YID

Susan, 6:45 & 8am are indicated by the blue bus i.e operated by Megabus (but then you never know). I bought it (for Saturday though) but should just be ready to hop on Amtrak. I forgot which company it was but when i was using them in Feb to go to Philly, the administrator (of tickets) said that they were bought by someone else. I will need to explore your BOLT. Helene, Kennedy is designed the way that if your seat is before 6th row (usually M row), you'll need to have a very straightned back to see the tips of point shoes, however, it's great seats. I got my tickets for Sat & Sunay Matinee row M 14 & 12. Susan, will you be in your favorite spot?

Helene, try www. megabus . com. i just got my two round trip tickets for $4.50 (I haven't got the tickets yet for the performances, only to the Burlaka talk and the dress rehearsal). I tried megabus twice, and they are NICE and reliable (conveniently leaving from Penn Station in NYC, and only within 25-30 min WALK from Kennedy center)..... I might gamble and get the Sat & Sund. Matinee and the openning night. Added after checking their site they have a 6:45am from Penn Station for $5, 7am from Pike Street for $1, and 8am from Penn for $5. I am NOT a morning personmyself, but for the russian ballet - i MADE myself get up early several time,,,,,, sleeping in on the bus ;_))

i have attended them performing at Lehman college in Bronx in March. They were good. Cinderella was danced by Mariana Chemalina (Perm '98). Fairy Godmother - Nadezhda Illarionova (?). The prince and the dance teacher - got confused in names. The manager of the theater Elena Radchenko (Valueva) was a principal with Bolshoi, but if my friend is correct, she started with Mariinsky & Vaganova academy..... Cinderela and Godmother dancing was great, guys were very good. and I guess for the saving of not driving to NYC or Washington or Boston, it's a great deal. Y

Peter the Great: A Tribute to a Legendary Ballet Teacher, New York City Center, April 23, at 7pm http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/produc...r=4325#programs just grabbed a flier at City Center yesterday and was IMPRESSED by announced cast (Don't kill me if they change it) Marcelo Gomes, Gennadi Saveliev (ABT) Natalia Osipova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Ivan Vasiliev (Bolshoi Ballet) Mikhail Kaniskin, Vladimir Malakhov (Berlin State Opera Ballet) Sascha Radetsky (Dutch National Ballet) Ekaterina Kondaurova (Kirov Ballet) Karine Plantadit (Broadway star) Wendy Whelan, Benjamin Millepied (NYCB) Yuri Possokhov (San Francisco Ballet) Alicia Matriain, Alexander Zaitsev (Stuttgart Ballet) and Peter Pestov's graduating class from the John Cranko School of Stuttgart Ballet. PS: mention YGP when purchasing tickets or code 4591 for 25% off (whoops, i missed it though)

Hello, i am all for meeting up during intermission on saturday matinee. I went to Wednesday and Thursday - totally agree about Thursday - WHAT a delight, shouted BRAVO numerous times. What a show. I actually found Somova much more tamed this time. Yes, she's not musical at all (and for that i still have this memory of Tereshkina "playing music" with her feet in releves in last scene, as if it were HER and not musicians who punched the cords. And technically she was MUCH more solid and stronger. And coming back to Wednesday night - I guess Shklyarov STOLE the show, i could not keep my eyes off him, so much more polished and precise, and what fire and artistry, and balloon in jumps. A cute detail. His wife Evgenia waited for him after performance and they went to the hotel together. She looked like the sweetest purest kindest and so light of a child in her fur-trimmed hood. Such a sweet person. Back to Somova, at least she tamed her elevations, and her arm and hands got softer, and no pointedly elevated chin (in most of the parts). there were slipped, but much better than under "tutorship" of Mrs. Vasiev ;_)) hope to see you all on Saturday (god clear the road to and in DC ;-))

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tix/995079513.html I would like to sell my ticket to the Saturday evening, $89, row M, seat 10 or 12 (sorry left it at home). I had seen Ms. Somova on Wednesday. I will be at Kennedy Center for the Saturday matinee, if you need to pick up the ticket in advance. Please contact me via the craigslist thread, since i have my b-berry with me all the time. Kind regards,

I wasn't sure where to post it, but still had to share. I went and watched it yesterday. And....... GOSH, i wish Somova was NEVER coached by Chenchikova & Vaziev (she had great lines, great Vaganova style while graduating from school and first year with the company). Her chick was kept down, arms softly curves, hands - elegant and not sticking. There was softness in her moves........ and ..... well, you all see what happened before... ... Also, i learnt that I prefered Zakharova's dancing style while she was in St. Petersburg. Great movie (I saw bits of it on u-tube).... PS: hopefully, Tatiana Terekhova will improve the newly minted Principal.

