Starr

This Link continues the story. I was astonished by how little money the new administration of the company had been able to raise, despite the star power of Stiefel, McKerrow, etc.

Only $1.5 million pledged towards a $6 million goal. As a comparison, California Ballet has an $1.3 million annual budget -- quite tiny. Whereas, in Chicago, the fund-raising goal for bringing NYCB and its orchestra for a single week of performances is $1.8 million, with $1.1 already raised.

What is going on in southern California?

Try watching the Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo. . You'll see where the money goes in the OC,

Don't freak Starr. You should be able to do better - does anyone know if there's a special event in DC at that time - any sort of convention or something that's affecting the market for hotel rooms?

Not freaking too bad Leigh, it's nothing not in my budget but they were cheaper last summer at this time . Reminds me of going to a trade show in New Orleans that someone brilliantly booked during Jazz Fest.

To get back on topic when do you think the Royal will put out casting? Opening night for Sleeping Beauty should be one of the big names(fingers crossed for Alina).

About throwing up at hotel prices in the DC area. . About ready to chuck this idea and just go to NYC and see Diana V. , but it's the Royal ! Chauffer, thanks for the info on the Metro that sounds good.

Did someone say hotel bargains?

Last year, at the same time, I got the 3* Marriott Washington Westend on 22nd Street (in Georgetown) for $60/night, but not until about 5 days before the performance (a few weeks before bids for $65 were not accepted).

If you want to gamble like this, get a normal reservation you can cancel as a backup. If you need any help with Priceline, check out my blog or ask.

What's the best way to get to KC from your hotel? Taxi or do you rent a car? I would appreciate your advice Leigh.

Miliosr, I am so with you on the idiocy of the Corsaire "plot." We saw ABT perform it two weeks earlier in Cleveland (Hallberg and Herarra, Carreno as Ali, Lopes and Reyes, Cornejo as Lankedem which was awesome -- those 540s!!), and I felt like I could have left after Act II and been perfectly satisfied with the all the whoop-de-do dancing that we got to see in the first two acts. For me, Corsaire mostly just feels like "Six Principal Performers in Search of a Plausible Storyline." But ABT-quality dancing does, for the most part, make it totally worthwhile. I can only imagine how numbing it might feel in the hands (and feet) of a lesser company.

Incidentally, Act III Dream Sequence -- I don't know if this number features what I call "Gratuitous Use of Children" in every location, but what we saw was painfully amateurish. I realize it probably helps sell tickets to the locals, but it felt completely out of whack to the rest of the performance.

Chauffeur, you were at the Sunday matinee in Cleveland? So was I. The Carreno crowd went nuts when he was announced as Ali for the performance(wasn't cast on Sunday).

Did they have the pirate in the selling kiddy pirate stuff in the lobby?

Geez, I know Ethan has had problems in the past with his knees, didn't know he has new ones. Will hope for the best!

Wow!

That's a suprise.

Who to believe about anything?

You have schooled me well in my "expectations" of the Kirov-Mariinsky. I went to see them in Detroit, casting had Diana V. as the lead in Sleeping Beauty, well that was wrong, but because of reading all the posts here I knew it was not unexpected, so I went and really enjoyed the performance. You don't get to see that caliber of dance in the Midwest that often.

I might have to make a trip or two this June. I would love to see Alina or Tamara and the new/old Beauty.

Thanks for the reports from St. Petersburg, they were wonderful again this year.

We already have tickets for the Sunday matinee.  No complaints from us on that cast!  Thanks for posting it.

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Bought my tickets yesterday for the Sunday matinee. I would really like to see Irina & Max but Sunday works better for me.

Thank you for the heads up Dale!

Thanks drb,

Choices, choices

Yoshida is done no favors in that video, for two reasons:

1. it was originally supposed to be Darcey Bussell, but she cancelled, leaving the tiny Yoshida to dance with Jonathon Cope. You can see how awkward their partnering is.

2. The heavy wig she wears does no favors to her figure, which is considerably more compact than most ballerinas today.

and

3. Sorry to say, but she's just not having a good night. She has a smile plastered on her face the whole time but I sense very little magic from her. For me, a Sugar Plum Fairy should sort of be like exactly that: a Fairy. Slightly otherworldly, waving her wand and making magical things happen.

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I have seen this version twice, and have often wondered about the casting. Thanks for clearing that up.

With trying to catch Roberto Bolle in the Olympics and the start of Speedweeks at Daytona, I totally forgot about the results show.

Thanks again for the update.

No, she had her son before she left Russia. She continued to perform for Diaghilev until his death ...

Antoinette Sibley I believe is a mother. I *think* it's a son. Or two. I heard her mention her children in a documentary but I really don't remember the details.

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I know Antoinette is a mother, I remember reading somewhere how Anthony Dowell talked her back on stage.

Saks did a multi page ad sometime this last year with dancers from ABT(corps members, I think)

If you want to see pictures of Irina & Max, checkout W after the ABT galas. Suzy always mentions them in her column, with who Irina is wearing and a nice picture.

There's an especially favourable review of Ansanelli by Debra Craine in The Times:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/art...2027581,00.html

[Acosta and Lamb in Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun]..."are a hard act to follow, but Alexandra Ansanelli and Federico Bonelli managed to make a tremendous impression in the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux. As a former dancer at New York City Ballet, Ansanelli has Balanchine in the blood and it shows. We rarely see his choreography danced with such exciting panache or intoxicating speed. Ansanelli, who has just joined the Royal, was clearly determined to make her mark..."

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That's a nice one. I read the London reviews of the RB frequently, and some of the critics get rather nasty. I remember La Bayadere being danced early in the season and someone making a remark that Tamara Rojo should have been in a more "concealing" costume, (ie hadn't really gotten into shape yet). I also thought Darcy got raked over the coals for Sylvia early this year.

Maybe a Princess Florine or two?

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I think she would be a good Princess Florine. Other than Beauty and R&J(tried to get tickets to see Sylvie, no luck). I can't remember the rest of the RB's season.

Well, I think you could class it as a success - it was certainly well received.  She looked very lovely, exceptionally well groomed and glamourous and this company could do with a bit of glamour IMHO.  It was a very accurate, very musical performance - lacking perhaps in a daring if you compare it with Verdy (but then who could compare with Verdy) and she was dancing with a new partner whose partnering is reliable, but perhaps no more than that. 

I'm looking forward to seeing her with the company - hopefully before too long - rather than in an isolated showpiece.  With that big, light, jump it's a shame she arrived too late for Firebird.

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Thanks, for your comments Alymer. I do wonder what she will do during the rest of the RB's season, as the casting seems to be set for a good number of performances. My husband spotted her at the Kennedy Center Honors show and was quite taken with Alexandra and he's not a big fan of ballet yet.

Did anyone see her debut with the RB on the 4th? Would love to hear about it.

Tia is mostly known from the movies(True Lies, Wayne's World). Lisa Rinna was on Days of Our Lives for years(Grandmother loved that show). I think we all know the power of soap opera fans, ie Kelly Monaco from last year. If she had a career like Tia or even Tatum, she wouldn't have made it past the 2nd round.

I really enjoy your reviews of the show. Thanks! I believe Barry Manilow has a new album coming out, so he's all over, will be on Martha Stewart's show on Monday.

Some of my 3rd grader's classmates watch and vote. Big surprise they like Drew and Stacy.

A speedy recovery for Jonathon Cope. I think I read somewhere that he was planning on coaching for the RB after his retirement.

I didn't bother to watch since I figured anything on HGTV would involve more crafty, cooking stuff then actual dancing.