aurora

I chose option B (2) whatever it was called. Why? well, I'd like to be able to see new Wheeldon without seeing Peter Martins Actually I just would like to never see Martins choreography again, but that's me

Hooray! I went to see it and found it eventually as a footnote... a few lines below the nycb news. Poor nilas. oof. at least the times didn't post his address!

Congratulations to all of them! I'm so happy to hear this news!!! Suddenly ABT has a decent amt of soloists again

Anyone else read Macaulay's review of the program by the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago? Cruel but funny. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/arts/dan....html?ref=dance the gem of the article is probably this: Did anyone see Hubbard Street? Did the program indeed consist primarily (not just in Kylian's piece) of groin touching? that's the impression I get from the review ;)

I understand your disagreement with Macaulay's tone better in other instances. I don't think these were attacks at all. I think he took a measured tone, and sadly, I think in all three instances he was bang-on. It ought to have been said for the record (especially about Kistler, much as it hurt to say that) and as far as I'm concerned, he was right. I have to say, while I've voiced some dissent from Macaulay on here, from what I've seen (and i'm NOT a frequent NYCB goer--keep meaning to change that!) I agree with what he said here, and while it is not kind, its not unwarentedly cruel either. And at least with Kistler and Nilas I think he explained and backed it up unlike with the criticisms i've had issues with (he didn't with Borree so much, but I really think she's awful. So I can't really get up in arms about that). Now one can (and I'm sure some DO) disagree, but he at least gave the reader the tools to do so.

I thought Irina was pretty fabulous. Her Odette is sort of a strange bird (sorry, i couldn't help myself), and I don't find myself LOVING her interpretation, but I think its valid, interesting, different, and ultimately it works if it doesn't melt my heart. I agree however about Max. I mean granted anyone was going to look a bit of a let down after the absolutely sizzling performance I saw thursday by Angel, and Max at his best doesn't have Angel's arsenal of tricks. But he just seemed sort of blah today. Nothing bad. Just as you say, tired. Very disappointed about Veronika however, I'd been looking forward to this all season Actually for longer than that since I couldnt make her SL last year!

As someone who teaches undergraduates, I would say any such assumption is misguided, begining with the basic assumption that the populace is well-educated. sorry if that sounds jaded but once a generally bright kid writes about "the sun that followed Jesus around" (um, you mean a halo?) you learn not to take anything for granted!

I find it interesting that the numbers in brackets (which I can only assume are the vote tallys for that answer) add up to way more than the "number of votes" listed below (currently 78) whats up with that? Any ideas?

I noticed that too--I think what is happening is that every time anyone votes as a poll it ends up on the new post list, though there aren't any new *posts* per se

Especially since she was with the Royal! After all, she should know about these important bits of Royal Ballet Swan Lake wisdom and passed them on to the current dancers at ABT!

If he had mentioned her controversial nature as a dancer, if he had said something *about* her in this role, I would probably agree with you (even though I like her!) But just calling her "dull" doesn't tell much of anything except that mr Macaulay doesn't like her. In the context of the role, what does it mean? Does he mean she was restrained? Didn't emote sufficiently? Wasn't sufficiently hysterical at the death of Tybalt? What I want from a critic is someone who will explain what he is basing these aesthetic judgements on. Often Mr Macaulay does just that, and I appreciate it. In the case of Part (both reviews) he has not...and they tell me nothing except that he finds her uninteresting as a dancer, without addressing why. I have to say his reviews, and his pattern of his reviewing (number of NYCB vs ABT performances reviewed by him personally have given me the impression that he is not terribly interested in ABT.

Not a bad prospect, really!! Let's see... Marcelo, Angel, David, HERMAN... all except perhaps one yet in their 20s... this is a problem? heh, well no! they are all wonderful. But they still haven't found the right girl for Herman to partner, and he is just too short for the main leads with the female dancers they have. So that leaves 4 principals who are all great but that isn't just enough to support the entire company This isn't to say I think ABT is in dire straits..just an observation.

There usually is at least a 2-day lag time for reviews--so look for Monday's performance to be reviewed in tomorrow's paper (Wed.). Funny that in our high-tech age reviews never appear the next day. Ray, I think she meant on here not in the paper (hence the topic starting)!

