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mira

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Posts posted by mira

  1. Yes though a few had their early training at her studio - the local ones are Krista, Elizabeth and Madison.   Several of the dancers on that list were pre-professional level when they worked with her and then were able to make the transition into a company.   Julio had previously been in the National Ballet of Cuba and Alberto trained at Harid but was coached and performed with Magaly.  I'm probably I'm leaving people out...

  2. Magaly Suarez (Taras' mom) is an amazing teacher.   In addition to the dancers listed above, there are many more of her dancers who have become professionals - here's a (partial) list:

     

    Alexandra Berman - Houston Ballet

    Julio Conception - Oklahoma Ballet

    Julia Conway - English National Ballet

    Krista Ettlinger - Dutch National Ballet

    Milenia Garcia - Oklahoma Ballet

    Elizabeth Mateer - San Francisco Ballet

    Madison McDonough - LA Ballet

    Grace Anne Powers - Ballet Met

    Serena Sovdsnes - Cincinnati Ballet

    Alberto Velazquez - Joffrey Ballet

     

  3. Isn't Joseph Gorak partnering Sarah?  Ratmansky's Nutcracker Grand Pas (not sure what they call it) ranks among the most difficult in the ballet rep and how is it possible for even one couple to get enough rehearsal to do that perfectly especially if they don't start rehearsing until Nov. 29?    If Sarah is now dancing the pas with Jeff Cirio (Isabella's partner) - how does he get enough rehearsal to do those tricky parts with two different girls?

  4. Ciro has won acclaim for principal roles in Boston, in London where he was nominated for a National Dance Award, in Helsinki, in Mongolia, in Japan and other U.S, places as well. He was chosen by Damian Woetzel to dance with both Isabella and Masha at Vale, he was chosen by Damian to dance at the Kennedy Center (with Lauren Lovette) to honor Patty McBride. so yes, Kevin probably does see something.

  5. Congratulations Jeffrey! You are so deserving of this great honor and ABT is brilliant to have promoted you. I've known Jeffrey and watched his growth as an artist and a dancer for over a decade and besides his God given talent, he is the most modest and hardworking dancer I know. I'm saddened to think anyone would suspect him of saying "promote me of I'm walking"!

    His dancing is extraordinary and he takes wonderful care of his partners - the ABT ballerinas ask Kevin to dance with him. He has danced leading roles all season to great acclaim by the critics! Bravo Jeffrey!

    - oh and wait until you see his choreography!

  6. confusing.

    The link reads "Our Summer Intensive faculty includes, Artistic Director Angel Corella, Ballet Mistress Kyra Nichols, School Director Arantxa Ochoa, plus the School's remarkable roster of permanent faculty members, and world renown special guests."

    But Mr. Corella will be in Spain and will Ms. Ochoa be in Miami?

    The link does specifically state "For advanced students and young professionals ages 16 and above, the Summer Intensive is followed by the Company Experience which consists of a full week of professional ballet training. Classes would be taught by Artistic Director, Angel Corella and artistic staff of Pennsylvania Ballet and would include daily workshops to learn pieces from the Company's repertoire.

    So it seems that for the "Company Experience" (1st week of August), Mr. Corella will be there teaching.

  7. Adding to this discussion - change in a dancer's career is inevitable - some dancers who have waited years for their "turn" then find that a new artistic director decides to take the company in a completely different direction or, that their turn never "arrives" because better and harder working dancers are hired from outside the company - unsettling the ranks of supposedly "secure" dancers.

    Both Whiteside and Cirio come from an experienced background at Boston Ballet, having danced many principal roles with much partnering experience and they have a strong work ethic. My point being that dancers aren't victims - they are artists and athletes and in charge of their career. Work harder. Move to another company. Just as artistic directors are responsible for the end result of their decision making (are more tickets sold? is the company losing money or making money?) - so dancers are responsible for their decisions (are they progressing as artists and athletes - are they dancing the rep that they want to dance?) The career path of Matthew Golding is a case in point - ABT to one season at Corella Ballet which was a quick stepping stone to the reknowned Dutch National Ballet, and then to principal at Royal Ballet. Hopefully, each dancer can depend on their own logic and intuition to find that unique path.

  8. Alastair Macaulay pointed out "it now dances Balanchine ballets without a secure underpinning of Balanchine style" which, to an untrained eye, might not be obvious, but is noticed and remarked upon in this review. The SAB training focuses on musicality, speed and may appear "simple" but is highly detailed. Few companies ever rise to the level of Balanchine (or Robbins) performed by NYCB. Yes, the hiring of Charles Askegarde and Kyra Nichols should help bring the new hires along although Kyra is not there full time. The shift in artistic focus is clear - Balanchine ballets will be danced by dancers not trained at SAB and Mr. Corella will continue to move his company in the direction of the ABT model.

  9. Adding to the discussion of MCB's Bourree Fantasque - I saw the Sunday matinee - Jordan-Elizabeth Long and Shimon Ito danced the 1st Movement and they were hilarious. Jordan must be close to 6' on pointe and Shimon might be (guessing here) 5'6'? It's fast with lots of turns and tricky partnering and that is what makes it so funny- the shorter guy with much taller ballerina in full out black tutu, gloves and headpiece to partner. They went for it and I thought they were the standout performance. btw, it was Darci Kistler's role at NYCB.

  10. The seashell contraption is like the hidden hole at NYCB's NUTCRACKER, into which Sugarplum steps as the cavalier "glides" her across the stage!

    In Balanchine's Nutcracker, I believe that Sugarplum places her right foot (carefully) in the center of a small square of plastic (called a mouse) which is attached to a wire and is then pulled across the stage by a stagehand. If it's not a smooth pull, Sugarplum is knocked off the "mouse".

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