socalgal

I will be there for the Wednesday evening performance....anyone else?

I was excited and surprised that after attempting to buy tkts for Apr. 25th on line in a specific section and showing a sign 'sold out', I called and got the section and seats that I was looking for! Not sure what that is all about. I am one who needs to know where my seats are located.

Indeed, it was Masahiro Suehara. What a wonderful young dancer. His foot work was so articulate, his ballone and batterie were incredible in the Napoli solo he performed (1st male variation). Peter Snow was scheduled to dance Agon 's 1st pas de trois and Napoli at other scheduled dates. There were some replacements at the beginning, but I fail to remember the names. So I am not sure if I saw him or not. Sorry. I will say that all the men last night were excellent and well coached. Many of the female corps seemed able but not as secure in the Balanchine pieces. (Barocco is a tough one!) Everyone shined in Napoli which was the closer. It was a joy to see Bournenville

danced so well and with such spirit. A highlight for me.

I attended this program Thursday evening also! I agree with all of your observations.

Thor and Colleen spoke at the beginning to explain the background of each piece and why it was chosen for their inaugeral rep season. They were charming. I wish them the best and will try and attend their next rep program. There was one male member that captivated me. A talent to watch for. I was told that he was an SAB student who recently performed in NYCB's Nutcracker in Tea. It was also wonderful to see a lovely former NYCB dancer Melissa Barak dancing second violin in Concerto Barocco. Welcome home, Melissa!

Its interesting that the last listing on Sat. is incomplete. It gives the first two daytime

performance casts and not the evening casting for Sat. Dec. 16th. Is it possible to find out the evening of the 16th?

Helene, thanks for the how-to's~

That was fun and unexpected to see Angel dancing with Gwynth Paltrow.

Wonder how the two of them were paired in this commercial.

It was lovely!

I have been trying my best to hold my tongue, but..........

Here is a company with incredible resources and finances, not to mention talent and this is what the AD 'chooses' to produce? I am dumb-founded, truly. While Balanchine looked forward, I guess this man likes to move backwards.

The last time NYCB was here in Orange County, Maria danced in Symphony in C with Charles A. The performance brought tears to my eyes. It was beyond beautiful in the aesthetics scale. The feel of the movement was sublime and there definitely was a story going on in the Balanchine way (put a man and a woman on stage and there is story)

I just got back frm Swan Lake with Somova and Kolb. Now I know what the fuss is all about. I am glad I went to see this with my own eyes. I had many observations about the company in general as well. I also caught Golub and Kolb in R and J. After I see Vishneva and Fadeev in Swan Lake tomorrow, I will put in my 2 cents about this Kirov visit to OCPAC.

I must comment briefly on the orchestra for Romeo and Juliet.....it was worth the price of admission to just listen to this ballet music. The musicians moved me (more than the dancing....)

No, I did not go but I saw both Fancy Free and The Concert the last time PABallet danced them. They do a great job with Fancy Free and I just plain love The Concert every time I see it. (My DD was in the Mistake Waltz! The blonde.....)

What is it that compels choreographers? I would say the music.

I have an available ticket for tonights Romeo and JUliet at OCPAC. Please PM me if interested. Great location in Row J, center orchestra. These are my regular seasaon tkts. and I will be going......any one interested?

I have an extra ticket for tonights performance of Romeo and Julliet....any one interested? Complimentary, ofcourse! These are my seasaon tkts......in Row J orchestra center. Who ever PMs me first.....I will check my email often.....

FREE TICKET for Wednesday Kirov Romeo and Juliet!

I know, Amy. I feel very much the same way. It is not often you see such a ballet endure decades as Butler's Carmina has done. And it is interesting that PABallet has commissioned a new ballet of this score when they have such a brilliant gem of a Carmina in their rep of which they are noted for performing with extreme success.

Frankly, I am quite often confused about the choices of many ballet companys' reps when they are announced eash year.........it boggles the mind.

Hi dcportrait......I missed it too......

