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How could I ever have forgotten Jose Manuel Correno? (sorry, my key board doesn't have the Spanish tilda for the N). Now I am sure you are happy Crisitan!!!

Last night, I thought that there was no chemisrty between Benjamin Millepied and Megan Fairchild. Divertimento From "Las Baiser de la Fee seems to be a Balanchine ballet that is tired and should be put into pasture. I was seating in the 3rd ring and from up there, the corps was very loud in their landings. Hopefully when the State Theater is re-done, the sound traveling from the stage will be taken into consideration. PM's ballet, "The Chairman Dances" was visually lovely in terms of the costumes, but once again, he takes a few steps and repeats them throughout the ballet. Nothing original. Wheeldon's ballet was beautiful, romantic and spot on. It is wonderful to see Giovanni Villalobas moving up. He is the kind of dancer I love to see. Smallish in stature, but takes up the entire stage. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. When I saw him last year in "Square Dance", I knew that PM had his eyes on him. Stars and Stripes is always a crowd pleaser. I love the male regiment. Ashley Bouder and Stephen Hanna were terrific.

It is my guess that there will always be scholarships for the boys, although director of the programs may make the them for the higher levels. I am also guessing that whatever money was available for the girls may be given out if they have an interest in them for possible future employment, thereby narrowing the field to a precious few. The rise and fall of the stock market not only impacts the individual investor (I hate looking at my IRAs and my husband's 401K) but impacts the corporations who donate to the ballet companies. With less money to go around, the arts are the first to get cut.

I have been fortunate that my son received 9 years of excellent training on full scholarship and is now dancing professionally. He went to summer programs at Miami, ABT, SFB and Chautauqua on full scholarship as well. As a single mother getting little to no support, there was no way that I could have paid for his lessons. For that I am grateful. Had I had a daughter just as talented, I would have had to pay her way, not to mention pointe shoes which gets to be expensive. (with boys, it is just a dance belt, ballet shoes, white T and black tights). There is no way I would have been able to afford paying for classes. While dancers are not in this profession to get rich, it takes a lot of riches to get them to a professional level.

ABT's The Pied Piper

Peggy R, I enjoyed reading your responses to the ballet. You made it upclose and personal, and you had be laughing, which is always good. I have never seen SFB perform (being on the east coast) but was able to visualize things from the ballet. I must admit it helped knowing the ballets. What I am trying to say is keep writing. I like your style.

Thanks for the link. It is helpful to have a quick reference. But French Cuisine? Oy, what were they thinking. LOL

and I have NYC brass ticket key ring dated Wednesday May 20 for 1st ring seat A2 for $25.00.

Andrei, Thanks for that explanation. I love all things Russian: ballet, food, music, and let's not forget about the dolls. I have a hugh Russian doll collection.

I am unfamiliar with that publication. What time of articles does it specialize in? Is it similar to Dance Mag or Pointe?

I think originally, ballet was created to get away from folk dancing, but you will find these moves in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, to name a few. Folk dancing in ballet is known as character dancing. It is a proud posture that is very regal.

Thanks for the reminder. I just completed my order. So what is a little hooky from work?

Joseph Mazo? He wasn't. He spent a year (or was it a season?) in the early '70s observing the company as a journalist. Thanks.

With so many books to read on dancing, from historical perspectives and dancers' memoirs (I just finished "Winter Season" by Toni Bently) I need to go the library.

When was he in the company? I am not familiar with his name?

Interesting that you should say that about Millepied. I thought last Wednesday, he called in his performance in Ballo della Regina.

Usually the dancers are on stage making dinner plans, gossiping and having a grand ole time

I just noticed Antonia Carmena for the first time on Wednesday evening in Les Gentilhommes. What a magnificent dancer! He was so graceful and fluid. He was the best thing about that ballet. I asked myself where have they been hiding him? I went on the web site and saw that he has been in the company for a decade.

I am looking forward to seeing tomorrow night's performance. I adore Les Gentilhommes. I have only seen it on the advanced men at SAB workshops over the past few years with 4 different casts. To me it "reads" like a performance for young men and I can't wait to see it with Sean Suozzi et al. He would make a beautiful center man.

What is the true difference between AD and ballet master? Whereas Peter Martins is the Ballet Master In Chief, others such as Peter Boal are ADs. They both are the heads of the companies.

You are probably correct. Thanks for the insight. :blush:

SZ, Are you sure that Martins performed in Les Gentilhommes? I know that he is the choreographer and SAB lore has it that he choreographed it for the advanced men years ago.( I know I will corrected here if I am wrong).For me it is the male version of Serenade. So beautiful and yes, melanchaly.

I love the b&W photos as an ad campaign but the B&W makes the website look dreary.

I had seen Hair on Bway in the late 1960's as a teenager and was unfazed, or tried to act very sophisticated and acted unfazed with the nudity. In general, nudity in plays or movies, if it relates to the plot is fine. However, in dance???? It only serves as a distraction. I also find it distracting when a man is dancing only in a dance belt. There are certain body parts that I am not interested in seeing doing a pirouette.

I was planning on going last night but at the last minute had to attend to something. I have never seen Ballo della Regina and look forward to it. It was a great review. Any thoughts on Les Gentilhommes and Fancy Free? I love Les Gentilhommes for the music and the masculinity of the men. It is one of the few Martins' ballets that I find watchable. How does this Fancy Free compare to ABT's?