Calliope

Tobi Tobias didn't like ABT's ads either Ballexploitation http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0319/footnotes.php

I think attendance keeps the art alive. And while I admire your company's ability to keep things "old fashioned" you really can't compare it to company's like NYCB and ABT. And is it really product placement? If someone who has no idea about the press release, and let's say doesn't read the playbill for the little notation about the sponsor, and just goes to see a ballet performance. Will they know who's jeans they're wearing? No, they'll go and hopefully enjoy a performance, which is how it should be.

Thanks carbro, I didn't realize they had a inkling towards dance.

Sorry, I missed the Phillip Morris controversy, when did this take place? Given corporate "misappropriation" lately, it's a little hard to hold anyone accountable. on the ABT SI, they do follow the college acceptance procedures. As someone who was just accepted in to Yale's Graduate school, I'm required to pay $650 within 7 days of receiving my acceptance letter or risk going into the general pop.

There was a notation in the City Center program.

But wait, lots of designers (Versace comes to mind at NYCB) costume ballets. And NYCB engages in the same practice (as vagansmom points out) It's not as though you can sit in the audience and see the CK on the jeans or anything. It's not really any different than the "united airlines is the official airline of ABT" or "Freed/capezio the official shoe

ABT's ad campaign is ...well "They Tear Apart Families, Turn Women into Animals and Poison Heaven" Makes me want to run out and buy tickets! At least the picutre is nice.

I don't know that ABT makes much off their summer intensives, they're tution seems to be inline with respective companies (at least in the NY area) and while the deposit schedule is frustrating, it's no different than what kids go through with college applications.

I thought ABT has been running in the black the past few years?

Some dancers do answer fan mail, to make it easier, you might want to enclose a self-addresses stamped envelope. Write to them care of their company. Most of the dancers give their pointe shoes to their company's gift shop for sale, so you might have a better shot at contacting the company's gift shop to get pointe shoes. Good luck!

Performances are generally always underwritten, even theaters now are company branded. Costumes seem to be "sponsored by" a lot. The Manolos in "thou swell"? But I don't think McKenzie has sold his soul to the devil quite yet. But I still don't like the "dancers underwritten by"

There just seems to be such a reluctance for either "high art" or "pop culture" to recognize each other and I think the article demonstrates that. Just the name "high art" has an elitist tone. It seems to say that anything else is beneath it. And of course, some of it doesn't transcend well into technology. The author shouldn't be suprised at the museum attendance though, considering many are free. But they're accessible, I can go and look at something over and over in different stages, without going bankrupt. The Matisse on the wall doesn't need to update it's surroundings to appeal, no costume changes, no tweaking. What I always find interesting is hearing sometimes who the "inspirations" were for today's artists. It says a lot. It reminds me of when I was in school wondering why the heck I had to read Shakespeare, it didn't even seem like English to me at the time. And I confess, sometimes it still doesn't, but I can go back and pick it up at some later time and try again. Ballet doesn't allow that in my opinion, unless you budget yourself very well, but even then, when you go back to view it, it might not be there anymore because something new and exciting was created instead

well Telecharge is doing discounted tickets now, so get them before the Tony's.

Is Alex Ritter still dancing there? He'd make a marvelous Romeo

Thanks Alexandra. I guess in this day and age, it seems almost like putting too many proverbial eggs in one basket and forcing change, depending Balanchine knew it was his company, he could do as he pleased, to an extent, there was no history, he wasn't competing against anyone's choreography or ideas except perhaps his board,

I realized, I should re-phrase. If it's a company you "inherit" you're not the founding anything... ABT, Joffrey, SFB, NYCB....

to further this along should the AD be the main choreographer as well, or does that create a conflict of interest?

Can't really add much to what everyone's already said. It was nice to see van Kipnis again, I feel like I haven't seen her in ages. As for Kistler, she's heading down the "Heather Watts" road for me. Whelan continues to just amaze me... Overall, I thought the program was a bit of a weak "opening" nothing to get me too excited about anything, but well danced nonetheless.

a very belated reply. In the latest issue of the "Columbia University Record" there's an article about her. Melamed was just recognized by Goldman Sachs as a "Global Leader" One of only 20 students awarded the scholarship. It's an alumni newsletter, but I think eventually the put in on the website for www.columbia.edu

Thanks Michael, I was wondering about the timing of the interview.

I was a little suprised at the Wheeldon quote about NYCB's "wonderful dancers who seem to this year to have been unfairly taken apart in many camps in New York" I know there have been several negative reviews of the company as a whole, but mostly having to do with management. Anyone?

I was fortunate enough to have a very smart teacher in high school, who used to make us buy the NY Times and the NY Post bring them to class and find the same story, whether it was the NY Mets, some world event or a movie review. And she's make us compare the two. I never knew a baseball game with a set outcome (final score) could have such vastly different "reviews" She was my first introduction to "critics"

I always thought my mother made up the phrase "Bedtime for Bonzo" to get me to go to sleep. then again, I thought Reagan had something to do with "Star Wars" and Luke Skywalker when I was a kid :eek:

I think repetition helps you determine what it is you like But sometimes not thinking about it so much gives you more appreciation It's why art is such an individual intepretation.

I don't know of any programs, other than the pre-performance talks. Although, I think ABT just sent out something about a 12 week "course" Unfortunately schools don't have enough funding for arts education it either.