Paquita

Cote talks about 10 things he can't live without: Toronto Life - the List

There's a 1 page article on Julie Kent dancing in Lilac Garden (page 259) along with a nice photo of Kent in Jason Wu in the October US ELLE (Rachel Weisz on the cover).

You can read the press release on the NBoC website. Congratulations to the newlyweds

Is anybody attending this competition or has anybody been in the past? Genee International Ballet Competition I will try and make it for the finale at the Four Seasons Centre. Canadian choreographer Sabrina Matthews is creating a solo (or two?) to be performed there (as cited in the August 2008 ELLE Canada).

Thanks for posting that volcanohunter. Next years line-up looks fantastic! Did they happen to include which dates the screenings will be? I've been looking online but with no luck.

Okay, I'll bite;) I saw the mixed program on Sunday and loved everything... except the Fiddle and the Drum. It really wasn't my cup of tea. I think it's great that we get to see the Alberta Ballet here in Toronto, but I wish they had brought a different work... I just found F & D to be banal and meandering. I actually found myself getting very tired (it is about 1 hour long), probably from cliche-fatigue -- exhaustion from being hit over the head with the same tired messages and images over and over (why can't we all just get along, save the environment, and do grand-jetes?). Don't get me wrong, I think the idea behind the ballet could've been interesting and I think it is commendable that Jean Grand-Maitre was trying to make a social and political statement through his choreography. But something seemed to go terribly wrong in the execution. The final number actually made me cringe, as "hip-hop" moves were incorporated into the steps... I think the audience was pretty divided on this one. Some people seemed less than impressed, but it did get a small standing ovation at the performance I was at. It certainly is something "different" and also seemed to draw a large crowd of people who are not regular ballet-goers. Since the mixed program is part of the Luminato Festival, it's been getting great press and it was nice to see the theatre so full. I agree with dee that there was considerable energy and athleticism from the dancers. I thought the rest of the mixed program was excellent!

(press releases are on the NBoC website) This summer, Jennifer Fournier (principal) and Je-An Salas (2nd soloist) are retiring. They'll both be missed. Fournier gave a touching farewell performance in Five Brahms Waltzes (and also appears in The Second Detail). Salas has always been a strong and consistent member in the corps and will be remembered for some of her roles (e.g. woman in A Delicate Battle and canary fairy in Sleeping Beauty). Piotr Stancyzk has been promoted to principal dancer and Kevin Bowles has been promoted from 2nd soloist to principal character artist. I'm not totally convinced that Stancyzk is versatile enough to appear as a leading man in a wide repertoire. However, when I saw him in Etudes this weekend, he did seem to dance with a new confidence and attack. Bowles is still quite young, but has always seemed to lean towards dramatic roles, most notably in Balanchine's Don Quixote so the change in role does not come as a total surprise. Congratulations to them both. Sort of surprising that there were no female dancers promoted, given the new vacancies.

Last time I checked the US has not yet lifted the ban (there is a waiver for those entering the US on a short-term visa or for special events, e.g. the olympics... but then your HIV status can be recorded on your passport, making it more difficult to enter the country in the future) but there is a lot of pressure for that to change. Canada lifted the ban a few years ago, I believe (good thing that happened before Toronto hosted the AIDS conference in 2006!). Of course, some people choose to hide their HIV status at the border. I have heard of people sending their medications to the US by mail so that officials at the border won't find their pills in their luggage and prevent them from entering. Re: progression of HIV to AIDS, as carbro mentioned it has often been defined by certain diseases that are associated with AIDS such as Kaposi's Sarcoma or lymphadenopathy. The newer definition of AIDS refers to CD4 (T helper cell) counts (less than 200/uL) or percentage of lymphocytes that are CD4 cells (less than 14%) in an HIV positive person. This is the definition used by the Centre for Disease Control. My understanding is that even if the CD4 level rises or if the associated disease is cured, the patient is still referred to as having AIDS.

NBoC's Elena Lobsanova. A pure love of dance is evident in her in even the smallest roles. She has such a lovely and sweet on-stage personality, and her movements are expressed with a rare sense of calm and clarity. She's still quite young, and I'm sure she will be a star one day! I can already imagine her being a wonderful Odette, Juliet, or Aurora...

