tutu

22 hours ago, sandik said:

Casting is up on the website for both weeks, and they're also listing the post-show guests (for the first week).

 

Really hope they fix the spelling of Destiny Wimpye’s name throughout! 

21 hours ago, BalanchineFan said:

Kikta is gettings some attention here, at Pointe Magazine. there's a pay wall, but they offer 8 days free trial.

https://pointemagazine.com/emily-kikta-has-found-her-power-onstage-and-off/

 

Found this interesting from the article:

Now, Kikta is hungry to develop both her partnering skills and the more delicate side of her dancing, opportunities not always afforded to her because of her height. “She’s not somebody who’s going to hold back, so finding the person to appropriately handle her kind of movement has been hard,” says Tracey. She adds that Kikta’s recent partners—Aarón Sanz, Gilbert Bolden III, and Walker—have all been excellent fits. “She has those beautiful long lines and an airy disposition,” says Tracey, who’d love to see Kikta in ballets like “Emeralds” and as Titania in Midsummer Night’s Dream. “She can find and capture some of those more introspective roles.”

39 minutes ago, volcanohunter said:

I finally relented when the season went past The Nutcracker and Swan Lake and bought access to the final three streams for $120.

I just can’t justify $120 when this is the only program I’d watch, but I’ll live vicariously through your review!

Oh man, I wish they had single tickets for the digital performance.  I can’t justify the cost of a digital season pass for just this one, but would love to hear the reviews!

25 minutes ago, MarzipanShepherdess said:

salaries that would leave 20% of the company living below NYC's living wage threshold.

This is shocking — what’s NYC’s living wage threshold?

22 minutes ago, abatt said:

Nothing against Fairchild  but she has been doing this role a long time.  

A really long time:  Fairchild first performed Ballo in her SAB workshop, coached by Merrill Ashley.  

Fairchild is looking so, so great these days, but I know we don’t have that many more years with Fairchild in the role.  I’m going to miss her Ballo when she retires it.

15 hours ago, cobweb said:

He looks great with Kikta!

I too would love to hear any reports from the final week of Nut.

I’d like to think that Bolden is well on his way to becoming one of the great NYCB partners, in the vein of Soto, Angle, etc. From what I remember of seeing him as Cavalier, he has the demeanor, the princely humility, down pat.

22 hours ago, abatt said:

I don't think Wendy is wrong to post about Bradley being the first African American woman to dance Dewdrop at the company.  But it is not appropriate for a manager to publicly comment on the quality of any employee's performance.  Does Wendy's silence on the debuts of other people in various roles this season mean that management was not happy with the work of those employees in their debuts?  Employee review and performance by management is a very sensitive topic best left to conversations in private, not in public social media posts by your managers. 

That’s the distinction I’m feeling here as well.  Bradley’s debut can and should be individually celebrated.  I just am uncomfortable with a review of the quality of the performance being included in comments from management.

I may be splitting hairs here — the only piece of Whelan’s post that makes me cock my head is the use of the words “exciting” and “Bravo,” which to me imply judgment on quality of performance.  Otherwise the separate post, language, press coverage, etc. seems entirely appropriate. 
 

Any reports from the Guillams Dewdrop or the Edwards SPF?

20 hours ago, abatt said:

Look online.  It is not sold out for the entire run.  I just looked at a date during the final week of the run and there were seats.

AHA!  Then we may be able to make it after all.  Thank you @abatt

17 hours ago, 27dinnerplates said:

I bought my tickets right after the casting was posted, and I'm so glad I did!

Seeing her emerge in the costume was such a breathtaking moment that was made even more special by the knowledge that she is the first Black dancer to dance the role in the company's 75-year history. She truly sparkles in the role. At first, there was a hint of tentativeness on her face that melted away with each entrance and was gradually replaced by a radiant confidence. Her dancing was crisp, clean, and expansive, with buoyant jumps and some playfulness with the footwork. Though I don't consider her a natural turner, the fouette sequence was technically secure, with her opting for a pretty fast double pirouette instead of the usual attitude turn at the end. The audience was eating it up and went wild at the end. I'm excited that she gets another go at it as the nerves will have likely subsided, and she can take a few more risks with her dancing.

Mira Nadon was an enchanting SPF, full of warmth and at times mystery. Lauren Collett was a lovely Marzipan, sailing through the gargouillades and turns with ease.

Oh, that sounds just wonderful.  I think that Bradley is just such a special dancer — such presence! — and with Nadon as SPF?  Utterly dreamy.  

If we can manage to get tickets without breaking the bank, we’ll try to see this cast.

Edited to Add:  Just called the box office — they confirmed that Nutcracker is completely sold out besides standing room for the run.  Bad news for us, but great news for the company!

2 hours ago, abatt said:

Since Wendy is management, I think she should refrain from commenting on the quality of employee performances on social media, even if the comments are in praise.  

I tend to agree.  It’s possible to mark and celebrate a historic occasion without commenting on the quality of the performance.

That said, I would have just loved to see Bradley’s Dewdrop — have thought for years she’d be wonderful in the role.  Any reports?  

Has Alexa Maxwell done a turn as SPF yet?  I’d love to see her in the role.

On 11/22/2023 at 10:58 AM, Fernie M said:

Just happened to glance, week three casting is up. Debut of Bradley as Dewdrop! I am quite certain she’s going to be exquisite in this. Wish I could see it.

Agreed!

On 10/27/2023 at 4:15 PM, tutu said:

Can’t imagine she’ll be a corps member for much longer!

Well, that was a more prescient statement than I ever could have imagined — what a well-deserved promotion!

21 hours ago, AB'sMom said:

Park/Stearns

Is this a debut for Park?

15 hours ago, ABT Fan said:

And, not to open a Pandora’s box, but since you mentioned sets and costumes, oh my that cost alone, but they’d also have to be insured, and shipped in such a way that they are guaranteed to arrive. The cost and that coordination….yikes.

Is it the company manager who handles all of this?  The project management required here is mind-boggling.

21 hours ago, abatt said:

Someone above suggested that it would be exciting to see him again as Mercutio.  While that is true, I would much rather see him debut in a lead role.  If you have someone with tremendous talent, use him.  Don't stick him into a minor role.

Couldn’t agree more.  Dancers’ careers are so short…

On 10/25/2023 at 3:40 PM, Helene said:

She's a corps member.  But she doesn't dance like it.

Can’t imagine she’ll be a corps member for much longer!

On 10/9/2023 at 3:31 PM, Helene said:

Yeah.  Boggles the mind.

She isn’t?!?!?

@abatt @California , do either of you know who the male soloist was in the piece d’occasion with the school/studio company?  Extraordinary talent.

6 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:

Aran Bell danced tonight, right? How was he?

Indeed he did, in a fun new trifle of a new James Whiteside duet, partnering Isabella Boylston.  It was much more of a showpiece for Boylston, who looked about as great as I’ve ever seen her look — all long legs and quick petit allegro — but Bell was a good partner and manipulated Boylston well through a number of rather acrobatic lifts.  

38 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:

Oh my! Hope that person is ok.

Me too.  The dancers, consummate professionals that they are, carried in with a wonderful performance.  

Highlight of the evening for me was Hee Seo in Concerto.  Just exquisite.

At the gala performance (not the party) — they paused after the R&J excerpt for a medical emergency with an audience member in the orchestra level.

On 9/21/2023 at 1:44 PM, California said:

Ouch! $300 for the digital subscription. Very discouraging. I was mainly interested in the two Kylians on the first program, not so much the rest of the season. I will probably skip it.

Same exactly