mira

wonderful discussion Jack. thanks. will add to it as I see more MCB and PAB this coming season. oh, and I agree about Sandy Jennings and the other wonderful stagers that come to set ballets on PAB - what an honor for the company.

Villella was not know for hiring SAB trained dancers (about 25% of the company?). Most of his dancers came from schools in Cuba and South America or Miami City Ballet School. Lopez seems to be favoring the SAB training but it is a little early to tell.

thank you - it's an interesting and fascinating discussion. I've watched MCB for years and I think I am beginning to see a difference in the company now that Lourdes is AD. My first impression was that it might be because she seems to be hiring a different type of dancer with a different training than Villella did. And he did imprint that fast, athletic and joyful style on a specific type of dancer over many years of class and coaching. Maybe next year her style will become more apparent to me. I'd love to hear from others on their impressions of these companies and their evolution.

Here's a video link to the whole episode. http://video.wedu.org/video/2365232004/ Amy, thanks for your comments - so interesting! I wonder if you'd be able to add more detail to your thoughts about the differences in styles between PAB, BB, SFB and PNB. tia, Mira

PBS did tape the entire After The Rain but when they decided to release it for purchase (not just broadcast), Chris Wheeldon felt that because the pas was created and is so closely identified with Wendy Whelan, that he could not give permission to have that part of ATR sold.

Julie with Zach in After the Rain - why we will all miss her.

and as Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream with PAB at the Kennedy Center June 6-8.

apologies - Pa Ballet's Coppelia is not the Balanchine version - they do perform his 3rd act solos though.

thanks Cinnamonswirl. They are doing the Balanchine version both in Philly and Ottawa. and, I was mistaken - you're correct - it's Balanchine's Midsummer Night's Dream at the Kennedy Center.

Pa Ballet is bringing Balanchine's Coppelia to the Kennedy Center in June I think.

hi Bart, I believe Eric Trope is a corps member. Mira

cobweb - so glad to hear your report about Ashly - I've been watching her dance since she was 11 years old! always has been an amazing talent and sweet girl - she's got it all - jumps, turns, musicality and stage presence - I'm hoping it's time for a promotion soon.

and now for another point of view - Stephen Raskauskas reviews Pa Ballet's recent program http://us.bachtrack.com/review-feb-2014-pennsylvania-ballet-philadelphia

The major celebration of the 50th Anniversary is planned for tomorrow, Sunday October 20th, with a gift to the city of Philadelphia of a free performance: Sunday, October 20, 2013 - 3:00pm Academy of Music Pennsylvania Ballet's gift to the city- a sampler of performance highlights from the past 50 years in a free matinee at the Academy of Music, not to be missed. The performance will be filmed by WHYY in preparation for a national broadcast about Pennsylvania Ballet on PBS. Stay tuned for details.

Cobweb, I don't know about this current group of apprentices specifically but, the typical apprentice contract at NYCB is for one year (union agreement). I know of one instance when the company dancers were asked to vote on extending the contracts of apprentices (to help with Nutcracker season and a large cast of Romeo and Juliet which followed) but, in that case, it was only a temporary extension of their apprentice contracts and they did not join the corps when the extension ended.

not to overlook PA Ballet's Swan Lake - choreographed by Chris Wheeldon. The scene is changed to La Belle Epoque in France (at the time of the famous Degas ballerina paintings) and most of it takes place in a ballet studio at that time. The Odette/Odile choreography is similar but notable is the remarkably lifelike movement quality of the swan corps - especially the port de bras - wings movements are created in the motion of a figure eight. It's stunning to see the corps transformed into a lamentation of swans.

I've seen Isanusi dance many times and have never seen anyone else dance with his combination of power and grace - Jordan is right - he moves like a panther. with prayers for his full recovery.

Alastair Macaulay's review of Program B. Kudos to Sarasota Ballet and Pa Ballet! http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/10/arts/dance/ballet-across-america-at-kennedy-center.html?_r=1&

abatt, so good to hear your impressions and especially good to hear that Ashly Issacs is back - she is a force and an astonishing dancer. Thanks to you and also to Colleen for sharing your thoughts with those of us who can't be there in person. Mira

I loved it! Taras Domitro is perfection!

Stephanie Chrosniak is listed. http://www.nycballet...rs-by-Rank.aspx The five dancers whose names are in black type are 1st year corps dancers. The newly appointed apprentices (from June 2012) are not listed.

thanks Helene. Yes, the list in the pdf is last season's SAB "grads" who were made NYCB apprentices for this past season. Peter Martins either promotes them to apprentice at the end of the SAB year in June or in the fall (for Nutcracker season). The SAB grads of June 2009 who were made NYCB apprentices then were Emilie Gerrity, Taylor Stanley, Shoshana Rosenfield, Ashly Isaacs, Sarah Villwock, Lara Tong. Then there was a group of students that was promoted to apprentice in fall of 2009 - I think that group was Brittany Hillyer, Dana Jacobson, Stephanie Chrosniak and Lauren Lovette. The SAB grads from June 2010 (who were made NYCB apprentices in June 2010) were Jillian Harvey, Elizabeth Wallace, Lars Nelson and Spartak Hoxha. Then another two students were made NYCB apprentices in fall 2010 - Emily Kikta and Claire Kretzschmar. I hope I haven't left anyone out. There is some agreement with the union about how many ballets an apprentice may appear in before they must be promoted to corps (not sure how many that is). It's open to negotiation with the union if put to a vote (for special situations). mira

Five students were invited to become NYCB apprentices last summer (scroll down for photo and article) http://www.sab.org/userimages/Fall%202011%20Newsletter.pdf NYCB's site lists company members (corps through principal) and they update it before the beginning of the Fall 2012 season.

I'm not sure who considers themselves diverse and who doesn't but also wanted to mention Likolani Brown. Very exciting time at NYCB!

I hope I am not straying too far afield in mentioning that fans of diversity in ballet have a lot to be excited about at NYCB - the already amazing Taylor Stanley and Sam Greenberg and two new apprentices, Silas Farley and Olivia Boisson. These hugely gifted dancers, in my humble opinion, have the potential to become soloists or principals at NYCB. http://www.sab.org/n...wien_awards.php Mira