Buddy

This is a quick overview comment. I now do my years of perpetual beginner figure skating (always wear a helmet!) at a rink in California that formerly featured Frank Carroll as Coach (Michelle Kwan’s) and is run by Anthony Liu and owned by himself and his family. (Anthony Liu (born Liu Yueming on 4th July 1974 in Qiqihar) is a Chinese-Australian figure skater. A seven-time Australian national champion, he represented Australia at the 1988 Winter Olympics, where he placed 25th, and at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where he placed 10th.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Liu In a rink that trains Olympic level skaters what goes on does have repercussions. I, like many, have noticed a drift from the more artistic world of John Curry and Michelle Kwan towards ‘high’ athleticism in the last ten years. I love artistry. I love the flow that can go way beyond what the ballet stage allows. Yesterday I noticed two young ‘high athletes’ just gliding at the end of their practice, and thought, “How lovely!” Today I watched one of these young girls, named Gabby, (you might hopefully see her someday at the top of the list), who had the loveliest flowing grace and expression that I’ve seen on a rink in years. (I haven’t followed competition much on TV since the days of Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen). I told her and her coach that I go to a lot of ballet performances and think that she is lovely. I then mentioned to her coach that figure skating seems to have become very technical. He responded that there is now a definite “hidden(?)” drift towards more artistry because the technical stuff has ‘pretty much maxed out.’ This is the first time that I ever heard anything like this. I’d love it to go more in that direction. Let’s see what happens. And by the way, there's another little girl who has a constant little girl's bright as the sun Smile. My hope is that whatever difficulties they present her that her Smiling Self stays just the same.

There is now a June video clip of Oxana Skorik performing Diamonds ( Драгоценности) (with Konstantin Zverev). I’ve seen a lot of Oxana Skorik performances (and a lot of videos) and all I can really say is that after two viewings -- I’m Spellbound. Correction: Драгоценности translates (Google) as "Jewelry," thus Jewels, but Oxana Skorik and Konstantin Zverev are performing the duet from Diamonds.

I've just looked at parts of the DSCH video, but I believe that I saw the same cast in St. Petersburg in April about two months later. If you like what you see here, sandik, I think you'll like it live much better. Once again the performance I saw seemed much more alive as almost all real performances have been compared to their video recordings. I was delighted with the vibrance of it all, Kimin Kim being outstanding. A beautiful contrast was Svetlana Ivanova, who did not appear in London in the central duet, but was a portrait in calm and loveliness as well as handling being flipped around with remarkably fine agility.

Very glad to hear this about both Kristina Shapran and Alexander Sergeyev. I've posted my admiration for her all over the internet and Alexander Sergeyev is also an extremely talented and highly likable ballet artist.

This is a very good and highly interesting point, dirac. I’m intrigued by this possibility of bringing an increased ballet aesthetic and sensitivity to the ‘broadway stage.’ Sidwich, thanks for Gene Kelly’s original version. In this particular work I actually see a lot less difference than I would have expected between the feel what Gene Kelly did and what Robert Fairchild is doing . I’m rather fond of the grace and fineness of Robert Fairchild’s take. No, it’s not what I would strongly and literally associate with Gene Kelly, but that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be very successful.

I'm going to slip this in and hope that it's within the guidelines for this discussion. I've watched Oxana Skorik for years and think that this recognition is so overdo. “And an Odette/Odile from Oxana Skorik of fine-drawn beauty. She possesses exquisite line – eloquent for Odette; dazzling for Odile – and an intriguing air of mystery, of an inner passion. I thought her fascinating.” Clement Crisp http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/6892dfd0 ... z39SD6AnVH To introduce one more name, Kristina Shapran will be appearing next in Apollo and I think that she is someone to really keep an eye on. Based on my video viewing (with all its necessary qualifications) I think that she has perhaps the finest classical articulation that I've ever seen.

As much as I have to treat video clips as often the roughest of sketches, I've watched all the ones from Act I and greatly look forward to the possibility of seeing Act II. Her "mad scene,"which I usually try to 'finesse,' is as sensitive a handling as I've ever seen and shows her at her dramatic finest. She is one of the ballet greats of our time, perhaps beyond our times, and hopefully will be given as many opportunities as possible by ABT and the Mariinsky. My dream for years has been to see her perform Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Festival.

Thanks, Helene. This looks like a step in the right direction.

“Vail International Dance Festival 2014: Gene Kelly Tribute with Robert Fairchild” (Thanks to sophia at Dansomanie) Note: This is to Gene Kelly's choreography.

Yudi, your picture of the young girls in front of the theater (#4) is so true to the ballet environment that I’ve experienced, whether it be NYC or Saint Petersburg. I love it. I've been highly impressed for almost a half year by video clips of Olga Smirnova’s Diamonds, considering it her finest effort until NYC. I do have to say, having seen two Olga Smirnova NYC Swan Lakes, that I think she’s Grown Immensely since those Diamonds performances, especially as an Actrice-Expressionist ‘prima level ballerina.’ Please continue loving what you see, as you seem to, and don’t worry about how knowledgeable you should be or whether folks like myself agree with you. Your opinions are as worthwhile here as anyone’s. (spelling correction made)

I would say that the audience yesterday was a bit surprised at how quickly the first work ended and slightly less so about the second. The third work seemed reasonably long. Overall, the audience was enthusiastic and appreciative, I suspect mainly for being able to have a glimpse at the amazing capability of these two great artists.

