Figurante

Lots of lost faces in the newly updated roster... very sad... http://miamicityballet.org/dancers.php

Check out the new season roster for the 2010-2011 season here: http://www.paballet.org/company_dancers.html

There have been numerous roster changes on the MCB website: Deanna Seay Rolando Sarabia Daniel Sarabia Alex Wong Daniel Baker Allynne Noel Stoller Chaz Mezaros Elizabeth Keller All of the dancers above are no longer listed on the website There are also new additions to the roster: Student Apprentices: Andrei Chagas Chloe Freytag Christina Spigner Kara White Apprentices: Nathalia Arja Adrienne Carter Renan Cerdeiro Alexandre Ferreira Skyler Lubin Kleber Rebello Corps de Ballet: Suzanne Limbrunner Emily Bromberg

Pa Ballet has announced their 2010-2011 season on their website... http://www.paballet.org/2010-2011_season.html TRIPLE BILL WITH CARMEN Academy of Music October 21-24, 2010 Concerto Barocco - George Balanchine Matthew Neenan World Premiere Carmen - Roland Petit George Balanchine's THE NUTCRACKER™ December 4-31, 2010 Academy of Music CLASSIC INNOVATIONS February 3-6, 2011 Merriam Theater Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude- Forsythe Polyphonia - Christopher Wheeldon In the Upper Room - Twyla Tharp SWAN LAKE - Christopher Wheeldon March 3-13 Academy of Music BUILDING ON BALANCHINE April 14-17 Merriam Theater Agon - George Balanchine Benjamin Millepied World Premiere Who Cares? - George Balanchine LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE - Sir Frederick Ashton June 2-11 Academy of Music

As I am tranferring over all of my videos to dvd's... I came across this version of The NUtcracker. I believe it is german, but I cannot pinpoint the company....I was wondering if anyone else has seen this production. It was released on December 21st, 1965. I must have taped it during a rebroadcast when I was around seven years old. It features Edward Villella, Patricia McBride, and Melissa Hayden. I am trying to figure out who performed the Snow Queen in this production. On a side note, Helga Heinrich's redition of bluebird (yes, that's right, the full Bluebird, pas de deux, 2 male variations, female variation and coda are all included in this version of The Nutcracker!) was incredible! Here is a link possibly with more information from imdb.com http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0221445/ I really hope someone has seen it!

Spartacus in the Party Scene with Death's Mirror :-)

This is the best news I've heard all day! Congrats to OBt, all of its dancers, as well as the companies and dancers that participated in one of the most influential benefit performances of this decade!

haha heck yeah!

Happy to announce that OBT has raised $710,000 as of Monday, June 15th! There is still a little bit to go... and OBT has some really great live auction items up on ebay to try and make up the rest of the difference! AUCTION LISTINGS INCLUDE: Two tickets on JetBlue Airways (auction not yet live) Opportunity to be a TV producer for a day on Comcast SportsNet limited edition color prints of dancers from OBT’s Who’s Your Dancer? campaign, by Portland photographer Alicia J. Rose One night stay, dinner for two and free parking at the Portland Doubletree Hotel Original paintings & sketches of obt Dancers by Portland artist Mona Cordell Limited-edition fine art prints by Portland photographer James McGrew, autographed by OBT Principal Dancers Alison Roper and Artur Sultanov Three-night stay in 6-bedroom house in Sunriver, courtesy of Lisa Stevenson Limited-edition, autographed items from Coraline movie, donated by Laika Two tickets to Portland Opera’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme in September, 2009 Painting by OBT Company Dancer Brian Simcoe Willamette River trips on Willamette Jet Boats Portrait sittings with portrait artist Charles Waugh Pilates classes, acupuncture treatments, ballroom dance lessons, golf swing analysis and more! VIP tickets to Live Wire! Hand-blown 12” glass punchbowl designed by Portland’s Esque Studio Signed photo prints of OBT dancers by Randall Millstein Wine from Argyle Winery (auction not yet live) Ceramic art by Sian Yap Alexander Gift certificate to P.F. Chang Dance United benefit poster autographed by all visiting and OBT dancers Here is a direct link to the items on ebay, as provided by the OBT website! http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/obtballet_W0...armrsZ1QQ_fromZ I have no doubts that they will be able to raise the last bit of money by June 30th! Best of luck!

