bijoux

oh yes,Desmond is beautiful.I saw him when he was with Alvin Ailey and more recently(about two or three years ago) when he danced with "Fosse".I remember what struck me when he was in Ailey was just how long and classical his lines were.Of course the company has gone through some changes over the years and there are many more like him now,but at the time he was one of a few.Did anyone mention Mel Tomlinson?I never saw him dance,but he was in New York City Ballet and Boston Ballet wasn't he?another dancer from the history books is Ronald Perry.Did anyone see him dance?He was in American Ballet Theatre for a while and he danced in Europe and then with Dance Theatre of Harlem.I actually think he was with DTH a few times in his carer,but I'm not too sure.

From what I have heard,miss Anderson is a really strong dancer and to the best of my knowledge,she is currently the only principal black female classical ballet dancer in the country who is not in Dance Theatre of Harlem.That has to say something about a dancer of color.Not to put this the wrong way,but she nust be something else(in an excellent way) to have gained a postion that so many dancers of color strive for but never achieve.To be considered an equal amongst a group of dancers who you don't resemble speaks volumes for the dancer and I must say for an artistic director ,who is not a person of color,but is willing to stick by his vision.Kudos to Ben Stevenson for making that mark.It is a shame however that Houston Ballet is the only place it is happening for the women in the dance world.I could be wrong about this,but I just haven't heard about any other black principal female dancers,or even soloists for that matter.Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.I know that Dance Theatre of Harllem has its principals and soilosts as well it should.I believe Arthur Mitchell fornded his company for that reason,to give dancers of color the opportunity to dance and become a principal dancer in a ballet company.I think it is a shame that other companies have not been more open to those possibilities...

I saw that show(I think it was called,"I'll Make me a world") They also mentioned a girl from Boston Ballet.It was about three years ago and she danced a bit of 'blue Bird"pas de deux with a guy from National Ballet of Canida .Most people have mentioned dancers from New York,but Boston Ballet has had a few black ballet dancers,(though mostly men) over the years.one woman,Erika Lambe has been in the company for several years,and has held her own in solo work,but they don't use her alot.(talk about an exciting jump!!!)In the coda of the Nutcracker,whenever she has danced"Coffee"she always jumps as high as her male counterparts.It is so exciting.She is really strong from what I have seen and the audience seems to like her.She is fantastic in Balanchine Ballets.Kai Davis was the other black woman for the past few years.She is from Chicago.Unfortunately,I didn't get to see her dance much while she was in the company and she was one of the dancers let go.She wouldn't have gotten into Boston Ballet if she weren't talented,so I'm sure she'll do well wherever she goes.I don't know what will happen with miss Lambe.I don't know if she will be here next season or not.I hope she is and that she will get some more deserved opportunities.There was a guy in the company named Roger Cunningham who was beautiful to watch ,but he is in Europe now.I just wanted to add that information from Boston becausethose dancers deserve a mention too. [edited to get rid of quote] [ 07-10-2001: Message edited by: alexandra ]

well put.another unfortunate stereotype as you have briefly mentioned is that ballet dancers don't know how to use their brains and from what I have heard,many ballet dancers who have left the stage have gone on to pursue their doctorates in physics or psychology,or have landed jobs with design firms or in technology.I know a dancer who lost her job with a ballet company and got a fantastic job in the technology fiedl in part because of her discipline and attention to detail.Many "lay"-people fail to realize how much dancers, and I think artists in general, have to use their brains.Of course there is the obvious issue of remembering combinations and choreography,but the mere survival effort in the dance world requires quick thinking.The quickest and the brightest survive,don't you think?I mean,think of all of those men in ballet who have had to fight stereotyipng. whether it was conscious or not,they have proven people wrong time and again by reinventing the idea of the male ballet dancer,lately by likening themselves to gymnasts and even pro ball players in their physical feats.I don't think it has always been an accident.Look at people like Arthur Mitchell and Alvin ailey who found a void in the dance world in terms of where minorities fit and created dance companies(successful dance companies)to fill those voids.Look at "Career Transition for Dancers" and Boston Ballets'"Dancers Resource fund"Both are created by dancers recognizing the importance fo looking at the future and going beyong the expected'shut up and dance"cliche'I think I could go on for days about this,but I'll stop here [Edited to take out the quote. I've noticed several people doing this, so this is a general note. To reply, just hit the Post Reply button (it's not one of the icons at the top of a post, but separate). If you want to quote part of a previous post -- not just the one immediately before yours, but any on a thread -- then hit the little "" sign.] [ 07-08-2001: Message edited by: alexandra ]

on the subject of stereotypes.I am a black woman,so if I tell someone I am a dancer,they automatically assume I am a modern dancer,but the truth is that I dance classical ballet.I love classical music and abhor Rap,Funk and most of the other strerotypically"balck"music.In a related cab story.I was in New York several years ago and I was in a cab.The driver was listening to classical music and we got on the subject.We started talking about towns in massachusetts and I mentioned where i was from.He looked at me and flat out asked if my mother was white.I said no and asked why and his reply was,"oh,well,you are really articulate,you take ballet lessons and listen to classical music ,oh,and you aren't from Roxbury or Dorchester..."So,unfortunately,some people can just be really ignorant.Stereotypes are an easy way for people who are uncomfortable with themselves to generalize and try to make their own situations seem more bareable.most of my male friends who dance are straight and they get alot of raised eyebrows,but they can hold their own with the most mach of men.

boston Ballet will perform it this coming season as well

hi everyone.the strange thing about Babcock leaving,is that he seems to be following this stream of "higher-ups"who have all made a mass exedous from Boston Ballet.(the head of public relations left,the human resources person left,the director of artistic development left....)With all of this said and done,I wonder why they didn't just leave things the way they were before they all quit.I mean,all of those dancers were fired,the current director is gone,the incoming director,left before she began,another member of the staff who people thought was a troublemaker left...but all after they had done "damage".Well,I really pray for Boston Ballet now....

