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fLexNpOinte

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Everything posted by fLexNpOinte

  1. I was fortunate enough to see Michelle Wiles and David Hallberg perform at the Wednesday matinee. I enjoyed it very much, but I never felt like I was being drawn into the story as other dancers have made me feel (i.e. Julie Kent and Angel Corella). Both have amazing technique, but I felt that stage presence was lacking in the first two acts. I felt they were much better suited to the Black Swan pas de deux. Michelle Wiles executed triple endehors attitude turns in her variation and threw in triple fouettes in the coda, which was quite a feat that I don't think the audience recognized. Overall, I really enjoyed it. I hope both dancers grow in their artistry and presentation as they mature and experience new roles.
  2. I just returned from the Sunday matinee. Pennsylvania Ballet's Swan Lake was absolutely AMAZING! Prior to attending, I had some doubts about whether or not I would like it. I had heard it was very different and truely unique. I had not anticipated how much I would fall in love with Christopher Wheeldon's staging of Swan Lake. It was easy to follow and not too "modern." The creativity involved in staging and choreographing such a phenomenal production was just astonishing. It was certainly Pennsylvania Ballet at its finest. Christopher Wheeldon's production of Swan Lake was ingenius in that it was portrayed as if a company were rehearsing and preparing to debut Swan Lake. At the opening of the ballet, you see dancers preparing for Swan Lake rehearsal by tying their hair up and changing into rehearsal clothes. The whole ballet involves a company preparing the production of Swan Lake and how a dancer gets "lost" in his imagination and rehearsing of the ballet. (Sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense ) It was a very unique perspective that I thoroughly enjoyed. I had the opportunity to see Riolama Lorenzo as Odette/Odile and Zachary Hench as the prince. Riolama Lorenzo is AMAZING! She is so beautiful and captivating to watch. She is a dancer that can simply walk across the stage and you cannot tear your eyes away. I really enjoyed her portrayal of Odile, especially in her variation. Her renverses were so beatifully suspended. In Odette's variation in the beginning of the ballet, Riolama Lorenzo executed beautiful pique attitude turns that were suspended and sustained. Her portrayal throughout the ballet was breathtaking. Zachary Hench was also very impressive. He had impeccable technique and was very convincing. The corps de ballet choreography was very intricate and challenging, but the dancers executed it beautifully. The corps de ballet was very interesting to watch as were their formations. The dancers moved and breathed as one. It was a very spectacular thing to see. I was also very impressed with the cygnets. It was very interesting and unique how the dancers increased in height slightly from left to right instead of the traditional cygnet dancers of all the same height. The cygnets were so together from start to finish of their challenging quartet. I felt as if I was watching one body move instead of four. Every movement and breath were executed in the exact same way by each cygnet. Their dance retained the traditional choreography. In the third act of the ballet, there was a break from the traditional Swan Lake which I thoroughly enjoyed. The can-can dancers and the other additions were comical and a pleasure to watch. I found it to be more interesting than the traditional Swan Lake. The third act was portrayed as if it were a gala for a ballet company. The fourth act remained mostly traditional. At the end, the audience sees the dancers back in rehearsal for Swan Lake. Its very fascinating how it was choreographed and blended together. Also very impressive about the production was the scenery, lighting, and costumes. It was very elaborate but certainly not over the top. The costumes were more contemporary, but they were beautiful on stage and under the light. The whole producting was just breathtaking and a must-see. It was so captivating and enthralling. The show I attended was completely sold out (even family circle seating). A random sidenote :offtopic: -Angel Corella was sitting in the row behind me! It was so exciting I could barely sit still. Ballet fanatics from all over the country and abroad came to see this marvelous production. At the end of the ballet, everyone in the audience who was able was standing and applauding. The dancers received a well-deserved standing ovation. Pennsylvania Ballet's Swan Lake should not be missed! :grinning: :bouncing: :party: *Sorry for the length...I could go on forever about PB's Swan Lake...It was breathtaking to say the least...I hope all that attend have as amazing of a time as I had*
  3. :party: I saw the Sunday matinee. I LOVED IT! Of course I am partial to the Pennsylvania Ballet because they are the ballet company of my home state, but it was truly spectacular. Concerto Barocco is one of my favorite ballets and Ms. Aldridge and Ms. Ochoa did a brilliant job! Their technique and stage presence were immaculate. I also loved the Four Ts especially at the end when the entire cast danced together in a captivating finale! Fancy Free was hilarious and executed brilliantly. Ms. Lorenzo's solo was captivating (not to mention her beautiful arches were visible even in character shoes). Ms. Keating was so much fun to watch as the "sailors" fought for her affection. Ms. Reffner's solo ended the piece at the perfect note. All of the dancers really portrayed the part and I truly got a sense of what it would have been like if I was alive back in the 1940s. I couldn't stop laughing. I came out of the ballet feeling inspired. I cannot wait to see Dracula in November!!!
  4. Hello! I had the opportunity to see Concerto 488 and Firebird . I really enjoyed both, but then again I am partial because I really like the Pennsylvania Ballet. Like others have said, the music was very nice for Concerto 488 . Personally, I liked the choreography. It was unique and something different. It was not your typical "ballet". I thought it looked like a very difficult and demanding piece to perform! There were many intricate steps and movement patterns. The dancers were constantly dancing with only a brief solo or duet to catch their breath. The male lead looked particularly demanding. At one point, there were a series of fast, constant beats. All of the dancers I saw had beautiful stage presence and really captured the mood of the piece. I also liked how the choreography of Concerto 488 expressed a variety of emotions. I thought that the "theme" of the piece varied from viewer-to-viewer and depended on an individual's perspective. It was a very calming piece leading into a more "active" piece. I also thoroughly enjoyed Firebird . The scenery and the costumes were breathtaking. However, most breathtaking of all was the dancer who portrayed the Firebird. I was very delighted to see Riolama as the Firebird. She put a lot of emotion into the part and was very "birdlike". I was very impressed with her portrayal and most certainly her astonishing technique. This ballet made me feel as if I was looking in on a secret, enchanted garden. The dancers seemed to really reach out to the audience and grasp their attention. I was very lucky to see both performances and I had a GREAT time!
  5. I had the delightful opportunity to see Riolama in Firebird and she was absolutely phenomenal. I enjoyed the entire production but having the opportunity to see her dance made my day. Her dancing inspires me and I hope to see a lot more of her dancing in the future!
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