Memo

I found the article very interesting. I disagree that Gailene Stock has not done her job. (but I am a big fan of hers so I am definitely bias) I think that she has an uncanny eye for talent. She is not partial in anyway she calls it like she sees it and she also is a great judge of temperament as well as talent and she has an ability at the school to usher these young teenagers with discipline and compassion in the direction of their professional careers. I think having 60 teenagers from all over the world (and may I say predominantly brits) in one place keeping them in check and focused is a huge responsibility and the way they handle it with a positive teaching technique rather than compliance by humiliation is to be admired. I will say however there are two things to consider. Huge talent, I mean principal quality talent is hard to come by and very very rare and if the Royal ballet has the resources to go all over the globe to find it, or has the draw to bring that kind of talent to them then that is to their benefit. In any company they are from all over the world because that kind of dancer is hard to come by and reach that point at different times in their careers. Also as the director of a ballet school in the US, and the child of a director of a ballet school outside of the US and having listened to Gailene Stock speak in public about this on several occaisions, societies view on the early training changes from country to country. Taking into consideration that you are starting with a young child with considerable natural talent, In an environment where the parents feel that a balanced life and maybe ballet 2 days a week you are not going to reach the destination in the same way as an environment where the child has access to ballet classes 6 days per week 3 hours a day. Training a dancer to the point where they may be ready to be accepted into a vocational school honestly takes going to the limit as far as the amount of classes and the time spent on this effort. Some people are just not willing or wanting or able to go to that extreme. And as someone who has been there as a professional dancer, a teacher and as a parent of a professional dancer it is ALL CONSUMING. Many parents begin to pull back with young talented dancers and become overwhelmed by the huge commitment that is required. From what I have heard there is just not the social support in the UK for that kind of intense commitment for children of a very young age. Where as in Russia or China parents may be more willing to put their children in a situation to be able to receive intense training without other outside interests or activities at quite young in order to improve their situation as adults. The thought process is just different. I don't know if I am explaining this as well as I could. It is complicated. And trying to establish how and where the "talent" is coming from is really impossible to define let alone control.

I think there are british born and british trained dancers in almost every company in the world. Royal Ballet School had 100% employment again in 2008. The world is a lot more open it seems that many more dancers are able to travel for their training then they did 20 years ago. Maybe the British born dancers are branching out. Maybe the Royal Ballet is too.

Leonid, I have not seen the company other than on video for several years but I would say that the dancers at the school definitely have a distinct style that in my opinion is classic "Royal Ballet Style". In my opinion dancers are chosen based on their ability to attain the style or having been perhaps trained in a similar fashion or having a natural affinity for the "style". To me it is very apparent in the dancers at the upper school. The look is distinct and very very understated and appealing to look at. I love the look. When it is reflected in the corps it is not seen anywhere else. I really enjoy seeing a corps with a distinct style I think that is what makes a company great

I have to say that seeing it live is so much better than seeing the PBS version. However the stage in the TV version looked somewhat empty during act II which did not strike me when I saw the performance live this season. I dont think the explanation of Clara turning into the ballerina to dance with the prince is told clearly either. (especially in the version I saw with a dark haired Clara, turning into a red haired ballerina for the pas de deux) it just did not provide the "magic" it could and should have. I love the Chinese the concept with the dragon is really good, and the Russian dance is very vibrant and fun. I do particularly like the first act with the San Francisco Worlds Fair theme, it was really a nice way to present it. I never saw Lew Christensens so I dont have that to compare it to.

"Have fun" seems to be the most important element of any activity these days, rather than concentrating, working hard, doing your best, or giving your all. Children must feel so confused when they are doing difficult things and struggling with it and constantly being told my adults that they are supposed to be having fun.

Miss Feijoo danced 4 T's in Costa Mesa on Sunday and was beautiful. I also saw her dance with Jose Carreno at a Gala back in April, I enjoyed watching her very much.

I saw her in the Golden Hour in costa mesa and she was stunning. Fastest bourees ever, plus her partering is so seamless she really showed the younger dancers how to move.

I would love to see all of those Giselles. Should be really beautiful. :blush:

Glad you are OK Giannina.