Cote just wrote an entry on the NBoC blog "Backstage Pass" - Pasta, Vino, and Swan Lake. He will be dancing Swan Lake with Svetlana Zakharova, filling in for an injured Roberto Bolle.

NBoC's Heather Ogden and Guillaume Cote have always had great chemistry (they were often paired together early in their careers, before they were dating). Having seen them dance together before and after they've become romantically involved, sometimes I think I see a special closeness in their recent performances. However, it's very hard to tell if this has to do with their general development as dancers and actors (Ogden, especially, seems to have come out of her shell in the last couple years), or their relationship off-stage, or bias on my part as a viewer knowing that they are dating.

In 2009, a choreographic component will be introduced to the Erik Bruhn Prize. Each company will not only send a female and a male dancer, but also commission a new work (companies have done this in the past for the contemporary section, but it was never a requirement). Separate awards (a cash prize) will be given for best male dancer, best female dancer, and for the first time, best choreographer. (This information is from a video of the press release here.)

Big news from the NBoC today: Karen Kain has announced the 2008-2009 Season. (Check out the website for some beautiful new performance and rehearsal photos for the 2008-2009 repertoire). FALL In the Upper Room & Symphony in C The Seagull (Neumeier) WINTER 3 world premieres by Sabrina Matthews, Peter Quanz, and Crystal Pite (no details about music, titles, etc.) Romeo and Juliet (Cranko) + Erik Bruhn Prize SPRING Giselle Carmen (Davide Bombana) & Skin Divers (Dominique Dumais) + Romeo and Juliet in Ottawa April 2009 There's a *lot* a new works in there! Symphony in C was just done last year, but always enjoyable! It seems that "Giselle" and "R&J" will anchor the season in terms of ticket sales. I'm not very familiar with Davide Bombana's work, so I will have to look more into that. I'm already looking forward to the Bruhn Prize. It's always such a treat! It was also just announced that principal dancer Jennifer Fournier will retire at the end of the 2007-2008 season in June. The press release is here. It will be nice to see her in Cinderella this spring one last time (she created the role of one of the stepsisters). She will be missed!

NBoC principal (formerly of the Houston Ballet) has his own website: Offcial Zdenek Konvalina website. There are some beautiful photos (he has such well-arched feet!) and some of his paintings as well. Also, this months Ballet News features a short interview with him: Meet Zdenek Konvalina Finally, Konvalina is taking part in a tour of Japan with "A Gift from Malakhov 2008" this month.

There is a small blurb in the new ELLE Canada about Bridgett Zehr, along with a nice photo.

Couldn't find a website of their complete touring schedule. I know that they are in Hamilton, Ontario quite a bit for the Nutcracker and next year for Hansel and Gretel and Giselle. Here's their Hamilton schedule.

