Drew
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Posts posted by Drew
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Instagram's algorithm drew my attention to an account that describes itself (according to google translate) as follows: "We publish information about dancers, ballet dancers, teachers, and choreographers who ignore or support Russia's war in Ukraine." They have just three posts so far and in addition to calling out the current head of the opera house in Russian-occupied Donetsk, they call out Polunin and Ovcharenko. The latter danced in the performance of Spartacus that was the Bolshoi's fundraiser for the families of dead Russian soldiers and Ukrainian "refugees" in Russia. (They also criticize Ovcharenko's initial 'peace' post on the war--an image of friendship between Russia and Ukraine--as not, in fact, opposed to the Russian position at all.)
I do NOT endorse this sort of 'calling out' of Russian or Ukrainian artists--well, maybe the guy in Donetsk if he really did line up his dancers in the Z formation as reported both here and elsewhere--but I also suppose the account is run by Ukrainians and I am not inclined to fault them for their rage either. (You can see the account is followed by a number of Ukrainian dancers whose names are now known to ballet fans the world over such as Potiomkin.) I post about the account here only because I think it's a sobering reminder that when this war ends it may not be all Kumbaya in the world of classical ballet. Too much that is too horrible has happened.
Here is the link: https://www.instagram.com/zradaart.ua/
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5 hours ago, volcanohunter said:
In late June the Bolshoi has scheduled two performances of the Postscipt program. This was very much Olga Smirnova's project and brainchild, centered around her performances in Wayne McGregor's McGregor + Mugler and Alexei Ratmansky's Souvenir d'un lieu cher. The program has also included Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Faun and Postscript by Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot. Like Ratmansky, McGregor, Cherkaoui and Lightfoot have condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
By scheduling the program, I get the impression that the Bolshoi is trying to give Smirnova the finger. I am curious to see which pieces will actually be performed, and whether the Bolshoi intends to continue its thug-like behavior by performing works despite choreographers' objections (as in the case of Christophe Maillot's The Taming of the Shrew). I also can't help wondering how dancers feel about performing ballets when they know it goes against a choreographer's wishes.
If a company genuinely has the the legal rights to a work, then I don't think that it's "thug-like" to perform it against the choreographer's wishes. The context of the war is what makes all of this so disturbing and, I infer, deeply upsetting for the choreographers. But choreographers sign agreements--and have been known to lose control of their works to companies. Rule of law still applies (even if it seems ridiculous in the present context). From the little I've read, it's a question mark whether the Bolshoi has the legal right to perform these works. They may.
I feel for the choreographers, and have no sympathy for the Bolshoi which I know perfectly well doesn't care about "rule of law"--but that's not a reason for me not to do so. Now--if there were a gray area-- contracts were not finalized, nothing signed etc.--then it's potentially criminal behavior...and I think the choreographers should, if they have the resources, take legal action (there may be pro bono lawyers who are interested too).
No matter the purely legal issues, I am sure it's awkward for the dancers especially if/as they still harbor hopes of working with some of these choreographers in the future. But if Russian--which is also to say, Soviet--Ballet history proves anything, it's that many gifted artists can work surprisingly effectively in an atmosphere of propaganda, lies, and intimidation....even as others around them are destroyed.
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I see the Scottish Ballet is described as bringing Arthur Miller's play The Crucible "to the ballet stage" with no mention of the choreographer--Helen Pickett--which somewhat bothers me as I can't help but think that it speaks to a lack of respect for and/or lack of interest in dance artists. I understand Miller's is the name that will sell tickets--of course it should be foregrounded--but would be it so terrible for ticket sales to say they are bringing Miller's play "to the ballet stage in the acclaimed adaptation by Helen Pickett?" or some such. Anyway, I rather liked Picket's work for Atlanta Ballet which included a full length adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real. It included some spoken words and generally fell into the "dance theater" category, though, as I remember, with one very lovely lyrical and balletic pas de deux. I have to budget my ballet travels, but if I can swing it, then I'd be happy to see what she does with The Crucible.
(Like @abattI wish Ratmansky's Swan Lake with Miami City Ballet had been on offer.)
If Putin stays in power, and maybe even if he doesn't, then I fear it will be quite some time before we see the Mariinsky or the Bolshoi again--especially at Kennedy Center. Ballet is too closely allied with Russia's "soft power." But I hope that in the coming years Kennedy Center does more to bring in high profile companies from elsewhere overseas: The Royal Ballet (England) top choice for me by some measure. But there is a pretty substantial list of others that would tempt me as well.
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2 hours ago, nanushka said:
Is he serious?
