pirouette

One of the new apprentices is named Kloe Walker. They haven't updated the site with the new apprentices, but I got an updated company roster in the mail recently.

I noticed that Tiler Peck is not casted at all for Week 2. I wonder if she's taking a break this season to be with family — she's been posting on Instagram regarding her dad's health issues. She's still on the Week 1 casting sheet, but I'm not sure if that will be updated.

Week 2 casting is out: https://res.cloudinary.com/new-york-city-ballet/image/upload/v1694727019/NYCB_Casting_September_26-October_1_2023_lobby_3.pdf

The wording of their post is a little confusing to me. They're calling it a "Prelude to the Diamond Gala" ... so do they intend to perform? Or will they strike? I cannot imagine the show will proceed if the musicians walk out (as people have noted previously, dancers and stagehands are unlikely to cross picket lines).

"MUSICIANS OF THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET ORCHESTRA TO RALLY FOR A FAIR CONTRACT IN FRONT OF LINCOLN CENTER ON OPENING NIGHT" — full post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxI2Cr7OtZ0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

It would be financially terrible for NYCB to cancel this anniversary season, which they've already poured a lot of money into for all the marketing. Plus all the ticket sales that will be lost. I had no idea that the musicians took a pay cut post-COVID. I hope they come to an agreement soon.

Principal Casting for the first week has been posted: https://res.cloudinary.com/new-york-city-ballet/image/upload/v1693951187/Documents/Casting/NYCB_Casting_September_19-24_2023_lobby.pdf

Just received the updated Company roster in the mail. New apprentices who are not listed on the site yet are: Oscar Estep, Sierra Griffith, Kloe Walker, Mia Williams, and Shane Williams. Owen Flacke, Allegra Inch, and Noah McAuslin are also still apprentices.

Some more rehearsal footage on KJ Takahashi's Instagram story of him and Nadon in what I think is Bourree Fantasque.

Thanks! I recall seeing Alec Knight in Haieff Divertimento and Chris Grant in Afternoon of a Faun recently. I don't remember too much about Samuel Melnikov, and I'll have to keep an eye out for Riccardo this coming season!

I'm not so good with the names of the corps men... who else in the corps are taller male dancers?

Megan Fairchild just posted on Instagram that she did a full Rubies run-through today. The guy in the background looks like Huxley.

True, and it's been exciting to watch them, but those dancers were already on their way to becoming principals if not principals already. Would be cool to see someone relatively new and unfamiliar to audiences thrown into a major role like SL — a la Sara Mearns dancing O/O when she was still in the corps.

I completely agree with this. I wish ABT would be a little less hierarchal when it comes to casting roles. I think that given how little they perform these days, they might not want to take roles away from their current principals, especially since many classical ballets like SL only have 1 male and female principal role. But if they took these risks even just once in a while, it would give younger dancers in the corps and soloist ranks more experience and exposure. Personally, I think instead of giving Hee Seo 2 Swan Lake shows nearly every Met season, they could use one of those shows as a 'debut' for someone up and coming. Or they could also test it out in one of the smaller tour performances, if they're so worried about how principal casting affects Met ticket sales — though I would argue many balletomanes would be more excited about a debut than seeing the same cast every year! I love discovering new favorite dancers at NYCB when they're thrown into bigger roles, since NYCB does it way more often. I understand that they also perform more and there are more opportunities for principal roles in Balanchine ballets, but still, I dream/wish for the same for ABT.

They're only performing Apollo four times this season, so I'm assuming there will be 2 casts. If Chan is debuting, either Stanley or Adrian won't be reprising their role as Apollo. I wish we could also get a Terpsichore debut.. maybe LaFreniere, Von Enck, or Laracey.

R&J three years in a row? I hope not Agree that Manon would be lovely.

I think three casts is actually pretty likely. Mearns and Phelan are for sure getting Diamonds. We've seen LaFreniere and Nadon rehearsing Diamonds too (Nadon saying that she's understudying it). So my prediction is that Diamonds will go to Mearns/Janzen, Phelan/Gordon, and LaFreniere/Chan. For Rubies, it might be Peck/Mejia, Fairchild/Huxley, and Von Enck/Furlan with Kikta, LaFreniere, and Nadon as Tall Girl.

Alexa Maxwell posted on her Instagram stories that she's working on the Emeralds Pas de Trois with Baily Jones and KJ Takahashi, coached by Rosemary Dunleavy.

Yes, she danced it with Gonzalo Garcia in his farewell season. I would much rather see Megan than Erica Pereira in Rubies. I agree that Miller would be interesting in Diamonds. I would also personally love to see Ashley Laracey dance that role, but I know it will probably never happen.

I find it strange and a little disheartening that they haven't opened the 3rd and 4th Rings for shows that are supposed to be in 'higher demand' (i.e. opening night and 75th anniversary)

Glad you were able to secure tickets!

I honestly thought they would advertise that performance to new audiences since it's only $19.48. Strange indeed.

I got a similar email yesterday from NYCB Young Patrons with a code to purchase tickets. I clicked the link almost immediately after I received the email and there were still seats available throughout all sections. I was able to get a seat in the orchestra. However, I checked again just now with the same link and it seems like there are only a few seats left and all are in the fourth ring (everything else is greyed out). It might just mean that the show is sold out / close to selling out.

For the 'Drift' Art Series this past winter, a few weeks before the season started, they sent an email notification letting me know that Art Series tickets were live. We will probably get a similar notification closer to the start of the Winter 2024 season.

I ended up going in person today and they couldn't exchange them for me at the box office and told me to call instead. Apparently it's because they're in the process of printing the tickets. I will make a note to email next time. Thanks for the heads up, Matilda!