Hello, i didn't plan but managed to tune in the show. I did see Maria Kochetkova and was pleased but not impressed (and sorry it's hard to be after seeing that variation 5-6 times last April and many many times before (performed by Kirov and Bolshoi). She was very very very nice, but i sensed why she's with San Fran and not Mariinsky for that matter. And I'd agree with a quote, why not bring Moiseev Dance or Osipova or Obraztsova ;-))

For those in NYC I just wanted to share a link to an interesting event. https://tickets.filmlinc.com/php/calendar.p...mode=0&org= Ballet Then and Now Series: Dance on Camera 2009 Ballerina Bertrand Normand, France, 2007; 77m French director Bertrand Normand explores the concept of the St. Petersburg ballerina through interview and performance footage of Alina Somova, Svetlana Zakharova, Diana Vishneva, Ulyana Lopatkina and Evgenia Obraztsova. An intimate look at six of the Kirov's rising superstars. Normand will introduce and answer questions following the screenings. screening with Play: On the Beach with the Ballets Russes Gillian Lacey, UK, 2008; 23m Gillian Lacey edits together archival footage of Ballets Russes dancers frolicking on the beach in Sydney, Australia, during their 1936-1940 tours. Ballet Russes dancer Betty Low will answer questions after the screening on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

ABT posted a calendar with partial cast listing for NYC engagement. NATALIA OSIPOVA Performing in: Giselle 6/13/2009 La Sylphide 6/17/2009, 6/20/2009.... not relevant to this thread but Simkin is promised in two ballets so far ;_))

OMG... thank you EMI...... i might just take a chance and buy $1 or $5 tickets to go to DC - omg, so cheap.... thank you. .... and sorry for turning the thread into a low-cost bus options - sorry about it...

www. gotobus. com Todays leaves at 11:18pm www. 2000coach. com/schedules.html - leaves at 11:30pm.... and I am the walker ;-)) (unless the weather forbids ;-))

Ok, i'd suggest it only because (me-crazy) i did that and will do it again. I'd take a chinese bus back to Manhattan. $20 - one way, $35 round trip. I did it several times going to openning nights, then hopping on a bus, there are 3 or 4 companies with departures from 11:30 to 11:45pm and going to work next morning ;-)) Chinatown DC is not scary, and I always like a nice brisk walk throug the GW university campus, then by the White House and to the Chinatown (30-40 min).

+100 to Natalia's opinion (though i prefered Tereshkina DQ at City Center to Vishneva's. big time) I am looking forward to Obraztsova+Shklyarov. Natalia, I "envy" you, going to every performance ;-)) (though i will do my 5, definitely skipping Somova ;-)) hope they'd keep the announced cast)..... will the forum readers do as they did at City Center? meeting to "put the faces to the forum names"? Susan are you heading down to DC?

Irina Chistyakova is Uliana's coach nowdays - they have a great friendship and partnership ;-)) Since i haven't been to CA to watch in person (can be sure), i was still very much disgusted by the NASTIEST review by Rachel Howard at SF Chronicle (she only praised Somova (omg ;-(( and Sarafanov)...

IMHO, i saw Tereshkina dancing (parts) of Kitri in NYC, in April, you know - and I loved it. I MUCH preferred Tereshkina's Kitri to Vishneva's over-acted one. What's astonising about Viktoria (Tereshkina) is her capacity to get into various role - she's (one of) the BEST actresses (besided her stunning technical virtuoso).... also, about Lopatkina and Giselle, I love Ulyana, and I admit, i was sceptical of how she'd be as Giselle, but then saw this, and my mind was changed - I'd prefer Uliyana to Diana in that video (officially posted on Chicago's Auditorium site - it's a comment for administrators)... http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/wb/media/...Kirov_2008.html http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6425619 the latter one shows Lopatkina and the live Sheshina & Stepin

