PeggyR

Totally agree about #s 1 and 3. I mean really, you'd think anyone married to the unutterably gorgeous Daniel Craig would not want to look like she is wearing bathroom curtains from the Hammer House of Horror! And Chaistain looks like she kept the sheet on when she got out of bed. Both are truly awful. As to HBC, I absolutely love her off beat sense of style, even when I hate what she's wearing. She plays by nobody's rules but her own, and I bow down before her magnificent weirdness. Btw, did you see the outfit she wore a few weeks ago to meet the queen? Somebody described it as punk Victorian hooker.

#1: Perfection. And she knows it. #2: Well. It certainly makes a statement, as in “$2 hooker on Mission Street”. Hair is nice though. OK, the hair adds value, so let’s make it “$3 hooker on Mission Street”. I can’t wait to hear what Tom and Lorenzo have to say about this one. #3: I think blondes have to be careful about wearing black. A strapless black dress, or an LBD is usually OK, but something this covered up makes her head look like a giant light bulb. That gold trim looks kind of cheesy, and I am royally tired of having this particular uninteresting portion of the female anatomy put on display at every opportunity (see #2, above). Can't wait to see your worst.

It's really hard to know where to start praising this: the shy look at Siegfried when he raised her from the opening pose; the lovely flow in her dancing throughout, like a long sigh; her beautiful, undistorted extensions and lines; the subtlety of her arms (NO FLAPPING!!!) and upper body; the tenderness between her and Siegfried (Carreno needs to be given credit here for his fine partnering). And to top it off, during the bow, I loved what she did with her arms, starting about 7:06. BTW, how tall is she? She looks little, but even on a grainy video you can see the size of her dancing. Cristian, thank you so much for this. It has a permanent place on my bookmarks bar.

Sorry, but I had a distinct Monty Python moment when I got the pop up "Ja, ik accepteer de cookies." Moving on, for anyone who can't access this link, post #10 in this thread has a link to the same trailer.

Thank you for the excellent review. Great news that a DVD will be coming out. I hope we don't end up with a mishmash of fancy camera work and not much sense of the production and dancing.

Quiggin: Thanks for the review link. This is sounding better and better. Here's a link that I don't think has been posted here yet: Marc Haegeman's photos of the ballet. Whatever it cost, the money is up there on the stage.

Cinderella opened last night (12/13/12) at the Het Nationale Ballet. Here's another with a good look at sets and costumes, and some of the choreography.

Best: Above and beyond anything else, Kondaurova's lush Swan Lake in Berkeley. Maria Kochetkova's lovely Tatiana, SFB Gennadi Nedvigin's Lensky, SFB About as close to perfection as you're likely to see. Worst: Vanessa Zahorian's bland Tatiana, SFB Technically proficient as always, but beyond that, she just didn't get it.

A couple of Cinderella rehearsal shots of Het Nationale Ballet via tweets from Isaac Hernandez. A look at some of the costumes. Not sure I want to know who/what the gentleman with the really bad manicure is supposed to be. This one looks like it might be the ballroom set.

More talking heads than dancing, but Anna Tsygankova (Cinderella) has some interesting comments about Wheeldon’s process (starting about 3:35).Also, if you follow Isaac Hernandez (former SFB soloist, now at Het) on Twitter, he has a nice photo of the stage set (I'm at work and can't get to Twitter for the link).

(second not there yet) showing rehearsal footage with the Het Nationale Ballet. Wheeldon reveals that he has added four Fates characters who guide Cinderella through her story. It’ll be interesting to see how that works out.

Although I was not familiar with Mr. O’Connor’s dance writing, any fan of the glorious Mapp & Lucia books must be forever grateful to him. Molto bene, Sig. O’Connor!

Some more dancing, and a quick look at one of the (very pretty) costumes.

And here's a video (part 1; apparently part 2 hasn't been posted yet).

Christopher Wheeldon's new, full-length 'Cinderella' is being co-produced by Het Nationale Ballet (world premiere in December) and San Francisco Ballet (U.S. premiere next May). Here's a short promo (in Dutch) on Facebook.

You should see him in Don Q, not as the lead but the second male lead (the name escapes me, but the one who dances with Mercedes) in his black, slashed-to-the-waist costume -- you could sort of sense the audience hyperventilating en masse.

Hi Kbarber: Welcome to San Francisco. Even though I only live 60 miles away, when I go to a night performance I’m uncomfortable driving that distance at night , so I stay in the city. Here are the two where I’ve stayed: The Opal: Reasonably priced for SF, about a 15-20 minute walk up Van Ness, should be OK at night in a group, or you could order a cab from the man in the WMOH lobby. It’s standard issue, bland, a bit of noise (lots of families). I hate it. The Hayes Valley Inn: This is my home away from home. Two and a half blocks from the WMOH in très trendy Hayes Valley. It’s a quirky, pension-style, family-owned hotel, very reasonably priced (very, very for SF), miniscule but charming rooms, elderly tvs. The downside (for some ; doesn’t bother me) is that the toilets and showers are down the hall (each room has a sink and GFI outlet). The facilities are spotlessly clean and I’ve never had to wait when I wanted/needed either, but it is a drawback for some. Also to keep in mind - no elevators. It’s an old Victorian building, the stairs are narrow and you have to haul your luggage up. There’s a little kitchen for making tea and a sitting room where you can chill with a book. You can’t beat the price/location (takes me less than five minutes to walk there after the ballet and the area is perfectly OK ; plenty of traffic and several nightspots with lots of activity, so you’re never walking alone, even late). Convenient to public transit. In that area, though, if you venture out during the day, do be careful where you go. It’s OK in the immediate area, but check with the people at the desk before venturing too far. They are very helpful and friendly and more than willing to provide advice. In sum, it’s the kind of place where you just have to go with the flow. Love it. I know others on this board come in from out of town, so undoubtedly you will get plenty of ideas. And don't forget to tell us about your trip.

