Dale

Multi-media could be used to show Balanchine's influences. Parts of the restored Sleeping Beauty could be shown on screen. Then ballets of Mr. B's that were inspired by the Mariinsky tradition could be programed, like Theme and Variations and Divertimento No. 15 (which, should not be thrown on a "Austrian music" program, it's Mariinsky - just look at the costumes and the choreography, even though it is to Mozart). His own Swan Lake could open a program that has Tchiakovsky pas de deux and Ballet Imperial, or you can take the theme of Swan Lake, or at least what Balanchine saw as its theme as a jumping point to ballets about unatainable loves - Orpheus, Le Baiser de la Fée (the divertimento and the reconstructed pas de deux), Mediations, excerpts from his Don Q. Serenade or the opening Elegie of Suite No. 3, Ivesiana. Deconstrutionist ballets from 1920s Russia can be shown on a screen before a program of La Chatte, 4ts, Monumentum/Movements, Agon or Violin Concerto. A program of Balanchine's parties on the edge of a cliff, like Cotillion, Night Shadow, Bourree Fantastique, La Valse. I would like to see some ballets shown in several different versions. That's where some other companies can come in - POB doing Le Palais de Cristal, the Royal to do Ballet Imperial, SAB to do Serenade, even ABT to do T&V (and I'd have ABT wear the original costumes), PNB can do a throwback Agon (pre-1962), Miami City Ballet could do a Seligman 4Ts, get the Graham and Taylor companies w/NYCB to do an Episodes I and II. If part I is completely lost, we'll just have a soloist from Paul Taylor's troup for his solo in Episodes II. Go to the uncut version of Apollo. Have the Kirov do the version with the sandals and the Pavel Tchelitchew backdrops used for the Buenos Aires production.

Alexandra, I agree. My expectation was that the season would be similar to the 1993 Balanchine Celebration season. Because Martins did revive ballets then and I was happy to see them. I also think the season looks a little different in a press release than on the schedule, which does include many all-Balanchine evenings, which I'm going to enjoy. I'm excited for the exhibit of Balanchine photos, programs etc... and I'm hoping they'll be interesting lectures. And, celebrating Balanchine aside, I will go to the new ballets, as well as the Robbins and Martins revivals (I am interested to see Concerto for 2 Solo Pianos again).

Program and Casting Subject to Change *First time in role +Guest Artist # SAB Student NEW YORK CITY BALLET AT SARATOGA JULY 8-12, 2003 TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 8:15PM [Quinn] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KISTLER Hippolyta: SOMOGYI Puck: EVANS Helena: ANSANELLI Hermia: RUTHERFORD Butterfly: EDGE Divertissement: WHELAN, SOTO Oberon: BOAL Theseus: SETH Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: MARCOVICI Lysander: ANGLE Bottom: FAYETTE WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 9 AT 8:15PM Concerto Barocco: WHELAN, *A. STAFFORD, HÜBBE Intermission Guide to Strange Places: KISTLER, WEESE, ANSANELLI, TAYLOR, SOTO, NEAL, MARTINS, MILLEPIED, MARCOVICI Intermission Western Symphony: 1st Mov.: van KIPNIS, FAYETTE 2nd Mov.: ANSANELLI, EVANS 3rd Mov.: KOWROSKI, WOETZEL THURSDAY MATINEE, JULY 10 AT 2:00PM [Quinn] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KÖRBES Hippolyta: REICHLEN Puck: HENDRICKSON Helena: TAYLOR Hermia: van KIPNIS Butterfly: RIGGINS Divertissement: RINGER, TEWSLEY Oberon: MILLEPIED Theseus: FOWLER Titania's Cav.: FAYETTE Demetrius: HIGGINS Lysander: J. STAFFORD Bottom: SETH THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 10 AT 8:15PM [Kaplow] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KOWROSKI Hippolyta: ASH Puck: ULBRICHT Helena: ABERGEL Hermia: TINSLEY Butterfly: FAIRCHILD Divertissement: WEESE, NEAL Oberon: GOLD Theseus: la COUR Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: FOWLER Lysander: HANNA Bottom: ORZA FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 11 AT 8:15PM Donizetti Variations: RINGER, WOETZEL Intermission Glass Pieces: TINSLEY, RUTHERFORD, A. STAFFORD, WHELAN, HIGGINS, FOWLER, HANNA, TEWSLEY Intermission Western Symphony: 1st Mov.: SOMOGYI, MARTINS 2nd Mov.: TAYLOR, EVANS 3rd Mov.: KOWROSKI, ASKEGARD SATURDAY MATINEE, JULY 12 AT 2:00PM [Kaplow] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KOWROSKI Hippolyta: ASH Puck: ULBRICHT Helena: ABERGEL Hermia: TINSLEY Butterfly: FAIRCHILD Divertissement: RINGER, TEWSLEY Oberon: GOLD Theseus: la COUR Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: FOWLER Lysander: HANNA Bottom: ORZA SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 12 AT 8:15PM Concerto Barocco: KOWROSKI, *RUTHERFORD, FAYETTE Intermission Piano Pieces: MILLEPIED, SOMOGYI, ORZA, ANSANELLI, MARCOVICI, KOWROSKI, HANNA [Grant] Intermission Guide to Strange Places: KISTLER, WEESE, SOMOGYI, ANSANELLI, TAYLOR, SOTO, NEAL, MARTINS, MILLEPIED, MARCOVICI

