jeff-sh

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Slant, thanks for the clarification. If any patron donors coming this way, I can play the host.

really? that is great. Let me check with people at Shanghai Grand Theater.

That is my first impresssion too. No Martins ballet. I wish NYCB could make stops at Beijing or Shanghai. But maybe too expensive for Chinese mainland theaters

NYCB will attend Hong Kong Festival in March 2011 http://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/prog/10/

thanks for the info.

I am still deciding if I should fly in from Shanghai for the opening night. On their website, there are only 14 seats left in orchestra. I have never been to Memorial Opera House. Normally do they have last minute return at the theater?

Dear Jon Thanks for your note. I must say NBT did a great job for the tour, considering the cost of touring and hiring orchestra etc. I will mention to the potential sponsor about your proposal and get back to you soon. Only concern is a return trip within 12 months may be a little too soon? I will keep you posted. thanks again Jeff

Right now, I have a sponsor willing to sponsor ballet performances in China. If you know any top level ballet companies visiting Asia within next 12 months, please let me know. thanks, jeff

here is something I posted last year. fyi Shanghai Ballet

totally agree. I love Tess

I am afraid that Chinese media does not normally do performance reviews. They only do preview to help selling tickets. I will try to get some of my more articulated friends to add something.

As promised, here is a belated review of last week’s performance. It will be a summary of my impression of both performances on August 30 and 31. The program opened with world premiere of a PDD choreographed by ex-NYCB dancer Edwaard Liang commissioned by Shanghai Ballet. Two Principal Dancers in pale color dresses danced to slow movement from Tschaikovsky piano concerto. They are the best dancers in the company. Female dancer Fan Xiaofeng has guested one year in Australian Ballet in 2004-5 and done quite lot of Balanchine there. I especially like the two consecutive symmetrical arabesques where Xiaofeng facing side stage while Sun Shenyi stood behind her, facing inside and holding her raised leg. This is followed by three small pieces. A solo danced by newly promoted male Principal Wu Husheng by Chinese choreographer Wang Yuanyuan. Yuanyuan did most of choreography in Raised the Red Lantern from National Ballet of China. Then comes excerpt from a modern piece again by Yuanyuan. This piece was premiered in 2005 along with Shanghai Ballet’s premiere of Serenade. Next comes another solo by Wu Husheng choreographed by Bertrand d’At. Wu danced this solo during New York Ballet Competition in June and got silver medal. (No gold is awarded this year). After intermission is Serenade. The dancing overall is pretty good. The lighting is always the problem. They seem to unable to get the blue lighting right like NYCB. The original cast for Angel girl from two years ago was injured. The new girl has problem doing the two arabesque turns while her leg was held by the boy. One of the best poses I have seen is performed by Maris Kowroski. I think that photo can be found on NYCB website. I am very happy for the China premiere of La Valse. As mentioned in one of newspaper interview by Artistic Director, it’s not very typical Balanchine. I have not seen this piece for many years. So it’s almost like discovering a new piece. When the curtain went up showing 3 girls on stage, a light wave of applause came from the audience. This is pretty rare in China. Chinese audience is not famous for our applauses. The dimly-lit backdrop and the poses by the girls must have impressed the audiences. The 3 girls are very graceful in their arm and hand gestures. I do not remember this part at all. It’s quite impressive. Xiaofeng danced the girl in white on opening night while another Principal did second night. Husheng did male lead for both nights. Chinese dancers are not used to doing waltz. But overall it’s a very good performance with only two and half week’s rehearsals (including learning the new pieces as well touch up Serenade too).

But I don't think Ben is from a village. He told me so. I will check with him which city he is from

What do you mean by 'from my village'? Ben has been working as repetiteur for Balanchine Trust and Robbins Rights Trust. He staged Serenade for Shanghai Ballet in 2005, Theme and Variations for Guangzhou Ballet, Scotch Symphony in Tokyo. He has also staged ballets in Stuttgart, Seattle and Seoul. After this week's La Valse premiere in Shanghai, Ben will fly to London on Saturday. He will stage Dances at a Gathering for Royal Ballet. The premiere will be next year though.

I will attend the dress rehearsal at the theater tomorrow and will try to post my impression. Though it may be difficult to elaborate my thoughts in English, as I am not a native English Speaker. The program will open with a PDD by ex-NYCB dancer Edwaard Liang commissioned by Shanghai Ballet. I introduced Edwaard to Shanghai Ballet two years ago.

here is another link on China Daily about the performance. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2007-08/...ent_6055591.htm Caption for the photo is wrong. It's a photo for Serenade. I went to see the rehearsals a couple of times. The ballet is looking good.

Shanghai Ballet is touring U.S. Please click following link for details Shanghai Ballet in CA

company is touring Shanghai doing some Balanchine works Shanghai Tour

Bar and Amasar are not as good as REICHLEN and la COUR. The latter are much more confident and assured. Taylor did not do very good job when sliding acrossed the floor. she reversed direction even before she fully extended her back leg. (comparing to Whelan)

I love Maria. Only reservation I have is her wrists. She tends to keep them at almost 90 degrees to her arms most of the time and look a little stiff. She did a wonderful Agon on Jan. 28 Matinee. the extension of the raised leg! amazing

The preimier of Tribute on Saturday night was well received. It started with a wonderful solo by Delvin Alberda. I wonder if both him and Robert Fairchild were in the original SAB production. They all looked very confident and assured. Highly recommended. I was at Row B near the conductor. Fayçal Karoui is huming with the orchestra during the Episodes. My friend could hear at Row L. It drove me nuts. I wish someone will tell him to stop doing that. Then again, it may be very hard to change.

Shanghai Ballet is doing a new full-length ballet. Here is a report from Shanghai Star. For whole report