Casting is up: West Side Story Suite Tony: Nehemiah Kish (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17 at 7:30 p.m.) Zdenek Konvalina (November 10, 11, 15 at 2:00 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m./November 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Riff: Guillaume Côté (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17 at 7:30 p.m.) Noah Long (November 10, 11, 15 at 2:00 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m./ November 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Bernardo: Piotr Stanczyk (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17 at 7:30 p.m.) Jonathan Renna (November 10, 11, 15 at 2:00 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m./November 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Anita: Greta Hodgkinson (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17 at 7:30 p.m.) tba (November 10, 11, 15 at 2:00 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m./ November 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Maria: Elena Lobsanova Rosalia: Je-an Salas (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17 at 7:30 p.m.) tba (November 10, 11 at 2:00 p.m./ November 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Jordana Daumec (November 15 at 2:00 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m.) Singers: Jeff Madden, Melissa Veszi, Gabi Epstein, Robyn Newman and Louise St. Cyr Glass Pieces Rubric: Tanya Howard, Tiffany Mosher, Julie Hay Keiichi Hirano, Piotr Stanczyk, Etienne Lavigne (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17 at 7:30 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m.) Bridgett Zehr, Tiffany Mosher, Jordana Daumec Brett van Sickle, Patrick Lavoie, Richard Landry (November 10, 11, 15 at 2:00 p.m./ November 15 at 7:30 p.m.) Facades: Bridgett Zehr and Zdenek Konvalina (November 8, 10, 14, 16, 17 at 7:30 p.m./ November 18 at 1:00 p.m.) Xiao Nan Yu and Nehemiah Kish (November 9 at 7:30 p.m./November 11, 15 at 2:00 p.m.) Tanya Howard and Aleksandar Antonijevic (November 10 at 2:00 p.m./ November 15 at 7:30 p.m.) In the Night Part I: Chan Hon Goh and Zdenek Konvalina (November 8, 9, 10, 17 at 7:30 p.m.) Heather Ogden and Nehemiah Kish (November 10, 11 at 2:00 p.m./November 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Bridgett Zehr and Brett van Sickle (November 14 at 7:30 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m.) Tanya Howard and James Leja (November 15 at 2:00 p.m.) Part II: Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar Antonijevic (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 17 at 7:30 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m.) Xiao Nan Yu and Guillaume Côté (November 10, 11 at 2:00 p.m./November 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m.) tba (November 15 at 2:00 p.m.) Part III: Xiao Nan Yu and Guillaume Côté (November 8, 9, 10, 14, 17 at 7:30 p.m./November 18 at 1:00 p.m.) Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar Antonijevic (November 10, 11 at 2:00 p.m./November 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m.) Rebekah Rimsay and Piotr Stanczyk (November 15 at 2:00 p.m.) The Merry Widow Principal Casting: Hanna Xiao Nan Yu (Nov. 21, 24 at 7:30 p.m.) Heather Ogden* (Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m./Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m.) Greta Hodgkinson (Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m./ Nov. 24, 25 at 2:00 p.m.) Danilo Guillaume Côté* (Nov. 21, 24 at 7:30 p.m.) Nehemiah Kish* (Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m./Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m.) Aleksandar Antonijevic (Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m./ Nov. 24, 25 at 2:00 p.m.) Valencienne Chan Hon Goh (Nov. 21, 24 at 7:30 p.m.) Jillian Vanstone* (Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m./Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m.) Stacey Shiori Minagawa (Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Nov.25 at 2:00 p.m.) Rebekah Rimsay* (Nov. 24 at 2:00 p.m.) Camille Zdenek Konvalina* (Nov. 21, 24 at 7:30 p.m.) Richard Landry (Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m., Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m.) Piotr Stanczyk* (Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m., 25 at 2:00 p.m.) Etienne Lavigne* (Nov. 24 at 2:00 p.m.) * Debut All casting subject to change. I'm really looking forward to see the NBoC dancers in Robbins choreography! Interesting thought that some casting is still TBA, given that the premiere is on wednesday. The dancers have joined together to form a new blog: Backstage Pass. It is great to read all the entries about the Western Canada tour and how rehearsals are going. Unfortunately, it also sounds like there's been quite a few injuries (Zdenek Konvalina, Aleksandar Antonijevic), although it's good to hear about some recoveries (Keiichi Hirano, Alejandra Perez-Gomez).

Canadian figure skater Emanuel Sandhu was trained at the National Ballet School. I'm not a big fan of his, however, his dance training does come through in some of his skating performances.

Nadia Veselova-Tencer's Canadian Ballet Theatre is presenting "Giselle" starring Svetlana Lunkina, Ruslan Skvortsov, Veronika Part, Nov. 10-11 in Toronto's Elgin Theatre. See flyer here

National Ballet of Canada- Lise-Marie Jourdain trained at the POB school and was a corps member in the company

Thank you, Benny. It sounds interesting and I think I will probably go see it. Plus, I just love the music! I will have a look at those magazines.

Just wondering if anyone has seen this version of Cinderella and what your opinions were? I'm itching for an excuse to go to Montreal for a weekend this fall... Cinderella

Roberto Campanella's Toronto-based company is performing this fall at the Harbourfront Centre. More info: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/noflash/...roartedanza.php Heather Ogden and Guillaume Cote will guest in choreography by Robert Glumbek, Matjash Mrozewski, and Campanella.

Photographer Bruce Zinger will be showing some behind the scenes photos of the National Ballet of Canada. More information on his website. (Click on 'exhibitions'). 585 King St. W. Sept. 5 6:30-9:00pm I won't be able to make it but hope some of you will be able to go! (While you're on his website, you can also see some beautiful wedding photos from Ryan Boorne, Tanya Howard, and Rebekah Rimsay's nuptials.)

Thanks for the heads up!