It really should be pointed out that no one seeing the Kochetkova/Boada cast will be shortchanged (haven't seen Zahorian/Karapetyan, so can't comment on them). K/B are a marvelous couple, both good actors (MK is very,very good), youthful and believable in their roles and technically secure (they do some killer overhead lifts that the others skipped). it's just that Van Patten is one of those performers - not confined to dancers - who can take a young girls hormonal upset and turn it into universal tragedy (with a little help from Shakespeare). She doesn't act a charaacter, she becomes the character. It's the quality made her Little Mermaid so utterly extraordinary. I'd say she's more of a 'dancer's dancer'; she won't please the 15-year-old teenage girls who appreciate only sky-high extensions and a lot of flash, so don't go looking for that.

Casting for the Kennedy Center engagement: Triple ditto to that! Unfortunately, she's only performing Juliet once, November 18 matinee. PRINCIPAL CASTING FOR SAN FRANCISCO BALLET Program A and Romeo & Juliet The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Casting from November 13–18, 2012 *Denotes premiere in role In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change PROGRAM A: OPENING NIGHT – Tuesday, November 13 – 7:30PM TRIO Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Vitor Luiz Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets Vito Mazzeo Frances Chung, Davit Karapetyan INTERMISSION RAkU Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Shinji Eshima Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Pascal Molat INTERMISSION VOICES OF SPRING Choreographer: Sir Frederic Ashton Composer: Johann Strauss II Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada PAUSE NUMBER NINE Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Michael Torke Conductor: Martin West Frances Chung, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Vanessa Zahorian, Gennadi Nedvigin Sarah Van Patten, Carlos Quenedit Sofiane Sylve, Vito Mazzeo Wednesday, November 14 – 7:30PM TRIO Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Vitor Luiz Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets, Vito Mazzeo Frances Chung, Taras Domitro INTERMISSION RAkU Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Shinji Eshima Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Pascal Molat INTERMISSION VOICES OF SPRING Choreographer: Sir Frederic Ashton Composer: Johann Strauss II Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada PAUSE NUMBER NINE Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Michael Torke Conductor: Martin West Dores Andre, Jaime Garcia Castilla Vanessa Zahorian, Garen Scribner Sarah Van Patten, Carlos Quenedit Sofiane Sylve, Vito Mazzeo ROMEO & JULIET: OPENING NIGHT – Thursday, November 15 – 7:30PM ROMEO & JULIET Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Romeo: Joan Boada Juliet: Maria Kochetkova Mercutio: Gennadi Nedvigin Benvolio: Jaime Garcia Castilla Tybalt: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Friday, November 16 – 7:30PM ROMEO & JULIET Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Romeo: Vito Mazzeo Juliet: Yuan Yuan Tan Mercutio: Taras Domitro Benvolio: Hansuke Yamamoto Tybalt: Damian Smith   Saturday, November 17 – 1:30PM ROMEO & JULIET Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Romeo: Joan Boada Juliet: Maria Kochetkova Mercutio: Gennadi Nedvigin Benvolio: Diego Cruz* Tybalt: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Saturday, November 17 – 7:30PM ROMEO & JULIET Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Romeo: Davit Karapetyan Juliet: Vanessa Zahorian Mercutio: Pascal Molat Benvolio: Hansuke Yamamoto Tybalt: Damian Smith Sunday, November 18 – 1:30PM ROMEO & JULIET Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Romeo: Carlos Quenedit Juliet: Sarah Van Patten Mercutio: Taras Domitro Benvolio: Jaime Garcia Castilla Tybalt: Damian Smith

Updates to SFB's 2013 season Program 3 Beaux (Morris) TBA replaced by the world premiere Rite of Spring (Possokhov) Here's a short video with Possokov's comments. Guide to Strange Places (Page) Program 6 Raymonda (Nureyev) World premiere (Yuri Possokhov) replaced by Ibsen's House (Caniparoli) Symphonic Dances (Liang)

A Q&A interview with SFB's newest soloist, Sasha De Sola:

No Blu Ray? There weren't any tags, which is probably why you didn't find it. Amazon allows customers to add tags, so I added these (note that everything seems to default to lower case): sleeping beauty, hallberg, tchaikovsky, ballet, ballet and dance, zakharova, bolshoi ballet Anyone with more information could add to the list.

If you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area between October 6, 2012 and February 17, 2013: de Young Museum: Rudolph Nureyev: A Life in Dance Preview Related Lectures & Events: Friday October 5, 2012 Members-Only Preview Hours and VIP Room 1:00 pm Members' Opening for "Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance" 6:00 pm Film Screening: "The Red Shoes" (1948) 6:15 pm Saturday October 6, 2012 Panel Discussion: “The Life and Work of Rudolf Nureyev” 10:00 am Friday October 12, 2012 “Inspiration,” by Tiit Helimets, Principal Dancer of the San Francisco Ballet 6:00 pm Saturday October 13, 2012 Doing & Viewing Art 10:30 am Saturday November 17, 2012 "From Tutus to Trunks: The Shaping of Dance Design" with Connie Strayer 10:00 am

Good to know she's still dancing. I just wish getting down to San Jose didn't involve a four-hour round trip pilgrimage; please post your thoughts if you manage to see her (and the company). Wharton did the home page photos for Ballet San Jose (there's some teeny, tiny text in the lower left corner of the photos -- clicking it will pull up a longer slide show with music).

Meaning no disrespect to the other dancers, but ...