socalgal

Ditto to much of the above......however, I saw Sylvia on Saturday matinee with Julie Kent, Gennadi Saveliev, Sascha Radetsky and Craig Salstein. The principal casting did well IMO. However, this was my first viewing of the ballet in recent years. Julie's performance was restrained and she had some tentative moments. However, even when she bobbles something, I still love her dancing. Her technique and presentation are beautiful to watch no matter. Gennadi is one who dances text book. Love the way he sustains his grand jetes in mid air, but there is not much expression. Sascha was great as was Craig. And I would reiterate that Kristi Boone brought on stage the kind of energy that was missing the entire performance. The corps looked nice but limp. And I find no excuse for an entire line of corps girls to not point their feet in most every saute they did. They are all capable so it must be in the coaching and rehearsing.....more needs to be demanded of them to maintain the international status this company proclaims. Loved Sarah Lane as goat. The sets and costumes with smooth story telling a la Ashton made an unmemorable ballet pleasant enough. The orchestra was delightful.

You are correct, tutumaker. No mention of Stephen Legate being involved with the BP school in the press releases. It mentions that he will be attending chiropractic school in the Fall. I would guess that when Ethan left BP, all those that he brought with him left also.

Wonderful news for Ballet Pacifica ..........Evelyn Cisneros and Stephen Legate will be the new Ballet Pacifica School directors. Evelyn has been working in the education of children since retiring as an SFB principle dancer. Both are such great people and talented professionals. I wish them a healthy future in the O.C.! Welcome~ I believe this to be a wonderful replacement for Stieffel and co.

..........as well as mentioning the Pennsylvania Ballet, co-founded by Balanchine himself. It performs a vast rep of Balanchine ballets and is beginning to build a Robbins rep as well. A wonderful solid company with great talent!

I am thrilled to be going Thursday evening to see Apollo with David Hallberg as Apollo. Anyone else going on Thursday?

Yes, I would be interested in an official announcement regarding all of those that are 'moving on' at the end of the season.

For all the Nutcrackers and Sleeping Beautys I have seen at the Academy of Music, the majority of the time the audience of children was extremely well behaved. I have sat next to very restless boys during one Nutcracker who were quickly escorted out by their attentive parents when behavior was disturbing others. There is a wonderful magic to Balanchine's Midsummers. It remains my favorite of all the Midsummers I have had the pleasure to watch. It seems that PAb has done a great job in the staging as I read the comments here.

I am excited by everyone's reviews thus far....can't wait to see this program! I will also be going Sat. matinee as well as Fri. night and Sat. night. Maybe I will see you all there~

How about Tequila's? On Locust near 16th, just behind the Academy a couple of blocks. It has a wonderful atmosphere and great authentic Mexican menu. For an adult atmosphere, Brasserie Perrier, French cuisine, located on Walnut St. near 16th. We frequent Roy's which I think is on 15th near Sansom. It is Asian Fusion cuisine with a tropical decor. All are walking distance from the theatre. There are more......I could go on I will be seeing this show as well! Great cast. Looking forward to it

Serenade is my most memorable....and its closing curtain as well..... Most recently, Wheeldon's opening of his "Swan Lake" for PABallet....a stunning pose of ballet girls a la Degas.

WOW! Boy, would I have loved to have seen Gloria Govrin play Carabosse! That grand presence and tall stature..... Regarding the fairy variations.....I thought them quite standard to other versions I have seen actually. And the Lilac Fairy step you describe can be breathtaking when executed with musicality and extension. Sometimes I did feel, as in other ballets they dance, that they needed a wider stage as some of the ensemble dancing looked cramped.

opps! Amy you are right. It was the Butler version of Carmina that I saw. I will edit my post!

This is an interesting season for PABallet. Glad to see a new Robbins acquisition for them (In the Night) and also the Tharp piece. Sad to see less Balanchine however. "Serenade" is one of my favorites that will make a great night of dancing coupled with "Carmina Burana." I am wondering if the "Carmina Burana" is the Butler version that they have performed in the past or a new one. It does not mention the name of the choreographer. I have seen the Teltley version on PAB which was amazing and wears well for its age. PAB's "The Sleeping Beauty" is a lovely version and has beautiful production values. It is a very classical and traditional and with staging by Janek Schergen when I saw it in '02. I have never seen their "Giselle". What is "Lambarena" like? I have seen photos of this ballet and it looks colorful. The corps will be busy, but so will everyone! I am excited to see "The Concert" again and will be looking forward to the PAB dancers in "In the Upper Room" which to me is a physical marathon! PAB will be showing their best next year......an ambitious season that will do them proud.

I am so sorry I missed Nikolay's performance in 'The Lesson'! And glad to hear that the other 2 men gave satisfying performances as well. Can't wait to hear what the NYers think of this production.....

Angel Corella was scheduled to perform in The Lesson on Thursday and was replaced by Kobborg. Ethan was scheduled to perform it on Friday and was replaced by Kobborg. Would love to hear if any of the other men do perform this piece......

Regarding 'The Lesson", it would not surprise me if Kobborg did all performances of this ballet. I cannot figure how the others could have the time to learn a complex dramatic ballet on short notice. Kobborg did dance it last night again as Ethan S. bowed out due to 'knee injury' says the OC Register review today. If I go on about my impressions of Tsiskaridze's "Carmen" I might spoil it for those who will see this program later. He takes on the roles of Don Jose and Escamillo as well as the title role from the Bizet score. Chris Pasles, critic of the Los Angeles Times, was not as enthralled with this piece(according to today's review) as myself. Maybe it is because I had never seen Nikolay dance before. Also,the night needed humor and Nikolay provided it and more. I personally thought Petit's choreographic staging quite clever. The role changes are done on stage with the use of props and a 'propman', neatly crafted into the musical pauses.

