Melissa

I read the article too, Alexandra. It was hard not to notice the piece with that stunning but uncomfortable looking blue dress alongside it. That's a show I'm definitely going to see.

Thanks, WJGlavis, for all the details about the pictures -- they sound wonderful. I must search for the book at my local Barnes & Noble.

Please pardon me for asking a superficial question, but does the book include photographs?

I forgot to mention Patricia McBride. I saw her live in 'Vienna Waltzes' and many times on tv, and loved the warmth and genuineness she projected to the audience. She also has a smile that would melt a glacier.

An example of ballerina modesty that really sticks out in my mind was a 'Live form Lincoln Center' broadcast of ABT's La Bayadere that I've spoken of already. Makarova injured herself at the end of Act I and couldn't continue. Marianna Tcherkassky danced Nikiya with Anthony Dowell for the remainder of the ballet and performed with wonderful serenity and lyricism. She was also extremely modest during her bows and at the final curtain call when John Lanchbery kissed her hands as a thank you for bringing a seamless transition to the performance. I recall thinking to myself, 'Now there's a Lady.'

I'd like to purchase a video of La Bayadere. Makarova's production for the Royal Ballet starring Asylmuratova is available, but Mukhamedov's dancing I found less than inspiring. Can anyone recommend another Bayadere? Thanks :-)

I share BalletNut's opinion: ballerinas who call attention to themselves by balancing forever regardless of the music are annoying. However, when a ballerina performs a balance in good taste it's a joy to behold. A few that come to mind are Margot Fonteyn's Rose Adagio in the RB's 1959 'Sleeping Beauty', Cynthia Gregory's Rose Adagio and Natalia Makarova's exquisite balances in Act II of 'Giselle.

There are 2 ABT 'Live from Lincoln Center' ballets I'd love to have. One is Makarova's full length 'La Bayadere' with her as Nikiya and Dowell as Solor from the early 1980's. Makarova injured herself in the poisoning scene and coulnd't continue with the rest of the performance. Mariana Tcherkassky took her place and danced beautifully in the Shades scene and the ballet's final scene. The other ballet is ABT's 'Romeo & Juliet' with Makarova and Kevin McKenzie. Also on my wish list would be Farrell/Martins and the NYCB in 'Allegro Brilliante' on Dance in America.

I recall the ABT production in which I saw Cynthia Gregory that all the fairies made an appearance, dancing in the ensemble pieces and the individual variations. This is the only time I've seen the jewel fairies (gold, silver, sapphire and diamond) appear as a pas de quatre for 4 ballerinas and not with a male dancer thrown in which I think is a definite no-no. I love the music Tchaikovsky wrote for the fairies, especially the Lilac Fairy's theme (sheer heaven!) and the scintillating triangle and strings variation he wrote for the Diamond fairy. Marguerite Porter of the Royal Ballet is the most beautiful Lilac Fairy I've seen.

Did anyone see Merill Ashley's Carabosse at NYCB? I heard she was very good.

On tv/video, I've seen the Royal Ballet production (designs by Oliver Messel?)with Lesley Collier and Dowell. I loved the costumes, sets and mood of the production and couldn't take my eyes off Marguerite Porter as Lilac Fairy. For me, she was to LF what Fonteyn was to Aurora -- the gold standard. I hated Dowell's staging from several years ago. The sets were so distracting and made me woozy. But Dowell wasn't a bad Carabosse.

I agree with Helena -- Dowell defines Florimund for me since he had the looks, noble bearing and technique required of the role. The only other memorable Florimund for me was Nureyev in the film of SB with Karen Kain. I loved the way he ran and jumped around the stage in the Awakening scene -- he was so in sync with the dramatic spirit of the music. Does anyone know why the Prince has 2 names, Florimund and Desire? This has puzzled me for years.

Yes, LMTech, 'The Magic of Dance'! What a wonderful series that was. The color film footage of Fonteyn dancing the Rose Adagio was absolutely sublime. She captured, more that an other ballerina I've seen, the glowing, blissful essence of Aurora. I've yet to see SB performed live, but Irina Kopalkova's Aurora was lovely, especially in the violin solo portion of her Act III solo. Her supple arm and hand movements were exquisite. Cynthia Gregory's Aurora had a huge impact on me because it was my introduction to ballet. Looking back, she may have not been ideally cast as a 16-year-old princess, but what she lacked as an ingenue she more than made up for in regal presence and remarkable virtuosity.

I third the vote for Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella and second the vote for R&J.

Maya Plisetskaya has written her autobiography. It received a pretty good review in today's New York Times.

The October issue of Talk magazine contains a fascinating article on Kirov teacher Alexander Pushkin who was a mentor to Nureyev and Baryshnikov. It's definitely worth reading. Melissa

A friend sent me this message and I wanted to share it with you all: 'To show those terrorists that we Americans stick together, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14 is "Flags Across America." All Americans are asked to display the American flag either in their homes or cars. Let's keep the meaning of UNITED in "United States". THANK YOU.' Melissa

My brother, who works about 30 blocks north of the World Trade Center, heard the explosions from his office and witnessed the pandemonium that followed. I'll be praying for eveyone here impacted by this horrific tragedy. FYI, for anyone wanting to donate blood, the number for the New York Blood Center is 800/933-2566. Melissa

Justafan, For your first Fonteyn video, I'd recommend 'Fonteyn & Nureyev: A Perfect Partnership'. It includes great clips from 'Le Corsaire' pas de deux, 'Giselle', 'Romeo & Juliet' 'Les Sylphides', 'Marguerite & Armand' and even an excerpt of them dancing a work by Martha Graham. If you're able to get a second video, 'The Margot Fonteyn Story' is also excellent. Fonteyn herself narrates the story of her life in dance. The film includes wonderful dance footage including a beautiful clip of her dancing 'Ondine' which Frederic Ashton made on her in the late 1950's.

Hi Justafan, I agree with you that Kistler has fine technique, but when I've seen her dance live and on tape there seems to be nothing going on inside her: no personality, no expresiveness, nothing. And she has that permanent smile on her face that drives me a little crazy. Frankly, I don't understand what Balanchine saw in her, and she's not in the league of dancers that he fostered like Farrell and LeClerq.

Though I'm too young to have seen Fonteyn dance live, many of her filmed performances with and without Nureyev capture her unique brand of magic *and* very fine technique. Her radiant stage presence and strength as a dancer are clear to see in the 'Rose Adagio', 'Romeo & Juliet', 'Marguerite & Armand', 'Le Corsaire' pdd and 'Ondine'. What I think is most important about Fonteyn is that she had a distinct style and personality that is lacking in many ballerinas today who seem concerned only with showing off their virtuosity and care little or not at all for expressiveness. Darci Kistler is a case in point, in my opinion.

'Symphony in C' has to be one of the most perfect ballets of all. Melissa

Hi Victoria Leigh, You were indeed very lucky to see Fonteyn dance live. I've always loved her dancing (her bourree was the most beautiful I've ever seen -- a sublime glide) and she was a marvelous actress. Could you elaborate a bit on what it was like to see Fonteyn live? What role(s) did you see her in? Thanks! Melissa

In 1980 at the age of thirteen, I saw a Live from Lincoln Center broadcast of ABT's 'The Sleeping Beauty' starring Cynthia Gregory and Fernando Bujones. I was captivated by Tchaikovsky's sublime score and Cynthia Gregory's marvelous Aurora. It was a life-altering experience and I've adored ballet ever since.

I would add one of my all-time favorites: Alessandra Ferri.