dirac
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Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents "Cinderella."
QuoteOpening night’s Cinderella was Tommie Lin O’Hanlon. She was every inch a graceful Disney princess come to life, able to convey a range of emotions through mesmerizing movement. Rooting for her to win the prince in the end was natural — she radiated sweetness and warmth, even in scenes where she was using a broom to sweep the stage. When she entered the ball in a gorgeous white costume, the audience held its collective breath.
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Carolina Ballet presents "Cinderella."
QuoteTo wrap up the season, the ballet is performing a brand new version of "Cinderella."
Margaret Severin-Hansen joined the Carolina Ballet for its first season 26 years ago as a founding member. She played Cinderella in the past, but now she’s moved on to the fairy godmother.
“What I enjoy most about being the fairy godmother is that it's a fairy, so it's not a person,” Severin-Hansen said. “So it has a very ethereal feel towards it.”
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A review of New York City Ballet by Ivy Lin for Bachtrack.
QuoteHave you ever watched a ballet and thought “great ideas, horrible execution”? That was what I felt when watching Pam Tanowitz’s Law of Mosaics. Tanowitz is a choreographer of obvious intelligence. She weaves together Merce Cunningham-like movements and randomized structure with contemporary ballet. She usually chooses cerebral music that adds to the “brain over heart” vibe of her ballets. She deploys dancers with some skill.
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A review of Tulsa Ballet by James D. Watts Jr. for Tulsa World.
QuoteAnd while it's true that ballet can be used to explore deep emotions and challenging ideas, it also can be as light and joyous and refreshing as a cool breeze on a hot day.
Tulsa Ballet closed out its 2023-2024 season the past weekend with its "Signature Series," a mixed-bill production of three pieces the company commissioned to mark special events.
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Sarah Lamb talks about taking on the role of Hermione in "The Winter's Tale."
QuoteFor the current run, which marks the 10th anniversary of Wheeldon's The Winter’s Tale, Lamb’s Leontes is first soloist Nicol Edmonds, he, too, debuting in the role; and I have no doubt her knowledge of the play and insights into the character are of tremendous help to him in shaping his interpretation.
‘Leontes’s switch is so abrupt, so startling, it almost seems like a psychotic break, to be so paranoid and so sure of himself. I think that’s probably the hardest thing to show, and yet to keep a little bit of the audience’s sympathy with his character….’
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The Royal Ballet will perform at Jacob's Pillow this year.
QuoteMeanwhile, the indoor program, which incorporates live music, will reflect the company’s more diverse repertory for the 21st century. “On the Ted Shawn stage we will perform the US premiere by [American choreographer] Pam Tanowitz, ‘Secret Things,’” said O’Hare, who has served as The Royal’s director since 2012. The company will also perform Christopher Wheeldon’s “For Four,” danced by four men, and a world premiere by its resident choreographer Wayne McGregor.
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A preview in brief of the Royal Ballet's upcoming Ashton programs by Apollinaire Scherr for Air Mail.
Quote....The rest, early and late, will be new to all but longstanding Ashton devotees. The programs include the 1980 plotless Rhapsody, which is noble and melancholy, like the dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov, for whom it was made; and either the frothy 1933 Rendezvous or Ashton’s homage to Isadora Duncan and a cluster of especially obscure rarities.
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Lady Sarah Chatto is the new president of the Royal Ballet.
QuoteHer mother, the late PRINCESS MARGARET, was the first President of the ballet company in 1957.
Chatto is a painter who exhibits under the name Sarah Armstrong-Jones. She is Vice President of The Royal Drawing School and Patron of the Frederick Ashton Foundation.
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Ballet BC announces its 2024-25 season.
QuoteThe season continues March 2025 with Zenith. It features the first-ever Ballet BC commission of Andrea Peña, Johan Inger’s choreography Passing, and another world premiere, this time from Fernando Hernando Magadan.
