aurora

That second one belongs on my worst list. It looks like the 80s came back from the dead.

Not exactly a video of early Makarova, but a charming video of her discussing her early career. Followed by white swan adagio clip with kevin mckenzie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v48g2mtaoU

I expect that when Kent decides to retire, it will be noted on the subscription brochure that ABT publishes in the fall prior. Barring the unforeseen, this is not her last season.

I'm looking at subscription brochures for the 2012 Met season. The only "special event" listed was the McKenzie anniversary celebration. No hint of the Stiefel or Corella retirements. I don't recall when those were annnounced.

I checked on here.

The official announcements were posted April 4th for Corella and January 23rd for Stiefel. A wide disparity clearly, but in any case neither had been announced yet at this point last year. I would imagine in her case it would be sooner rather than later if she did decide to retire, but it probably would not have been announced yet.

Franklin! Franklin!

hear hear!!! and he is a "time is of the essence" one!

I feel intense pain and anger for every year that honoree isn't named for dance.

For the future, I'd like to see Violette Verdy, Cynthia Gregory, and Damien Woetzel to the list. I'd also add Ben Vereen and Tommy Tune for their Broadway work.

Ooh, I like your list! I'd leave Damien a while though. I think he's deserving, but he (hopefully!) has a lot of years left.

I would think their relationship with Farrell wouldn't be the only issue standing in Martins way.

One year at SPAC, I bought a pair of point shoes for $10 from a basket of shoes (which were indeed stinky), the proceeds going to NYCB. I chose the most gently used and they turned out to be Faye Arthurs, who is a corps member. Her feet are very tiny! Most of the shoes in the basket were pretty beat up and I was happy to find Faye's pair in very good condition - the satin on the points isn't even torn. They are so pretty and the pink color of the satin is exquisite (they're Freeds). I'm going to have them bronzed and either make them a sculpture or outfit them to a base for a lamp with a shade - I think that'd be really nice!

Somewhat OT but Freeds are, or were, the makers for NYCB. As SAB students we used to get rejected company pairs really cheaply. It was never clear whose they were though, you just looked for your size and which maker worked best for you.

From The Guardian:

An interview with Tamara Rojo.

I get on well with men. I tend to know where I stand. I have more male friends than female friends, and I know that's unpopular. I'm not willing to share emotion and that's something that makes female friendships. I share emotional problems with two women, no more.

Women only have to sacrifice more than men because we have more options. One option is to be a mother, which a man doesn't have. If I chose not to have children, that's not a sacrifice, it's a choice. But being a mother has this weight so if you choose not to, you are seen to be giving up something enormous.

Seems to me company director Tomas Rojo might find himself in a bit of hot water for coming out with this. It's only recently in the ballet world that more female dancers have been able to have children during their peak childbearing years and return to work. It took a long time to get to that place, and for many years and for many female dancers it was a sacrifice and not a real choice at all. I would assume that Rojo isn't going to let these views affect maternity leave policy, however. Thoughts?

That is an interesting thought. I didn't love her expression of the sentiment, however I'm guessing that as with many women who are childfree, she's been asked about that decision a lot, and the question usually is not without a sense of judgement.

I'd take it (especially given her wording "If I chose not to have children") as a statement of her own feelings about her decision. As in, don't pity me, I did what I wanted.

This shows her seemingly a lot more relaxed and having more fun than at the actual ceremony itself, for what that is worth (significance? she didn't enjoy it? she was overwhelmed? I don't know, but the photos are fun):

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/02/letterman-up-for-jabs-with-kennedy-center-honors/

Some of my favorite women in their 70s (e.g., Nancy Pelosi) look amazingly young, as does Makarova - barely a wrinkle or sag anywhere in their faces. It's possible they all just live very healthy lives and enjoy good genes, but there might be something else at work that makes it more difficult to show ordinary emotion in their faces. No insults intended of anyone . . . I'm just saying that there might be another explanation for her (relative) lack of visible emotional response in her face.

(Compare Makarova's unlined face with Baryshnikov's. He's 8 years younger than she!)

That is a good point, tactfully put

I also wonder, based on not only this, but also on her interview on Letterman, whether her comprehension of English is perhaps not great when in high stress situations. Yes, I know she has been here for ages, but many people surround themselves with other people who speak their native language.

This does not, obviously, relate to her response to the dancing, but that seemed to me to just be intent watching. I just wondered if she didn't find the experience rather overwhelming, and perhaps not fully understand all of what was being said. I don't mean this as a critical statement at all. I just know that in high stress situations it is harder to understand what we might otherwise get easily in a one-on-one conversation.

