bingham

Gillian Murphy would be perfect for the PNB version of "Giselle."

What's in the PNB Giselle that would fit Gillian?

Any reports on Hammoudi's Othello?

LOL. My 15 minutes (2 minutes?) of fame. Mr. Abatt and I were playing a version of Where's Waldo (Where's Abatt and Mr. Abatt) last night upon reviewing gala red carpet photos from various news outlets.

Where are you?

The ABT Gala curtain call is posted by Vic Toriya in YT. For all it's present problems, they can always have fun galas. The parade of former dancers is the best although it is occasionally difficult to identify the dancers. thanks Vic Toriya.

I mostly agree with abatt about T&V. My problem with it had to do with tempo. It seemed almost sluggish tempo wise and for me that drained a lot of the zip/drama/energy from the piece. Even the polonaise section was slow. They don't even have to take it at the NYCB breakneck speed. Something in between would be fine with me. That said Lane & Cornejo gave fine performances and had a lovely rapport in the pas. Her port de bras is creamy and beautiful, and there are times when her arabesque line just sings. It doesn't have to do with the height of her leg but with the the rightness of her leg, arms, back and head.

I totally second abatt's description of Lilac Garden.

I did stay for Rodeo. I haven't seen it since back in the ABT Christine Sarry days! I loved Xiomara. The piece is in a way a cartoon, but Reyes' emotions were so real and rich that she created a truly sympathetic character.

As abatt said the place seemed less than half full. They have to do something about filling seats.

What can they do?

D Teuscher was scheduled to debut as Hagar and is not a replacement.

Too bad that Gillian and Roberto Bolle don't sell tickets anymore. Then , who at ABT is a seller?

C Trenary seems to be the next candidate for promotion.

Seen it last night in Las Vegas@7pm. It was wonderful, my favorite Ashton ballet. Natalia and Steven were very good together. Although she was excellent overall, there was something missing in her performance. IMO, Lesley Collier is still the best Lise i have seen. Was it a taped performance?

Official release:

ABT STUDIO COMPANY AND THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL TO PERFORM AT THE AILEY CITIGROUP THEATER, APRIL 21 AND 22, 2015

ABT Studio Company and the graduate students of The Royal Ballet School (RBS) will perform a shared bill at The Ailey Citigroup Theater on Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. Performances by ABT Studio Company will include the New York City premiere of Susan Jaffe’s Metallurgy and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s Le Corsaire and Merce Cunningham’s Duets. The RBS repertory will feature Derek Dean’s Chanson, Liam Scarlett’s Classical Symphony and the First Movement of Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush.

The shared performances are part of a unique exchange, which began in 2003, between ABT Studio Company and The Royal Ballet School. During past exchanges the companies have traveled to each other’s respective homes for performances, master classes and training sessions with senior coaching staff.

Limited tickets, priced at $20, are available for purchase online through Thursday, April 16. To purchase tickets, please visit the following, http://web.tututix.com/ABTCompany or call 855-222-2TIX.

The Ailey Citigroup Theater is located at 405 W 55^th Street at 9^th Avenue in

New York City.

(

For more information on ABT Studio Company and performances with The Royal Ballet School, please visit ABT’s website, www.abt.org.

Anyone went to see them.Please report. Thanks.

According to the ABT website, A Cojucaru will guest as Nikiya with H Cornejo on June 5. M Copeland will be Gamzatti.

I think it's also the content of the mixed programs. Personally, given the fact that ABT has frequently performed Fancy Free in the recent past, as well as the fact that NYCB also performs it, I've had my fill of that ballet. In the battle of the T&V showdown, NYCB wins hands down.

I'm afraid that we will not see Tudor's Pillar of Fire and Jardin aux Lilas for a while after this season.

A note to those who are members of TDF - American Ballet Theater is being offered for the dates May 12, 13 eve, 14, 15, and 16 matinee. This is the mixed bill.

That's one reason why mixed bill is not programed more often.

Those are some very elaborate costumes for the national dances!

He also did the latest RB Cinderella.

https://web.tututix.com/client/abtcompany/

Anyone knows who are the dancers in the picture? Thanks.

McKenzie is 60, younger than Peter Martins (68), Helgi Tomasson (72), Villella when he was pushed out of MCB (mid-70's), Stevenson (mid-60's) when Houston Ballet made the big changeover in 2003, and Todd Bolender (early '70's), when he left Kansas City Ballet, for example.

So, he will be around for another 5 years,at least....

McKenzie more than likely went out of his way for Julie due to who she is married to. Otherwise she would have recieved the same treatment as all of ABT's other in-house dancers...

How old is KM? Maybe, it's time to consider retirement...

Thanks for the report. I never saw Merrill Ashley in Ballo. However, I was wondering if you have seen Ashley Bouder at NYCB do the role, and how you think she compared to Merill.

I don't think anyone can compare to Merrill Ashley, IMO.

It will not go to Gray Davis - he hasn't danced any leading roles at ABT - I don't think I've even seen him in a peasant pdd or SL pdd - and ABT doesn't take chances on completely unested dancers.

Maybe, not the lead in SL or Giselle but Gray is one of the talented corp dancers that are being wasted. He has the talent and height to partner all those tall ballerinas. Unfortunately, he has been out for a while due to injury but given a chance, he might surprise everyone.

Please . . . no more imports from the New York City Ballet. Bringing in Veyette last year when they had weeks to teach someone (i.e. Jared Matthews) Theme and Variations had to have been a body blow for the morale of the male soloists and corps members.

They definitely have enough time for Tom Forster or Gray Davis to learn Giselle or Swan Lake. I just dread that more talented dancers would leave at the end of the season.

Oooh, that's a loaded idea considering Golding's own background with ABT and the company's conspicuous failure to develop his talent. I'm not sure McKenzie could bear to showcase a dancer he allowed to get away.

Another dancer that KM allowed to get away is Sae Eun Park who was in the Studio Co . Now she is a soloist at the Paris Opera Ballet but has danced the lead in La Source( to great acclaim) and is scheduled to dance O/O in Swan Lake at the POB. She is also dancing Nikiya (La Bayadere) at the Kirov during this years International Ballet festival.

Did anyone see M Gomes as Carabosse? How was he?

Yes you're right, it was Spinatelli. I was thinking of Pharaoh's Daughter, for which Lacotte designed the costumes as well as choreographing it.

Lacotte also did the set/costumes for Marco Spada.

Lacotte designed the POB Paquita costumes, which are indeed very beautiful.

If i'm not mistaken, i think Luisa Spinatelli did the sets and costumes.

Danny Tidwell is listed as one of the dancers. According to his bio, he has been there since 2010. There was no mention if he danced any leading roles. I do wish that he would return here, to ABT if possible.