Netrebko is burning bridges--that takes bravery whatever you think of her past or her statement. The fact that it appears to be a response to the pressures she is under if she wants to continue her career and that it appears to be a little less than perfectly candid about her entanglements with Putin doesn't change the fact that under these circumstances any statement takes bravery. Wasn't Gergiev her big champion at the beginning--well, will she ever be able to sing under his baton again? Shouldn't we imagine her career at the Mariinsky was profoundly important to her? Well, maybe that's over now. For good. No-one will compare this kind of bravery to the kind of physical bravery involved in saving babies from bombed buildings--or even the bravery of ordinary Russians deciding to leave Russia without her level of fame or dual citizenship--but I still find it reasonable to call her words brave. (Moreover as Macaulay pointed out, she did, as soon as the war started, express her distress and opposition to war--that was followed up by other posts I gather from reports that did try to thread the needle, but it's not as if she said nothing at the beginning of the war.)
Ratmansky himself seemed a little less than perfectly candid on Instagram responding to some challenges on his record of working with state institutions in Russia under Putin's regime. Though he did admit that there were things he didn't understand [edited to add: more exactly he wrote things he wished he had understood better at the time]. I don't blame him--building the arts under a dictatorship doesn't promote perfect candor, perhaps even to oneself. The current war in Ukraine crosses a different kind of line for many (most) observers than even the annexation of Crimea did and that's fair enough...but I fear it's a mistake to go in search of some "pure" position in which no-one is implicated in anything problematic ever.
(Heck, the CIA was heavily involved in promoting NYCB tours back in the day...around the same time they were involved in overthrowing and undermining democratically elected governments that weren't to the United States's liking and with appalling results. It's not a reason NOT to condemn Russia and its horrific war now, but it is yet another reason I am inclined to pause before demanding absolute purity of position from Russian artists today.)
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Thank you for sharing...Lots of interesting programming and it is nice to see an evening in honor of Patrick Dupond.
Two Macmillan full lengths and only one 19th-century full length is not the balance I would choose for a company that has the resources and talent to do justice to the 19th-century repertory--but I guess I'm not the typical Paris ballet-goer. Also a little surprised the Balanchine program only has the two works. Both are longer (I double checked the running times) but it's still not the heftiest of evenings.
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33 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:
Today I saw a post from a Russian account that suggests Instagram is becoming increasingly difficult to use. Under the circumstances, I would rather not name the account.
The funny thing is I just realized a few minutes ago (looking at Instagram) that numerous Russian ballet dancers (prominent and slightly less prominent) in addition to the ones I named above are still posting--were posting today. Some of them are doing Instagram "stories" which don't have comments and only stay up a limited amount of time and disappear....others are posting regular photos etc.
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21 minutes ago, pherank said:
The posts are ballet specific, without a hint of events in the outside world. So I think the dancers are simply hoping that posting to IG won't get them in any trouble as long as their content remains neutral.
That must be what they are hoping/assuming. What's puzzling is that Instagram was reportedly blocked in Russia--supposedly people can't access it--presumably in part because it's not just a venue for putting up one's own photos. People on Instagram can read whatever posts they want and unless comments are turned off anyone on Instagram can comment on their posts. So, it's sort of unclear to me if it was actually blocked or if there are a lot of workarounds...
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5 hours ago, Helene said:
They can't shut down Telegram because the servers are deliberately hidden, and they haven't been able to find them, yet.
I am not sure if this was a response to my post...so I reread my post and realized I nowhere clarify that I am talking about posts on Instagram—all these dancers are still posting -or their posts are still showing up-on Instagram. That is what odd.
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On 3/24/2022 at 5:46 PM, volcanohunter said:
I don't know whether other Russian dancers are still posting openly on sites that are supposed to be blocked.
I only follow a few but a number are still posting. [Edited to add: posting on Instagram.]. Ovcharenko has been posting photos/posts without yet taking down his earlier post alluding to the invasion. But now his instagram is family life and cheerfully posed photos -- much as it used to be. His wife Tikhomirova is also still posting-- according to google translate the post from yesterday read as follows:
"Ay? who else is here friends? Tell me please, is it possible to upload more photos here or is it better not to? And please respond in the comments, who sees? [heart emoji] Love to all [heart emoji]"
Reading this post conjured a whole short story in my head.
I have also seen posts by Ekaterina Novikova -- she actually hit "like" on the Tikhomirova post I just quoted. Recent Novikova posts talk about the Bolshoi in Kaliningrad with one aside about it being hard to post "on our peaceful life these days." (Once again I am dependent on GoogleTranslate.)
All of the dancers who keep posting do have links to their Telegram sites on their Instagram pages. Maybe some of them have some app that coordinates all their social media automatically?