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Two dancers say goodbye to the stage in Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's "Cinderella."
QuoteTwo dancers — William Moore and Danielle Downey — will perform with their young daughters in the production, which runs Friday through Sunday.
Even more poignant, both dancers have just announced their retirement from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, making their daughters’ first performance experiences their last.
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Orlando Ballet presents "Casanova."
QuoteEverything in this ballet is big and opulent: Venetian masquerades, period costumes, bold choreography and guest conductor Julian Pellicano leading the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Orlando Ballet Artistic director Jorden Morris, in point of fact, promises a production “sinfully rich with the forbidden.” There’s even a mature content advisory! Beware, dance fans; you will get the vapors.
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A review of the Royal Ballet by Amanda Jennings for Bachtrack.
QuoteDouble debuts in major classical ballets are not common occurrences, and when both debutants have already shown exceptional technical prowess, it is a privilege to be in attendance. I have been following the progress of Joseph Sissens and Mariko Sasaki with interest since they first arrived in The Royal Ballet, and neither has ever disappointed: would they continue that unblemished record in the very demanding roles of Siegfried and Odette-Odile in Swan Lake? I’m pleased to say the answer is yes, although as is only to be expected there is more to develop from both of them.
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Milwaukee Ballet's new program features works choreographed by women.
Quote"MKE MIX," at the Pabst Theater May 16-19, features the return of popular choreographer Nelly van Bommel, winner of Milwaukee Ballet's 2007 Genesis choreographic competition. Many locals fondly remember "Gelem, Gelem," her high-energy tribute to Roma dancing, which Milwaukee Ballet performed in 2008 and 2023.
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A report on television dance competition shows from Armenia and Russia by Ilona Landgraf in her blog, "Landgraf on Dance."
QuoteWhile German TV programs rarely promote the art of dance, dance is part and parcel of media abroad. The sequels of two dance competitions—Ազգային պարեր (Azgayin Parer/National Dances) on Shant TV, Armenia, and Большой Балет (Bolshoi Ballet) on Rossiya-Kultura TV, Russia—were broadcast recently. Both competitions are textbook examples of how to foster talent while simultaneously nourishing and cherishing dance culture.
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A review of New York City Ballet by Ivy Lin for Bachtrack.
QuoteThe mark of a great ballet is whether it can withstand a poor performance. There is a reason Jewels or Serenade are often thought of as cast-proof. NYCB’s Contemporary Choreography I series featured two works (Alexei Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces) that can tolerate some less-than-perfect performances, and two ballets (Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels and Gianna Reisen’s Play Time) that received the best possible performances but still made little impact.
Mary Cargill reviews NYCB for danceviewtimes.com.
Quotendiana Woodward was both witty and elegiac as the girl in pink, and seemed to be in her own world; the final sweep of her hand looked like she had modeled her wrist on the Pietà. Ashley Bouder, in green, was definitely in her own world, and seemed to be revisiting past triumphs in her solo; she gave it a slightly bitter sweet air. There was a lot of sweetness, as well as some unease in Emilie Gerrity’s plangent mauve, and she gave her final dance a slightly uneasy air, as if she were desperately looking for something; she was profoundly moving without any self conscious acting.
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Ballet West's Choreographic Festival will feature "Asian Voices."
QuoteAccording to Adam Sklute, the artistic director of Ballet West, Asian and Asian-American dancers have made important contributions to dance. However, they have not been represented enough.
“For an art form that has had so many brilliant Asian performers, ballet and dance in America has far too little Asian representation in choreography, composition, and directorship. While it is my honor to celebrate Asian leadership in ballet, I hope given time we see more and more great Asian creators and leaders to bring ballet further into the 21st century,” said Sklute.
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A TV news preview of Milwaukee Ballet's final program of the season.
QuoteArtistic Director Michael Pink was joined by choreographers Nelly van Bommel and Gabrielle Lamb to discuss the show.