I watched the performances again today, and feel much better. I did detect the flicker of a smile when the JKO student was dancing and then a broad smile at the end, during the curtain calls. So I do think that Makarova approved of the performances. Thank you BA-ers for sending me back for a replay.

She just seemed less at ease/to less enjoy the whole event than some of the other recipients. I'm not sure it had anything to do with the performances (she seemed somewhat ill at ease throughout). Some people just feel awkward under this kind of circumstance even if they are pleased about it.

I have to say the guys from Led Zeppelin enjoyed themselves so much the entire time that it made me happy to be watching (and I'm not a particular fan).

Also, I couldn't help but wonder if cutting away from Part during the fouettes was an act of politeness. (After all it's a celebratory evening and some reaction shots were required anyway). Certainly when the camera returned to her it looked as if she had done some traveling.

This possibility certainly crossed my mind too. I would love to see the actual footage of Part's performance in order to answer that question. We'll probably never know, though.

It is a possibility, certainly, but all i saw was that she had potentially travelled forward in a straight line which is not considered poor form in fouttees ( Hey, makarova in the Nagy video travels!).

I rather liked that they picked Part for this although I agree it isn't her strongest suit. She's gotten to the point where unlike some people (Kowrowski) I don't worry if she'll make it through the foutees. I've never seen her not.

She does singles, which Makarova also did (this wasn't her strong suit really either) and which M is on record as preferring.

And while she uses the technique, she emotes through it, it isn't just about technique. Which is what Makarova also was about.

I thought having her do Odile was a smart choice.

(Wording is terrible, not enough coffee!)

I thought it was nice that they stuck to pure classical dancing and didn't dumb it down or try to goose the audience with an old pop number.

As much as I enjoyed watching the R&J pdd w. Kent/Hallberg, I found the age difference between these dancers distracting and problematic.

Not so much for this viewer. Yes, when the camera really zeroed in you could see that Kent was somewhat older, but the pairing didn't look like Romeo and Aunt Juliet.

Agreed. In fact I was pleased at how good she looked. I mentioned she was an older dancer to my spouse and he was surprised.

The trocks threw some in when they did Go For Baroco

I would be more than happy to see Kajiya and Gorak promoted. But only after Stella Abrera is promoted to Principal. It breaks my heart to see all the promotions that leave her behind.

I don't share your opinion (I realize I am in the minority here apparently) but in any case, promoting Gorak out of the corps would have no impact on whether Abrera ever makes principal.

If you don't believe that Stella should be made a principal, then perhaps the following won't make sense: but I believe that when ANY promotion is made in a company, it has an impact on most if not all of the dancers, who would be likely to reflect on their own positions within the hierarchy and their own chances for promotion, if not now, then in the future. Obviously I cannot speak for Stella, but if I were in her shoes, I would feel every promotion as a reminder that I'm being overlooked.

It might be a reminder, but as a professional, she must be aware that male and female dancers serve different roles and DANCE different roles and it can have no impact on her in any way if a male dancer at a lower rank is elevated. It might be a reminder to her husband of his limited chances for promotion at this point, but for her it really shouldn't make a difference.

I would be more than happy to see Kajiya and Gorak promoted. But only after Stella Abrera is promoted to Principal. It breaks my heart to see all the promotions that leave her behind.

I don't share your opinion (I realize I am in the minority here apparently) but in any case, promoting Gorak out of the corps would have no impact on whether Abrera ever makes principal.

I went to see the Nutcracker last night. I don't have a lengthy review (no coffee yet!) but a few words on it.

I really love this production. I find it funny and more emotionally moving, ultimately, than any Nutcracker I've seen. I still love Balanchines (which for me is THE classic) but right now, this has a lot more interest to me.

I know this was discussed last year (I may have participated in it) but I cannot express how wonderful the snow scene is. The way it builds, growing more and more frenzied and ominous and drawing on a major musical element that, due to the way it is usually staged (or ways), I never really recognized before. I think it is genius.

I don't love all the divertisements in act II. I'd much prefer that Spanish was cut to a single couple. with 3 couples in busy outfits (I love the costumes throughout) it is impossible to see anything. Chinese is great. I *am* a fan of the bees.

In my view, there should have been an announcement at the end of the performance, that the leads were being promoted.