Miami City Ballet is touring with a Balanchine Centennial program. Other companies are doing 1-3 all-Balanchine programs in his honor, while some are doing 1-2 ballets on a mixed bill to recognize his birthday. But even companies such as Miami, PNB, SFB, and Penn Ballet (Balanchine based companies) aren't devoting the entire season to Mr. B. I kind of got the idea that they were going to leave that to NYCB, based on what the company did in 1993. One of the best celebrations around is the one at University of Michigan, which is part of a St. Petersburg 300th birthday symposium. The link to the Mr. B portion is here: http://www.balanchine.org/05/archive/mariinsky.html And to the dance page on the St. Petersburg celebration: http://www.umich.edu/stpetersburg/perform/dance.html Miami City Ballet, Suzanne Farrell Ballet and Kirov-Mariinsky Ballet are performing in the area, plus lectures, which I hope will be published.

We should all go to the New York Performing Arts Library and have our own Balanchine 100th Birthday celebration. Watch tons of videos of Tallchief, LeClerq, Adams, Villella, Kirkland, Toumanova, Farrell (and yes) Martins etc... in Balanchine. Then go to Uncle Vanya's or the Russian Samovar and eat a good Russian meal with vodka and toast the master! And, we can leave NY during the heart of the NYCB Nutcracker season and go to Washington D.C. to watch Farrell's company do an all-Balanchine program.

The thing is, I'm not adverse to having Stroman do a ballet for NYCB. I liked her contribution to "Duke!" althought I agree with Mary that it did have a "don't be different, conform" or "ballet is stuffy, be a jazz baby" message. But I did like it. If the winter had new ballets and the spring was all Balanchine or the other way around, I would think it was a great season. And I have been interested in seeing Martins' Concerto for Two Solo Pianos again. But how come there is enough time to revive a 20-year-old ballet of Martins' and not revive a 20-year reconstruction of Cotillion. Or the other ballets I mentioned. I might not have a problem with having Robbins ballets, if they could tie them better into Balanchine. Try to recreate the Ravel Festival or as many of the 1972 Stravinsky Festival ballets. There seemed to be a sense that they HAD to do a festival or celebration rather than WANTED to do one. It seems like somebody else's project is being done under the guise of honoring Balanchine. And I have to point out, this season is in sharp contract to the celebration that the Cincinnati Ballet put on last year for their anniversary. There, they revived lost works. It was a labor of love. A ballet mistress agonizingly went over a scratchy film over and over to help bring Massine's Seventh Symphony back to life. How come the relatively small Cincinnati Ballet can do this, with a choreographer that wasn't as uniquely connected with the company, and NYCB doesn't have the time or resources to do the same with Balanchine?

Maybe there would be time to do revivals if there were less new ballets Or less ballets by other choreographers. If it's important, you make time. Mary, you're right about Loupokov and Goleizovsky - the connections of "influences" seems to be very shallow. I miss a sense of true understanding of Balanchine and what was important to him. Even the season has a title to it - it makes it sound like the latest video game, "Balanchine at 100," or a tennis tournament, "The Balanchine Open 100." I wonder what the Balanchine Foundation or Trust think of this tribute.

Ditto on the disappointment. It seems like the Powers That Be will do anything to...what else, make a new ballet! How about honor Balanchine by dancing only Balanchine, as they did for the Balanchine Celebration in 1993. This is a very, very nice season, but it should be the season for every other season. It should/could have been this season or 2005 or 1996. Yes, GB encouraged new choreography, but he was most interested in his own work (in my opinion). Again, all the resources are going to go to the new works, not Balanchine's. I'm surprised because I thought Martin did well with the 1993 season and the 50th anniversary season of 1998. And how about bring back some of the works revived for the 1993 celebration - Bourree Fantastique, Haieff Divertimento, Dances Concertante, Symphonie Concertant or Glinka Pas de Trois? Or how about borrowing Cotillion from the Joffrey? How about special coaches? Again, this is a great season they've unveiled, for 2005, not for Balanchine's Centennial.

zerbinetta, I tossed out De Luz's name because he was a dancer, like Cornejo, who is not a danseur noble who did the role recently at ABT. But he was filling in for an injured dancer and did not do the role again. I'd love to see David Hallberg in the role. Who should be in Symphonic Variations? Ashton felt three small dancers should be cast in the leads. But Michael Somes, when he set the ballet on ABT, was surprised when three taller dancers worked out nicely. The three should be of like minds - hard to find at ABT exactly.

