Gina Ness

I agree, MakarovaFan...I know carbro already mentioned him, but Erik Bruhn was unquestionably a "dancer's dancer". He was the idol of most of my peers when I was growing up in San Francisco (I was a teenager in the 60's). I named my first son after him. In my mid to late 20s and early 30's, I actually got to study and work with him as he was often a guest instructor for SFB. He was a warm, intelligent, and gentle person. I couldn't believe my good fortune in being able to study with my long-time idol...

I witnessed Anthony Dowell (of whom I'm a huge fan) drop Antoinette Sibley from an overhead lift (Thais). They both literally landed in the wings, like the leaning Tower of Pisa falling over...it was really scary. Of course, I do realize that bizarre things can happen to the most accomplished artists. They danced together a lot, but I remember reading somewhere (probably in this forum!) her saying that she preferred being partnered by Michael Some...So, I guess my question is, regarding "partner king", are you meaning how the gentleman appears to the audience as a partner, or how his ballerinas regard him? Both qualities would make the candidate a true "partner king."

When I was a young aspiring ballet student, my Mom took me to the movie theatre to see "Cinderella" which would occasionally play at the art houses in San Francisco. I loved her in this film. I haven't seen it in years, but in my mind's eye I can still see her dancing with such exuberance and freedom. She made a BIG impression on me and was very inspiring. She will be missed by many...

How did I miss Steve Martin in a "Spectre" costume? Manuel Legris in that costume and role....

The first person who springs into my mind is Michael Somes of the Royal Ballet, beloved as a partner (I believe) by many of his ballerinas...

Well, former ballet dancer Norodom Sihamon was crowned Cambodia's new king in 2004...

Hey, Mel...Yes, I would agree that there is more emphasis on the "cis" than the "San" in San Francisco if we get into Henry Higgins detail! What we native San Franciscans REALLY hate is FRISco Ballet.

Well, I'm a native San Franciscan and a former dancer with San Francisco Ballet, and that's how I pronounce it!

carbro...I tried "greater than", too! I'm a Pisces, but my moon is in Aquarius, very "air"...the "moon" sign represents the mask you wear in this life...(my first love was the student of a very famous S.F. astrologer)yeah...I ran around in bell bottoms with bare feet...this stuff has always held a fascination for me...

Fun...What happens when your magic number was exactly 50 percent? I didn't know which way to go! P.S. I actually danced Second Theme, so maybe this is appropriate...

I gave a pair of Makarova's pointe shoes to my most talented student a couple of years ago as a gesture to smooth over something that upset her (a lot! ...and validly so...) during our school performances. She quit ballet last fall at age 16! Needless to say, this has made me really, really sad. I'm not sure if she ever truly appreciated the gift, both of the shoes and of her talent. I wish I had given the shoes to YOU, MakarovaFan! :rolleyes:

Congratulations to the well-deserving and talented Diablo Ballet!

I also go for the bravo or the whoof...mostly the "bravo". It's what I prefered as a dancer (and I was one). But, I hung up my pointe shoes in 1985, so that was some time ago...I only bravo if I'm truly bowled over by a performance. I would never show disapproval by booing or anything of that nature. I would consider this to be incredibly boorish. Artists work so hard that even if a performance is truly dreadful, I just would not have the heart to do this. I always try to find some good or positive even if less than a stellar performance.

[ADMIN NOTE: I apologize for the awkward merge, but I wanted to be sure that the new thread and the older one made one complete one. Thanks to carbro for finding the original. I've deleted the housekeeping posts.] Ballet performances are live theatre, where sometimes anything can happen...Has anyone seen a memorable mistake either with the performing artists or production or music disasters? Has anyone attended a performance that had to be suspended midway for any reason? I've experienced and seen examples of all of the above! Here's an example: ABT 70's...Cynthia Gregory and Alexander Godunov in "Giselle"...1st Act , First Scene... Albrecht is playfully following Giselle, both doing "grande jetes". Cynthia's extended back leg in the jump hits Alexander's extended front leg during the leaps. They both end up sitting on the stage on their "derrieres" looking incredibly surprised!

How about Todd Bolander's ballet "Souvenirs" which takes place at a seaside resort circa the 1920's? The finale is a wonderful romp on the beach, complete with old-fashioned swimwear! The main character in this ballet is the "Vamp"! It's a delightful ballet...I wonder who might be performing it anymore...

Erik Bruhn wasn't "tall"...he was medium height! Another dancer who appeared much taller than he is...Fernando Bujones! I was always amazed at how great he looked with Cynthia Gregory (who is fairly tall).

Lilian Alice Marks (Alicia Markova) and Peggy Hookam (Margot Fonteyn) spring into my mind immediately. My first ballet teacher, Merriem Lanova of the Ballet Russe, was Merriem Crow. It was popular during this era for dancers to change their names to something with a more theatrical flair, often "Russian". Anyone know of any others?...this is fun...

Oooo, Cygnet, you have some of my favorite actors and actresses on your list.... P.S. Hugh Laurie (Mr. Palmer in "Sense and Sensibility") would be good as Robert Helpman...I could see Alan Rickman as Ashton...

Well, I am going to go out on a limb here...I am a huge fan of Makarova. She is one of the greatest dancers of the past century. But, I was in class with her on several occasions at SFB when she guested with us in the 70's, and she really had a hard time with piroettes in class. She relied heavily on her partner for all her supported piroettes for pas de deux. I believe that she is not a natural turner...some are, some are not. But, boy, did she work with what she had in this regard! When I saw her perform Black Swan, she did have a difficult time with those 32 fouettes, but it didn't bother me! The rest of the evening was absolutely fabulous in every way...she was one of the most beautiful Odette/Odile's I have EVER seen. P.S. I think that Nureyev was a very natural turner...beautiful turns...fast chaines!

It would seem to me by Sibley's quote that Somes finished first in her book....

Another vote here for "Sleeping Beauty"...Although not one of my favorite Balanchine ballets, his Western Symphony's spinning hoe-down finish (the entire, very large cast all doing "tours de finis" (consecutive piroettes to fifth position) while the curtain closes is pretty exciting... Bejart's "Firebird"...."Etudes"....

Thanks, Juliet...I don't need to keep the collection intact. I just want things to go where I really feel they will be appreciated and utilized...and I do think that your comment about the "information age" is really true...didn't they throw out all sorts of books from the SF Library when it went to its new home? Kind of shocking...

Thanks, treefrog...I am from San Francisco, so some of the programs are from performances of major companies at the War Memorial Opera House. Does this make a difference for archival collections...that they want material specific to their location? Most of these performances in SF were a part of national tours of the Bolshoi, Kirov, etc. I have souvenir books from Ballet Russe, etc., that would have been sold at all locations for national tours. Thanks, again, for your input... P.S. One of my main teachers of my youth, Alan Howard, was from the Chicago area. He passed away in 2003 and I'm certain he must have donated his collection somewhere in that area. I wonder if it was where you suggested?

I have a pretty amazing ballet collection that I have accumulated over the years (thanks in large degree to my dear Mom Jane). Books, souvenir programs, dance magazines (we're talking from the 50's on!)...I know about the SF Performing Arts Archives (I just donated 5 original drawings by the founder, Russell Hartley). Is there anywhere else that anyone knows of that would be willing to accept donations to add to an archival collection? Thanks....

I haven't seen them all...but of the ballets I have seen, I love "A Month in the Country". Years ago, in my youth, "Ondine" made a huge impression upon me...but, maybe it was Dame Margot Fonteyn that created that magic for me....I wish that I had seen "Two Pigeons".