vipa

Agreed. If you imagine taking the Gigue or Minuet out I think you'll find a tremendous unbalance to the piece. Every time I see it I find more connective tissue.

Has anyone seen Alexandra Ansanelli in Swan Lake? Does she do the pas de trois or anything else? I'm curious about how she is doing. I used to enjoy her in NYCB.

Just as it seems a big jump from signing a corps contract -- ink still wet -- and dancing the lead in Theme & Variations.I'm sure Sarah would not have been cast if the staff didn't have confidence in her ability to deliver. If they couldn't find a suitable partner for Herman, they would have substituted a lead couple. Right you are! Thanks

I enjoyed her Theme so much. I wish her well in Aurora and I would definately buy a ticket in NY to see her (A factor in my ticket buying was her Blue Bird). It just seems such a big jump from being promoted to soloist to doing Aurora. Isn't this unusual at ABT? NYCB mixes the ranks up more. Who would be factor in the casting - Gelsey, Kevin, various coaches -- or is it just a matter of Reyes being injured and finding the best short girl (OK that sounds really stupid, but you know what I mean) to fill in. I hope Sarah is up to it.

Thank you so much. Switching to standard view did it for me. The other format was driving me crazy, but I can see how it would be a useful choice in some instances.

Personally I was unhappy sitting through Dybbuk which was placed between two wonderful ballets. Likewise with Orpheus (not a favorite of mine) which was between Apollo and Agon. Two examples of ballets that fit a "theme" but that did not, in my opinion, make for good programing. So for me option B

I wouldn't dream of speaking for her, but Cynthia did make fun of it in one performance. She pretended to smoke and then put out a cigarette during her variation. That, to me, would indicate that she (at least at that time) did not hold the piece in high regard.

I don't think that is so obvious. When I saw her with ABT in June. I knew her turns would be a failure as soon as she began. She started out with a lot of energy but I soon worried that she would not be able to get back on pointe. She got through in a way but I did not see any dramatic intent. She does the Russian style fouettes which take a lot of muscle to get throught because the mechanics of the movement do not help. Anyway she got throught the fouettes (I am not a counter so I don't know how many) but assigning dramatic intent is a stretch in my opinion.

It is great news. I'm not very familiar with Kajiya but I look forward to seeing her. All others I am familiar with and each is special in his/her own way. I'm glad ABT went with variety. Funny, a few years ago I thought ZHONG-JING FANG was soon to be soloist material. Maybe she still is but seems to have lost steam. It's a difficult profession!

I wouldn't say she wouldn't be right for it, she would just do it like no one else. One if my favorite Croce quotes of Farrell in Diamonds was (this is from memory so dear wise ones correct me if I am wrong) "The riveting spectacle of the freest woman alive." I don't thing Bouder is there right now but she has it in her and I'd love to see her do Diamonds now and then again and again for a number of seasons. I believe she can go there.

You're not alone. Stel-la! Stel-la! Stel-la! I'd love to see that to. Reyes has been out a lot this season. Is she injured?

Thank you so much. I am a Sarah Lane fan. What do you think about her comment that Kevin M. seems to prefer taller dancers? I loved her insights into coaching at ABT. Particularly that Gelsey wanted to work with Lane after she performed bluebird PPD, and how unusual that is. I really believe some promotions are due in that company. I hope this is one of them.

I respectfully disagree that the fouettees were a dramatic choice (if that's what you mean). To me it looked like she starting turning with a lot of force hoping that she could muscle her way through, which is actually the only way to do it with Russian style fouettes. I looked at her ability to continue not as wild passion but as a dancer survival instinct; keep going no matter what. For me, as soon as she started I knew it was not likely to go well, so I forgot characterization and kept my fingers crossed!

