cinnamonswirl

It's an itty bitty link under the text, next to the Facebook and Twitter badges. (I spent a long time looking for it too.)

Yes, he is clearly a very thoughtful person. Not to mention well-spoken. I have not been a particular fan of the Osipova/Hallberg partnership. I think they are both better suited to other partners. However, hearing him explain why he likes working with her does make me appreciate them a little more.

The full name is Raymonda Variations and it's a plot-less ballet mostly using music from Act I. It's for 14 dancers (lead couple, soloists + corps) and quite charming IMO. All of the variations are very difficult technically.

She was originally cast. She and Ganio were to have opening night. They she was pulled from the casting, then came back for later in the run and then was pulled again. She is injured. The étoiles for Sylphide have been hard-hit - in addition to Dupont, Ganio, Gilbert and Ould-Braham are all out with injuries, plus Raveau. Pagliero is basically carrying the run (as she did with Don Q this winter ...)

That is interesting. I had not known quadrille was its own type of dance. In terms of the Larousee definition though, also remember that in French the lowest rank in the corps de ballet is still/now called quadrille. (Ranks at POB: quadrille, coryphée, sujet, premier danseur, étoile)

I think in theory they are meant to anchor the corps on stage, either because they are considered more promising or because they are older and more experienced. It depends on the company though. At POB the only way to be promoted to coryphée is through the concours and so some of the most senior and experienced dancers are never promoted out of quadrille. Larousse gives four definitions: Chef du chœur, dans le théâtre grec. - Head of the choir in Greek theatre Deuxième échelon dans la hiérarchie du corps de ballet de l'Opéra. - Second rank in the ballet company of the opera Danseur placé à la tête du quadrille. - Dancer at the head of the quadrille/corps de ballet Chef de pupitre qui donne l'attaque aux choristes. - Chorister who leads his/her vocal section

Skorik looks like a rabbit with those feathers. They do both have beautiful lines ,and Askerov's variation is very clean, but neither of them has any energy or excitement! They're so calm and subdued as to be lethargic. Skorik really had to fight for those fouettes (and they don't flow at all), but I'm glad she made it to the end.

Rivoltare means "to turn over" in Italian. An apt description!

Having seen both installations, I prefer the National Gallery's. I think for most people costumes have more interest when you can see them in context, rather that static and hanging on a mannequin. The V&A exhibit was a bit dead, IMO. I'm glad the NGA requested more videos; to me it is an improvement and not a dumbing-down.

Someone influential at the KC must adore Giselle. 4 productions in 4 years.

I don't think I would ever describe bringing Balanchine as a disappointment, but I do wish they would spread the repertory love when they tour. NYCB has brought Jewels to the KC within the past decade. I would much prefer they brought Coppelia (which I don't think has brought in recent history), or even Midsummer. I travel a fair bit and I try to attend the ballet where ever I can, and Jewels is overstaged right now, IMO. I assume companies like it because it's a full length Balanchine, and it probably sells well. But I've seen NYCB, Miami, RB, POB and the Mariinsky do it, all in the past couple of years, plus Washington Ballet in Rubies . I do like Jewels (and I wish we would get a GOOD recording of it, from NYCB or Miami), but it is possible to see it too often (especially with mediocre, not-very-Balanchinian interpretations).

That mixed bill almost makes up for NYCB bringing Jewels again. Thanks for the news, Natalia!

Aww, so exciting! Thanks for posting the news here.

Awesome news about Somogyi! She has been missed.

Another video with more clips from her Japanese class videos has been posted. Towards the end there's an incredible moment when she does a step-over with 5 rotations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R80IZ1trr3w

The Symphony in C costumes are Karinska designs, but whoever executed them did a terrible, terrible job. The bodices were cut incorrectly, which made them unflattering, and the tutus were cut pancake style, instead of soft, Karinska-style, so the proportions were all off. They did look very girlish. NYCB's (now replaced) were always flattering. Also ABT's are white, instead of cream, which is a lot harsher-looking on stage. This is the first time I've seen Symph C as the opener and I hope it doesn't catch on. Everything else pales in comparison and putting it first just emphasizes that. Plus it's the most upbeat and grandest of the ballets. I would have programmed them Limon, Ratmansky, Balanchine. Lane was brillant in Symph. It's a very difficult role technically and she made it look so easy. She absolutely held her own against the other leads, and I would go so far as to see the female leads got better with each successive movement. I was disappointed by Seo. I've liked her in the full-length rep so maybe I was expecting too much, but she seemed dwarfed by the music and choreography. She has the right aura though, ethereal, so maybe she'll grow into it. (I would have loved to see Part!!!) Whiteside and Simkin were also excellent. Overall I thought the execution was a little sloppy and the first movement in particular seemed under-rehearsed.

POB hasn't announced anything yet.

Ok, Caligua was what I was forgetting. I didn't see the first run of Les Enfants du paradis. Right, she was cast as an etoile in full lengths, and then lately she's been cast more as a premiere. It's late in the game. That's why I think this promotion is interesting. Everyone else who has been promoted lately has been cast as a etoile before their promotion. I wonder if she is going to (choose to) dance more now that she is an etoile.

Silvermash (or anyone else who knows the answer!), do you remember what Abbagnato's last full-length ballet was? I've been in Paris about five years now and I can't remember one, but I think I must be forgetting one because surely they wouldn't promote a dancer who hasn't danced a full-length classic recently. (Or would they?)

Oh yes, her quality of movement is wonderful. That's what I like about her. Sounds I haven't seen her in the right roles recently (right in terms of stretching my opinion of her). I will look for Carousel when it airs.

She was named this evening after a performance of Petit's Carmen. Congratulations to her! Abbagnato can give great performances ... when she dances. She has not been very present in the company recently (even before she went on maternity leave), and lately she has mostly danced in mixed bills. The administration is certainly clearing the first soloist ranks, and blurring the traditional distinction between first soloists and etoiles. There's hope for Thibault yet!

Am I the only one who doesn't get Tiler Peck? I mean, she's obviously fabulous technician with great energy. Allegro, Tschai Pas, she's brilliant. But I find her one-note -- it's all smiles, happy energy. I can't see her as Odette, for example. She doesn't have the aura (yet). She's young and has lots of time to develop, but I wondered if anyone else felt the same way since I don't think I've ever read anything less-than-glowing about her here.

There's a wide range. You'll see one or two disrespectful fools in jeans, a lot of people in nicer-than-casual-but-not-dressy clothes and some people more dressed up. DC used to be more formal than New York, but that seems to have faded over the past decade or so.

I don't think Washington Ballet really has a "star." Sonia Jimenez is the closest they've come, and she left for greener pastures a while ago (maybe 10 years?!) Onuki, Sona Kharatian, Nelson and Jordan tend to be cast in the lead roles, but Washington Ballet is really more of an ensemble company. Ellis is new this season, but I would classify her with those 4, as well as Brooklyn Mack and Andile Ndlovu.

Is it my eyes, or are there some edits starting at 0:19? She fell, but up until 0:18 her fouettes look very good, as they have in all the other clips. They look secure and she doesn't wander all over the stage. Her doubles look easy. She may have issues, but fouettes are the least of them. It does seem like a mean-spirited clip.