Any news on the outcome after the benefit performance?

Ian Hussey with the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Here is more information regarding the staging of La Sylphide provided on the Pennsylvania website: http://www.paballet.org/season/production....id=32&src=l

Attended last night (Sat. 6/6); all danced very well for the most part. I especially liked Julie Diana as the Sylph, and Zachary Hench was a precise, impassioned James--good balon AND batterie. BUT why does the lighting have to be so poor? And the corps sylphs' epaulement was ragged, something very noticeable in a Bournonville work. I didn't see the need to present Martin's Barber Violin Concerto, tho' both couples in it did well, and the guest violinist's playing offered a nice surprise. Why not just focus on delivering a top-notch Sylphide? Interestingly, the program did not say who set it (!!). Tamara Hadley and Jeffrey Gribler both set the ballet. Mrs. Hadley concentrated on the sylphs, and Mr. Gribler, most of the pantomime and the Reel. Gribler also gave a great rendition of Madge.

Performances run through this weekend, as well as next weekend. Casting is here: http://www.paballet.org/season/production....id=32&src=l Hope to see you there!

I've contributed as well... and am hoping others will follow suit! It is such an amazing company!

JUNE 12, 2009 / 7:30PM KELLER AUDITORIUM Performances by NEW YORK CITY BALLET SAN FRANCISCO BALLET BALLET WEST HOUSTON BALLET TREY MCINTYRE PROJECT PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET JOFFREY BALLET WASHINGTON BALLET BOSTON BALLET THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA BALLET WEST WHITE BIRD / MINH TRAN & COMPANY BODYVOX OREGON BALLET THEATRE In what promises to be the most impressive array of dance talent to ever share a Portland stage, Oregon Ballet Theatre presents DANCE UNITED, a benefit performance to raise funds to help reduce a sizeable shortfall in our operating budget. Dancers from world-class companies across North America will join members of the local dance community to perform in support of OBT. This is a crucial moment in the 20-year history of Oregon Ballet Theatre and an important moment for the arts in our city. We need your support now more than ever. Treat yourself to an extraordinary evening of dance and help ensure our future. http://obt.org/dance_united/buy.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemon...-eric-idle.html This is really scary!

I thought I would start a thread about So You Think You Can Dance for Season Five with the news that Alex Wong from Miami City Ballet has made it to the Las Vegas round, which will air on Fox next week Wednesday (8-10pm) and will follow-up with the top twenty dancers announced on Thursday (9-10pm) Good luck to all dancers in the competition!

Here is a link to the website with the corresponding pdf: http://www.paballet.org/season/production....id=31&src=l Enjoy!

Miami City Ballet has updated their roster for next season: Congratulations to the following for their promotions! Alex Wong to Principal Soloist Daniel Baker to Soloist Cindy Huang to Corps Elizabeth Smedley to Corps Helen Ruiz to Corps Nicole Stalker to Corps The following dancers are no longer listed on the website: Andrea Spiridonakos - Soloist Alexandre Dufaur - Soloist Zherlin Ndudi - Soloist Kyra Homeres - Corps Herberth Riascos - Corps Amir Yogev - Corps Lisa Reneau - Corps Elice McKinley - Corps Peter Doll - Company Apprentice Gabriela Gonzalez - Company Apprentice Carling Talcott - Student Apprentice There are a few additions to the company: Congratulations!: Nathalia Arja Renan Cerdeiro Alexandre Ferreira MCB has added a new section to their website: Returning Guest Artists: Katia Carranza Yann Trividic Here is a link to the website: http://miamicityballet.org/super_human.php The high turnover, as found in many companies at this time, still dismays me.

