Jacqueline

Where to start? I was at both shows today. Agree with all who noted the lackluster applause for 4T's. That baffled me, because I absolutely loved it and saw many standout performances -- Janzen, Nadon, LaFreniere and many others. It has been many years since I have seen this and the choreography remains so fresh and exciting. Perhaps there were a lot of people in the audience who are not used to leotard ballets, including the trio next to me who said they just were not interested because "there were no costumes." (Please note this kind of thing is not new to me. I once brought a client to NYCB, back in the '90s, and he characterized "Square Dance" as a "warm up.") I agree that Indiana Woodward is a breakout star. She was lovely in Andantino tonight, but really exquisite in Sonatine this afternoon, where she brings all the perfume and totally channels Violette Verdy. Also, I thought she and Huxley had a really nice rapport. Bravo. I adored Tchai pas tonight despite a few bobbles and like JuliaJ said before, Unity Phelan has all the glamour and phrasing and elegance. Jovani almost dropped her on one of the fish dives, except he didn't! Vipa, this afternoon, I think Mary Elizabeth Sell actually replaced Ashley Hod in the Valse Bluette, and Ashley Laracey performed the Pas de Neuf in place of Claire Kretschmar? Either way, I didn't love these two sections of Swan Lake. Tess brought all the glamour tonight and reminded us of how much we're going to miss her. It was a pleasure to be there.

Thank you, nycvillager! I look forward to my trip next week from Texas, for both Saturday performances. Snacks and champagne will be the icing on the cake. Fingers crossed.

BalanchineFan, thank you. I wish I could plan longer trips, but there's this pesky little thing called work, for both me and my daughter, a former dancer who studied with former NYCB principal Yvonne Mounsey and joined me on that particular jaunt from Los Angeles. We moved mountains to get in ahead of the storm and were feeling super smug that we pulled it off!! I remember feeling so much joy as our cab crunched along the ice on the way to our pre-performance lunch at The Smith. Who knew the whole city would get shut down? We did get "stuck" in NY for five days instead of the three we originally planned, and got to see a NYCB performance the next day, luckily, but it was not the rep we were so excited about. It was Who Cares? with Tiler and Robbie (on special break that day from "An American in Paris") We loved that except for the new costumes, which I find super garish and distracting. The other ballets on the program were Barber Violin Concerto and Fancy Free -- neither are my favorites.

Big risk, but I just bought tickets to both matinee and evening performances on Sat. Feb. 19th, which will be Swan Lake 2 and 1, and one of those should be Tess' farewell performance. The "risk" is that I am flying in from Texas for this, and there are, of course, weather and airline and COVID issues in the mix. But, you only live once. I've had my share of heartbreak before, having flown in right before the epic blizzard of January 2016 for my absolute ideal NCYB program -- Walpurgisnacht, Mozartiana and Symphony in C, only to have it canceled right when we got to coat check. And here I am, willing to risk again!

Congratulations to all. Super exciting. And I agree, Vagansmom, Claire is also so talented as is their sister Nicole who dances with Texas Ballet Theater here in my hometown. There are so many more wonderful dancers in the corps that I would love to see promoted, including Kristen Segin, but I guess there's just not enough room. An embarrassment of riches.

Week six casting is up and I don't see a single debut, unless my feeble eyes missed something. Disappointing. Was hoping to see some new Sugarplums and Dewdrops, although I couldn't really "see" them being that I live way out of state. (P.S. just adopted two new kittens, and their names are Dewdrop and Marzipan.)

I agree, Vipa! I'm still hoping for more, especially corps to soloist.

Once upon a time, I unwisely took a client to a NYCB performance, admittedly because I wanted to go. A very reluctant guest whose idea of ballet was sparkly tutus and who took advantage of every intermission to down as much wine as possible to make it tolerable. He was literally shifting in his seat for most of the night and I felt super uncomfortable. On the program that night was "Square Dance" which he characterized as a "warm up," Next came "Variations on a Nursery Rhyme" which he thought was a little better, and then "Union Jack." I must admit I myself am not a big fan of the piece until the Royal Navy takes over, but he did say the evening was a "wash except for the guy." By "the guy" he meant Damian Woetzel.

Canbelto, I agree. The second episode had me crying, too. Not sure why -- the beautiful way Dena Abergel handled the casting, being a former Nutcracker parent myself (not at SAB but at a school in California run by one of Balanchine's early ballerinas -- Yvonne Mounsey), the camaraderie among the students... all of it. I have now watched it through twice.

