carllovesballet

City Ballet's podcast has a really great episode about their recent development of hiring an intimacy director: Episode 81 - The Rosin Box: Intimacy Director

Here's a link:

Also, I really liked Unity's post about not feeling right for Aurora - I think in our comments about the casting we weren't really acknowledging how the dancers themselves could feel unfit for a role but they still have to go and do it. I thought it was uplifting insight that made me change how I think/judge the casting. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoztpA_uAuo/

23 hours ago, abatt said:

Wow.  Interesting.  Thanks.

When I saw the show on Sat night, during Walker's Gold variation I was thinking that he should be Prince Desire - his technique is really strong and I think he can carry the prince role.

There were a few mishaps in the evening show including Megan dropping one of the roses in the Rose Adagio but it's so interesting going to see shows with someone who knows nothing about ballet. My partner kept saying that he thought everything was intentional (like the dropping of the rose) and found it funny within the scene. He also commented on the speed of the music and said that he preferred it - probably because he's not interested in seeing the quality of dance, but I can see this making sense to non-dancer audiences, for better or worse.

I thought Mira's lilac was great - her variations were quite nearly perfect and I enjoyed her pantomine; her arms are so musical and expressive

Also interesting to note Georgina isn't cast in SB - she's usually Carabosse...

Lister is also replaced which I'm saddened by - hope they're okay soon! SAme with Sebastian VV who was making a bluebird debut

2 minutes ago, bellawood said:

Thanks, Pirouette! What this tells me is that Sebastian V-V is an incredible workhorse for the company, even though we never talk about him as someone who might get promoted.  

He's a personal favorite of mine! He  has incredible range and I think should be promoted along with Roman to principal soon.

Also I am obsessed with the love for Chan - I'm from Houston and grew up watching him since he was in Houston Ballet II and love that I get to watch him again in NYC!

15 hours ago, matilda said:

I agree that Von Enck was robbed although ABT and European companies have been casting taller Auroras for years. Has NYCB ever had a tall Aurora? The only dancer I remember seeing in the role back in the 2000s was Yvonne Borrée (very petite). I have tickets for a LaFreniere show and will try to reserve judgement until I see how she does. If anything, she and Phelan are more in the mold of the Disney Aurora than the short brunettes!

NYCB usually casts shorter dancers in full lengths like SB and Coppelia and taller dancers in Swan Lake although they changed that a few years ago with casting Tiler and Megan as Odette/Odile

Just now, Balletwannabe said:

I'm seeing Woodward but I have the opportunity to pick from the following for a second performance: Lafreniere, Fairchild, Peck.  Who would you go for?

I'd go for Fairchild - might be her last run of it.

3 hours ago, BalanchineFan said:

Oh, I wish I could. Alistair blocked me from is Instagram. 

lol what's the story there

11 hours ago, Sal said:

I agree, cobweb! I vote for Nadon and Lafreniere, immediately to principal, with Gerrity a question mark for me. Although she's not a favorite of mine, she certainly has been dancing a principal load for over a year now and I think she's earned it. I believe Miller and Kikta need a bit more time. Miller needs to develop her artistry further and I think Kikta needs to be given more shots at big principal roles before she gets promoted. (Am I correct in thinking she hasn't yet danced  Sugar Plum??) And I would LOVE to see Alexa Maxwell promoted to soloist. She has always caught my eye, even when dancing corps roles, and I want to see her get a chance to take on more challenging roles.

Nadon and Kikta (and Emma Von Enck) all debute sugar plum in 2022 - Miller nor LaFreniere have!

13 hours ago, BalanchineFan said:

I find it fascinating to ponder promotions. The dancers are all dancing remarkably well, such energy and joy onstage. I am never, however,  in a rush for actual promotions. When a dancer is a soloist, to my mind, you compare them to other dancers currently in the company. Once they are dancing principal roles, my mind jumps and starts comparing the performances to the best people EVER to dance that role. I don't think I'm being fair or kind in doing this; comparing youngsters to Suzanne Farrell, Merrill Ashley, Kyra Nichols and Lourdes Lopez (a few of my personal favorites) and all, in memory, at the top of their game. It's just how my mind works. It takes time to develop that kind of technique and artistry. There's no reason to expect a dancer to do that in a debut, or in the middle of a long season... except that I do. From reading this site, I don't think those expectations are unusual, though I still think them somewhat unfair to today's dancers. Maybe that's the teacher in me.