Ok, I treated myself to 3 performances (don’t be envious, I don’t own a house or much assets, just collect my visits to the Russian ballet performances ;-)) In June 2006 I saw 3 Giselles (Golub+Fadeev; Novikova+Sarafanov, Pavlenko+Kolb) at DC. On purpose, I went to see : a) Novikova +Shklyrov (on Sat. matinee), Tkachenko as Myrtha; b) Nioradze+ Ivanchenko (Sat. night), Kandaurova as Myrtha; c) Vishneva+Kolb (Sunday), Tkachenko as Myrtha. There was an unexpected bonus, on Sat. afternoon they had a Q&A with lead dancers, Danilyan translated (and I am not a huge fan of his) – what a treat!!! And thank you Susan for recommending the row P – great deal. I loved them all, and had I have to choose, would still go to see all 3 ;_)). They were all a bit different and all wonderful. (A disclaimer – I am not a big fan of Ivanchenko). Novikova & Shklyarov – wonderful chemistry, Olesja was probably the best technically, and I adored her extensions, which she holdes for a second at the highest elevation, so marvelously graceful (totally not Somova gymnastics). She was the most reserved in expressing her emotions (no overacting I mean), but still very warm, and enough contrast between a live girl and a loving ghost. Shklyarov was my most favorite this time. He replaced 4 chasses with most wonderful jumps (?Entrechat six) 8 times ? when Albreht pleaded Myrtha. Tkachenko was a good Murtha, but I preferred Kandaurova (still my most favorite ever Myrtha remain Tereshkina, whom I saw several years ago at DC). Surprisingly, neither Novikova nor Vishneva let their hair loose in the mad scene, only some streaks came out (don’t know if it was on purpose or not). I’d say that Olesya grew tremendously compared to that ’06 DC performance. I also loved Irma Nioradze (it’s my only second time watching her dance live). That was such a treat – 3 red heads in one ballet. Nioradze, Kandaurova & the peasant solo girl Elena Sheshina!!! Nioradze played a bit girli-er Gizelle in Act one and a bit more alive in act 2. Fully loose burning red hair in the mad scene. A couple of short cuts in turns and those jumps on the point. But great arms, great plasticity. And I’d say that both Novikova and Nioradze portrayed a classical Kirov Giselle. Vishneva looked a bit reserved with left leg extension at the beginning of the ballet, then warmed up perhaps. Lovely first act, but to my taste she over-dramatized some gestures and her mad scene was very different from other two. And her second act play was least ghostly of them all. Great chemistry with Kolb – who was great as usual ;-)) She had a sun-tan costume, which slightly distracted (I am used to the blue one;-)) I loved them all (with only one disclaimer, Vishneva ‘retained’ being in the role even after the performance, still ghostly like, very slow, and she looked kind of green-ish compared to the rest). I have to comment on the peasant solos. I’ve seen on-line the duet of Sheshina and Philip Stepin (Chicago channel showed them). So, when I saw what was listed as Yulia Kasenkova, she was very rigid (almost not like Kirov). But since I forgot my binoculars, and being semi-blind, I don’t know for sure who she was. Sheshina was very good. Both Philip Stepin and Alexey Timofeev were great, but I still had a memory of Shklarov dancing this role back in Chicago with Osmolkina – that was something. Both Hans’s Pykhachev and Zverev were good and convincing. And my highest admiration goes to the chore-de-ballet, I saw Selina, Ivanova, Shirinkina, and I cried at every performance – was so moved and touched… Thank you Mariinski

sorry for being off topic a bit - Albert Davydov dances with NJ Ballet, and the NJ ballet-mistress, Luba Gulyaeva assisted Valentina Kozlova in "molding" Whitney. To some other poster - i did hear "not-possitive" remarks of Whitney's legs, but her artistry and properly picked choreography managed to "mask/ make-up" for it (and don't start the list of Dancers with "imperfect" legs who have the DIVA/STAR lapel on their sholder ;_))

Thank you Susan. I am flying Delta, in case if you wanna pretend to be my checked in luggage (just kidding). I will miss your company and opinions ;-))

Looking for your recommendation on the seating at Chicago Auditorium Theater. Do they have any great secret seating that is a great bargain or which row in the orchestra doesn't cut of the view of the points (like Kennedy does in the first 6 rows). I got my plain-tickets and am flying there ;_)) (will be going Sat & sunday, if i buy bargain tickets ;-))

The only thing that comes to mind here is a broken arrow. Interesting how in achieving such an extension, the line is actually shortened. sorry this thread is turning to everything but discussion on Mariinsky at NYCC ;-)... I was holding my comment for 1/2 day. I found the pictures in the two galleries (I checked Somova/Sarafanov in Bayadere, & Tereshkina in Diane &Ahteon) very non-complimentary to the dancers. Their faces look SO WEIRD and almost UGLY (when I saw them in person and saw other artwork of other photographers).... what was STANDING OUT in Mr. Schiavone's work, is the emphasis on capturing "THE ACROBATICS" and not the beauty of the dancers..... had I seen the galleries and not seen performances, I would start hating my BELOVED Mariinsky.... just my personal opinion of the artwork

Welcome and THANK YOU for the link to the site ;-)) Nope, Ivan's site doesn't list his future performances and looks like someone else posts for him (judging from how his biography is narrated), and it doesn't list the most recent performances... From several Russian dancer's web-site, i am aware of only Vishneva posting her schedule... To moderator, feel free to move the posting to another thread, if found innappropriate here.

I was missing KK too ;-)) She didn't move or emote me. I watched her and was MISSING KANDAUROVA (big RED)....

you echoed my thoughts - i don't REMEMBER seeing them (well, they skipped an Osipova Solo, may be it was another "skipping").... PS (off-topic, it was nice meeting you at the Kirov's "get together")

She did and sorry, it's just MY personal impression/opinion, She didn't move or emote me. I watched her and was MISSING KANDAUROVA (big RED).... Besides, "the Beatles" Osipova & Vasiliev, i was not impressed and greatly disappointed (after almost daily attending the Kirov tour)... but it's just my humble opinion. Also, again, just my personal opinion, I found the program VERY INAPPROPRIATE for the gala where there were so MANY CHILDREN. Could someone sensor what was to be performed on the stage? There are other places in NYC to watch "love making" then the children's competition.....