cahill

ABC news is reporting that Sacramento Ballet is seeing low tickets sales for Nutcracker, they state that half of their operating budget comes from Nutcracker ticket sales. All ballet companies rely on this income to meet their budgets. I was wondering what others are seeing this year. ABC News Article

This program is opening in West Palm Friday, December 5. YouTube has a preview.

Here is a review of the Friday performance in West Palm. Miami City Ballet season-open stellar in Delivery

Jack Thanks for the suggestions! We are going next week for Program 1 and will visit some of your recommended places. I really like Broward. The walk behind the theater is nice and a great place to sit before a performance if you are really early. I agree will the high rise hotels and depending on the time of the year, prices can be really extreme. Would you mind sharing some of the hotels that you have had a good experience with?

It has been several years since I have seen their Nutcracker but I did enjoy it. There theatre in San Jose is a great venue for ballet. Last spring I saw their last program before the company embarked on a tour to China. I was surprised that the company received so little press on that tour. They have some very nice dancers.

I think the following quote from the New York Times recent review by Alistair Macaulay directly answers the question of SFB and MCB dancing Balanchine “The Four Temperaments: "New Yorkers saw a distinguished account of “The Four Temperaments” by San Francisco Ballet little more than a week ago. But the Miami version — danced at a brisker tempo, with a more slicing attack and with ultrabright musicality — is, as when I saw this company dance the ballet in the mid-1990s, the best account of this masterpiece I have seen since its maker’s death."

This program got a great review in the New York Times written by Alastair Macaulay. Balanchine and Tharp and a Bit of Brio

Thanks for the heads up. Looking forward to the season!

Giannia, Can I ask why you would not go again, it sounds like you enjoyed the program?

I saw MCB perform In the Upper Room last October in Berkley and loved it! I recommend getting the music before seeing the performance, it is available from itunes. I think sitting in the balcony would be great for this performance. The second performance in Berkley I sat in the balcony and really enjoyed seeing the patterns during In the Upper Room, it was a totally different perspective than from downstairs. The balcony in Lauderdale will be great for that. It should be a great performance!

You might contact Miami City Ballet. Edward Villella was at New York City Ballet when Diana Adams was there. In the lobby of the studios in South Beach there is a hallway with pictures of famous dancers. I don't recall if there is already a picture of her, perhaps cubanmiamiboy or bart would know? By the way, the pictures there are of real interest and worth a trip to see when in the area!

sandik Where is the September rep show? Last October there was a celebration of her work at the Cal Performances in Berkley. Miami City Ballet and ABT along with others performed her work. I wonder if this is the same type of thing?

Thank you Leigh. I was hoping to read your review.

Does anyone know the link for Leigh Witchel's review in the Summer Dance Now?

I will be anxious to hear your thoughts on the program. With respect to the following "...don't think so. DJ Guetta will be spinning at Cameo 'till sunday morning." not understanding the young folks diction and the Miami scene, I can only say "what????"

Christian, Thanks for the heads up! Will you be going to the Miami performances? Unfortunately I am unable to go so I hope other MCB fans will report in. As you reported, as on their website, it shows that they will be performing "Sonatine". Balanchine/Ravel. The Coral Gables Gazette reports that they are doing all that you mentioned but with Christopher Wheeldon's Liturgy and no mention of "Sonatine"? Is "Liturgy" replacing "Sonatine"?http://cggazette.com/absolutenm/templates/...62&zoneid=1 Anyone going to the opening night parties after the performance?

It is a shame that people forget that football great Lynn Swan and President Reagan's son, Ron Regan, were both professional ballet dancers. I am sure there are other famous or well know men who successfully moved on from ballet to other great careers.

Hopefully he was paid, dancers should be able to branch out to other avenues to support themselves. Not sure he needs to get his name in the mainstream.

I totally agree. Especially since he is more well known than some other male dancers due to his starring in the movie Center Stage. I found it interesting that the article was written by him and not just an interview of him. Perhaps he found a way to supplement his income? Personally, I would like to see more articles of this nature showing the life of not only ballet dancers but other artists.

The attendance at the Miami Program 3 performances were not as full as I would have thought on Friday's opening night. There were more younger people than I have seen at Lauderdale and West Palm, there is a very senior crowd at those venues, yet another problem for ballet in years to come. Saturday night and Sunday appeared to be better attended. Perhaps traffic is an issue? I thought the crowd last year in Lauderdale for the Symphony in three Movements, Program 3, was lighter than this year's program 3. In fact, if I recall correctly Edward Villella commented on the attendance during his pre-performance talks last year.

Bouree Fantasque was a great closer to the program. Everything from the costumes, to the music and dancer's energy made it a great ending to the program. As Edward said in his talk, he is surprised that it is not performed anymore. I would love to see it again! Ditto on cubanmiamiboy's comments above about the Miami performances. Does anyone know where to get the ballet music of Bouree Fantasque by Emmanuel Chabrier? I have tried Itunes (not usually a great source for ballet music) and Borders. Any ideas?

Thank you all for the informative and detailed posts. I will not get to see this performance and of the three pieces I have only seen the Sinatra songs when the Company was on tour. Regarding, Aurora's Wedding, how much of your overall assessment was the choreography as compared to the technique? I am hoping to see the next program. According to the website Program III has been changed and they will now be performing Seranade! Looking forward to that!

I enjoy reading all the reviews on these performances. Does anyone know if the orchestra is the same for the different venues?

Opens tonight, January 11 in Miami with additional performances in Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm in the next several weeks. Please post your comments and reviews if you are lucky enough to attend any of these performances!

I went Saturday and enjoyed the performance so much that I went again for the Sunday Mat. I do not have the technical experience to review a performance as some here on the board. I have seen this company several times and what I find so interesting is their energy and stage presence and it was there this weekend! One of the best performances of Miami City Ballet that I have seen. It was not a full house at either show but I thought a very appreciative crowd. The big push for Cal Performances was selling the tickets as part of the Tharp package. They also had some tough competition, the baseball game (actually saw a patron multi-tasking; listening to the game during the performance!) and unusually warm weather for San Francisco. There was a good review in the Chronicle which I am sure will be posted on the links page. Rachel Howard, Chronicle Dance Correspondent, ends her review with "Forget Balanchine: I'd see the Miami City Ballet in just about anything, and I hope they come back soon" to which I concur!