printscess

[soto] was such a protoge of Stanley Williams--he embodied so much of what Williams taught, especially about turning.

To a layman like myself, that's intriguing, Ray. Can you be more specific?

I know that Anne Belle had intended a film on Williams, and I believe she'd begun filming, but then he died. One can dream that some day her footage will see the light of day. Or is it already in the library at Lincoln Center?

It wasn't that kind of movie. It was about Jock the Navaho/Puerto Rican/gay dancer who came NY at the age of 14 to study @ SAB and went on to be one of the wordls greatest partners, greatly loved dancer and teacher. It showed the very unglamorous side of being a ballet dancer: the 14 hr rehearsals, the injuries and pain. It showed Jock as the warm, funny, sarcastic and talented person he is.

What I specifically like about the movie is that you saw a regular guy who just happen to have extraordinary dancer, not a prima dona. He puts his tights on one leg at a time (just like we all wished we did).

I had looked forward to this evening with great anticipation. The film did not disappoint. The theater was filled up to the 3rd ring.

I loved every minute of it. I was with both of my sons: a ballet dancer who was a student of Jock and my high school sophmore who could care less about ballet. My 10th grader couldn't say enough about the movie. This film will appeal to different audiences on different levels.

Surprisingly, it started as a love letter to his parents, thanking them for sending him at the age of 14 to SAB, before there were dorms and before there was a staff overseeing the out of town students, where they were on their own to fend for themselves. It turned out to be much more.

It was a loving tribute to a man who has been a incredible talent and a major mentor to the up and coming male students at SAB. The film showed Jock the person as opposed to Jock the "super-star". It was a very human, sensitive, FUNNY, sarcastic side that we saw.

I was overcome once again (tears and all) when clips of his final performance was shown in the movie as I was seating @ the NYS Theater June 19, 2005.

The film will be shown on PBS, April 9th 2008 in a condensed version, and January 11 and 18th at the Walter Reed Theater which is right next door to SAB.

I find the shorter men of the company much more exciting to look at. I was shocked but happily surprised when DeLuz was hired (to partner Megan Fairchild) since he does not fit the mold that Martins aspires to. IMO, shorter men turn faster, jump higher and are just as good as partners as the 6'+ tall guys who can barely get off the ground.

About 2 months ago there was a wonderful article in the Arts and Leisure section of the NYT asking why shorter men cannot be princes? The article was about Herman Corenjo on ABT. He was told years ago that he can be the best friend, but never the prince. Now he is the prince and it has been a long time coming and a major breakthrough for shorter men.

Each to his own (taste).

thanks

I find Hubbe as exciting as white bread and mayo.

Chacun a son gout.

Everyone has his gout?

This is major bad news.

Plus Hubbe coming up.

Argh ...

I find Hubbe as exciting as white bread and mayo.

no need for foot in mouth. You wouldn't have known about him and btw, he IS Fritz...still 8 years later (so much for typecasting). I think the NY Times called him a scamp!!! But in the nicest way possible.

Hi, printscess.

We actually list a number of Princes and Maries who went on to careers with NYCB here. But if any FRITZes have gone on to professional careers, I am unaware of it. Maybe that's because Fritz is a trouble maker , and maybe he's cast to type. But I don't know.

Does anyone know of former Fritzes who grew up to be professional dancers?

My sister was visiting the area recently, and as we were trying to find a time to get together, I turned down one of her suggestions because it conflicted with a Nutcracker I wanted to see. She was taken aback: "Does anyone really take Nutcracker seriously?" Yeah. Lots of us.

My son was Fritz, even got a write up in the NY Times , and is now dancing professional

Mel,

I loved your original post. (Loathe, hate, etc).

Seeing a grown up Clare (dead give away it isn't Balanchine) makes me cringe.

ABT's version makes you want to dive head first into your chair. The choreography, the costumes, oy what an embarrassment. Last time I saw that one was 2001, maybe it has been updated. At least they have the good sense not to dance it in NYC.

Regarding Balanchines' Nutcracker, there are moments of pure joy and magic. When the Nutcracker's costume comes off of him towards the end of the first act with the crescendo of the music, when the bed sweeps across the floor, when the boys in the first act march to the front of the stage and salute one by one in time to the music. I love Chinese Tea and the music to Hoops. If you watch the mice in the battle scene, you will see different, funny things that these corp members do to keep that part interesting, sometimes there are laugh out load moments but you have to catch them. The costumes and the sets are the best of any company doing whatever version they do (it helps to be one of the richest companies in the world). So while everyone is going on about this SPF or that Cavalier, I like the many small things of the Nutcracker that makes it a whole.

On another note (and please correct me if I am wrong) except for the wonderful Peter Boal, no other Prince and no Marie that I am aware of has made it into NYCB.

