Helene

Casting is up for week 2: Five performances first weekend; three casts get one, and one cast (Rausch/Cruz) gets two. Rachel Foster and Batkhurel Bold also dance the condensed "Eyes on Dance" performance at 11:30am on Friday, 7 February. The Auroras and the Florines keep their partners, but the casts are moved around, and only Rachel Foster dances with the same Lilac Fairy in the regular rep. (She dances with another Lilac for "Eyes on Dance." There is also some new second-week casting: Amanda Clark and Kyle Davis dance Florine/Bluebird, Joshua Grant dances the Lilac Fairy Cavalier, and Chelsea Adomaitis joins William Lin-Yee and Joshua Grant in Gold and Silver. Aurora and Flormund/Lilac Fairy/Florine and Bluebird/Gold and Silver (trio) Thursday, 6 Feb: Lesley Rausch and Karel Cruz/Laura Gilbreath/Liora Neuville and Eric Hipolito Jr./Angelica Generosa, Benjamin Griffiths, and Kyle Davis Friday, 7 Feb: Leta Biasucci and Jerome Tisserand/Laura Gilbreath/Amanda Clark and Kyle Davis/Chelsea Adomaitis, William Lin-Yee, and Joshua Grant Saturday, 8 Feb matinee (1pm start!): Kaori Nakamura and Seth Orza/Carrie Imler and Joshua Grant/Carli Samuelson and James Moore/Elizabeth Murphy, Eric Hipolito Jr., and Price Suddarth. This is Kaori Nakamura's last performance of Aurora (at least in the full-length version). Saturday, 8 Feb evening: Rachel Foster and Batkhurel Bold/Lindsi Dec/Amanda Clark and Kyle Davis/Laura Gilbreath, William Lin-Yee, and Joshua Grant Sunday, 9 Feb matinee: Lesley Rausch and Karel Cruz/Sara Ricard Orza/Leta Biasucci and Benjamin Griffiths/Lindsi Dec, Jerome Tisserand, and Andrew Bartee There is a 50% off promo for the Sunday, 9 February performance, the day the Seahawks play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl [Many Roman Numerals]: This is a very nice deal, especially for families. This is the solo casting for both weekends: Sleeping Beauty Solo Casting Wks 1-2 2014.xls

I'll bet there will be plenty of Seahawks-clad people at the performance.

Chalnessa Eames definitely danced Pink in the rep: with a such a short clip I was going by the hair . Thank you both for the ID! I was thinking the same thing about Porretta: it's a huge endurance test. We can only hope he's skipping the Bluebirds to be able to do "State of Darkness."

Thank you for the news, rg, however sad.

Best typo/freudian slip ever! I think I jumped Marketing's gun; this just in:

As you can see, NATinCPH, Skorik's career and dancing has a polarizing effect on the ballet community. Some agree with you; others find virtues in her dancing. She's a ballet dancer whose management has cast her prominently in the greatest roles. She is not responsible for global warming or the demise of the art form.

The Director's Choice program for March 14-15 and March 20-23 is: Susan Marshall's aerial dance, "Kiss" to Arvo Part's music Susan Stroman's "TAKE FIVE...More or Less" to music by Dave Brubeck Molissa Fenley's solo, "State of Darkness" to Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" Hubbard Street Dance AD Alejandro Cerrudo's new work, thanks to the Joyce Theater Foundation's Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance. Here is the promo preview video: Mara Vinson and James Moore perform in "Kiss." Jonathan Porretta dances in "State of Darkness. I'm not sure of all of the dancers, and apologize for mid-identifying anyone, but I think the men are, in the first group clip, Jordan Pacitti in back of Kiyon Gaines, Jeffrey Stanton, Jerome Tisserand, and Jonathan Porretta. I definitely recognize Kaori Nakamura in Yellow -- according to her retirement press release, she'll be dancing this -- and Lesley Rausch in Purple. I think it's Miranda Weese in Blue, Sarah Ricard Orza in Pink, maybe Stacey Lowenberg in Orange and Kari Brunson in Red? Corrections appreciated!