Yes Giannina that was him, extremely nerve wracking to go on for the first time with that kind of responsibility but he seemed up for it. Plus never doing it with the orchestra or with lighting. He dances again on Sunday matinee, hence me driving once more to the OC to see it. I would love to see the other program sadly time does not permit.

I was there Thursday night and loved it. (the fact that my kid made is professional debut did enhance the evening) I have not seen SFB for 5 years and was not so impressed when I saw it then. I had heard great things and quite honestly I was thrilled with the quality of the dancing and the energy of the company. First of all I really enjoyed Possokov's piece "Fusion" and being someone who made a cultural change as a young dancer I really related to the theme and the direction it took the audience. I agree with Giannina that I did not love all of it but there were many moments that were truly beautiful and the quality of the performances was so so strong. There seemed to be no ego's on the stage. Everyone working as a group, not trying to outdo each other but to bring truth to the material. I have NEVER seen the 4 temperaments but after seeing so many photographs of it I was having flashing images in my mind as they reached several positions during the piece that were so familiar. I wonder if it might have been more meaningful to have seen the 4 T's at the beginning of the program and then seeing the more current material and understand what contemporary ballet and contemporary choreographers have drawn from the Balanchine innovations in choreography. Very good crowd for a Thursday night and very appreciative. I was also with a group surrounded by friends, and it was a lot of fun. Am going again Sunday at 2pm. I was really hoping to see Sofiane Sylvie she was originally on the program for Thursday but then it got changed. Maybe Giannina you will see her Sat night. Please give an update. I am sorry i am going to miss her. She is a favorite of mine. I had a good time too.

I don't understand this mentality. Here in the US we seem pride themselves on being able to attract the best from all over the world. The Brits do not seem to appreciate that they are able to do that with several their top notch vocational training schools that attract talent from all over the globe. But when it comes down to the contract there is tremendous pressure to only hire the British born. Then on the one hand they complain about not being able to hire enough British Talent and then lament the foreigners who go elsewhere and wonder why they weren't offered contracts after all the scholarship money spent on training them. Maybe those British Trained foreigners went elsewhere because they were not asked to stay. Thanks to the RBS (and other British Vocational Ballet Schools) for contributing to the ranks of the worlds ballet companies by turning out so many employable dancers year after year.

A partial Cast list for next week performance in the OC can be found here http://www.sfballet.org/performancestickets/casting.asp

I second this one. But he danced so beautifully we forgave him!

OK I'll try again. Bear with me I think I am getting the hang of this. Ulanova Cornejo or Corella

I'd say she is small enough but watch out guys she can just about out jump anyone.

WOW

I received this in an e mail today Dear Members, We are pleased to announce some exciting additions to our fall season! Antony Tudor’s rarely seen Romeo and Juilet pas de deux will be added to the program through out the second week of this season. The bedroom scene excerpt showcase’s Tudor’s ability to display young love with quite, small, heart rendering movements and is a special treat for balletomanes of all kind. We also welcome new soloist, Daniil Simki by adding the Flames of Paris pas de deux. With choreography by Vasily Vainonen and music by Boris Asafiev, Mr. Simkin will have the opportunity to display his ballet born ability in his debut season. Additional pas de deux will be performed on the following evenings. For the most up-to-date performance and casting information please visit us at our website. www.abt.org Tuesday, October 28th—Flames of Paris Thursday, October 30th—Romeo & Juliet Saturday, November 1st Matinee—Tchaikovsky Sunday, November 2nd Matinee—Flames of Paris Sunday, November 2nd Evening—Romeo & Juliet To purchase tickets for the City Center Season: Call Citi Tix at 212-581-1212, visit www.abt.org or go directly to the Box Office on West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Aves

They are dancing Don Quixote and Giselle if you could see one which would you see?

hmm ok I will still go for " this " even though it may not always pan out for me in act 2.

Well intentioned good guy but then you get tripped up in the second act if he gets killed. I like the whole first act to be filled with well intentioned if not misguided teenagers it makes it all the more tragic.

I think probably because his contract does not begin till Oct. It seems that they would not put it up there till he is actually there and under contract. And also because ABT's website is always slow to put information up. They did put the press release up several months ago that he was joining.

I know this is an old thread so by now everyone knows that she is a principal at SFB. Lucky for them. She's amazing to watch.

The pictures are beautiful thanks for sharing.

OH I love it great marketing. All the video clips on there are excellent.