Here is what I know about the dancers who won't be returning to boston ballet...Mikhael Ilian is going to Miami City Ballet,Sasha Dmochowski(not Koultun) is going to American Ballet Theatre,charles Preggar is going to Washington Ballet...oh,one of the second company women got into Joffrey.I'm sorry I don't know more about the principals or soloists,but I tend to pay more attention to what goes on with the corps and second company.(I just feel as though people don't pay enough attention to that aspect of a company and in truth,all of those principal dancers that the world seems to love, must have started in the corps.)...that is all I know about the people who weren't rehired.I hope it answered a couple of questions.

Hi,just answering your question.Yes,Mikhail Ilian was incredible!!!He is so clean and yet exciting to watch.His brisse' volles'(spelling?)were like butter,so smoothe..I 've heard that he is going to Miami City Ballet.He should do well there because he seems to have that excitement about his dancing that Edward Villela likes in his men.It is too bad for Boston Ballet though.Another talented dancer they've let go....Well,more power to Miami.

Hi Alexandra,I believe she is dancing in Geneve Switzerland.At least that was the last place I heard that she had gone.I hope this information is useful.And,yes,I agree,she was a beautiful "classical"dancer.

I'm not saying that a company should hire or retain a person just because they fit a certain ethnic profile. What I am saying is that a good dancer should not be discouraged because he or she doesn't have the same ethnic makeup as 99.9% of the company.This is America and as much as I hate to admit it,things will never be racially balanced,but people should at least try.If Boston Ballet doesn't want minorities in their company,then they should get rid of their inner city program.Why give a child hope when it won't be a reality?The question is not whether a minority who is not up to classical standards is not hired ,the question is where do the minorities who are up to standard go?Europe seems to always be the answer,but shouldn't it be somewhere in the states?

Wow,an activist mother?hmmm Actually I asked someone about the girls because that "activist mother" comment intrigued me.(Can a Ballet company actually sustain itself on the whims of a parent?If they do,they're worse off that I thought)I do know that the black girl who they kept trained in the school(in fact, so did Jennifer Gelfand .(Do you suppose her mother had something to do with her job?HaHa) so she is only one of a handful of people who have made it to the company from the school.(perhaps that is the reason she was retained)Her mother has been a pianist at Boston Ballet for several years.Perhaps some frustrated mother started this activist rumor to cause more trouble,but I tell you if it got back to the girl,she would be crushed.to be honest,there is actually nothing wrong with the way she dances,so why get rid of her?For the record,people who know her mother regard her as a friendly woman(hardly the description of an "activist).Things are bad enough at the ballet without extra nonsense. [This message has been edited by bijoux (edited March 25, 2001).] [This message has been edited by bijoux (edited March 25, 2001).]

I think people all over are wondering who is in charge thereand what the company is going to look like next year.It is an interesting thing...When Bruce Marks was the director,he had a platform."Diversity" was a big issue with him,not only with who was onstage,but with what was being danced. The company did Twyla Tharp and Paul Taylor as well as they did Swan Lake and Giselle and he seemed to make it clear that his company reflected the city of Boston.All of that seemed to go away as soon as he left.Under AnnaMarie Holmes',direction things have been clearly Russian influnced and while that style can be beautiful to watch and it is clearly "classical" it doesn't always do the company and the comunity justice.What happened to diversity?Why is it that the company seems to be purging itself of things and ballets that are not Anglo-european?A ballet company should do its community the service of representing all it has to offer. Boston Ballet has dancers capable of dancing great works,but nobody seems to see that. Boston Ballet also has talented dancers of several ethnic origins,but they are not always seen. Why is it that so many Russian dancers were let go and that in the "list of hired and fireds,there was an Asian girl(who by the way is a fantastic dancer)and the two black women the company has.Johnathan McPhee might do a good job of filling in and choosing the repertiore for the company,but who has control of who(in the meantime)will decide what the company looks like?To be honest,I think Johnathan McPhee, or Jeffrey Babcocks'"dumbing down" the ballet could be an attempt to attract the people in the community who don't go to the ballet because they don't think there is anyone there who is like them.People relate to what they know.(or think they know)It is like going to a movie to see your favorite actor,or going to the Symphony to hear your favorite conductor. Ballet is difficult for some because there are no words . It is important to let the "common man "identify with someone in the company so they'll want to go and see that person....Boston Ballet has not done a good job of letting the city identify with its dancers.People go to the Pops or the Symphony because they see Keith Lockhart at the mall or Seiji Ozawa on the television,but one ever sees Boston Ballet dancers.(I'm sorry if I'm beginning to ramble.It has been a while since I last wrote and I feel as though I have missed alot, or the opportunity to say anything without being out of date).Ok,I have looked at this reply and I suppose the questions about the"look" of the company must be the "aesthetic"values of whomever is in charge.I don't know, it is difficult to speculate.It just seemed really obvious to me that the company has been looking homogenous.I don't remember if the Asian girl and the two black girls kept their jobs,but it will be a "different" look for the company if they are not there next year.I think the "dumbing down" really does coincide with the attempt to broaden the audience profile. Unfortunately,it doesn;t seem to be a really genuine way to lure people in.Oh well,hopefully Maestro McPhee will choose a repertoire that will show that Boston has a talented ballet company and hopefully,the people in charge will have the sense to leave the company with who it has now and let the next artistic director decide who should stay next year.. [This message has been edited by bijoux (edited March 24, 2001).]