artspatron07

His name is no longer listed on MCB's Website I guess that is confirmation.

I have have visited Phelps Center as recent as 3 years ago. I guess this is where the company and the preprofessional / professional ballet school divisions are located. It is an absolutely beautiiful facility in a prime location. Where else but in Seattle can one live on a lake, have access to the ocean, and drive to the mountains. My only complaint with Seattle is the traffic on the freeway. It does seem more conjested than usual. Unfortunately I have not seen PNB perform in the renovated Opera House. Does PNB have any plans to tour in the near future? I understand they recently performed at Jacobs Pillow. I would love to see them perfom again.

The fact that Miami City Ballet provides programs at each of their four venues defines good use of the company's resources. particularly when funding is down in general. MCB's ability to offer additional performances in Ft Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Naples does not seem to have any negative impact on the Miami audience. In general I wonder if their individual patronage is stronger in the surrounding cities than in Miami proper. With the arrival of US Trust as their sponsor for this past season and next that may be changing. It is my understanding that a generous donation from an individual donor made the live orchestra a reality again in Miami. This maybe the reason for the change in marketing. Athough I do know of at least two south Florida residents who travel to additional cities like Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach to watch the company perform the same program thereby observing different favorite dancers perform the same role. I can attest the parking is much better in Fort Lauderdale and in West Palm Beach. This may be off the subject, but did PNBS recently open the Francia Russell School on the eastside of Seattle?

I disagree in Miami's equal ranking to Seattle. unless it refers to the surrounding municipalities certered near Miami. I applaud community leaders who lobby in favor of the classical performing arts. I have spent a considerable amount time in both cities. Comparatively I would choose Seattle over Miami. hands down. Seattle and Pacific Northwest Ballet do indeed compliment each other. PNB brings a unique quality to Seattle's high tech educational environment. With the arrival of Peter Boal I see exciting things happening for PNB and Seattle. With regard to Florida, I personally favor points east and north of Miami, i.e. Fort Lauderdale, the Palm Beach area, and Miami Beach. I often wonder why Miami City Ballet chose it's headquarters in Miami Beach in lieu of Miami, the Palm Beach area, or Fort Lauderdale. After all it's name is Miami City Ballet. Much of the cultural focus in South Beach centers on the MTV lifestyle, Pop and Rap arts entertainment, and the under age 40 crowd. On Miami City Ballet's web page their marketing approach has changed referring to the company's dancers as "Super Human". This campaign targets a younger not so traditional ballet audience. With subscription ticket sales down all over the country ballet companies are becoming more creative with the goal of luring more diverse audience members and retaining them for repeat business. I wonder if that affects the perception of the art. Maybe it's a necessary evil to stay on top. (I will reserve that comment for another topic and another time.) Many people who reside outside Florida erroneously associate Miami City Ballet with only Miami. When in fact the studios are actually located in South Beach. The City of Miami Beach is a good friend to Miami City Ballet. In 2005 the city purchased Miami City Ballet's headquarters. They now lease the building back to the company for a nominal amount. This helped Miami City Ballet settle a great financial burden. Hopefully it was a good move on the part of the city and the company. Recently I read an article in a local South Florida newspaper suggesting that the city of Bal Harhour may provide lower rent to artists wishing to relocate to the community. My hats off to them for this unique way of promoting the arts. It is my understanding that many West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale residents provide generous support to Miami City Ballet. through fund raising and their patronage. I believe Miami City Ballet still maintains an active second Board of Directors in West Palm Beach. Miami City Ballet's name may imply that the ballet company belongs to one city, but this is a company of many Florida cities. I often wonder if the quality of life in a particular " best city to live" can impede a resident ballet company's success. The Carnival Center in Miami has provided some outstanding programs this past season. With Miami City Ballet's relocation the Carnival Center the company's performances will now compete with other nationally acclaimed dance companies (for example,. ABT, Merce Cuningham) and other various performing arts touring groups. In March 2007 American Ballet Theatre Performed " Swan Lake" at the Carnival Center the same weekend Miami City Ballet performed in Fort Lauderdale. It is my understanding that ABT will return to the Carnival Center for 3 consecutive years. I cannot believe that it was good planning have the two nationally acclaimed ballet companies perform the same weekend in close proximity to each other. I personally long for the days when Miami City Ballet performed at Jackie Gleason Theater on the beach. Unfortunately with growth comes change. I hope this change in venue will benefit Miami City Ballet. Maybe there is a correlation to living in the "one the best cities to live" and the city's support of a resident ballet company. I can think of many cities all over the country not mentioned that complement and support their resident ballet companies in many different ways and have successfully filtered their exposure of the arts to other surrounding communities.

