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The article said - "The administrative staff has not been asked to cede vacation pay, but has also agreed to accept cuts in employer contributions to their pensions and to a sliding scale of salary cuts ranging from 1.5 percent to 10 percent." The ED & AD must be on the high end, so I would think 10%. Isn't that what Peter Martins took? I'm really glad they don't have to lay off dancers. It might slow down some promotions though.

Bart Cook, seconded. He is the only one I could thing of, and then I read Helene's post.

Thanks for the review, I am going next week. In Re Mr. B he was never as detail oriented as Jerry R. Robbins would have several versions & pick at things until he had the exact thing he wanted and then demanded it. Mr. B sometimes changed things for dancers. I know that when people stage Balanchine ballet they will allow some freedom if it is within the style and intent. Thanks again for the review. I hope to post after I see it.

Include me in your audience eager for more. You observations, comments and wit are much appreciated.

What about the couples doing peasant PPd? Do they have opinions?

I agree. I think the trend for thinner is better - no matter what, is in the past. I am not going to mention names, but there are many women in ABT & NYCB who have womanly bodies. Dancers now get lessons in nutrition and a lot more guidance in how to take care of themselves, than ever before. I think that as the unitard ballet dawned, many women were misled into thinking skinnier was better. Some of the thinking was pressure coming from many directions, and some was self imposed. By self imposed, I mean there were dancers who thought "If only I were skinnier, I'd be a ballerina." Maybe this still exists to some degree, but I believe not as much as in the 80s-90. Even at that time there were many women who were stars, who were not super skinny - Suzanne Farrell, Cynthia Gregory, Martine Van Hamil.

I know we are veering off topic here, but I had the same thought when I saw Stiefel/Murphy in Sleeping Beauty (I think she was replacing Kent). The partnering went beautifully, but she just looked too big for him. He has a very slight build and she looks very solid and statuesque as you put it.

I did know about it, but Flames is just not my cup if tea. There are many ppd's I'd rather see. I know many people disagree, and fortunately in ballet there is something for everyone. I also don't care for Osipova. I admire her freedom of movement and jumps but I find her pretty unmusical. Again many people disagree, but that's why we all choose our casts & programs. I would love to see Simkin & Lane in something more suitable. I hope someone will report on their SL pas de trois.

I agree with all of the above. My question still remains why Flames at all. If I remember correctly it was stuck into the ABT program last spring when Daniil signed on. Most new soloists don't get ppds to show them off. I have no doubts about Sarah's technique after seeing her T&V. (I saw Ashley Bouder tonight WOW but that's another thread)

In the more recent NYCB past I think Stephanie Saland & Nanette Glushak both had an aura of glamour - anyone remember them?

I never heard of a mass layoff of totally undeserving employees, unfortunately, although some businesses like to do what they call ‘performance-based layoffs.’ Miami City Ballet also elected to chop away at the corps. Very sad all around. How will this really impact on the company? How is the perfect number of corp dancers determined? It seems to me that the company has over the years varied in size, but I'm not sure what determines the precise number of corps dancers. Also, what does this mean for students coming through the school? I remember that when Peter took over the company he got rid of a lot of so called "dead wood."

I think they have scheduled this ppd because of Simkin (maybe it was part of his deal). I don't think they'd be doing it at all without him.

I have been a fan of Lane's. She has an odd situation in some ways. She is very short and very technically strong, so she has had the advantage/disadvantage of being cast with strong males who have needed a partner. This has worked well for her (in my opinion/observation) in Theme & Variations and Sleeping Beauty (bluebird ppd & aurora) but not so well in Sinatra Suite & Flames (which I saw in NY). Misty Copeland, who I also admire, is cast in things that suit her without the other height factor coming in. I am just using Misty as an example. Career's take shape for a variety or reasons.

Just to share a memory, I saw Darci years ago in Mr. B's Swan Lake. I have never had the same feeling, before or since, of seeing such a radiant creature who was not quite human. Incidentally she fell at that performance and injured her elbow/arm. She has had more than her share of injuries. I know that the word beauty is overused but my memories of Darci's dancing at the time make me recall her glowing beauty. I don't mean pretty, correct, huge this or that technically (although not lacking in any department) but her beauty. That said, I believe she's stayed too long at the ball.

I wish musicality would be the Next New Thing -- I guess I'm an old fogey.

I just purchased tickets for Sat. 2/21 to see Bouder in Theme & Variations. I hope there will be not change in cast. I agree about Darci, she was dazzling and just embodied beauty and joy. I am sorry to agree that Darci's is a belated retirement. She should not go on another year, in my opinion.

I don't know how common they are, but it seems silly to me. It is the flexibility and strength of the foot, and the line that can be created that matters, not the bump on top. I can't imagine that bulky pads would result in a dancer being cast in more ballets or being more loved by an audience. Perhaps it is a result of insecurity or misplaced priorities.

I noted Lauren King recently in the corps of Theme & Variations. She was truly a ray of warm sunshine in an otherwise dismal performance (A. Stafford & Garcia were the leads). I'll be watching for her from now on. She's included in a picture of Hallelujah Junction in the spring season brochure that I got today.

Interesting. It might be a good idea. It could solve the problem, that I sometimes have, of identifying a corp member that stands out to me.

I've seen T&V over a dozen times over the years. Today's mat. with Gonzalo Garcia & Abi was the worst! They were not up to the challenges of the ballet, and could not have felt good about doing it. I've seen the ballet before & will see it again. It upsets me that members of the audience with no experience with the ballet, think that they have seen it, but they have not. I'd love to hear other views of that performance and the rest of the program. I enjoyed a lot of it, but am interested in hearing from you all.

Anyone see Thursday night with Ashley's return and Morgan in FFPdd? I'm going Sun. Mat

With Ashley Bouder!

Why does ABT keep casting Kajiya in things like Ballo & T&V? In my opinion her Ballo was a total misrepresentation of the ballet and her Y&V was not very good. I like her in other roles but am puzzled by continued casting in these roles. These ballets deserve better!

Dame Fonteyn Sibley/Dowell or Fracci/Bruhn (hope I'm not repeating)

It looks like NYCB is tied with Bolshoi & Paris