vipa

Sara Mearns

Sugar Plum: Alina Cojocaru, Tiler Peck

Giselle: Alina Cojocaru

Glad to see Beasts of the Southern Wild get recognition. I loved that movie. It always makes me laugh then the best picture and best director nominees don't match up.

I agree about Ulbricht. Living in NYC I have seen him in many things. It's not only his huge jump and other technical feats but his focus and presentation. He is a great dancer. Unfortunately the NYTimes critic, Alistair Macauley has been IMO stingy in his praise of Ulbricht. I've always suspected it to be a body type thing. Maybe Macauley's assessment will change in time.

I'm waiting for the casting of Symphony in C. Anyone know?

For me - Best: Tiler Peck & Joaquin De Luz - Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux In fact Tiler Peck in anything Teresa Reichlein - Rubies Daniel Ulbricht - Tarantella Cojocaru & Kobborg - Romeo and Juliet The Moors Pavane - the fact of it as well as the Gomes, Part, Kent, Stern cast. Worst Daniil Simkin - Stars & Stripes ppd - his partnering made it hard to watch. ABT's continued lack of real leadership.

I really enjoyed it too. I loved the production. I thought Stephanie Blythe was wonderful - great voice and such a wonderful dramatic sense. She really drew me into her character - really making the most of every second.

I loved Louise Erdrich's - The Round House. I'm a fan of her work. She's a great story teller.

I'm a big fan of NYCB and know that I can't be particularly articulate in my response - but I'll try my best. I've been watching ballet for a long time. I'm in my mid 50's, was a ballet dancer, taught ballet, and have always been an avid audience member. I was around for Balanchine years and obviously post years. I thought NYCB lost it's way for some time but has been in a resurgence for a while time now. The arms - people were complaining about the arms back in Balanchine's day - they are all different not together. During Balanchine's life Russians were saying - legs good, arms not. To me it's the whole look. I don't separate out the arms - the speed, epaulemont (shoulder/head turn/facing) musicality, excitement that comes together with a NYCB dancer. It is not just this step is great or that step is dazzling, it's the whole effect, and the arms are part of it. They don't dwell on the arms, it's just all of a piece. Maybe it's simple a matter of taste. I've never liked Russian companies and find ABT second rate.

Congrats to Simkin. I wish him well, while I still have reservations about him. His Stars & Stripes pas at City Center showed amazing tricks and an amazing disregard for his partner. I wonder who he'll be dancing with. I didn't agree with Seo's promotion either so maybe I'm just an an opinionated grouch who prefers NYC Ballet.

I totally agree about Stella A. I am not a Part fan and probably never will be, but that's what it is about. Seeing who you like and why.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but Zoe Zion's mother is Suzy Pilarre- former NYCB soloist who danced with the company for 15 or 16 years. Zion lived in NYC and certainly had a lot of guidance.

Forgive me if this has been covered. I am considering buying NYCB tickets with the offer of 20% off if you buy 2 or more performances. Tickets can be swapped out up to 1 day before the performance. I never buy tickets before casting is out, so I am curious if anyone has done the swapping thing and how it worked out. Again if this has been covered before, I'd appreciate being redirected.

Taxes are spend on ballet, theater etc that some people don't attend because it's good for the economy. People who go to theater go to restaurants, frequent local stores etc. while attending events. The Koch brothers supported defunding state support of a theater because "a lot of people don't like Shakespeare." To me that is short sighted. Home schoolers - I have friends in that position. I don't think we pay taxes to fund schools to pay for our own children's education. If that was the case childless people wouldn't pay taxes that go to schools. We pay taxes to fund schools, so that we have an education population, which is essential for a democracy. The quality of public schools IMO is a separate debate.

Just came back from the Fri. Eve. Golden Idol you were right. Drink To Me Only - Joseph Gorak was really good but Herman Cornejo was great. His quality of movement, musicality, the way he gets into shapes quickly enough for the shape to really register with your eye without looking rushed, not to mention the jumps and turns - just great. I really like this ballet I find it refreshing and witty and very human. Tonight Simone Messmer was outstanding for her ease and clarity of movement. Boylston was also a better fit in the ballet that Kajiya, who I saw the other night. Boylston had more strength and energy. I don't love her in everything but she had me smiling in this one. Leaves Are Fading ppd. Reyes/Sterns - It's a beautiful and interesting piece. Her upper body and arms so fluid and lovely. Stars & Stripes ppd - Poor Sarah Lane was just used as Simkin fodder for this one. She did fine, but this piece isn't really suited to her. Simkin barely managed the partnering with Lane. It would have been impossible for him to partner anyone even slightly taller. He did lots of tricks, which were exciting and the audience love it. A lot of his stuff was indeed fun, but to me he still looks like a kid doing tricks. I remember Damien Woetzel in this - to me he brought the right degree of well everything to it. I wish Simkin had worked a little more on his partnering even if it meant fewer tricks. Symphony 9 - Really enjoyed it. Love the way he moves groups around. I have to see it again to take it all in. It is really densely packed. Maybe too much material for one short ballet or maybe I just need to see it again. Abrera - great - talk about someone who should be a principal. DeCoster - thank you for your review. I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks so much for the info. It was an amazing moment.

I went Wednesday night. To me the highlight was The Moor's Pavane. What an amazing piece - the distillation of Otello. Every gesture and movement filled with nuance and meaning. Your eye is directed so well through-out the piece. Nothing extraneous but everything that is needed. Marcelo Gomez was the virile Moor. Julie Kent, bring purity and beauty to her role his wife. Cory Stearn the Moor's devious friend and Veronika Part the friend's wife. Here a piece I'd see again today if I could. I know the woman next to me didn't share my enthusiasm - 10 minutes into the piece she decided it was time to check her email. I had to ask her to put her phone away. I loved Simone Messmer in In The Upper Room. She has the Twyla style energy for the piece in spades. For me this piece loses momentum at some point about 3/4 of the way through. It seems to plateau for a time before coming to a conclusion. I enjoy it, but am not eager to see it again. Drink to Me Only - I wonder if someone else who was there could help me out. I am not very familiar with the ABT dancers (I go to NYCB a lot more). Who was the first man who did the step with the triple pirouette, extend - open side. Also who were the other two men who joined him. I was really trying to identify people. Love to hear from anyone who was there.

True enough on the other hand Allegra Kent did it years ago for NYCB, on the other hand the AD at ABT seems to limit himself to when it comes to casting.

I'm curious about Symphony in C. Others have mentioned Misty Copeland - I bet she gets a shot at 3rd or 4th movement. I'd like to see Cojocaru in the 2nd, but I'm sure that's not to be.

I'm a little surprised that Alina Cojocaru is doing Swan Lake. I'm glad that Sarah Lane is finally getting another Sleeping Beauty.

I really wish ABT would put this information on their website instead of saying "Company"

Thanks, never knew that was Diana Adams. Does anyone know who the other two "suitor" were?

Abatt I agree with your comments but just want to add. I'm glad Lauren King was given a shot at a principal role in this ballet. She alway brings a beam of light to the stage. She fell short technique wise particularly with her turns, but I'm sure she will improve. I think she should be a soloist. Reichlin is very much a work in progress in the role, but I agree she will improve. Pereira - unfortunately I have never seen her do a satisfactory performance in any role. Rubies - I just want to add that I liked Savannah Lowery in the "big girl" role. She wasn't as clean as Reichlin in the role, but I love her go for broke attitude. IMO she delivered.

True but he was part of NYCB - A different animal. Balanchine was there and wanted Robbins there. The ballets became part of the rep, identity and history of the company. ABT has a different idea of their identity and history.