Chballetfan

I'm so happy for Harrison Ball. Being from London and used to the more classical qualities in male principal roles, he always struck me as someone who was really invested in that aspect of ballet. I recall his interview for the first season of the city.ballet series, when he was in the corps, and how intelligently he spoke on reconciling his ambitions for himself and his impatience via a vis grounding his technique and quality. iirc, he had just been given the Levin award. very glad that his patience and hard work has been rewarded with this promotion. 

congratulations to all the dancers !

9 hours ago, cobweb said:

I could nitpick one or two of the choices, but overall this is great news. I notice they are going tall. Kikta and Miller are two of the tallest women in the company, LaFreniere and Hod aren't far behind, and Nadon is on the taller side of medium. Only von Enck is bringing up the short side. I too would love to see Kristen Segin in there! I imagine this means we'll be seeing some retirements among the female soloists. Pazcoguin and Adams are clearly not favored, and Pereira has shown a failure to progress. I also wonder about Megan LeCrone and Ashley Laracey, although they are used more widely and I hope they can stick around awhile longer, Laracey especially. 

I know it's unlikely but I would love a late promotion to principal for Laracey - especially as she danced so much last season and took a lot of Nutcracker strain! I can't understand why she never progressed up. 

Re these promotions: they are all deserved. Like you say, some of them are not personal favourites but nonetheless. I'm really happy for Miriam Miller - I will never forget her in Divertimento on the online broadcast. Just radiant with pure joy at being on the stage. I love Emma von Enck as well. Coquettish technicians are in short supply at the soloist rank.

8 hours ago, canbelto said:

I didn;t go to that performance but I went to an earlier performance with Unity/Joe Gordon/Tiler. Tiler was fantastic as Dewdrop, but Unity and Joe ran into some partnering problems and as a result the performance was rather tense and lacking in magic. In the shoulder jumps Unity almost slipped off. I think Unity's a great dancer but more neoclassical than classical, and she's not a natural SPF. 

I agree re Unity. she is a gorgeous dancer who exudes neoclassical skill and attitude. the prècisement of her limbs in Agon, Slaughter, Western etc. she has it all. and yet she is unconvincing in archetypal classical ballet. perhaps she is not a *natural* sugar plum - that is fine. no  principal is destined for all principal roles. we should never underestimate SPF - although a repertoire favourite it takes a very specific type of ballerina to be suited to and to master both the variation and the pas. the pas demands exuberance, dominance, romance, adagio technique; the variation if anything demands the opposite: petit Allegro in slow motion, intricate footwork and emotion etc. few ballerinas truly master both.

i do think it is time for NYCB to consider and promote a more versatile female principal. I love Woodward and Phelan and respect their command of their respective domains of the rep. I do think there is room for a quintessentially 'romantic' dancer, a la Lauren Lovette - Laracey would be my first choice, but in her absence, perhaps Emilie Gerrity deserves to be promoted? I echo others sentiments at the lack of casting opportunities this season. it does seem a waste. 

9 hours ago, DaniGirl said:

 

I would really like NYCB to put Laine Habony in as Sugar Plum Fairy this year - finally.  As we all know from IG, she started rehearsing that with Martins before his departure.  I saw last year she danced this with Steven Loch (he has left PNB and is now a principal dancer with Miami City) and looked literally royal.  I miss the days when Martins gave us SFP debuts and Habony has surely earned it, waiting in the wings for years and years.  She has an incredible maturity and feminine strength that has been sidelined for years. 

8 hours ago, JanLevNYC said:

Habony does have an incredible feminine strength.  For the life of me, I have never understood why this dancer has been overlooked since the interim team took over.  Yes, when Martins was there, she was cast with purpose.  Every dancer at the NYCB is special but Habony is not a corps dancer, never has been.  Her training/opportunities were not a corps dancer - Youth America Grand Prix 1st place winner, Patricia McBride, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Peter Boals,  Julie Kent, Michael Vernon, Marco Perins - there is a raw article early experiences and about her full-merit scholarship by Katrina Killian at a summer audition to SAB on the internet.   And she has been on-stage night after night at NYCB since her apprenticeship, giving us incredible technique and style.  Regardless, let's hope her year is coming - between the admin changes and COVID every dancer in the industry deserves so much.  There is so many wonderful ballerinas at NYCB - Kitka is another one that has been waiting for years. 

I have mentioned my admiration for Laine Habony on other threads but in light of her reference here it bears repeating. She is, in my opinion, a technically and musically flawless dancer who has stayed completely humble and hardworking for the years she has been overlooked. her movement quality is just so special. I'm shocked she has not been offered a dewdrop or a marzipan at least but I agree, it would be great if she could just do sugar plum and be recognised. I do not understand why dancers like Ashley Hod, Baily Jones and Alexa Maxwell are being given opportunities over dancers likely Habony and certainly Kikta. Alston Macgill is another dancer who has lost out over the Martin's scandal - her coquettish musicality and superior technique had already been recognised but she is now back to middle ranking corps dancing. it's such a shame. 

I do think a huge clear out of the upper ranks is needed at NYCB. there are so many talented dancers who are going to have wasted careers because certain people will not accept that they are coming to the end of their career. the current too generation have been at the top for years, many of them have been principals for fifteen twenty years. even if this new generation does eventually get promoted, their solo careers are going to be much shorter. it's a shame. 

3 hours ago, cobweb said:

Chballetfan, I'm with you on this. No doubt Mira Nadon is extremely talented and has special qualities. But based on the last time I saw her (admittedly, 1.5y ago), she needs more time to gather command of her limbs and polish her skills.  And while Hod has a beautiful physical instrument, I don't find her especially compelling in other ways. She always seems like Ashley Hod, rather than transforming herself into some other character or creature. Besides, if they're going to promote Kikta (I hope!) and possibly Miller, two very tall women, then adding Hod would be too many tall women. 

Re: Nadon, im glad I'm not alone. She's obviously a very beautiful dancer and has a commanding presence already. however there are cautionary tales in terms of promoting early. Lauren lovette is who I'm thinking of but I'm sure there are others. 

I remember a few years back there was a huge fuss about Miriam Miller - rightly - and there were lots of noises made about promotion. I am glad that she has had more time to develop in the corps and I agree others that she would be worthy of promoting now. I think she was also cast early in neoclassical roles (Agon iirc) but I think the time she has been afforded have shown that she is very suited to classical work. I thought she was wonderful in Divertimento for example. She always seems to love being on stage as well which is infectious!

On 8/4/2021 at 5:04 PM, maps said:

To principal: Laracey, Woodward. To soloist: Kitka [on roster in corps for 10 years], Miller, Hod, Mejia.  Farley-should have had a Peck deal.  And Nadon Vail Dance Festival (@vaildancefest) • Instagram photos and videos

 

Yes to Laracey and Indiana Woodward. 

I don't see her name mentioned on here often but I am totally enchanted my Laine Habony. I find her musicality and quality of movement very special. and her recent piece for Indiana Woodward and Harrison Coll (to be found on Instagram) was very special. 

Mira Nadon could do with a few more years in the corps. I would worry about promoting her this early. And I'm not sure about Hod.