Anyway there must be some loophole whether it is widespread use of VPNs or just incompetent blocking of the site. Hard to believe the authorities don't know. I've seen recent posts and/or 'stories' from Ovcharenko, Skorik, Shklyarov, Saveliev, and Khoreva as well as from the Vaganova Academy's and K. Novikova's accounts. The obvious question to ask is whether I have mistaken fan Instagram accounts for official ones but...well, except for K. Novikova I have been following these for a long time and I don't think so.
There are dancers whose posts stopped 3-5 weeks ago....including Chebykina whose last post was her emotional statement about the war and her concern for family in Ukraine.
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There has been talk about this kind of merger before--I remember reading about it several years ago--so Gergiev has presumably been looking out for an opportunity to make it happen. Urin signing a document calling for peace (though worded in a rather 'humanitarian' vein) may have created that opening. Gergiev's power wouldn't be internationally what it would have in the pre-war world, but it would still be a lot of power. But I also notice that in the translation of Putin's statement he seems to be saying that a decision has not yet been made...so perhaps this is trial balloon of some kind ...? or is the translation misleading?
8 hours ago, Helene said:I may have missed them, but while I've seen the reports about international dancers leaving Russian companies, I don't remember seeing reports about the international students at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky or anything to suggest disruption at the Bolshoi school in Brazil. If Gergiev does consolidate control, I wonder what it means for the schools and students.
As you may know, Brazil has taken a neutral stance on the war--even as Brazilian dancers at Mariinsky and Bolshoi decided to leave Russia--so it would not be a surprise if the school hasn't been disrupted for now. One imagines, too, that Gergiev, if he gets the sought after position, will want to maintain what international standing/influence Russia has when it comes to soft power. Though of course I'm hardly an expert!
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5 hours ago, On Pointe said:
... she has only herself to blame - unless she is a Kremlin puppet who was ordered to make that remark, which is a possibility.
Young twenties seems very young to me. Anyway, by every account i have ever read, Khoreva has an eminent, wealthy father who has played a big part in her career. I can see for myself how very polished her social media has been--professional quality photography etc. At one point, well over a year ago, she posted on Instagram that "friends" run her youtube channel, so text on the youtube channel is not necessarily directly from her at all times. Or at least it hasn't always been. Personally, reading this story about her channel, I think she is being badly advised and/or her channel is being badly run by her "friends" -- It's not an excuse but it is a context.
And if I admire a Smirnova so very much it's because I don't think it's easy for anyone at any age (even a "star" married to a Goldman Sachs employee) to think, speak, and act against the very society that cradles and adores them and has always been their home. Even more so when that society is a de facto police state.
There is a huge amount happening right now that we won't begin to understand for years and even decades.
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1 hour ago, volcanohunter said:
At the time, there were no consequences.
Yes....none of substance....
Challenged on the fact that he himself didn't stop working in Russia after they annexed Crimea--a challenge made in comments on Instagram written in response to his post--Ratmansky himself responded: "I never supported the annexation of the Crimea. But yes, I wish I understood better what has happened back then." He also says that he has asked both the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky to suspend his repertory. The full exchange is interesting and --for those who haven't seen it already -- here is a link; you have to scroll down the comments to get to it:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbbXrlHKjTs/
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1 hour ago, Marta said:
Drew said:
If I am honest with myself, then I think my attitudes on these issues are closer to Macaulay's ever so slightly softer position or even Baryshnikov's quite different position--though mostly I feel weighed down by uncertainty and the experience of "propaganda" in all directions. But I know I certainly didn't stop attending Farrell's performances just because I read an interview in which she ooh-ed and ahhed over what a Ballet Fan Henry Kissinger was ...
I've read Baryshnikov's position but since I don't have a Facebook account, I've only seen what Macaulay included about Ratmansky's position. Is it possible to cut and paste what Ratmansky wrote on Facebook here?
Ratmansky's initial post was expressed as a response to Baryshnikov and opened with a long tribute to Baryshnikov and his support of Ukraine. He re-posted it as a general statement on his own FB page without that tribute as has been cut and pasted by others above. As you probably saw, the part that I was reflecting on and which concerns "even" people who protest Putin is quoted in my earlier post.
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Though Macaulay admires Ratmansky's statement, his own attitudes are different and that comes out subtly even in the way he summarizes Ratmansky's points which, in fact, slight softens them: . [Edited to add: in the comments to his post, Macaulay makes his distance from Ratmansky clearer than in the initial post.]