Does anyone know who is seated to the left of Ms. Farrell in the photo? It looks a little like Colleen Neary to me. According to the essay she wrote on Brahms-Schoenberg in Balanchine: Celebrating a Life in Dance, she has danced in three of the four movements, so would it make sense that she is coaching it too?

Much to my regret, I have noticed that one of my favorite senior corps members, Lydia Wellington, is no longer listed on the company roster. Does anyone know anything about this? There was no announcement of other plans at the end of fall season, as there was for Sarah Villwock. I had been hoping for a promotion for her.

Well, in anticipation of possible promotions today, I decided to prepare "Principal Pork" for dinner tonight -- a recipe from Jock Soto and Heather Watts' "Our Meals" cookbook. This was the dinner Jock prepared upon learning he had been promoted. It's a delicious recipe I've made for years and I'm making it now...promotions or no promotions! Even though there were no announcements today, and I can't presume to know why or why not, sounds like it was a beautiful fall season. Thank you to everyone who kept this far away Texas fan informed with your eyewitness accounts and amazing insights which I truly appreciate. I really live for your reviews since it is not very often that I can get there myself. Until "Nutcracker!"

Congratulations to them! Can we expect to hear more company promotions announced this weekend? Fingers crossed!

I don't know who has been taken into the company, but I do know that Shelby Tzung has accepted a contract with the National Ballet of Canada. She is also one of this year's Mae L. Wien Award recipients. (Shelby came from Westside Ballet in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Yvonne Mounsey -- my daughters former pre-professional school -- and this was posted on their social media. Andrew Veyette is also an alumnus.)

Well said, Leah

Week 5 casting is up: https://www.nycballet.com/NYCB/media/NYCBMediaLibrary/PDFs/Press/Casting/NYCB-Casting-February-19-24-2019-lobby.pdf

I was there last night and agree with the comments from Cobweb and Nanushka. I was kind of dreading the "See The Music" too but found it delightful and loved seeing the orchestra and Susan Walter highlighted. Serenade was a joy. Mozartiana even more so and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Tyler Angle as a partner. I thought he looked foar more comfortable and commanding in the role than Chase Finlay whom I saw last February. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Number 2 swept me away. I just love Joseph Gordon. I find that he carries himself with such nobility and elan, and the future looks bright for him. As for the new Tchaikovsky costumes, from my seat in row N of the orchestra, the bodices did not appear too heavy for the skirts as they might have close up, per some earlier comments. Overall, I thought they "read" very well color-wise, the vest design of the men's costumes notwithstanding. The women's dresses -- especially the principals' -- were super-sparkly -- not enough to outsparkle Ashley Bouder, of course, but at moments I found the bling almost blinding. This coming from a person who loves sparkle in every form!

I am in town on business from Texas and going on Jan. 23rd. Excited to see Mearns and Peck in Serenade but also would have loved to see the Lovette/Gerrity debuts later in the week.

Per Justin Peck's InstaStories, four apprentices have been named. Looks like three women and one man. Of course, I don't know who any of them are. They are all in Western Symphony costumes in the story.

Hmm. I remember that she danced a lead in Concerto Barocco in the SAB Workshop (and I think also as part of the Proteges program at the Kennedy Center) but didn't know she did it once she joined the company. It isn't listed in her repertoire. In any case, I see she is cast as "Prayer" in Coppelia, and I wish her well!

Is anyone else besides me rooting for the promotion of Lydia Wellington?

Thank you so much, CTballetfan! I live in Texas and don't get to see NYCB very often, so I appreciate your report and those of others as well. I am determined to get there in fall to see "Jewels" in the afternoon and at night, "Barocco," "Tchai Pas" and "Symphony in C" (plus Stravinsky). That seems like an epic day at NYCB and a good use of my travel $!

Thank you so much, CTballetfan! I live in Texas and don't get to see NYCB very often, so I appreciate your report and those of others as well. I am determined to get there in fall to see "Jewels" in the afternoon and at night, "Barocco," "Tchai Pas" and "Symphony in C" (plus Stravinsky). That seems like an epic day at NYCB and a good use of my travel $!

Was anyone there today to see Sara M. and Tyler A. in their Tchai Pas debuts (well, NY debut for him)? By the look of the curtain call on Sara's Instastories, the applause was thunderous!

They did the fourth movement only in 2014. Sounds like they are doing the ballet in its entirety this time.