Hans. I totally agree! Perhaps because I could never do them well, I enjoy them immensely. I find if I try to count them, I'm not truly WATCHING them.

grazie susan! I had missed that..thanks so much for sharing

I liked her a lot in her fairy variation in SB--I'd definitely enjoy seeing more of her. How about guys? I'd certainly say Jared Matthews would be the next promotion there--he's doing both Benvolio and Von Rothbart this season (he did some Benvolio's last seaon too). And what about Isaac Stappas? I remember a time when ABT (at least this is my memory of it!) used to promote some dancers due to their excellence in some of the character/heavy roles. He was a very good Tybalt, and has been featured in this sort of part for several seasons at least now. I see from the website his rep includes Hilarion (Giselle), Bottom (Midsummernight's dream), Death (Green Table), etc. He's Von Rothbart too, but only the green ugly one from what I remember, so that's not exactly the same thing ;)

Exactly. And it brings up how journalistic ethics plays into blogs. If that was in a newspaper or magazine, it might be required for Wolcott to say that he is married to dance critic who holds differing views than Macaulay. Maybe in a blog it is expected the readers to know more about Wolcott's life and therefore he doesn't need the disclaimer. I'm guessing that the reason he focused on the style of Macaulay's writing rather than the content, was to avoid the implication that he was criticizing Macaulay for his (differing, or contrasting) views. I myself had no problem with the "crying review" or with the prose in most of Macaulay's reviews that I have read. But the phrasing of his tribute to Nichols was positively purple. Especially the section Wolcott focused on, with the summer etc. I personally wouldn't take issue with Macaulay on this, as it was a tribute to, as much as a review of, a GREAT dancer, at the end of what is, in this day and age, and EXCEPTIONALLY long career. And she deserves all the praise she has received. But I certainly see what Wolcott was referring to.

this link isn't working for me...help anyone?

That's Igal Perry, founder of Peridance Dance School (currently and temporarily located at 890 bway). He's been in NY since the 70s I believe.

This takes time. He was not at ABT for Ferri's farewell because he was at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, familiarizing himself with the current scene. Well of course, but he could have done that friday night during Nichols' farewell or sunday matinee, no? ;) (I'm not saying he SHOULD have, merely, that he made a choice)

Not you, not me, but I'll bet she finished to rousing cheers. "Someone like Ashley Bouder?" Name one! I dare you! I've seen S. Sylvie do beautiful fouettes and of course there is G. Murphy. I love, love, love Bouder but other people can do fouettes. Or am I missing the point. probably ;) (i assume its that there is no one like Bouder!) but I'll pipe up and add Nina Ananiashvilli! Not tons of triples and quadruples but clean, gorgeous, FAST fouettes! And the ones in Don Q with hands on hips (see youtube) are just beautiful.

I can't imagine it was the editors. That is content. Wouldn't it be the purview of the chief critic? NB--I'm asking here, not insinuating anything If someone(?) one of the professional critics on the board perhaps?, has any insight, I'd appreciate it! It could just be that it is typical that fri and sat performances receive their reviews on Monday and no one thought to make any changes even with the unusual circumstances.

Too bad it was buried on page 5 while the article on Nichols' was twice the length and featured so prominently on page 1. Considering Ferri was an international ballet superstar (while Nichols was not), to have the adjacent Macauley article state that Nichols was the "greatest ballerina in the last 20 years" was disrepectful to Ferri and an indirect jab at her. Buried? It was adjacent to the "jump" on the Kyra article and both the photo of Kyra and of Ferri were wonderful. Well it depends if you are looking at it digitally or in the old school paper manner ;) it is indisputable that Kyra Nichols' review was linked via image from the main page (speaking digitally of course), while Alessandra Ferri's was not. Whether this is unfair is, I suppose, a matter of one's opinion of the two dancers. They did not receive equal treatment by the Times however.

Perhaps, but the fact that Macaulay, the chief critic, reviewed Nichols' farewell, while another critic (NOT the chief critic) reviewed Alessandra Ferri is not in dispute, and might have influenced the decision of said editors (who are not dance critics and would thus rank the two farewells accordingly).

we certainly are, as is ABT (especially the ladies of ABT!) I have to say I am loving this appreciation of him. Given that, as admitted earlier, he isnt the dancer with the most explosive pyrotechnics, he's the kind of dancer who could perhaps have been somewhat overlooked. But the fact that people appreciate him is really heartening to those who value artistry over flash. Not to say he doesn't have charisma--i think his von rothbart is breathtaking and am sorry he won't be doing that this season, though his siegfried is certainly good compensation