The press often does the same thing. The NY Times will write about a dancer being fantastic one season, and the next season say "so and so, doing their usual tricks..." as if they should have perfected a completely new style of dancing in their 4 weeks off! Etonne-moi! I saw it with Darci Kistler. I hear occasionally about Unity Phelan. I think Gia Kourlas does it with Justin Peck's choreography. I would imagine a young artist would need a lot of composure and maturity to handle that. I don't wish it on anyone.

I love thinking of dancers that will EVENTUALLY be principals. Mira Nadon and Roman Mejia are my two shoo-ins in this category. I think Miriam Miller and Isabelle LaFreniere are likely next in line. I think Alexa Maxwell should be a soloist. All of this at some point. NYCB has never promoted dancers on a schedule and I don't think they should start now. Promote dancers when the dancers are ready. Not everyone can deal with the pressure. 

I understand what you're saying but I think all in all it does a disservice to the dancers - especially from a financial perspective - to not promote them especially when they're carrying principal or soloist rep. It's the same in any job, if you're doing the work of a higher rank you deserve to be paid at that rate of which you're delivering.

along the topic of promotions, it's interesting to see how many debuts have been made this season alone. Nadon has like 7 debuts and it's only winter season!

I also saw Emily and Megan LeCrone in Episodes last night and they were giving fierce balanchine technique!!! I was also very impressed by Unity in Episodes - I haven't been a big fan of hers, obv she's talented but she hasn't stuck out to me and I thought she's overused, but her performance really convinced me. I was hoping Episodes would do the same for Miller but it wasn't the case...

Jovani was also living his best life in Fancy Free debut last night! It was very fun to watch him be goofy.

I've always really liked LeCrone but she does seem on the older side (I believe she got into the company with Megan Fairchild) and has had many injuries, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's leaving soon. Kikta is a big favorite of mine so I hope she gets more casting.

I've been making like a fantasy football-ish prediction list for promotions in my free time, which is fun - hopefully they'll announce soon!

15 hours ago, abatt said:

I'm a little surprised to see Veyette's name as Desire.  

I guess Furlan and LaFreniere are saved for week 2.  

Also, Kikta is only listed right now for Diamond.

Peter Walker did Desire during the last run, but so far he is only doing Gold. 

As expected, Harrison Ball is not reprising  Desire or any role.

Why is it expected that Ball won't be reprising Desire?? I feel like I missed something!

11 minutes ago, Balletwannabe said:

Funny, I would have preferred 2nd or 3rd, all that was available (for $38) was 4th ring.  I'm going to Copeland Episodes and then SB later in February.  Hoping the top view is ok for these shows, I've never actually sat in 4th.

I have only ever sat in 4th ring (usually any center POV) and it's still been great - especially for large scale ballets like Copeland and SB I prefer a more birds eye view, so hopefully you enjoy it!!

5 minutes ago, Fernie M said:

Jonathan Fahoury posted on his IG stories, tomorrow night (New Peck) will be his last show with NYCB.  Any information?  I am saddened and surprised, he’s such a talent. Best of luck in his next chapter!

major bummer i really liked his dancing

https://www.nycballet.com/discover/stories/from-the-nyci-fall-session-2022/

you can watch all 3 pieces and learn more about the choreographers!

Speakng of the new Peck, I went to the Inside NYCB talk yesterday and it made me even more excited to see Copeland Dance Episodes. The cast performing the excerpts was: Megan Fairchild (1st time I've seen her dance live and my inner ballet crazed 11 year old self was beaming), Emma Von Enck, Indiana Woodward, Alexa Maxwell, Jovani Furlan, Sebastian Villerini-Vasquez, KJ Takahasi, and Anthony Huxley. From what I saw, it was clean, showed a lot of virtuosity, and it was funny! He's really letting the dancers DANCE and I was really impressed. Peck was also very quietly charming and you could tell how excited and appreciative he was for the opportunity. It was also super fun to see Michael Sean Breeden from Convos on Dance as the host!