BalletNut

Just out of curiosity, might one of those "things" be an acting career? She was one of the better actors among the dancers cast in the movie Center Stage, as I recall.

She is now a soloist with SF Ballet, since last year if I am correct.

So, if you can't tell already, I like to do polls. ;) Of course we'd all like to see a profound work that is also good entertainment, but if you were caught between seeing an esoteric, arcane masterpiece and a wildly engaging piece of fluff, which would it be?

Paul, I believe I was at that very same performance of the Nutcracker; if there wasn't a program in front of me, I would've thought she was a principal already! Off-topic, but SFB seems to be getting a bit top-heavy these days; the way things are going, there won't be any soloists left unless we see even more promotions--of corps dancers that is.;)

Grass and clouds; an American landscape for a decidedly American ballet! I can't help but feel empathy for the dancers in those wonderfully witty costumes; what with the gloves and all, and under the stage lights, they must be shvitzing like camels in there. Then again, camels don't shvitz...

I applied for a job with them, and while touring the facilities I saw that they only have back issues from about 2-3 years. However, you might be able to read older magazines at a library.

Perhaps this isn't as much of an issue of whether or not technique has declined or improved, but of which aspects of technique are in vogue at any given time?

Raymeownda, Apawllo, Petrushcat, Diana and Cataeon, Don Kitty, Romeow and Juliet...or Julie-cat. For the canines, there's Bark Elegies.

While in some ballets high extensions can look good, I think it's important to consider whether a particular ballet would still look impressive without them, or whether the whole point of the ballet IS the fact that the dancers are lifting their legs so high.

While in some ballets high extensions can look good, I think it's important to consider whether a particular ballet would still look impressive without them, or whether the whole point of the ballet IS the fact that the dancers are lifting their legs so high.

So, what do people think of dancers who can scratch their head with their toes? Do they make your spine tingle, your stomach turn, or somewhere in between? ;)

So, what do people think of dancers who can scratch their head with their toes? Do they make your spine tingle, your stomach turn, or somewhere in between? ;)

I've heard people compliment various dancers from time to time by referring to them as "a dancer's dancer." What exactly do people mean when they say this? Who are some dancers that might be considered dancers' dancers?

No subliminal messages in the order of the choreographers, Andrei; I just entered them in the order I thought of them. Really. And yes, I like Jerome Robbins too, but the most options for a poll are 6, and it's rather unfortunate. Perhaps my question was a bit vague, so maybe people could say what they think is a great choreographer, or else just their favorite or whatever. And for the record, I don't like competition either. Just wanted to get an idea of what people think.

Who would you vote for as the greatest choreographer of all time? Why? Too bad I can only list 6.

Who is your favorite choreographer? Why?

Yes, there is a Kirov Les Sylphides, on the Kirov Classics/Mariinsky Ballet video, with Konstantin Zaklinsky, Altynai Asylmuratova, Yelena Pankova, and Anna Polikarpova. Slightly different orchestration than ABT--a bit faster I think--and larger corps de ballet, also different lighting, less blue.

Picture it: A little girl saves the Easter Bunny from a Big Bad Wolf. In return, the Easter Bunny takes her through the Enchanted meadow [complete with dancing flowers] to the Land of Marshmallows, where they are entertained by a divertissement of dancing Peeps: purple bunnies, yellow chicks, pink bunnies, blue eggs... There you go. It's as religious as The Nutcracker. Sorry, no specifics on who could dance, design, compose, or choreograph, or what to call it. On a more serious note, Makarova's staging of La Bayadere has a bit of that resurrection theme too.

Oh no, I did not mean for my post to be offensive!! All I meant was that if a choreographer is truly inspired to make a work of art, GREAT! More power to them. The people I was referring to are the ones who attempt to gain audiences and respect by pandering to what they see as current trends in the world. Mostly, I have more respect for ballet audiences than you might think, being an audience member myself, and the reality is if word gets out that a ballet, long or short, plotless or not, is no good, it flops, no matter how much it was publicized or how big its budget. End of story. My apologies to all I offended.

1. Paul--I saw La Sylphide in 97 I think, with Sabina Allemann, Anthony Randazzo, Sherri Leblanc, and a very young Julie Diana in act 2. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Also, I've been in SC for about 2 years and have watched every single video in the library's collection that I don't have at home, which amounts to maybe 3 or 4. Maybe this overlap means that the librarians share my taste in ballet? 2. Alexandra--I think my problem w/ Hindberg has to do with her extensions, they are too high and it seems that they slow her down. I may have seen her do Flower Festival at Genzano on a tape, but don't remember much about it. I think I have a picture of Heidi Ryom saved on my computer; I thought she looked familiar! 3. BW--You're welcome!

I saw him in Prodigal Son and he didn't dance the son, he WAS the son. Yuan Yuan Tan by the way was an icy, brazen, and truly diabolical Siren. One of the better live performances I've seen thus far. I remember seeing him in a demi-solo before he had even been added to the roster and asking myself who he was and where he came from. I found out pretty quickly.

...upon which Von Rothbart is perched!!

...upon which Von Rothbart is perched!!

First, thanks to everyone else for the lovely explanations! This video is in the collection of the Santa Cruz [California] main Library, and it is hardly ever checked out, except by me of course. ;) Secondly, I agree about the principals, particularly Hindberg. Out of curiosity, Alexandra, or whoever it was, if she's so problematic in Bournonville, what if anything is she good at? Finally, I really loved the Act 3 divertissements, but could somebody fill me in on who the dancers were in the variations? Especially the petite woman in the pink dress--she was so light and bouncy, but sharp movements too. Also the woman from the tarantella with the yellow skirt who dances with the red sash, and the first man with the blue belt-thing. [blanking out on the proper word at the moment...]

!!!!!