Catch the review in todays Philadelphia Inquirer. It is posted in today's Links section.

I have seen it danced at PABallet a few years ago. It is wonderful. You will have a lot of heavy partnering to do! Lots of lifts! It was standing O each night at the Academy of Music and it was during a fierce snow storm! I hope you enjoy dancing it. It is very contemporary and you can see the influence of Graham technique in the choreography.

There were six couples as chorus and two principal couples. Tons of dancing for the corps couples.....enjoy!

It was known as PABallelt's signature work. However, this year they are replacing this Carmina with a new one created by Matt Neenan, company dancer and director of Ballet X.

Giannina....I will be there with single ticket on Sat. evening....sitting in orchestra front.

We should meet up! I am so curioius about this cast.....would be fun to chat with you.

I have to remember that it is a 7:30 curtain! Name a location.......at intermission or before performance?

Yes Yes! Thank you for the Calendar! I see it has increased its scope.....a world calendar of ballet events.....wonderful! I cannot even imagine the work this must take to put this together. Bravo!

I am excited too, cygnet! My series night is for Romeo and Juliet but I was able to get a ticket for Saturday eve. with Somova (I am just too curious about all the hubbub!) and with Vishniva on Sunday matinee. I love Uliana and yet I have seen her recently in other ballets, so opted to open myself to other artists and take advantage of this visit!

For those of you who have not gotten tickets for Swan Lake yet, I would do so soon.

My visit today to the OCPAC ticket office showed that most orchestra and first tier tickets were sold for all performances. There were only a handful of scattered seats on the sides, and not many of those. I didn't check availability for 2nd tier or above. But it looks like sales are extremely strong.

Sonja and Erik? Wow~ I will want to get a copy of this for sure. All of the PDD's sound wonderful.

I am thrilled that your NYTimes John Rockwell has responded to the Segal piece in today's NYTimes. Thank you Mr. Rockwell!

Here is a review clip from the City Paper......

http://citypaper.net/articles/current/dance.shtml

A Perfect 11

by Janet Anderson

dance review

Pennsylvania Ballet was driving a fast train full of creativity when it closed out its spring season. The headliner was in-house choreographer Matthew Neenan's 11:11, performed to lilting Rufus Wainwright songs, including "Oh What a World" about that fast train. Neenan trumped his own ace with a world premiere, "As It's Going," performed to live string and piano music by Shostakovich, a work so astonishingly sophisticated the young choreographer shifted the weight of the program to his newest work.

Neenan's 11:11, a suite of dances to Wainwright's lilting songs, got a luscious performance from the buoyant, charged-up dancers who'd originated the roles in 2005. Julie Diana and Meredith Rainey were virtually boneless flying through the songwriter's "Vibrate." When the whole cast whirled across stage to "Oh What a World," you were seeing PAB at its best. (Wainwright came to opening night and rushed backstage to congratulate the company, saying he was going to forget his Judy Garland project and just do ballet.)

Christopher d'Amboise's "Symposium," a carefully thought-out abstract dance taking its inspiration from the painter Mondrian, opened the program. Dancers moved against a simple backdrop of black-and-white lines that looked like one of the famous artist's paintings. Arantxa Ochoa and Alexander Iziliaev were superb, executing sharp linear moves. But d'Amboise came off a little earnest in comparison to the verve and flair of the in-house choreographer. Keep that fast train going!"

PENNSYLVANIA BALLET June 7, Merriam Theater"

There is some interesting casting for 11:11 that includes more that just two casts in certain roles.....I am glad that Mr. Neenan has given alot of opportunity in this ballet. It will be my first viewing and am thrilled to see a variety of casts. This piece was extremely well received last season. I am very excitied to be able to catch some performances this time around! On Wednesday, they are giving a reception for Rufus Wainwright, composer of 11:11, after the show. I would be interested to know his impressions of the ballet.

I have to double check, but I think I am going friday and both Saturday performances.

I am surprised that PAB didn't post their program and casting like they usually do.