Congratulations Phil! A well deserved promotion! Loved you in "Slaughter...."

So sorry you passed on last night............I am curious as to who exactly will be dancing the role of teacher in THe Lesson for the other performances. It is a complex work and seems that it would be tough for all of them to perform it at Kobborg's level for just one performance each. Another interesting note on last night was the greatness of each dancer was coupled with distinct diversity in each man's dancing style and personality. And they all managed to be humbled by one another. The respect they each carried for one another was extremely visable, especially in the preperformance film. I am going to try and go Sunday again.........

Was anyone else at the Kings of Dance performance last night at O.C.P.A.C.????? Bravo to all involved in bringing these four incredible artists together and for creating a program that had true artistry and not merely a technical fireworks showcasing. My being was lifted away while watching Kobborg perform Rushton's "Afternoon of a Faun". This was worth the entire entrance fee. Also, my first viewing of Nikolay Tsiskaridze - this is a special dancer with enormous talent. His group of solos from Carmen were the surprise of the night for me. A must see. Clever, humorous and beautifully danced. Act I......the program was rearranged from its first announcement, opening with Wheeldon's group piece for the four men. A musical working of Shubert's "Death of a Maiden" which show cased nicely each of these men's fine talents. Much of the movement was quite contemporary and blended well with all of the dancers. Infact, these four looked amazing dancing together. And when they were together or interlacing movements with one another, there was a good feeling of community among them. Very satisfying.......especially to see four such fantastic dancers melding their talents together so seamlessly on stage.....that was a 'wow' for me. Act II....... The Lesson was performed by Kobborg as the teacher. (originally it was listed as Angel dancing the Teacher on this night.) It was as creepy as the reviews I had read. wonderfully performed by Kobborg and a treat to see Cojocaru as the pupil and Yanowsky as the pianist. A moody piece, but it did not put a damper on this evening of dancing, incredible dancing. Even if you did not like this ballet, and there is alot to be repulsed by these characters, you could admire the dramatic talent within the work. Act III....... was filled by four solos, one for each dancer. The ranges were vast in style and content which I am supposing was designed for programing reasons. Ethan danced admirably in "Wavemaker" but the choreography went nowhere for me and there is so much more he could have been given to show his talent. Nikolay came next with his Carmen solos. This is a must see. Brilliant and humorous as well. It was the unexpected thrill of the evening for me. Until Kobborg danced "Afternoon of a Faun". Kobborg transported me to the forest and his creature like rendering was amazing and musically satisfying while listening to Debussy's tone poem. This is a performance I will never forget. Angel follows and does what I think Angel does best. Smile and jump and turn and be charming. Stanton Welch's "We Got It Good" was nifty theatrical Broadway type show piece for him and it was a ton of fun watching Angel in his tux pants, an unbuttoned white shirt with bow tie undone and hair fixed so it would move to the music. What a kick. Ofcourse, they did an encore.....which was what one might consider typical for a night like this. But it was OK by me. These four dancers deserved to blow off steam after the great artistic work that came before..... Go see this if you can........oh....and there is a wonderful film before the concert with rehearsal footage and interviews with each gentelman anda few of the choreographers. Bravo to the presenters of this!!!

Oh my........I am still catching my breath. Just returned home after seeing the opening of the Kings of Dance. This was an amazing night for ballet. A program well planned and performances that will linger forever within me. I was expecting to see a typical 'gala night' type performance. There was more depth and care given to this programing than I had anticipated. I feel blessed to have seen Kobborg dance "Faun" and absolutely taken by Tsiskaridze, especially his version of "Carmen". More comments later.....it's late.

I haven't seen it yet. I will be there opening night at OCPAC as well. It was very disappointing to me that Vishneva cancelled. Let's hope that it is an evening full of artistry and great choreography. There are some extremely dramatic pieces on this program which really have teeth IMO. So let's see what these guys do with them! I am full of curiousity.........and, as with every performance, hoping to be inspired! Keep your fingers crossed.....

WOW! is right......a wonderful piece. I especially loved her husband's revelations about his perceptions of Wendy as his wife and as an artist.....

Thank you so much for your description of our top U.S. skaters. I just finished watching the men's LP and was absolutely thrilled that Matt Savoie made the third spot. His skating is incredibly musical and heart-felt, so humble in its brilliance. I actually enjoyed Michael Weiss's LP and thought his skating so much more artistically clear and polished than the rest. Just glad to see Savoie represent us in the Olympics this time. His skating may be too quiet for some, but it made my heart sing!

This is wonderful news!!!! I saw these two dance 'Giselle' here in O.C.P.A.C. Cojocaru's Giselle is extremely special IMO. Yanaowsky was also a grand presence as Myrta. I already want this DVD in my dance library! Kobborg and Cojocaru are perfect coupling for this ballet. Exciting that this will be documented on film for all to see......

The best of this article is what lies between the lines.....for me anyway. There is a definite disposition that exposes itself here, over and beyond the seedy stories. And I do think it is important to remember that Mr. Martins is the boss of both company and the school. That is fact. Yes, the ending comment of the SAB student was alarming to me as well.