Though Macaulay summarizes Ratmansky's argument saying Russians do have access to real information and can easily find out what is happening if they wish to do so, Macaulay himself still ends his statement by recalling the role of "propaganda" and "confused patriotism" --as if to once again remind people that Russians may not always have access to real information. This is not Ratmansky's position in the FB post Macaulay is referring to (quoted below)... Likewise Macaulay acknowledges the importance of Ratmansky's critique of Russian silence as often a mask for Putin support while ALSO insisting that Western observers who say that silence=consent from the comfort of their armchairs are speaking "coarsely" and "heartlessly."
Moreover, I think Ratmansky goes farther than a critique of silence as consent. After discussing many who have openly and loudly aligned themselves with Putin over the years, Ratmansky adds;
"Yes, there were those who were not involved, and others who even protested. And it seems fair that these artists/sportsmen should be given chances to perform/compete in the West. But in reality it's a more complex issue. ... Russia is now engulfed in a military patriotic frenzy. I know that many of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky dancers, whom I adore and with whom I happily worked for more than 20 years, sharing my heart, inspiration and knowledge, support Putin and his crimes in Ukraine. I don't beleive they are unaware that Ukrainian cities are being shelled and destroyed, thousands of civilians killed and millions displaced. I don't beleive [sic] they can't get true information..."
My interpretation of the part in bold is that we have to take seriously Ratmansky's reference to "others who even protested." The latter don't get a pass from him either. (And that seems a bridge too far for Macaulay who silently leaves that bit out of his summary of what Ratmansky wrote.) It's not clear to me why Ratmansky takes that position: perhaps because he thinks most protesters have not gone far enough? Or perhaps because, short of fleeing Russia, he thinks that when artists and athletes "represent" Russian art they de facto shore up Putin's and Russia's prestige EVEN IF they oppose Putin's war? perhaps because, as with any other kind of sanctions, he believes that cutting off Russian artists/athletes has to be thoroughgoing to be effective -- even at the cost of hurting those who may not deserve it? Perhaps because he thinks many of the antiwar statements have been blandly humanitarian but not actually anti-Putin? I don't know.
If I am honest with myself, then I think my attitudes on these issues are closer to Macaulay's ever so slightly softer position or even Baryshnikov's quite different position--though mostly I feel weighed down by uncertainty and the experience of "propaganda" in all directions. But I know I certainly didn't stop attending Farrell's performances just because I read an interview in which she ooh-ed and ahhed over what a Ballet Fan Henry Kissinger was and, to keep things from going too much off the rails, let's just say that, in my eyes, Putin isn't the only war criminal in the world.
But I do find reading Ratmansky very salutary...He obviously sees himself, indeed he IS, a warrior in the "information" wars....
Edited to add: As noted above, in a comment added to his post, Macaulay makes his distance from Ratmansky and Baryshnikov clear: "Rather than rushing to think either man [Baryshnikov or Ratmansky] is right, we should consider the conditions that may be most effective in freeing Russian artists of the pro-Putin views that may seem to them as appealing as the outdated British imperialism of my boyhood."
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Hope he has a great and fulfilling career. His shortened ballet career was a loss for the art.....
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Unlikely as it seems, I'm reviving this thread because Nedak joined Atlanta Ballet (announced last year actually--I wasn't paying a lot of attention since they weren't dancing much and I certainly wasn't attending). He is dancing Albrecht with them this week as they finally premier the Giselle that was planned for 2020. For various reasons, I'm not able to attend. I'm sorry to miss it. I can't know, but I imagine he is under some emotional strain under the circumstances.
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1 hour ago, pherank said:
I was being sarcastic, and unfortunately, nothing is actually easy in this world. I doubt that bullies objecting to a name like "Russian Ballet" have much experience with, or interest in, ballet. They are just looking for a new target.
I'm slapping my head....the sarcasm should have been obvious to me....
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2 hours ago, pherank said:
Hers is an easy fix: change the name to Ukrainian Ballet and she will get good press.
Good press for five minutes, but as I know you know, she should not be being intimidated by threats into doing anything.
And of course ‘Russian Ballet’ refers to a whole history of ballet....it’s not just about nationality, ethnicity, or where someone was born.
The episode is nothing compared to the horrors being visited on Ukraine by Russia—I am sure no-one on this thread needs to be reminded of that— but when the U.S., the country I live in, has gone down this route during past wars and international crises (including Covid), it has never ended well. Better to speak up when it IS still a trivial problem.
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Just now, pherank said:
I don't fault you for caring, Drew. I'm just pointing out the difference in scale between these choices. I don't want to see a lot of anti-Russian rhetoric get thrown about either - it simply isn't productive, and will have the opposite effect of what is intended: Russians will feel forced to defend their culture, rather than step up to make needed changes.