Soloist Charlene Cohen will join San Francisco Ballet as a corps de ballet member next season. I am curious why she would leave Miami after being promoted to soloist. San Francisco Ballet is a wonderful company with maybe larger programing opportunity and more exposure. She will be missed in Miami, but congratulations to her. See San Francisco's press release. http://www.sfballet.org/about/newspress/pr...asp?id=10193076

Although I have not seen an official press release, Miami City Ballet has added new dancers to the company roster. The new dancer's bios are not yet complete on the company's web page but here are the changes listed on MCB's website (with bios and photos coming soon). New soloists: Daniel Sarabia and Joseph Phillips New members of corps de ballet: Herberth Riascos, Lisa Reneau, Neil Marshall, and Jennifer Lauren Promoted to corps de ballet from company apprentice: Daniel Baker and Maira Barriga (I believe Daniel Baker and Maira Barriga were SAB students before arriving in Miami last season). Promoted to corps de ballet from coryphee: Leigh Ann and Sarah Esty New company appprentices: Helen Ruiz and Christine Sciturro.

Hyltin will be a beautiful Juliet.

Interesting, I noticed on Ballet Talk for Dancers that someone mentioned that the students may no longer be dancing the role of Juliet. Is there any official word on this?

Thank you for the information. I stand corrected on the time frame regarding Ms. Farrell's success at NYCB. 16 is still quite young to join the corps as is 18 to perform principal roles successfully. It is very possible for a dancer to achieve acclaim at a young age as Ms. Farrell has proven. Maybe the young Juliet will find the same success. Whether it is a marketing ploy to bring in audiences remains to be seen. Peter Martins has succeeded in marketing the ballet just by the controversy it has brought the to the message board.

Thank you Bart for your greeting. I will also miss both Ilyin and Shimizu. I would have enjoyed seeing Ilyin perform Rubies next season. I believe it will be a difficult void to fill. Do you know who will take Ilyin's place?

Thank you Treefrog for clarifying my point. My apology to Carbro if my post was unclear. I am familiar with the purpose for Ballet Talk for Dancers Message Board and am currently not seeking training advice.

I believe it is premature to criticize an artist, regardless of age or experience, especially prior to having seen the performance. On opening night the house will most certainly include audience members and dance critics who will question Peter Martins' casting decision and those who will view it a refreshing change from the norm. I will reserve my own judgment of the performance until I have the opportunity to see it first hand. After all, Balanchine was not criticized for his discovery of the "Baby Ballerinas." Also Suzanne Farrell, Balanchine's "Muse", began her professional career at age 15. If my memory is correct, Ms. Farrell's professional career began when she was asked to step in for Diana Adams. The role was performed brilliantly. She continued to be the forerunner in Balanchine's works throughout her successful career.

With the influx of European and Asian dancers joining American ballet companies, is it advantageous to study abroad prior to entering the profession?

I see nothing wrong with an AD choosing a young dancer to perfom a lead role without initial added compensation, paticularly in the role of Juliet. Traditionally the role requires a lot of partnering with much of the responsibility weighted on Romeo. It will be is a valuable performance opportunity for any young professional student to have this exposure. A principal dancer is not made by any one ballet. Not all ballet principal roles are equal in their degree of technical difficulty Her performance may lead to a subsequent a contract offer depending on how the audience receives the performance. In the mean time she will have the rare opportunity to learn first hand from both the AD and the other more experienced dancers on stage with her. This experience will be priceless.

Hello Holly, Welcome. I have also enjoyed watching MCB peform in the past. I particularly enjoyed watching Twyla Tharp's ]In the Upper Room.

I noticed that principal dancer, Mikhail Ilyin and soloist, Kenta Shimizu are no longer on the MCB's website bios. Where did they go? I have enjoyed their past perfomances with Miami City Ballet. but have not seen them in recent performances. If my memory serves correct Mr. Shimizu was recently named one of the 25 dancers to watch in Dance magazine.