I also saw this performance yesterday and posted this brief comment elsewhere. In its favor, at times, this performance did show Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev to be extremely fine dramatic talents as well as highly adaptable and remarkably accomplished dance artists.

Based on her Swan Lake performances, I would call it 'Galaxy Smirnova' and I wouldn't change a thing !

"Pennsylvania Ballet Trustees Appoint Ángel Corella as Artistic Director" http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2014/07/22/pennsylvania-ballet-trustees-appoint-angel-corella-as-artistic-director/ (posted at Balletco)

Buddy - I am incredibly sad that I could not attend the Bolshoi Swan Lake. I wish the Mariinsky had the character brides. Decades ago I saw Bolshoi Spartacus excerpts and Phrygia was on pointe. Bessmertnova. maps, hopefully you'll get to see them next time. Since you mentioned Natalia Bessmertnova, if you can see her dvd (perhaps also on the internet) of Swan Lake, you'll see the lovely 'character dances' by 'ballerinas' rather than character dancers, as in the NYC performances. They are absolutely beautiful. I do like happy endings to Swan Lake, because I live for the Enchantment of ballet and the happy endings reinforce this greatly. I've seen five Swan Lakes in this series, two by Svetlana Zakharova, one by Anna Nikulina and two by Olga Smirnova. I liked Svetlana Zakharova's and Olga Smirnova's very much. Svetlana Zakharova is the mature artist and Olga Smirnova is the prodigy. I join most everyone in agreeing that Olga Smirnova is Absolutely Remarkable ! Added: I waited at the stage door tonight. Both Olga Smirnova and Semyon Chudin were as nice as could be to everyone, staying about a half hour to chat, be in pictures and sign programs. I was standing next to a man who stopped every dancer he saw. With all the goings on in the press, these artists remain some of the humblest and nicest human beings that I've had to pleasure to visit with.

I agree with you completely, Waelsung, that "she has so much grown dramatically in the last few years." She has matured into an even greater and more completely rounded artist. I also feel that she should try to keep as much of her youthfulness and freshness as possible. I join you in liking many things about this production. From a purely performance point of view I find the ballet orientation of the 'character' Brides dances to be very charming and beautiful. I also like the more streamlined feel. The swans dancing in the final act is lovely.

Svetlana Zakharova was Incredible tonight !!!!

How’s your acting ? In case you can’t make it let’s give Brandon Uranowitz a shot at it. “Brandon Uranowitz is an American stage and television actor,[1] best known for one of the lead roles in Baby It's You!, the Broadway musical which tells the story of singer Florence Greenberg. [2] [3] [4] Prior to Baby, It's You!, Uranowitz had the role of Mark on the national tour of Rent.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Uranowitz And more casting announcements as posted by dirac. http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/06-2014/fairchild-cope-lead-american-in-paris_69055.html

Yes, it might have seemed that way, but in light of this week’s drama (Will the same couple actually dance back to back Swan Lakes ?!) it is interesting to note the difference in dance attitudes and practices between the USA and Russia, where this probably wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow.

In many interviews dancers from Russia say that being constantly tired is the norm. I wish it weren't so. Added: On the other hand David Hallburg said that he had too much free time on his hands at the Bolshoi and another ballerina returned to the Mariinsky because she didn't know what to do with herself in Germany.

On tour, I guess, the companies from Russia only take so many dancers. In California Oxana Skorik performed three of the seven Swan Lakes in Costa Mesa and then did another two or three in Berkeley. If there's an injury, the sky's the limit, I suppose.

In Russia I've seen this sort of thing happen enough not to be surprised. Evgenia Obraztsova once did two debuts of Le Reveil de Flore in a row because the other ballerina was unable to appear. Another time Leonid Sarafanov did at least three Sleeping Beauties in about a week at the Mikhailovsky. Last year I was calling the Mariinsky Festival (to myself) the Yekaterina Kondaurova International Ballet Festival because she seemed to be appearing almost every night, including doing all the leads in Jewels one night. If they need you, in you go, and you'll probably be outstanding.

I felt somewhat the same way in St. Petersburg last April when Olga Esina, whom I really wanted to see, had to cancel out of Giselle and was replaced by Hee Seo. Just take out "Lakeside Acts" from your quote above and substitute "Giselle" and that's exactly how I felt. I thought she was "marvelous." As for Alina (whom I've never seen in Swan Lake, still greatly want to and consider to be one of the finest ballerinas in the world) not being able to appear again, I was flattened by that news last year, until almost immediately it was announced that Maria Kochetkova would take her place. What a save that was ! Also so glad to hear all the fine comments about Veronika.

It's really quite that simple. She always does and it's an amazing world.

You might be seeing this all over Venice. Sounds pretty good. “Venice hosts International Contemporary Dance Festival” (June 19-29) "Running concurrent to the Biennale's 14th International Architecture Exhibition, dance of all varieties will tumble forth over 10 days at the city's many squares, theatres and performance spaces. The Corderie dell'Arsenale will host ongoing dance activities, with six stages specially set up for the events." http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1531655/venice-hosts-international-contemporary-dance-festival (posted at Balletco)