The press release lists two Nakamura performances as Aurora: first weekend on Opening Night, Friday, 31 January, and second weekend, Saturday matinee -- 1pm starting time! -- 8 February.

If we were, all of this could be going on, and we'd never hear about it...

That's great news for the Royal Ballet!

Unfortunately, it happens in both directions: the West Coast has its own selective blindness.

I love the hybrid of the tutu and the tabs.

Thanks for the heads up, Amy! Only six days to go. If anyone is interested, they need to act quickly.

There are so many great roles from which to choose. This season, she was featured in "Brief Fling" and Sinatra and will dance Aurora, "Midsummer Night's Dream" Divertissement, in the Stroman piece, and Giselle. In the past, PNB has ended with a big work -- a la last year's "Diamonds" 4th movement, in a prior season "Coppelia" -- but Lallone's last performance was a solo from "Lamberena." I think the MSND PDD is one of the most sublime pas ever; with the divertissement, it would be a good group number, if not as flashy as "Diamonds" or "Theme and Variations," but ending with the pas, in a quiet way, would be like my favorite retirement ending ever, when Patricia McBride danced the lovely piano solo from "Harlequinade." (Maybe Olivier Wevers could be convinced to come out of retirement for this; it was the last thing he danced at PNB.) I hope we get the second act PDD from "Giselle." One of the loveliest things I've ever seen her dance was the reconstructed pas de deux from the last act of "La Bayadere" for Doug Fullington's Petipa presentations. It's a shame that PNB never got to present it on the main stage for her.

You were lucky. So were the NY audiences who saw her Juliet last February.

Those are a lot of changes. For people on their phones where scrolling is labor-intensive, here's the blog link: http://www.sfballetblog.org/2014/01/principal-casting-sf-ballets-giselle-program-1/ The first three performances remain the same (Sat 25 Jan, Sun 26 Jan, Tues 28 Jan). Summary of changes: Wednesday-Friday's casts rotate: Wednesday 29 Jan: Feijoo/Luiz/Messmer in place of Froustey/Helimets/Messmer Thursday 30 Jan: Kochetkova/Boada/Chung in place of Feijoo/Luiz/Messmer Friday 31 Jan: Froustey/Helimets/Messmer in place of Kochetkova/Boada/Chung One-off cast changes: Saturday 1 Feb matinee: Stahl replaces Messmer as Myrtha Saturday 2 Feb evening: Kochetkova replaces Zahorian as Giselle. (It was scheduled as her only performance.) Closing Principal changes: Sunday 3 Feb: Van Patten/Ingham replace Kochetkova/Boada as Giselle/Albrech The way the schedule is written now, Kochetkova will dance with both Boada and Domitro.

The foofy tutu skirt that McBride wore make the Paris Opera Ballet ones by Lacroix look sleek. I had thought that Lacroix had changed precedent, but his are less fussy than the the one in the photo. i actually like it, although the tunic matches the choreography and music a lot better.

From the Seattle Times: ‘Sleeping Beauty’ ballerina eyes a happy ending

Part two: Ronald Hynd’s The Sleeping Beauty runs January 31 – February 9. Kaori Nakamura is scheduled to dance the lead role of Princess Aurora at the 7:30 performance on Friday, January 31, and the 1:00 performance on Saturday, February 8. DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, featuring Ms. Nakamura in Susan Stroman’s TAKE FIVE…More or Less along with three additional ballets, runs March 14 – 23. George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs April 11 – 19. Kaori Nakamura is scheduled to dance the Divertissement pas de deux at select performances. Peter Boal’s reconstruction of Giselle, featuring all new sets and costumes, plays May 30 – June 8. Kaori Nakamura is scheduled to play the title role at select performances. Season Encore Performance will be presented one night only, Sunday, June 8 at 6:30 pm. The performance will include a special tribute to Kaori Nakamura. NOTE: Tickets to the Season Encore Performance are currently available for purchase by PNB’s renewing subscribers, and go on sale to the general public on March 3.