It wouldn't be because he couldn't dance it or wouldn't be musical, but I think of that part for a Danseur Noble and I think Cornejo is not that style of dancer, at least he hasn't been cast that. I guess with today's relaxed style of casting, he might work his way up to T&V. De Luz did T&V once a few summers ago when many of the company's male dancers were injured (they even imported Woetzel to dance the role across the plaza with Kent). It was the most classical De Luz looked. He took the assignment very seriously (he partnered Tuttle), but it still wasn't the right casting. Of course, I forgot to add Nina Ananiashvili for Raymonda. She's a great Raymonda. I guess I agree with Robert Gottlieb's latest column in the New York Observer. There are too many good/great female dancers at soloist and principal level, but with the company so obsessed with its male dancers, there aren't that many great evening-length ballets with lots of solo women's parts. Raymonda is a great female role (and I do wish Martine Van Hamel would coach that part). And there are several nice soloist and demi-soloist women's parts.

Although Cornejo is wonderful, I don't think T&V is the part for him. Regarding Raymonda, I'd love to see Meunier, Part and Murphy in the lead. I'm afraid we'll see Kent, Tuttle and McKerrow.

This season looks very exiting to me. But the ticket prices - the lowest being $30 - are prohibitive. What gets me, it they will just give away a lot of them during the season for free. I'm happy to see Symphonic Variations brought back. What an extraordinary ballet. Plus, ABT's roots will be on view with Pillar, Fancy Free, T&V, and the de Mille ballet. And a sneak at the new Raymonda. I'll have to start saving up.

Lisa Della Casa - a softer Grace Kelly.

Hi Jamie, Lorenzo is a favorite of many of us at Ballet Alert! who used to see her at New York City Ballet (and a favorite of a long-lost poster from California). I remember she had a lot of stage presence, wonderful sweap to her legs and a big jump. She made a delightful Titania and an emotional Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream. I remember vividly the way she used fling herself into those pench arabesques in the distraught pas de deux. Although I would like to see her more often, I think the decision to join Penn Ballet was very good for her. She's getting principal roles and the company is in good shape. I don't know where you got the idea of ABT (no gossiping please), but there are too many excellent women soloists over there already and not enough parts. Did anybody see Lorenzo in Firebird?

When I was at music school, Ramin noodles were very popular and cheap for the starving and poor musician. They are still cheap, but now I'm smart enough to read the nutrition lable in the back -- way too much sodium. And I can second on the Julliard parties - the best out of the music schools in the city.

Program and Casting Subject to Change *First time in role +Guest Artist # SAB Student JUNE 24-29, 2003 TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 24 AT 7:30PM [Quinn] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KISTLER Hippolyta: SOMOGYI Puck: EVANS Helena: ANSANELLI Hermia: RUTHERFORD Butterfly: EDGE Divertissement: WHELAN, SOTO Oberon: BOAL Theseus: SETH Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: MARCOVICI Lysander: ANGLE Bottom: FAYETTE WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 25 AT 8:00PM [Kaplow] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: NICHOLS Hippolyta: *REICHLEN Puck: HENDRICKSON Helena: *TAYLOR Hermia: van KIPNIS Butterfly: RIGGINS Divertissement: WEESE, NEAL Oberon: MILLEPIED Theseus: FOWLER Titania's Cav.: FAYETTE Demetrius: HIGGINS Lysander: *J. STAFFORD Bottom: *SETH THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 26 AT 8:00PM [Moredock] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KOWROSKI Hippolyta: ASH Puck: *ULBRICHT Helena: ABERGEL Hermia: TINSLEY Butterfly: *FAIRCHILD Divertissement: RINGER, *TEWSLEY Oberon: GOLD Theseus: *la COUR Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: *FOWLER Lysander: *HANNA Bottom: *ORZA FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 27 AT 8:00PM [Quinn] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KISTLER Hippolyta: SOMOGYI Puck: EVANS Helena: ANSANELLI Hermia: RUTHERFORD Butterfly: EDGE Divertissement: WHELAN, SOTO Oberon: BOAL Theseus: SETH Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: MARCOVICI Lysander: ANGLE Bottom: FAYETTE SATURDAY MATINEE, JUNE 28 AT 8:00PM [Moredock] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: NICHOLS Hippolyta: REICHLEN Puck: HENDRICKSON Helena: TAYLOR Hermia: van KIPNIS Butterfly: RIGGINS Divertissement: WEESE, NEAL Oberon: MILLEPIED Theseus: FOWLER Titania's Cav.: FAYETTE Demetrius: HIGGINS Lysander: J. STAFFORD Bottom: SETH SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 28 AT 8:00PM [Kaplow] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KOWROSKI Hippolyta: SOMOGYI Puck: ULBRICHT Helena: ABERGEL Hermia: TINSLEY Butterfly: FAIRCHILD Divertissement: RINGER, TEWSLEY Oberon: GOLD Theseus: la COUR Titania's Cav.: ASKEGARD Demetrius: FOWLER Lysander: HANNA Bottom: ORZA SUNDAY MATINEE, JUNE 29 AT 3:00PM [Quinn] A Midsummer Night's Dream: Titania: KÖRBES Hippolyta: REICHLEN Puck: HENDRICKSON Helena: TAYLOR Hermia: van KIPNIS Butterfly: RIGGINS Divertissement: KISTLER, ASKEGARD Oberon: MILLEPIED Theseus: FOWLER Titania's Cav.: FAYETTE Demetrius: HIGGINS Lysander: J. STAFFORD Bottom: SETH

