jimmattimore

Like most of you wonderful and knowledgable Ballet Talk ballet lovers, my wife Pat and I are not monied, and are Fourth Ringers. Except for the Occasional locally mounted "Nutcracker," we saw no ballet until 1989 when Pat suggested we two see a "Swan Lake" at NYCB. In it were Darci and Igor, and we swooned, I more so than Pat, and became as she would say a "ballet nut," a collector of signed pointe shoes and signed photos of ballerinas. Because I have a blessed four-day work week, I go in every Thursday during both seasons and see maybe two Nuts. I still don't know all the moves as do Alexandra and Cabro and drb and Leigh and all the other great observers, but I know this: I love ballet. We have attended the SAB Workshop and many SAB Open Houses for the past ten years. We spotted Katie Morgan in 2005. We give $$ to SAB and the NYCB Guild-modestly. My wife and I live on Long Island. I have a fear of highway driving; my wife can elatedly drive at 80 mph in Montana and have a blast, but she fears the Cross Bronx Expressway and I-95 and I-87 and any highway she does not know. I HAD to see NYCB this year, and so I was about to book Amtrak, when a letter came from Dana C of the NYCB Guild about a 7/11(my wife's birthday)-7/13 Saratoga trip for 550.00 per person. With other expenses, the entire trip cost us $1200.00 We left at 10:30 a.m with a tote bag, all the water we wanted and an incredibly magnificent gourmet lunch; we made great time, and after a 30 minute break, we arrived at the Saratoga Hilton at 2:00, received our room keys from Dana who had arrived via Amtrak, settled in, and at 5:00 the 73 of us set off with our magnificent drivers, Eddie and John, for the Hall of the Springs for cocktails and a magnificent bufffet dinner. Friday July 11 gave us: Prodigal Son, Afternoon of a Faun, Rivers of Light and Glass Pieces (the only time we saw our beloved Katie Morgan dance). EXCELLENT. We boarded our bus and we were in bed before 11:00 p.m. On Saturday, July 12, we went to SPAC and from 9:30 to 11:00 Margueriet Mehler , Production Stage Manager talked about what she and her crew had been doing since the Opening on July 8. This is a woman of 35? who has her three children, 7,5,3, with her in Saratoga and she and her crew unloaded seven tractor trailers day and night for five days to get ready. Next, the Dance Museum which is about two minutes from SPAC. We all had free time (Pat and I wished we were at the matinee since her beloved Wendy was dancing Mozartian which she loves.) So we ate a burger and since Pat was feeling lightheaded I sent her for a 3 hour nap in a/c while I explored Congress Park and the Historical Museum and scoped out a breakfast spot. Before Pat napped, we went to Gallery 100 to see Paul Kolnik's NYCB photos, and met him--a very genial and nice man. after showers, we set off again to Hall of the Springs for great appetizers, and very high echelon wines. Each night, after the first intermission, we were able to eat and drink in the Patron's Tent. Saturday gave us:Le Tombeau de Couperin, Four Bagatelles, La Somnabula and I'm Old Fashioned. Jeni Ringer danced the Coquette and Darci danced the Sleepwalker. Ending with Old Fashioned was exhilirating, and we all danced to our bus. Sunday the 13th many of us went to Saint Peter's for church via cab, either ate in or did takehome(my wife was feeling lightheaded from Friday evening , (and still is, and is going to the doctor tomorrow) so I went to Compton's on Broaday (a five minute walk) where two coffees, a large orange juice, two eggs with bacon and toast and sausages and home fries and a tuna sandwich and a turkey sandwich cost me $22.00(no typo although I type with two fingers). We left at 10:30, stopped for 30 minutes, were at NYCB Stage Door at 3:25, and via subway Pat and I made the 4:06 to Ronkonkoma and were in our condo at 6:15, in bed by 9:00 in both exhaustion and glee. PLEASE go to SPAC to see the dancers you love in summer. to bed. Jim and Pat

We just made our first visit to SPAC at Saratoga Springs with The New York City Ballet Guild Tour, and we had a special time.SPAC is a great space (except for skeeters which attacked my wife and Faith)in which to see ballet and every dance was magical. The dancers were spectacular and to see "La Somnabula" up close in that venue was chilling We love NYCB at SPAC. Jim and Pat

Macauley shredded the production, every aspect of it in the Times today. I think it's his most vitriolic piece since becoming chief dance critic for the Times. I am a lover of classical romantic ballet, so I'll pass on this R and J. JIM

Megan Johnson and Lydia Wellington were spectacular, but Megan had a bit more elegance in her dancing. Wonderfully enough , my wife and our friends ran into her by P.J. Clarke's at about 4:30 on Saturday and hugged and kissed her with highest praise; she was still in makeup and bun for the evening performance; she is a beauty

Mel: Great idea. I have used Cafe Press three times; they produce quality merchandise, and have terrific customer service. JIM

I just spoke to Dana at NYCB Guild. The bus will leave Friday morning July 11 and return Sunday afternoon July 13. The $550.00 per person includes two night at the Saratoga Hilton and orchestra seats for both Friday and Saturday evening. There will be a meal and some hors d'ouvres on the lawn pre-performance. A mailing will be coming out soon. My wife and I are in since we hate and fear driving. We love buses and trains and jets--and jetes. JIM