Here is part one of the press release: Special Tribute to be part of Season Encore Performance, June 8, 2014 SEATTLE, WA — Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced that after a 17-year career with the Company, principal dancer Kaori Nakamura will retire from performing at the end of PNB’s 2013-2014 season. Ms. Nakamura joined PNB as a soloist in 1997 and was promoted to principal in 1998. Following her retirement, Ms. Nakamura will be joining the faculty of PNB School. In his announcement, Mr. Boal made the following statement: “I remember many of us from the New York City Ballet peeking into the studios of the School of American Ballet many years ago to see the young Kaori Nakamura, the youngest winner of the Prix de Lausanne, who had selected SAB for further study. She was so very tiny and perfect; a rare gem, with impeccable technique and a fierce work ethic. Now, 25 years later, I am so honored to have worked with Kaori as she continues to ascend to new heights of artistry and excellence. She remains the consummate professional. Though we will miss her exquisite performances, I am thrilled to know that she will join our School faculty and bring her unique wisdom and experience to our students.” Audiences will have several more opportunities to watch Ms. Nakamura perform during the 2013-2014 season, including the upcoming The Sleeping Beauty (January 31 – February 9) and DIRECTOR’S CHOICE (March 14 - 23), among others. Ms. Nakamura is scheduled to dance the lead role of Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty on Friday, January 31 at 7:30 pm (opening night) and Saturday, February 8 at 1:00 pm. Other upcoming roles include the Divertissement pas de deux in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (April 11 - 19) and the lead role in Giselle (May 30 – June 8). The season will conclude with PNB’s annual Season Encore Performance (6:30 pm on Sunday, June 8) which will feature Ms. Nakamura reprising some of her signature performances. Tickets to The Sleeping Beauty and DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, in addition to the rest of PNB’s season offerings, may be purchased through the PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at 301 Mercer Street. Tickets to the Season Encore Performance are currently available for purchase by PNB’s renewing subscribers, and go on sale to the general public on March 3. “To try to sum up the extraordinary talents of Kaori Nakamura is like asking to capture all the beautiful butterflies in the world with one swoop of a net…impossible,” said PNB principal dancer Jonathan Porretta, who has partnered Ms. Nakamura in several ballets. “Kaori embodies both artist and athlete. She is the epitome of grace and lightness, strength and fierceness. Getting to perform with her on opening night of Coppélia (June, 2010) was a dream; she is the most humble and gracious partner. She has taught me so much about having a genuine relationship on stage with your partner. I have had some of the most amazing and fun times dancing with her. She has a twinkle in her eyes that is both full of mischief and love all at the same time. She is truly a dream come true. In a word, I would call her my idol.” Kaori Nakamura is from Gumma, Japan. She trained at the Reiko Yamamoto Ballet Company and the School of American Ballet. In 1986, she won first prize at the 14th Prix de Lausanne competition in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1988, she won a bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. Ms. Nakamura joined Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1990, where she was made a principal dancer. She joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as a soloist in 1997 and was promoted to principal in 1998. "Kaori was my partner in Winnipeg (1992-1995) and a good friend,” said celebrated choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, who most recently directed her acclaimed performance as Kitri in Don Quixote (February, 2012). “I've always admired her dancing – effortless, light, sharp and feminine. Technically she could do anything, but artistically she was able to develop fully only in Seattle and I am glad she dedicated her talents to PNB.” Ms. Nakamura performed the role of the Butterfly in the BBC's 1999 film version of PNB's production of George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream, filmed at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London. She has performed as a company member of Whim W’Him, a guest artist at the Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Melbourne Ballet Festival and with Dancers for Life in Vancouver, British Columbia. For PNB she has originated leading roles in Stephen Baynes' El Tango, Val Caniparoli's The Seasons, Paul Gibson's The Piano Dance and Mozart Pieces, Kent Stowell's Silver Lining, Kevin O'Day's [soundaroun(d)dance], Twyla Tharp's Afternoon Ball, and Olivier Wevers' Shindig. Other leading roles have included George Balanchine's Agon, Ballet Imperial, Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, Concerto Barocco, Coppélia (Swanilda), Diamonds, Divertimento from “Le Baiser de la Fée, Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Butterfly, Hermia, Divertissement pas de deux), Rubies, Serenade, Square Dance, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Theme and Variations, La Valse, and Who Cares?; Peter Boal’s Giselle (Giselle); August Bournonville's Flower Festival Pas de Deux; Val Caniparoli's The Bridge and Torque; Ulysses Dove's Red Angels and Vespers; Nacho Duato's Jardí Tancat and Rassemblement; Eliot Feld's Intermezzo; Nicolo Fonte's Almost Tango; William Forsythe's In the middle somewhat elevated and One Flat Thing, reproduced; Kiyon Gaines' M-Pulse; Paul Gibson's Sense of Doubt; Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow (Valencienne) and The Sleeping Beauty (Aurora); Robert Joffrey's Remembrances; Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort; Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Cylindrical Shadows; Eugene Loring's Billy the Kid; Jean-Christophe Maillot's Roméo et Juliette (Juliet); Peter Martins' Fearful Symmetries; Mark Morris' A Garden and Pacific; Vicente Nebrada's Lento a Tempo e Appassionato; Marius Petipa's Don Quixote (Kitri), Esmeralda Pas de Deux (staged for PNB by Ms. Nakamura and Olivier Wevers), and Le Corsaire Pas de Trois; Alexei Ratmansky’s Don Quixote (Kitri); Jerome Robbins' Dances at a Gathering and In the Night; Kent Stowell's Carmina Burana, Cinderella (Cinderella), Coppélia (Swanilda), Delicate Balance, Firebird, Kammergarten Tänze, Nutcracker (Clara, Flora), Palacios Dances, Pas de Deux Campagnolo, Quaternary, Swan Lake (Odette/Odile), and Zirkus Weill; Susan Stroman's TAKE FIVE…More or Less; Richard Tanner's Ancient Airs and Dances; Lynne Taylor-Corbett's The Ballad of You and Me; Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room, Nine Sinatra Songs, and Waterbaby Bagatelles; and Christopher Wheeldon's Polyphonia.