There have been new additions ballet-wise to New York's City Center programing. ABT was originally the only ballet company on the schedule, but now National Ballet of Cuba is listed for Oct 15 – Oct 19, 03 (doing Don Q. and a mixed rep. night), and Hamburg Ballet from Feb 19 – Feb 22, 04. The Career Transitions for Dancers Benefit takes place on Oct 27, 03. There's still a large open time slot for the middle two weeks of November.

foryourinfo, Western Symphony is done with only three movements (with the third deleted) at NYCB. NYCB had brought back the third movement but I haven't seen it since about 1995 when Stacy Calvert and Michael Byers (I think it was Byers), as the leads, crashed into each other during a Sunday matinee.

That's it, right now. She did do Theme and Variations w/Baryshnikov on Dance in America, but it was never released commercially. Try finding somebody with an old copy of it. Or you can try viewing it in New York at the Performing Arts Library or at a University Library near you. There have been rumors for years that T&V with Kirkland and Baryshnikov was one of the Dance in American episodes that would find its way into a release (the way Barshnikov's ABT Don Q has or ABT at the Met), but so far it has not.

I believe the Star Ledger did review the La Bayadere and the Times did as well, and the Don Qs. I would look under our links section for those dates, add 2-3 days and you'll find some links to the Newspapers or do a search at the upper right corner.

I loved Holden...ahhh "Picnic" ahhh...

He was my mother's favorte actor I loved him as a child in To Kill a Mockingbird Bird and later Spellbound. He was very charming in Roman Holiday. The Omen and Gentleman’s Agreement were also favorites of mine. I'm not a big fan of westerns, but there was a goofy one where he played a kind of gun-runner who falls in love with a Russian in San Francisco. I don't remember the name of it - I saw it late at night but it was fun (and the actress used real Russian). (Oh, I just heard David Brinkley just died too).

The City Center season is from Oct 21 – Nov 9, 03. In addition, a 2002 Howard Gilman Foundation was given to ABT to extend its fall City Center season to four weeks in 2004. So three weeks this season (an increase of about a week) and four weeks next year. I hope the company will put the performance opportunities to good use!

Thanks Ari. I was thinking they might try out the Raymonda in Washington as they did with Swan Lake and other new productions in the past. I'm excited about the return of Pillar, which might be the 1 Tudor revival of the year for ABT, only to be dropped the next year.

The following is a piecing together a tour list for ABT in 2003-2004: Costa Mesa - July 22-27, 2003 Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa, CA Orange County Performing Arts Center Box Office: 714-556-2787 or www.ocpac.org ABT visits Segerstrom Hall with its fiery Don Quixote and a program of repertory highlights including Frederick Ashton's The Dream and Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison. -------------------------- American Ballet Theatre Dec. 17, 2003 - Dec. 21, 2003 Segerstrom Hall, Orange County The Nutcracker -------------------------- American Ballet Theatre - Kennedy Center Feb 3 - 7, 2004 Opera House (no info on rep. but I'd guess it will be similar to that for Cleveland below) ------------------------------------- The American Ballet Theatre Cleveland's State Theatre March 11-14, 2004. 216-241-2346 http://www.playhousesquare.com/ballet2003/index.html (By the way, those in Cleveland are getting a great season - check out the link - the Kirov in the new/old La Bayadere, ABT, Houston Ballet and Penn Ballet doing Balanchine's Nutcracker!) Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison. Etudes Pillar of Fire excerpts from the new production of Raymonda (live music for all except the Harrison). ------------------------------------