ami1436

If anyone is headed over from the UK to see Kirkland's Carabosse, please pack me up in your bags as well... Please please please.... I haven't read this thread for a while... what a surprise!

I find it a bit disconcerting that a gala which is half dedicated to Stars of Tomorrow did not make it clear as to who those stars are.... The results would have been nice as well, but at least let the audience know who these youngsters are!

From everything I know, they have yet to marry... And yes, Marienela is known for her strength, warm dancing, and solid technique/turns....

Meanwhile, there's a great feeling in the UK that it's training is inferior, partly because culturally there is not the same 'ethic' as in America, Russia, or Australia... (I'm not saying I agree, I'm just putting forth complaints I've often heard.)

I was puzzled about Rojo as well. I had her down for Rubies ages ago.... That said, she can have a very round, womanly, romantic adagio quality about her. I'm going to have to think about this casting quite a bit!

Here's more detail, including some casting... Interesting casting for Jewels!!!!!!!!! http://info.royaloperahouse.org/AfcStyle/D...llet20078%2Epdf

Yes, and I've enjoyed his posts on the Winger. I remember being impressed by Alex at the Prix (watched online) and since enjoyed his visit to London as part of the ABT Studio Company.... He is indeed fabulous to watch.

According to the Chicago Tribune today, Samodurov is injured. Chicago Tribune

Actually, I just did a quick search, and last year it was announced on 28 March! Any day now Leigh, keep calm!

Goodness Leigh! I saw the title of this thread and thought WHAT? Did I miss the announcement? !!!!!!!! Now that I've calmed down a bit.... I believe it's usually announced sometime in April... I think Period 1 booking usually opens in June... and there would need to be time before that for Friends booking, etc.... As for Jewels... well, for whatever you think of the RB in Balanchine, there are some folks I'd love to see dance this... I hope I'll be in the country for it!

Wow. What a load of cast changes. This is like when the Russian companies come to London..... ;) It's hard for my family to get to the ballet, but they still try to go when I recommend something that would be 'different' for them to see, and they do a good job reading up on it, asking about the dancers, etc. But now, I think they are just confused. I like Samodurov - and agree, he's at his best when he's not over-trying, like many of us. At first I thought he'd never fit in with the RB, but he's grown a lot in his time here, and I've been surprised by him in everything from Balanchine to Petipa this season. He's showing diversity, and a knowledge of style, which is great. He has been partnering Sarah Lamb quite a lot. He is subdued in his acting, so I wonder overall what he'd be like with Herrera..... and have they danced together before? I am surprised by the guest artist slot ... it's not like I'd ever considered ABT to be short of men!!!

Would love to hear your thoughts - those of you who were there - on what you saw!

Yes, it was Filin, and I loved it! I feel that while Osipova was the discovery, Alexandrova also very much delivered, and I also love her in Don Q. I also could watch the part where she runs across the stage and leaps into his arms. And nonchalance is a good word for it - nonchalance but not ambivalance. The second lift seemed to last forever and Alexandrova totally flirts with the audience while she's up there. Sigh. Yes Naoko, what a summer. A week after they left I was missing Don Q and The Bright Stream.

Just thank you to everyone who has reported - I'm already missing this production, which I just saw last summer! Am a bit surprised to hear about Alexandrova - her staying up forever in those one-handed lifts is something I associate with her for some reason - will have to check and see who I saw as her partner. I see Osipova is set to debut as the classical dancer in The Bright Stream this month? Yeah! If there is any DVD of her ever in my lifetime, I will own it. It's so nice to see the *joy* of dancing so clearly on display.

AMEN. It's not whatcha got, it's how you use it...

Belatedly responding - but Grissi, she must have had an off night if her fouettes aren't good enough. She's known to do the Don Q fouttes with her fan, often adding in high-numbered multiples, usually ending with 5 or 6 rotations. That is to say, when I've seen her do this, I've never thought she was adding 'tricks'.... Her multiples were always perfectly with the music, with loads of character.

Interesting - her Pilates for Life video/dvd is different then! It is a good dvd - and an intense workout.

I only saw Friday night, and for me, David Hallberg alone was worth the (high) price of admission! Wow. I was disappointed by the lack of scenery in Spectre.

mmded, I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on Water... Personally, I loved Earth (but perhaps for purely personal reasons), and was okay with Fire. Pan's Labyrinth is a beautiful film, although there were scenes that I could not handle....

I don't know enough about the NYC scene to comment... except to say that I will greatly miss Alastair's presence at Covent Garden and his highly passionate, knowledgable, and entertaining lectures during educational events at the venue. (Yes, he demonstrates. A variety of roles. Usually with red shoes on....)

A closely related topic on BT4D: British Training, and the Royal Ballet

To clarify: Chan and Clarke are not married - I think its the requirement of 'marriage' in the BNP membership criteria. They are vocal and public on their situation, as a simple search would show. Further, it is not arduous to find reviews of Clarke at all - I simply personally have not seen her often.

From what I've seen of the companies in London, I think Cygnet's summary is quite accurate! There are, of course, other non-leg-as-earring dancers at the Mariinsky... they just don't seem to be used as much lately, as has been noted elsewhere. A few years ago, there was another interview of Zakharova whent he company was in London. Her comments regarding her extensions were basically 'I do it because I can' and 'The audience is impressed by it, so what else do you want'. Of course I'm paraphrasing, but the article alone turned me away from her....

Estelle, I was thinking the same about Clarke and Yat-Sen Chang. FWIW Leigh, I've seen Clarke dance a handful of times, most memorably as a lead harlot in Romeo and Juliet, opposite Chang. However, the most memorable event of that night was Friedmann Vogel as Romeo and my fabulously decent seat in the round of Royal Albert Hall.... (I was practically drooling over Vog... er... the stage....) Anyways, she is petite, but she strikes me as a vivacious, energetic dancer...... I know her rep includes Odette/Odile, Giselle, etc.... but I see her as more of an Odile, Kitri.... However, this is based on my extremely limited observations of her - I'd be interested to hear what more regular ENB-watchers may have to say.

And while I'm not super-familiar with their music, it is *not* heavy metal. Think more bluesy rock...