medici.tv is making the Abbado Mahler's Ninth Symphony with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra from 2010 available for free until 31 January (CET): http://www.medici.tv/?utm_source=Mainlist&utm_campaign=9e303dc358-20140123_nl_en&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ae558c6ab2-9e303dc358-304904869#/claudio-abbado-mahler-9-lucerne-festival-2010

There are a lot of people with a lot of disposable income that follow opera, ballet, figure skating, speedskating, etc. There are a lot of people who live frugally and/or have flexible jobs or freelance and spend every cent of the little disposable income they have to be, for example, Ring Heads. I doubt that the fans from Japan who've given Johnny Weir designer bags worth thousands of dollars did so because they were paid. There are cultural differences among countries: what seems excessive to us is more mainstream somewhere else. Also, ballet dancers and figure skaters are the Brad Pitts and Julia Roberts' of their societies. (You can tell how long it's been since I've been to a movie that didn't have subtitles.)

From Janos Gereben: https://www.sfcv.org/article/addio-claudio-abbado1933-2014 Rest in peace, Maestro Abbado.

It must be, because that was my first impression of the "Rubies" and "Emeralds" bodices.

PNB tweeted this photo in honor of George Balanchine's 110th birthday: https://twitter.com/PNBallet/status/426096187502895104/photo/1 I don't remember ever seeing that "Rubies" tutu design.