Yuriko Kajiya and Joseph Gorak were stupendous. I believe* (I'd only seen this once before a year ago) they simplified a lift or two, but my belief is based only on memory and something I read in a review regarding the lifting sequences. He showed no obvious strain in the partnering, was gracious, elegant, princely, gorgeous, and danced beautifully.

She was strong but sweet, elegant, showed exquisite control.

I really thought they were both fantastic.

I was very impressed by her last season at the MET and do hope she will be promoted. I think she deserves it and would make a good principal dancer. The fact he is in the corps, however, is something that should be rectified ASAP. They have a newly minted opening in the soloist rank... FILL IT!

Does anyone know if this is live streaming this year? I think it has in the past, and I know parts of segments have been cut for the CBS broadcast.

Live streaming is a new one on me, which may prove nothing except that I'm ignorant. Where would we see that?

But I think the show runs about two hours in the theater, not counting a twenty-minute intermission (I'm relying on memories of the 2005 Honors, which I attended) so they have plenty of material for the TV program. When I had edited the commercials out of my off-air recording of that, I had exactly 90 minutes left, to the second.

Apparently the kennedy center does live streams of some events on their website, but this was not one of them (I checked yesterday evening)

I believe the State Department dinner was Saturday night and the program at the Kennedy Center is Sunday night, 12/2. It's typically broadcast in late December. I'm wondering if Baryshnikov will participate in some way.

Apparently it will be shown on cbs on Dec. 26th.

http://www.cbs.com/shows/kennedy_center_honors/about

The forums are what members make of it. Another difference between Ballet Alert! and a classroom is that the Moderator team isn't responsible for generating content, as a teacher is.

That is certainly true! It is a hard enough job without you having to do that.

However in a seminar, while a professor chooses the subject for a class, it is generally discussion between participants, with some guiding by the professor. While, depending on the prof, they may take a more active role, often it is pretty self generated, and in that way less of a strange comparison than it is being taken to be.

(not arguing the point, obviously there are differences, I am just clarifying)

I think there is a difference among some different members about what constitute appropriate social behaviour/niceties.

I agree that there is a place for everyone here. From the least knowledgeable to the most.

I fully agree that those less knowledgeable should post and ask questions, but to me, it should be in a reasonable way.

The fact that people who say they don't know much seem to now post more than those who do does seem to pose a problem for the health of the board.

As an academic you have to strive for a balance in classrooms.

You want everyone, even the kid who knows nothing, to ask questions. That is one way they are engaged and learn.

But when the kid who knows nothing talks constantly, day after day, drowning out other conversation and saying the same thing over and over again? It is a horrible classroom dynamic. It discourages others from participating.

Anyway I thought another perspective could be useful.

I must be missing something. None of the things you've cited seem to prove your point. There are suggestions she had been flagged for the post before it was available, but those come from commenters on articles. The board treating the former director horribly doesn't constitute evidence that Tamara Rojo did anything wrong.

The way in which Ms Rojo attained her present position left UK ballet fans aghast, she most certainly isn't someone to be held up as an example of doing things the right way.

Can you explain this statement further? I was of the impression that Jayne put forward above: That she had done everything one could to prepare herself for an AD position and then applied vigorously for the position when it was available.

Obviously we are missing whatever information it is that resulted in UK fans being aghast, or have misunderstood the situation.

This is more explicitly political than most things on here, but in a human rights way, and I thought it would be of some interest.

I assume most people are aware of the Gangnam Style phenomenon. And of the many spoofs/offshoots it has spawned.

One was by Ai Weiwei and was pulled, very quickly, by the Chinese Govt.

This video is a response to it orchestrated by Anish Kapoor:

http://youtu.be/tcjFzmWLEdQ

It is of interest because of who is involved: It was choreographed by Akram Khan and features Deborah Bull and Tamara Rojo.

There is a brief article on it here:

http://artsbeat.blog...iwei/?ref=dance

BTW, I have to say, Bloomberg looks very good -- and I have to say, Christie looks like a very recognizable human being. He was right from the start, and the way he cussed at the mayor of Atlantic City made me want to make him an honorary Southerner.

To be fair, he's always willing to curse at people ;) And those of us in the NY/NJ area aren't shy about that ourselves!

In seriousness however, I agree that both of them (and Cuomo, and Schumer) really did look good. And I am not always a fan of some of the above mentioned. Bloomberg managed to not sound too annoyed or peeved for most of the crisis, which can be hard for him. And Christie, well you said it well.