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A review of Staatsballett Berlin by Katja Vaghi for Bachtrack.
QuoteAnother favourite was Phoenicopterus by Dominik White Slavkovsky. Clearly along the lines of Ekman’s humour, treatment of themes and movement material, the piece substituted flamingos for swans — and here I had my epiphany: what would happen if we went beyond the swans of ballet and had ‘swan lakes’ with different birds? In Phoenicopterus: a boy in black (a toxic macho) fancies the white flamingo, the leader of the group; he manages to seduce her and destroy her.
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A review of Kansas City Ballet in "Jewels" by Hilary Stroh for Bachtrack.
QuoteQuoteCameron Thomas, the male lead in Rubies, brought fantastic energy. We enjoy watching that touch of exciting danger, that electrifying sense of stage presence and swift movement; and there was one moment of such impeccable comic timing at the end of a pose, that the audience laughed. He gives the impression of being a mature dancer, in command not just of his space but of his audience, able to play them too. Taryn Pachciarz brought her own precision and chutzpah to her part. In all, Rubies was a highlight for me.
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Savannah Ballet Theatre presents "That's Amore!"
QuoteBut there’s still room for romance in this evening of affection, so bring your significant other to the show. For an additional $35, you and your sweetheart can enjoy the show from the VIP tables. Each table seats two guests, and each very important pair is invited to split a bottle of champagne and enjoy tableside service for snacks alongside their very special view of the show. The extra cost is definitely worth it, as Tybee Post Theatre Executive Director Evan Goetz said it’s one of his favorite places in the theater.
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Orlando Ballet appoints a new director for the company school.
QuoteOrlando Ballet announced the hire Monday. In recent weeks, director of community enrichment Charmaine Hunter departed the organization after seven years to join the Sarasota Ballet. And in March, the company announced it would not renew the contract of executive director Cheryl Collins.
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Fashion photo gallery from American Ballet Theatre's spring gala.
QuoteThat momentary escapism came in the form of several excerpts previewing what’s to come this summer season, which takes place from June 18 to July 20. Given the floor plan and the dinner tables’ proximity to the action, patrons were indeed thrilled to be able to see their favorite dancers’ every move in intricate, awe-inspiring detail.
QuoteTalk about dinner and dancing! On May 14, the American Ballet Theatre hosted its spring gala at Ciprani 42nd Street in New York City, offering a one-night-only selection of previews from its upcoming summer season, and honoring filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi for her commitment to dance. Ballet boosters including Katie Holmes, Susan Fales-Hill, Aoki Lee Simmons, Anh Duong, and more were on hand to enjoy the performances—which included a sneak peek at Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works, set to premiere in June—and raise funds and awareness for ABT and its programming.
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David Hallberg complains when a critic observes that Australian Ballet dancers look thinner this season.
QuoteWhile Nguyen praised the Circle Electric set, costumes and lighting and the dancers as “fabulous”, she also wrote that they “seem unusually thin this season”, which she allowed could be due to the lighting.
“Commentary regarding body image is not acceptable and I am compelled to address this [review],” Australian Ballet artistic director David Hallberg said in a statement.
QuoteNews Breakfast approached Nine Newspapers — the owners and publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald — who said they stood by the review and would not comment further.
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Courtesy of Social Security. Excuse the dodgy spacing:
Rank Male name Female name
1 Liam Olivia
2 Noah Emma
3 Oliver Charlotte
4 James Amelia
5 Elijah Sophia
6 Mateo Mia
7 Theodore Isabella
8 Henry Ava
9 Lucas Evelyn
10 William Luna
You can also check out the popularity of names over time, by location, year, etc. This table charts the decline and fall of "Mary." People also seem to be more venturesome with their sons' names these days.
Remarkable how some names I had thought were forever consigned to storage like chair doilies (Emma, Amelia, etc.) have become big again.
Sunday, May 19
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A review of Alonzo King Lines Ballet by David Friscic for Broadway World.