Not a bad prospect, really!! Let's see... Marcelo, Angel, David, HERMAN... all except perhaps one yet in their 20s... this is a problem? heh, well no! they are all wonderful. But they still haven't found the right girl for Herman to partner, and he is just too short for the main leads with the female dancers they have. So that leaves 4 principals who are all great but that isn't just enough to support the entire company This isn't to say I think ABT is in dire straits..just an observation. Sarah Lane is the girl. They have given her opportunites but they are slow to promote

Saw Vishneva/Gomes tonight. I was glad I went. I loved Visnheva's Odette. I thought she used her flexability very expressively and musically. Her variation was ravishing. Her Odile fell a little short for me. The ppd went well but I thought that in her variation she was not able to use the choreography to portray her character - she was just trying to do the steps. I am not a fouette counter, but I feared at one point that she would not make it on to pointe to continue turning. I am probably unintentially making it sound worse than it was. Nothing was bad and Odette was wonderful. Veshneva, who I've never seen before is clearly a world class ballerina. It is just that one goes to the ballet hoping for that transcedent experience and this wasn't that for me. It was enjoyable, it had transcendent moments but wasn't the total experience that keeps us all returning to the ballet to find. Gomes was practially flawless. I found his partnering a little "handy" in turns. You saw him really turning her (this is an area in which I really love Steifel). But that is really nit picking. I thought his characterization and dancing really wonderful. As far as his solos went, it doesn't get better. I liked Radetsky as Von R. Pas de trois Ricctto, Abrera and Saveliev - very good, clean and enjoyable. I particularly liked Abrera for her beauty, rock solid technique and joy. Two swans - Thomas and Corella unfortunately were not so good. Misty Copeland had some nice moments and I did notice Sarah Lane in the corp of the Prologue as the one most likely to stay on pointe to finish a movement.

Hans. I totally agree! Perhaps because I could never do them well, I enjoy them immensely. I find if I try to count them, I'm not truly WATCHING them. Agreed - I never count. If there is no big struggle, they look nice and end musically I am happy. If course it is fun to see the things G. Murphy can do, but even in that case I don't count, I just enjoy.

Not you, not me, but I'll bet she finished to rousing cheers. "Someone like Ashley Bouder?" Name one! I dare you! I've seen S. Sylvie do beautiful fouettes and of course there is G. Murphy. I love, love, love Bouder but other people can do fouettes. Or am I missing the point.

I can't imagine it was the editors. That is content. Wouldn't it be the purview of the chief critic? NB--I'm asking here, not insinuating anything If someone(?) one of the professional critics on the board perhaps?, has any insight, I'd appreciate it! It could just be that it is typical that fri and sat performances receive their reviews on Monday and no one thought to make any changes even with the unusual circumstances. It could be simply that Nichols has been a constant in the NY dance scene for 33 years and one of the last of Balanchine's chosen. Ferri has not been as permanent a fixture and of late has been a guest artist (althought a great one) at ABT with a somewhat limited rep.

Definitely Cynthia Gregory

I'll be there too. I'm sure we'll be comparing notes on this board. I have never seen her before and won't prejudge. I'm just happy that I will be seeing one of the major talents of this time.

You are probably right but a Murphy- Hallberg cast would be nice too.Any ideas for "Leaves..." Abrera maybe, she is unlike Kirkland (who I saw in the role) but has an air of mystery and fluidity that might work. A connected topic - ABT is ripe for promotions. I had assumed that Part would become a principal soon. Is that happening? Could Abrera be on the principal track? Also, I have been rooting for a Lane promotion to soloist. Are any promotions likely to be announced any time soon? I feel like this site is sometimes like "the oracle."

I was there Tues. A few observations if I may. Bouder was wonderful, fun, grand, a technical wizard -- and I am so glad that she shares the joy she feels in her dancing. While Bouder always seemed ready for more Vayette seemed spent. He had wonderful moments (big hanging cabrioles) and moments of - well not so good. I thought all of the variation girls looked a bit wimpy with the exception of Scheller who had bad moments but showed a presence. Ringer was fine in Dybbuk but I don't want to see the ballet ever again! I rather liked Kowroski in VC. I am finding her to be quite a witty dancer. I must say that one of the reasons I love this board is that I love hearing opinions that I may or may not agree with, but that invariable make me think about my opinions and think about performance I've see in a different light.

Thanks I didn't know about Wheeldon's company being there (I'm sometimes not totally with it). I'll be looking into that. I can't believe ABT's sales at City Center were bad. Whatever the reason, a two week season is a shame.

I'd love to see Lane-Cornejo but I don't think it will happen unless she gets promoted.

Anyone know what's going on with Reyes? Is she injured? If so, I hope not badly.