socalgal

I would have loved to have seen Jillana as the first Dewdrop! She must have been gorgeous!

I keep my ticket stubs. Much smaller, less clutter!

That is hilarious, lilianna! You are right, Julie Diana is listed as Sugar Plum and one of the Maids on Dec. 23........since Julie Higdon usually plays one of the Maids, I have a feeling it was a typo.

No Abi Stafford either.....will she be performing Nutcracker?

Not quite true, Pugbee.....I see one soloist who is going into corps once or twice. But, yes, in general there is better relief this year. And Yes, it must be a juggling act to cast 30 shows with smaller numbers. (I was told that a principal volunteered to dance a corps spot just to fill in in an emergency situation one year!!! ) It is still a difficult schedule with still many corps women dancing every show like you said. And with the additional week in Cleveland, where they are right now, it makes it even a longer season. The company only has a week off before they must be back to rehearse the next program which is also shorter lay off than usual....not much time to recoup after Nut! And then La Fille Mal Gardee coming up soon after....a busy year.

Hi Pugbee RE: Charity Eagans.........Charity is fine and and ready to deliver her first baby!!!! She will return in spring. There are many many new names you may not recognize as there are four female apprentices now and also a handful of PAB Studio Co. kids used in the bigger productions. If you look on the roster at PAB web site, you will find many of those names with bios. I think it has been wonderful for the dancers this year because of larger numbers. Most everyone has a "cover" this year which means a break now and again from dancing every show. Their schedule is grueling and Balanchines Snow and Flowers, as many of you know, can be physically challanging when dancing it three times in one day!!! I think it a wise move from management to enlargen the corps. It will keep the dancers in better health. Hopefully Rio will be back soon too.

Thanks again for the heads up on casting, Dale! Much appreciated and am delighted to know that I will be seeing Zach and Julie dance Cavalier/Sugar Plum the first weekend. Hoping to see a few of the other casts as well!

Exciting to see Tess R. as Dewdrop......Merde Tess!!!! Hope someone here catches this performance.......

A wonderful article and many of us have been awaiting this NEW SFB Nutcracker for years. Every year we would hear that there would be a new production and then it would be put of another year........Alas! I hope we will hear many reports from those lucky enough to see it. SFB is deserving of a fresh new production to fit with this great company.

Would love to know Nutcracker casting too! I would like to see Julie Diana and Zach dance Sugar Plum/Cavalier. Heard Julie was also dancing Coffee and would suppose she will have some performances of Dewdrop.....anyone official casting released yet?

Lindy Mandradjieff is also missing from roster......

Finally back and catching up ....... PABallet's opening program was great fun. I enjoyed all three ballets which were certainly an entertaining mix of Balanchine and his unique multiple talents. I have never seen any of these ballets 'live' so it was an extra thrill for me this time around. :grinning-smiley-001: Ballo Della Regina was brightly danced by a radiant corps that kept perfect time. Lovely ports de bras and clear clean footwork. Soloists Keating, Amiss, Cruz and Smith did a nice job at their solo roles. Amy Aldridge and Zach Hench captured the mood with inspiring performances. I also liked Arantxa Ochoa and James Ady in the lead roles as well. This piece served the company well and I thnk it is a nice addition to their rep. It is not a big important work, but serves as a wonderful diversement .......a juicy morsel to whet the appetite for what is to follow! Agon is a brilliant work. I love the way Balanchine works with this score which is complex. But he seems to break it down to seem simple and fun with unexpecting twists. Arantxa Ochoa and Meredith Rainey did delight in their duet. You could sense a relationship between them that became taut and competitive with sensual undertones. The entire cast was engaging to watch......I really loved this ballet Slaughter on Tenth Avenue was a great romp and the dancers seemed to be enjoying themselves as well. I guess I am a sucker for vaudevillian humor like the sweeping up the slain mobster or the bartenders' cigarette routine. Both Julie Diana and Amy Aldridge alternated the role of the Strip Tease Girl and each had the gams and the moves for the part. Phil Coluci brilliant as the Hoofer. A very talented young man. Jonathan Stiles also did a good job alternating with Phil in the Hoofer role. This ballet certainly shows another side of Balanchine that kept me smiling and tapping out of the theatre! It was a good night at the ballet. I not only look forward to see them dance La Fille later in March but also Robbin's The Concert (April), after watching the humorous personalities in Slaughter. :hyper:

Yes, Rio Lama is injured Wishing her speedy healing of foot! I viewed Thursday nights cast and was impressed by the program as a whole. Attendence was great and full of enthusiasm, especially for a Thursday evening :blush: I would love to write more when time permits........Arancha was stellar and what a super addition to the company are Hench and Julie Diana dancing Agon at this performance.

Thank you for the news. It seems clear what this one half of the original Phrenic Ballet is doing. I hope we hear where the other founding members are headed. They are all extremely talented with bright futures I am sure. I am wondering if Neenan and Cox will keep the name of Phrenic Ballet since Miller and Rothlein have created a new identity.

Amanda Miller previously was a member of PABallet. (she was also the alien in the movie "Signs" )

Oh dear. I am confused now too.....I was under the impression that Saturday matinee was Thursday evenings cast except with Chamberlain/Stiles in Ballo. And Sunday matinee was Wednesday evenings cast with Ochoa dancing both Ballo and Agon........

Friday is the Gala and only Slaughter is being performed at 6:30 pm, dinner and dancing follow at another location. It is not a public perfomance.

Yes, Thanks Dale! Much appreciated!

Amy - "Franklin Court" is listed in their active repertoire with premiere date of 1990. PABallet offers a 40th Anniversary booklet that lists their entire rep! You may be able to purchase it at their site........it also has wonderful pictures from throughout their history.

HI Natalia! Yes, I will be there Thursday and Saturday nights and Sunday matinee. Infact, just did my ticketing last night after finding out about casting. I hope that PABallet will post the casts so you can see who is danicng what. (Or you can PM me.) I can tell you that there is one cast for Wed, Sat eve. and Sun. matinee. Another cast for Thurs and Sat. matinee.....Friday is a gala event where the company will be dancing Slaughter and continuing to dinner afterwards.....I am excitied to see this program too. A wonderful Balanchine mix

The scenic design by Adrianne Lobel, costumes by Puissant and lighting design by Naasha Katz of Christopher Wheeldon's "Swan Lake" were imaginative and innovative. The use of the gigantic French mirror used throughout, the video projections used on the back screen are just a few of the amazing designs. The swan corps tutus were also a wonderful reinvention of the traditional. The visuals in this ballet took my breath away!

Congratulations PABallet! A new updated site with a new look and current information on dancers and performance dates. Included are great photos of current rep. including their new Swan Lake...... It is great to see the new faces on the current '04-'05 roster and be able to find performance schedules for the coming season! Hooray

What fun! Thanks Dansuer85! Especially the photos of Robbins "The Concert" which is such a hilarious ballet - the best!

Sorry folks...some reason when I went to this topic it went to Perky's post. Forgive me Major!

Oh my.....I am in shock how this 'came out'. The article certainly sounds official with quotes from PNB officials. Isn't weird that a smaller newspaper got this story? From a Board member maybe????? I'll wait for an official announcement I guess.......