Jacqueline

Just got a letter from dd's AP European History teacher for next year (10th grade) with summer reading requirements. In addition to The Prince by Machiavelli, they are asked to read "one historical novel written by a European author between 1450 and 2000." I was thinking "Tale of Two Cities" or "Les Miserables" but wondered if anyone cares to weigh in, knowing dd has three weeks more of her SI away from home(and then drivers' ed when she gets back) and would probably not want to tackle something gigantic at this point?????

Thanks!

Jacqueline

Well, I finally got a copy when I went to purchase summer reading for dd. Can't wait to delve in after we've dropped her off at her SI this weekend.

Incidentally, my youngest (almost 12) and I have been in a mother/daughter book club for almost five years -- since the girls were in second grade. Their wonderful second grade teacher still attends, and for her birthday, we gave her The Jane Austen Book Club along with vagansmom's other suggestion Eats Shoots and Leaves. She reports loving both.

Thanks everyone! I'd love to hear more -- especially about Tiler Peck as she danced briefly/occasionally at my dd's school. Did anyone else go?

Thanks for posting this, Giannina! I thought I was getting Cinderella but am happy to see their Giselle instead. Does anyone know anything about the Saturday (Jul 10) matinee cast? (Marquez and Putrov)

SoCalGal,

I am another "socalgal" who had great luck just showing up at the theater when I was in New York a few weeks ago! It happened to be on Mr. B's birthday and the box office had told me the performance was "way sold out." But, being an intrepid ex-New Yorker, I trekked over anyway, and bought an orchestra seat from a lovely lady whose friend could not attend. I also saw that many people were able to buy the "donated back" tickets. I for one was in heaven...Apollo, Prodigal Son, Serenade -- all this and vodka too!

By the way, some regulars that I chatted with in the lobby told me you could "always get a ticket." So good luck and have fun!

Giannina, I just returned from the Sunday afternoon performance and I couldn't agree with you more. The first act was extraordinary, and the second, a bit "overlong" for me with all the contortions and convulsions. (And at one point I thought that the "slow walkers" would never exit the stage!)

But the dancing was beautiful and I really loved the costumes -- period, yet stylized. Anna Polikarpova as Romola Nijinsky was quite lovely.

I chose to leave my dd's at home for this one and take a few fellow ballet moms with me. I think it was a wise choice. On the whole, though, very exciting to see something different.

Westside Ballet in Santa Monica, Ca, and then NYCB over the holidays! Also, just for fun, there's a one woman show by Sandra Tsing Loh at the Geffen playhouse called Sugar Plum Fairy -- about a 12 year old who wants the lead in Nutcracker and ends up being a Rat in the battle scene.

Jennifer Garner of "Alias" was a ballet dancer too...

This was a great night for ballet in Los Angeles.

We were treated to an incredible cast and gorgeous dancing all around. I (and several others I talked to) liked this performance so much more than the one I saw in Orange County a few years ago. I don't know if it's because the company overall is stronger, the production has become more seasoned, or if I have suspended my opinion of the plot!

Angel Corella of course stole the show as Ali, briefly eclipsing the spectacular dancing and very good acting by Carreno (Lankendem) and Bocca (Conrad.) Joaquin de Luz made a very sly and charming Birbanto.

Nina A. was regal but warm as Medora. Gillian Murphy was Gulnare. To me, Murphy's dancing can always be described as crystalline. Last night was no exception but you could tell she was a little distracted when part of her hair came down during the first act pas de deux.

The Odalisque variations by Maria Riccetto, Michele Wiles and Stella Abrera were the real revelation of the evening. If we could only have more ballet like this in Los Angeles!

For those in Southern California, Westside Ballet will present "Coppelia" on May 18th at the Smothers Theater in Malibu (on the Pepperdine U. campus). Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Many thanks for your post. I'm taking my dancing daughters to the Sunday matinee with Nina A. and Julio Bocca and I'll try to post after that. Glad your overall reaction was good...we've been looking forward to this for a long time!

I attended on Friday night. Sounds like principal casting was the same. I'm new here, and not a knowledgeable "reviewer" but here are a few random thoughts.

I had never seen any part of "Jewels" before so it was all a sparkly treat. Although I expected to like "Diamonds" best, the choreography in "Emeralds" mesmerized and the dancing in "Rubies" electrified. The second soloist (with red hair, don't have my program with me and don't recall her name)

was lovely. My daughter (an aspiring dancer) however was most taken with Deanna Seay in "Diamonds."

As a whole, I thought the company used their faces very expressively.

NextStage, I too agree that the pointes were very quiet...seems like in some cases the costumes themselves were noisier!

How about the Maxwell House Nutcracker -- "good to the last (dew)drop".

Hey, I'm from Texas so I'd like to contribute. Instead of parrots, how about giant margaritas (perhaps the Bush twins could be cast in this scene!)

Leaving tomorrow for Austria and France. I couldn't find any ballet going on in Vienna while we're there, but got tickets to Paris Opera Ballet. Had to choose between Romeo and Juliet at the new Bastille location, and Midsummer Night's Dream at the Palais Garnier (where I went many times when I lived in Paris MANY years ago) I opted for the latter. Besides the dancing itself, I wanted my daughters to see the fabulous Chagall ceiling. I've never seen the Neumeier Midsummer -- only Balanchine. Does anyone know anything about this production?

Does anyone know which students were offered apprenticeships with the company?

Thanks.

Drew, you are right! Adjani in "Histoire d'Adele H" is very Giselle-like.

Also, Jenna Elfman ...who did study ballet.