Amen ....
Which, goodness knows, does not change the horror that is happening in Ukraine ....and the terror many of us feel listening to what is coming out of the Kremlin....
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32 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:
I agree entirely. And the renaming of the lounge is completely inconsequential.
Today we learned about the death of a former dancer of the National Ballet of Ukraine, who had been in hospital for more than 2 weeks with severe wounds he suffered during bombing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbONOJttv8v/
And an actress of the Kyiv Young Theater died after her home was bombed.
I also saw that terrible news--about the actress only a few minutes ago on Twitter--and have been publicizing the first story (in my case on my social media, not here on Balletalert) ...
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31 minutes ago, pherank said:
Even if the renaming seems like a misstep to some people, it is still a very, very small matter in the scheme of things. I don't see this slight, if it can even be called that, comparing to the real issue of an unprovoked invasion, 3 million + Ukrainian refugees, and numerous incidents of violation of the "rules of war" (aka war crimes). Not to mention the litany of threats, and cyber-warfare, directed at other nations should they dare to criticize Putin, or 'interfere' with the invasion in any way. I don't see the Russians being the victims in this situation, especially if the vast majority feel the need to support their government in any decision, no matter how outrageous. That's the real issue to be dealt with, imo.
21 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:I agree entirely. And the renaming of the lounge is completely inconsequential.
Who would disagree with what @pherank has written?...Not me for sure. So why did I post about the lounge? Even though I rather thought I might be criticized? The way war causes people to make small, inconsequential acts of ugliness even on (what one believes strongly is the) right side is not something one always has to ignore or like--and indeed I don't think it is something one should always ignore. I judge this renaming, however trivial, to be just such an act. And such gestures are not always inconsequential insofar as they contribute to building up the atmosphere that leads up to much more problematic acts. (Talk of throwing Russian students out of the U.S. is already underway. A discussion that seems to me quite premature.)....I've expressed myself elsewhere on what I agree is the real issue--and one on a vastly different scale--the destruction being visited on Ukraine and the threats beyond. On this website, which is a ballet talk website, when the renaming of an opera house lounge came up I expressed myself on that.
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Hmmm...it would very much surprise me.
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5 hours ago, lmspear said:
The Kennedy Center has renamed the Russian Lounge in the Opera House. From their website https://www.kennedy-center.org/rentals/event-rental/opera-house-circles-lounge/ :
The Opera House Circles Lounge is located on the Box Tier of the Opera House. Prior to 2014, the space was known as the Golden Circles Lounge, featuring a magnificent Waterford crystal chandelier and collection of sconces, gifted to the Center by Ireland. In 2011, after a gift by the Vladimir Potanin Foundation in honor of the Center’s 40th anniversary, an architectural design and artistic competition was held to renovate the space. In 2014, according to the terms of the Foundation’s gift, the re-named Russian Lounge opened, celebrating Russian arts and culture. The Waterford crystal chandelier and sconces were refurbished to compliment an updated, sleek look and two new paintings were commissioned by famed artist Valery Koshlyakov. In 2022, after the expiration of the naming rights, the space was re-opened as the Opera House Circles Lounge. The Lounge is used as an event space, meeting room, and private lounge for the Center’s Circles donors.
I am trying to decide just how depressing I find it to read this story about the renaming of the Russian Lounge at Kennedy Center. Fundraising experts perhaps can tell me: Is it typical to let a space name lapse when the donor's original arrangement expires? If so, then that is one thing and I can live with it even if I find it dispiriting. But otherwise I find it an unpleasant 'wartime' kind of gesture and I can't help but think it's the sort of thing that gives life to those who might believe Putin's claim that the world is out to "cancel" Russia.
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Best of good fortune to Smirnova at the Dutch National Ballet. Whatever her privileges and protections in life, I believe her statement against the war took some guts--it's more direct than many such statements have been--and I admire her for it.
Interested to read that she admires Van Manen's choreography because from what I have seen of his work (almost entirely video) I can very much picture her in it. Also, as I understand, Lezhnina is a ballet mistress at Dutch National Ballet--that seems like a potentially excellent coach for her.
Glad to read the company has also taken on some Ukrainian dancers and wishing success, too, to Caixeta.
And, oh yes @California! Please Kennedy Center pay attention--artistically for sure and also--this is a story you can use to sell tickets!
Ukraine invasion & the arts: Gergiev fired by his agent, etc.
in Other Performing & Fine Arts: Performances, Exhibits, Films, and Events
Posted
Thank you for filling out the story. There seems to be a lot we still don't know/can't know--and may never know or at least never understand.