ever has before. You could see her heart breaking as she descended into her own hysteria. I felt like she was going to rip her own hair out. Or claw out her heart, she was in so much pain. The only slight hiccup I noted was the overhead lift. The first overhead lift was a little unsteady and Simkin quickly brought Lane down. But it still looked fine, Lane didn't put a hand on his shoulder to steady herself like she's done before. The second lift lasted much longer, almost as if they were trying to make up for the unsteady first one. It looked stunning. Hurlin was a regal, ice cold Queen. One of the best I've seen. She reminded me of Part, in my opinion the best Queen. She was going to make Simkin FIGHT for his life. Her own dancing was amazing. So fast yet every inch a graceful Queen. And finally Lane. My goodness. I am at a loss for words. She took me to another place tonight. Her Giselle was like a religious experience. It felt very spiritual and sacred. Holy. I felt like Lane was bringing to life the hymn "Amazing Grace." She was a heavenly angel sent to save Albrecht. "Amazing Grace/ how sweet, the sound/ that saved a wench, like me/ I once was lost/ but now I'm found/ was blind, but now I see/ My chains are gone/ I've been set free/ My God, my savior's ransomed me" This is my favorite version of this song and I truly felt it come alive tonight in Lane. She was Albretch's amazing grace. She chose to save him from Hurlin's chains. When Simkin knelt before her in anguish, the way that Lane gently poured flowers upon him wa like she was caressing him with her love and forgiveness. In the final moment, Lane gave Simkin a last flower before departing. Simkin lay on her grave for a moment, then he gathered all of the flowers, stood up and walked slowly backwards, away from the grave. He stopped to hold the flowers up to his face for a moment then he let them fall from his hands as he walked toward the audience with his hands outstretched at his side. It was like he could finally see. Simkin is his most mature with Lane in Giselle. They both bring something extraordinary out of each other in this ballet. Simkin is known for his tricks but here he does them in service to the story. It isn't Simkin the dancer showing off what he can do. It is Albrecht fighting to save his life, right next to Giselle. I only came to D.C. for this performance with Lane and Simkin. I took a five hour greyhound bus there and back to NYC. A lot of travel but this was so worth it. If you've made it this far into my review, I'm impressed! As you can probably tell, I'm still on a high from this performance. Ahhh what a night!
  13. *sigh* Well there goes my hope for additional performances for Lane. Very disappointed. Oh well. Still looking forward to seeing Schevchenko and Forster.
  14. "But while she is happy that Mr. McKenzie trusts her enough to give her "three days' notice to learn a three-act ballet like 'Le Corsaire,' she said, she doesn't want to build a career that's dependent on her friends' getting sick or injured." "It would have been nice if I didn't have to go in and keep pushing, but I also understand that sometimes rats what you have to do to move forward." Those two quotes stood out the most to me, along with the mention of ABT's severe lack of coaching.
  15. Herman and Maria have welcomed their baby boy named Nicolas! Congratulations to the new parents.
  16. Oh wow, thanks for the heads up! Exciting to see Lane receive the opportunities denied by her own company. I'm very excited by Lane's burgeoning partnership with Stearns. As I recall, they danced a T&V together ten years ago, then Lane stepped in for Nutcracker due to injury a few years ago, then again in Other Dances, and finally were actually cast together for Some Assembly Required last Fall. I heard great things about their recent Carmen as well. They do dance well together. Likewise, I hope this is the start of a fruitful partnership.
  17. Oh what a relief! As Fleurfairy said, nothing against Gorak but after the shaky T&V I was worried about how he'd lift Lane in R&J. Stearns is a veteran in this ballet and a dependable partner. Plus, I really do like him and Lane together. Wonderful last fall in Some Assembly Required. Was hoping they'd be cast together this spring. Now I look forward to Lane's debut without any misgivings. Admittedly I'm disappointed that Lane wasn't cast for Of Love and Rage. Was hoping that Ratmansky would cast her and bump up her performances. Still, she could still get a secondary female role in the new ballet. At this point, I'm desperate for any additional shows for Lane. Yes, those clips are divine! Wonderful to relive those special moments. Especially since we'll likely never see Lane and Cornejo dance together again. Her Giselle is unmatched. In my opinion, Lane is the best Giselle in the company. Going to D.C. just for her.
  18. Oh okay. I'm glad that McKenzie doesn't have a complete monopoly over casting. Just held out hope that Ratmansky would cast Lane. Like Leah said, there's still the possibility of a secondary female role for her. Just hoping for ANY other roles for Lane.
  19. Well, you called it. AD favorite Seo it is. I was really holding out hope for Lane, given her dismal casting this spring. Perhaps she'll understudy, given her appalling unofficial role as senior standby in the wings. Nevertheless, I'm eager to see Shevchenko and Forster. Will definitely be there for both of their performances. On the fence about the other two casts, especially Seo and Royal.
  20. Sarah Lane has posted some clips from her 2018 Kitri debut on her social media. Kind of hard to watch, knowing the likely end of her partnership with Cornejo. Also not knowing if she'll be cast the next time ABT stages Don Q, given this coming season.
  21. I hate to have to agree but this does seem likely. Although Ratmansky does seem to favor Lane and has cast her in his other ballets. Me too! I'd hoped for a Lane/Simkin R&J but alas not. Their casting in the new Ratmansky is my hope for this spring. Would be a shame if Giselle, while their best, was their only performance together.
  22. I completely concur. I am so upset by this devastating news regarding Lane's lack of casting. She is in her prime, it's not like she's in her retirement season. This seems to be further proof that management is forcing Lane out like Part, taking away shows until Lane leaves voluntarily or her contract simply isn't renewed. This is all leaving a very bitter taste in my mouth. I'm all for the advancement of homegrown dancers and a big fan of soloists like Trenary, Brandt and Hurlin. But not at the cost of veterans like Lane and Abrera. Those two have had their careers severely mismanaged, suffered from the guest star policy, and now are being passed over for fresher faces. Like I said, a very bitter taste in my mouth. It will be hard to look forward to this met season.
  23. Thanks you so much for the heads up regarding Brandt's Giselle debut! Now there's a show I don't want to miss. Will be a good test of her soulful, emotional dancing.
  24. Jane Eyre was not my favorite last spring but I have to say that Brandt was mesmerising as young Jane. She certainly had the deep, emotional maturity to play/dance this troubled girl. The way her family abused her and her reactions were quite similar to the family dynamics of Juliet and her parents. Brandt is known for her bright, happy dancing but I'd definitely say her Young Jane proved her deep capacity for emotional, soulful dancing.
  25. Wow, that's quite a lot! In addition to his Rochester in Jane Eyre. Hopefully he makes it through without injury. I'm so happy he's finally being given these opportunities. I'll be surprised if he's not promoted along with Bell. Probably not Royal but then again Royal is getting Romeo and Albrecht.
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