Do we know the dates yet of the bus trip to and from Saratoga? Thanks, JIM

I LOVE the black and white photos; they have a wonderful elegance. JIM

Z and V: I love your commentaries and you have more knowledge in your pinkies about NYCB and every SPF you have ever seen, but my Patricia and I thought Kathryn Morgan danced softly and delicately in her first Fairy at 19 after eleven months in the company. KUDAS to her. I would love to be with her anytime in the Land of the Sweets. I am very pro-the delicate Ms. Morgan since I and my wife and some friends who saw Suzanne dance ( We did not since we were raising three children in the burbs in her years.) watched her soar in the 2005 and 2006 SAB spring galas. Yes, I am old enough to be her grandfather, but I'm still in love with her. Don't we all get better the more we do something? I wish Alexandra and Carbo and Dale and DRB an especially happy Christmas, and to all other Ballet Review readers as well. My wife and I are heading back to Kathryn's third SPF (WE had to work on 12/19.) JIM

I attended the 12/7 performance, and loved Katie Morgan as Marzipan. I now eagerly await her 12/19 SPF debut. I've yet to see Erica dance, but she must be special. The performance was thoroughly fine. JIM

For me after seeing Morphoses on October 18, I'd say that a whole evening of Wheeldon is too too much. He is in love with contortionism .I am not. I am sick of seeing the dancers rolling around on the floor. I loved seeing Darcy (GULP.). Check the Observer this week for Gottlieb on Wheeldon. Wheedon 's stuff works better for me at NYCB with a bill including Ballanchine and maybe Robbins. I hated the piece from the opera. JM

Alexandra knows everything, and she is the best. Love and Peace from Jim

Actually she's a member of the Corps.... But the shoes are from Ashley Bouder and Darci Kistler, so doesn't that make her, on the bottom line, a Principal? A beautiful and refined ballerina! Agree that the company is a fabulous collection of dancers, young and old! DRB: Thanks for the clarication. So now I know she's dancing in star-shoes. JIM

i spotted Katie (Kathryn ) Morgan in 2005 at the SAB Workshop and knew (as did my wife) than she was exceptional; we saw her again 2006 SAB Workshop, and she confirmed our appraisal. She is now an apprentice with NYCB, shone in "Carousel," and glittered as Juliet in Peter's Romeo+ Juliet. She's dancing in other dancer's shoes for Heaven's Sake. She is beautiful, has great port de bras, lovely footwork, a perfect ballerina body. Even The great Peter hater--------Gottlieb ---------------praised her. We have her and Ashley and Janie(if she ever recovers from her injuries), and Sarah and Gina and Rachel for years to come,so let us revel at what have at NYCB in June of 2007. I can't wait for 2017. Praise to the current company, old and young. Jim

I saw Kathryn and Tiler, and loved them both, but oh DRB, I am so jealous that you saw Erica. Drats. JIM

I saw the very young Kathryn Morgan, and beautiful Kathryn Morgan, and the only thing I disliked was Tybalt's costume. I love Darci's legs. I think some of you much smarter than I balletomanes have been reading too much Gottlieb.. I'm heading back on Thursday too see Tiler. Jim

I loved my Thursday, April 26 visit: a perfect night of live ballet after spending weeks watching videos. Darci looks great and Wendy is not acidic. My new corps favorite is Geargina Gina) Paxoquin who is beautiful and delightful and exuberant and gorgeous. I also want to see the beloved and gorgeous Janie Taylor return to the full repotoire. I despise winter, I love spring, and bluebirds and NYCB. Jim

Oh wouldn't that be a lovely pairing. Kathryn is my favorite out of the new dancers. jim

I am , like a few thousand others ,a major Janie fan, and I am elated that she is back and beautiful. That hair. Oy. I met her at the Miller Theater in September, and she is breattakingly beautiful. I only saw Jenny S in "L......................." Is she okay? Jim Mattimore

I agree; I love Miranda, and I am sick that she is leaving. Maybe my wife and I will be lucky to see her in Saetlle with PNB if we can find the means. Jim Mattimore

There's a terrific article in The Sunday Times about Alexandra Ansanelli, so I think our hopes of her return will not be. I have not yet seen Bringing Ballanchine Back, but in that video Martins bashes AA. Happy Channukah to all. JM

I attended the Friday 12/15 performance and loved seeing our injured Kristin Sloan as a guest at the party. I thought that both Tess and Miranda danced wonderfully, but Hanna was wobbly and uncertain. I could live without ever seeing a "Nutcracker" Act I except for the Snowflakes, but I love Act II and get really nervous at the very difficult pas. I am home and on Long Island and warm and about to sleep and dream of Sugarplum fairies. Mister B.:Thanks and Merry Christmas to all of you brilliant balletomanes.

Carbro is a genius and a brilliant reviewer. Ny Jazz is stupid, a third rate West Side Story dance. I am in love with Janie Taylor and her return was delectable. Bouder and Woetzel glowed. Kyra is after all 48 and retiring. Evans is at the best of his game. I feel thrilled that I "discovered" Kathryn Morgan two years ago at SAB. This I ask my much more knowledgable BT folk: How do the wonderful women of the corps and soloist ranks feel when an apprentice not yet listed on the program takes a lead role at 18?? in Carousel at the Gala? I believe Keenan and Golbin and Lowery should be soloists. I also love Georgina Pazcoquin, and I want Kristin Sloan to be healed of her dreadful hip problems and return to us. To all: Happy Thanksgiving. Jim

I liked the Elo piece, and Paloma is better than ever. JIM

Conrtats to all; I am especially fond of Gilliland. Jim