SZ,

Thanks for that wonderful review. Reading it, I felt like I was there. This is my first year, not seeing any Nuts whatsoever!!!! I just didn't think I could bring myself to so. Thanks for the review.

Is being ranked somewhat of an (small?) honor? I am not familiar with the policies or politics of POB.

What is meant by "end of results"? Is there really an onstage competition for promotion?

One should keep ones knees together regardless of seat or location. It keeps one from spreading out into other people's space, like the guys on the subway, who take up three seats.

But.....but.....but....you don't understand.....

I have a wide stance.

ha!

I always suspected it has to do with some sort of testicular distress--like elephantitis.

I would like to ask one of these wide-sitters, but am afraid it might lead to bodily harm, so I restrain myself.

I am here to tell you that one can ask these 3 seaters to shove their legs together and make room for others (and I always mean me) to sit, and live to tell the story

I agree with Helene about the children. I think with respect to Nutcracker, all adults should aspire to the condition of Drosselmeyer. All women should wear saris if they have them.

Last night for SFB's opening I wore a navy blue suit, a pale gold mock-turtleneck of hte type Leigh was describing, and my santa hat and a scarlet faux-ostrich boa, and felt perfectly in costume. The kids looked at me with understanding smiles, and so did my friend Zempoalla.

Do a lot of members of the SFB audience dress like you? If so, I'm headed there next year for the Nutcracker. It sounds like a blast.

And that's only this year.

Now I know my leg is being pulled!.........

P.S. BTW, when I said previously "Thank God for New York City...................the cultural hub of the world!" I was perfectly serious. Only in NYC could 2000 Nutcrackers be done, especially at the high level that NYCB must do them. You NYC dwellers don't truly know how lucky you are (culturally that is ).

Yes we do, but it gets to the point that we usually can't wait for the Rockerfeller Christmas tree to come down, the throngs of tourists to go home and the Nutcracker to go back in the vault until it all starts again next year.

This is somewhat off-topic, but permit me to indulge myself. A long time ago, the logo of NYCB was Orpheus's lyre as designed by Isamu Noguchi. Noguchi's design found its way into a few items for sale on the Promenade of the NY State Theater, among them an attractive necktie that I always wore at gala NYCB occasions. One year I wore it at one of the annual SAB Workshop performances. At intermission, I said hello to Suzanne Farrell, who gently touched my tie and told me she liked it.

Noguchi's design is no longer the NYCB logo, and I no longer see Suzanne at the Workshop. For years now, the Noguchi necktie has resided safely in the closet, and when I go to SAB or NYCB performances these days, I never wear a tie.

Farrell Fan,

That was a very touching story. Do you see her company in Washington DC? If so, I am sure it would be appropriate to wear the tie.

I think feel about Patty McBride the way you feel about Suzannee Farrell. Except, I grew up wanting to be her. I idolized her. To me, she was NYCB. Imagine my surprise, shock, joy and excitment a few summers ago when she was teaching my son at Chautauqua and I ran into her. I told her about my idolizing her in the 1960's and how funny life was that she was teaching my son.

I went to opening night at ABT, it was like going to the Oscars! I wore a suit, but everyone else had Tuxes and gowns on. There was a woman in a "southern belle" dress with way too many pink and yellow ribbons on it.

That's because opening night is gala night.

I just got tickets for the January 7th film and discussion. I am very excited and best of all, my 2 sons are joining me.

Thanks Carbo,

I had gone on the Walter Reade site and it wasn't listed for January. Thank you for finding it.

I cannot find the thread regarding the information about the showing of "Water Flowing Together". Can someone re-post the info? Many thanks.

Bart, great topic!!!

I agree with Sandy. I would like to see Dross more friendly and funny. In the Balanchine version, I always saw him as sinister and scary around kids (i.e. flapping his cape while wrapping himself around the clock). He causes Marie to have a nightmare the mice and soldiers but then becomes warm and friendly just as she and the Prince go through the snowstorm to the Land of Sweets. I know that many of the younger children in the audience become very frightened of Drosselmeyer. I prefer the grandfatherly Drosselmeyers like Andrei Kramarevsky who danced with the Bolshoi and now teaches at SAB.

OBT just got a very nice review in The Oregonian. Has anyone seen it?

Hey Guys,

You're a hop skip and jump from OBT's Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

Dear Homesteadlite,

Your sister was a kind and gentle woman.

During December 2001, my son was 12 and on tour with SAB for the Nutcracker. I was the necessary tag-along mother. Your sister was one of the first to welcome me to the tour and took time out to talk to me and my son. It was a pleasure getting to know her on the tour. I remember thinking how surprised it was that she went from Broadway to ABT (in those days, I didn't know that some dancers did that) and what an elegant woman she was.

My heart goes out to you and your family.