YouOverThere

The CB also posted on their Facebook page that Ramos' frequent partner, Dana Benton, will also retire at the end of the season. My memory is a little sketchy, but I think that she is the last remaining dancer in the company who danced for Martin Fredman (according to my possibly incorrect memory, Sean Omandam was hired by Martin Fredman bur Fredman was fired before his first performance). I would have loved to get back to Denver for Dracula (and to do a little hiking), but my former frequent accomplice for all things ballet and symphony has been found to have advanced cancer and the job of looking after her seems to have fallen to me.

The CB's Facebook page contains an announcement that principal dancer Yosvani Ramos will retire at the end of the upcoming season.

Judging from an email that Julie Kent sent to subscribers and donors, the WB had some additional retirements beyond those of Sona Kharatian and Tamas Krisza that were celebrated in their season-ending program. IMnotasHasitshouldbeO, Katherine Barkman was the best ballerina that the WB had during my 9 years of watching, so it is disappointing that she has left.

They are retiring from performing, but both will be staying on in some capacity (both acted as rehearsal assistants this year).

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I managed to buy a ticket to today's (Sunday) matinee at the box office for $30. The seat next to it is currently still on sale and is listed (without entering the promo code) at $74. At the Shakespeare Theatre, where the performances were being held, they don't have rush ticket prices for groups that are renting the theater (which is what the WB is doing). I never ask about elderly discounts (and I've only been asked once if I was old enough to be entitled to such a discount).

15 percent off tickets to remaining performances using promo code PRIDE15

This unfortunately turned out to be true.

So the way to view the program is to click on the faint arrow next to the photo of Andile Ndlovu that is accompanied by the caption "Header photo of Gian Carlo Perez and Abigail Granlund by Spencer Bentley". They've added a 4th work, a duet by the retiring Tamas Krizsa that will be danced by himself and his fellow retiree Sona Kharatian (both of whom have already been working as rehearsal assistants). Speaking of Andile Ndlovu, I don't see him listed in any of the casts, which might well mean that his leg is in a cast owing to his injury in Giselle.

My understanding is that A Midsummer Night's Dream was chosen to fit in with the KC's 50th anniversary celebration because it was performed during the NYCB's first trip to the KC (in 1974). Adding a 2nd full-length ballet would be challenging even for a company as large as the NYCB, so starting the run with a triple bill makes the most sense. My memory isn't as good as it used to be (sigh) and I don't save old programs, but I was thinking that the NYCB often doesn't present a full-length ballet on their visits to the KC.

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According to the WB's Facebook page, 5 dancers have been promoted from the studio company to the main company: Andrea Allmon, Rafael Bejerano, Nicholas Cowden, Audrey Malek, Rench Soriano. Since they had 31 dancers in their main company this year, 5 openings would seem to be an atypically large number unless they are expanding their roster.

At the Sunday evening performance, Andile Ndlovu dancing as Albrecht suffered an apparent major injury during the next-to-last solo in the forced dance sequence. After Ayano Kimura as Giselle held things together with a little improvising, they sent out Hilarion (Ariel Martinez) to take over Albrecht's parts (no chance for a costume change). This was very unfortunate, as Kimura and Ndlovu really fit together well. Ndlovu is scheduled to choreograph a piece for the WB's performance at the Wolf Trap in September. His injury could potentially impact his ability to teach his choreography (if he hasn't taught it already).

How stupid of me! I was trying to enter the promo code in the box labelled "Add Credits / Promo Code / Gift Card". It should have been obvious that this would not be the right place to enter a promo code. Anyone with any brains at all would have figured out that you click on the "Unlock" button and enter the promo code there.

The promo code DID work at the box office (after standing in line for 20 minutes - the wait was just as long for the will call).

I tried the code, and it didn't work. A couple of people have posted on the WB Facebook page that they also couldn't get it to work. I had also received an email from the WB with this code.

The Kennedy Center announced this morning that vaccinations will no longer be required as of May 15. This means that a vaccination will not be required to attend the New York City Ballet performances in June.

On their Facebook page, the WB has a post about a discount code - SPRING - that is supposed to allow you to buy tickets for $40. I haven't tried it yet, so I don't know if it's for all seats or for all performances.

The WB has posted casting for Giselle. Six performances, 5 Giselles, 3 Albrechts, 3 Myrthas (1 of whom is in the studio company). https://www.washingtonballet.org/events/giselle/

The Live Nation website how states that vaccinations ARE required!

The Warner Theater did not enforce a mask requirement at tonight's Steve Hackett concert.

The WB has only 11 male dancers (out of 31 in the professional company), several of whom are early in their careers, so perhaps they felt it best to program ballets that don't require a lot of experienced men.

The Mariinsky Ballet is NOT listed on the just-released 2022-23 Kennedy Center ballet and dance calendar.

According to the Live Nation website, proof of a covid vaccination will NOT be required for attending Giselle at the Warner Theater. I didn't see any mention of a change in the mask requirement.

Cornejo is god