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PAmom

Inactive Member
  • Posts

    61
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Registration Profile Information

  • Connection to/interest in ballet** (Please describe. Examples: fan, teacher, dancer, writer, avid balletgoer)
    parent of a professional ballet dancer
  • City**
    Centre County
  • State (US only)**, Country (Outside US only)**
    Pennsylvania
  1. Although I have been a member of BA since 2000 (some of my posts got cut through a restructuring) and I was even a BTfD moderator for a while, it is rare that I post anything. This is for bingham (and Maga11) who were unable to attend any of ABT's La Fille performances. bingham has been my BA pal and we both have hoping to have a chance to see La Fille again for over a decade now and have been sharing dream casting every year. You would have loved it bingham! The night was so special, knowing that many of the attendees were there to support Ms. Murphy's 20th anniversary. There were still empty seats on every level but the enthusiasm of the audience made up for it. Their cheers for Ms. Murphy's entrance were immediate and exuberant as was her dancing of Lise. Her rapport with Mr. Gomes' Widow Simone was genuinely familial, acting the young lass wishing to get out of chores, be with her friends and to get away with what she could without setting off her mother. The chickens tried to leave a lucky chicken foot on the stage as their rooster, Mr. Frennete, lead them in a high stepping dance across the barnyard. The foot was recovered and it and the tambourine in Act 2 were the only glitches I noticed. No noses were broken with sticks like the night before nor were dragged around the stage like Mr. Bragado-Young in 2003. Even the Maypole was wound and unwound without a hitch (only the 3rd time this season in the 7 performances thus far). Alas, Mr. Sterns' lifts did not go off with the same accuracy but the audience cheered even more fervently letting Ms. Murphy know her dancing was just lovely and all was appreciated. I do have to say that her balance in attitude while holding the carousel-like center of the ribbons that turned her was a moment that gave me chills and brought me happy tears. It was a simple magical moment and I feel that sums up what I feel about this ballet in general. The moments like the maypole dance after a dance with Lise turning in the center of ribbons circling around her aren't repetitive, they echo imagery indeed but are no more like each other than the live pony pulling the cart and Alain riding his bumbershoot. Repeated imagery is important and sets a theme. If I had to choose a theme for Ashton's La Fille it would be "interlacing." The string play of the cat's cradle created by Colas and Lise, the complicated relationships between the characters and the patterns dances themselves have the audience wondering if all will come out right in the end. Each of them made interesting patterns, some shocking, some thrilling and over all a very enjoyable ballet. Act two was fresh and the dancers kept the static setting interesting. I applaud the corps for handing so many props of sticks and clogs and sickles and hay bails and making it looks graceful. Ms. Murphy's mime was charming and both she and Mr. Sterns projected a genuine connection. The final pas was breathtaking, Ms. Murphy's solo was most memorable with clean technique and perfect musicality. Of course the show was Ms. Murphy's and she did not let anyone down. The bows and guests at the end moved the audience to thunderous applause. I never thought I would see Mr. Stiefel and Mr. Radetsky on the Met stage again so yet another treat! A very special evening wrapped up in a beautiful bow of ribbons. PAmom
  2. We saw Stella and Alex last year and loved them. Honestly, their take on specific nuances in the grand pas made more sense to me than any other pair I have seen perform Ratmansky's production. I love Gillian and James but Stella and Alex nailed it last year in Brooklyn. t
  3. Our prayers have been answered! With La Fille, Sylvia and Company B we will be making many trips into NYC from Pennsyltucky.
  4. As peppy as Tico Tico is as a song, I feel the dancers at ABT have been coached well in portraying a shell shocked young man. Dodging bullets, cringing from shadows - I saw nothing light in this piece when ABT performed it.
  5. Congrats to all and I say FINALLY to some of the home-grown team!
  6. Just like Bingham, Ashton's La Fille Mal Gardé, as we have been wishing for a decade now.
  7. If I am remembering correctly, Herman's turns were spot on in the Gate Scene. I always look to this scene as a real hallmark of how well the main gentlemen are cast against each other; I love this dance. I enjoyed the 3 being similar in build but Benvolio kept "drawing my eye" and not in a good way. At a point when they all 3 should have been together, Mr. Simkin was a bit wild in his execution and I kept thinking he was about to break into a solo while Romeo and Mercutio were perfectly matched.
  8. Wonderful news! I feel so fortunate to have seen them in Romeo & Juliet this season. Congratulations to Ms. Seo and Mr. Hammoudi!
  9. I so wanted to see last evening's performance after seeing Mr. Gomes and Ms. Vishneva in "Onegin." Thank you for your insights!I will be fortunate to see Mr. Hammoudi and Ms. Seo at the upcoming Wednesday matinee. So many exciting debutes this week!
  10. I am hoping to read your take on Sunday's performances comparing casts of Seven Sonatas, the two Taylor works Company B to Black Tuesday and how you felt about that specific performance of In the Upper Room. I was surprised at the similarities between Company B and Black Tuesday right down to the casting of Salstien in the almost duplicate roles of “Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh” and “Are you making any money?”. I much prefer Company B and the lighting has a lot to do with it.
  11. The role is Simkin's but the company has other dancers ready to dance the role. Second cast's Arron Scott's version is different. I only saw the second cast on Friday so can not give details other than what I am told is called an "aerial cartwheel" was replaced by a switch leap.t
  12. I beg to differ; Sascha was always a team player, a boon to the entire company and his unifying influence has been missed.
  13. I am so glad someone could put what I feel about Sylvia into words. I know the audience will be filled with enthusiastic families on 7/4 and I will be joining them. Excited to see Alex Hammoudi's Orion!t
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