Here is the official press release from director Roy Kaiser: http://www.paballet.org/news/pressrelease/detail.aspx?id=334 Artistic Director Roy Kaiser Announces 2009-2010 Season April 13, 2009 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Company Premiere Works by Jerome Robbins and William Forsythe World Premiere by Matthew Neenan Invitation to perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC Tribute to Frederic Chopin’s 200th Birthday All Chopin Program, March 2010 Roy Kaiser’s 30th year with the Company and 15th as Artistic Director Artistic Director Roy Kaiser announces a bold and compelling 2009-2010 Season featuring fifteen visionary ballets on six dynamic programs, including Company Premieres by Jerome Robbins and William Forsythe, and a World Premiere by Choreographer in Residence Matthew Neenan. The season includes four innovative repertory programs, one classic full-length work and the critically acclaimed production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. The Company was invited to perform The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in late November before returning to the Academy of Music in December. Among the repertory programs presented, a World Premiere by Mr. Neenan will join ballets by George Balanchine and Agnes de Mille to open the season in October. The Company will perform ballets choreographed by Mr. Robbins and Mr. Neenan to the music of Frederic Chopin in celebration of the composer’s 200th birthday in March. The long-awaited Company premieres of Mr. Robbins’s lyrical masterwork Afternoon of a Faun and Mr. Forsythe’s fiercely brilliant In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated will follow in May. Mr. Kaiser celebrates his 30th year with the Company and 15th as Artistic Director in the 2009-2010 season by continuing to expand an increasingly diverse repertoire of classical and innovative works performed by Pennsylvania Ballet, widely regarded as one of the premier ballet companies in the country. “I’ve always drawn inspiration from the extraordinary dancers who continually seek to improve their technical virtuosity and impassioned artistry,” says Mr. Kaiser. “I remain committed to presenting challenging and provocative programming, and I think this season really represents the artistic strength of the Company.” PENNSYLVANIA BALLET’S 2009-2010 SEASON *Denotes Company Premiere Program I October 21 – 25, 2009 Academy of Music Theme and Variations: Balanchine/Tschaikovsky World Premiere: Choreography by Matthew Neenan, Choreographer in Residence Rodeo: de Mille/Copland In Theme and Variations, Balanchine pays homage to the Imperial Russian Ballet of his youth in one of his most technically demanding works. This plotless ballet features glittering costumes and inventive choreography that is credited with bringing classical ballet into the 20th century. Choreographer in Residence Matthew Neenan creates his 12th new work especially for the Company in his own unique contemporary style. The allure of the cowboy is the focus of de Mille’s Rodeo, which captures the pioneering spirit of the American character and the exuberance of youth. A defining achievement in de Mille’s early choreographic career, Rodeo is an optimistic tale of a tomboy’s attempt to lasso in love, with Copland’s exuberant score setting the scene. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker: Balanchine/Tschaikovsky November 24 – 29, 2009 The Kennedy Center Pennsylvania Ballet has accepted an invitation to perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, one of the most prestigious cultural venues in the country. This engagement will mark the first time the Balanchine version of The Nutcracker has been performed in Washington, DC. December 12 – 31, 2009 Academy of Music Presenting Sponsor: PNC Our critically acclaimed production returns to the Academy of Music to delight audiences of all ages in this enduring holiday classic. The Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, the Sugarplum Fairy join the Philadelphia Boys Choir as the Company mesmerizes audiences with extraordinary sets and exquisite costumes. Tickets go on sale to the public June 15, 2009. Program II March 4 – 13, 2010 Academy of Music The Four Temperaments: Balanchine/Hindemith Carmina Burana: Neenan/Orff The stunning simplicity and angular architecture of The Four Temperaments became the standard for Balanchine works. The work is an abstraction of ancient doctrines that enumerated the four aspects of a person's disposition. A thunderous score and innovative choreography punctuate Matthew Neenan’s fiery Carmina Burana, which premiered to sold out audiences in 2007 when The Philadelphia Inquirer declared it “simply scintillating… steamy and explosive…a triumph.” Neenan fuses the power of Orff’s classic work with his eruptive movement and existential sets. Program III March 10 – 14, 2010 Academy of Music The Crossed Line: Neenan/Chopin In the Night: Robbins/Chopin The Concert: Robbins/Chopin A trio of works that embody the emotional range and inventiveness of Frederic Chopin celebrate the famed composer’s 200th birthday. The Crossed Line explores the boundaries and shifting nature of relationships to Chopin piano concertos transcribed for piano and violin/cello. The piece began as an idea Mr. Neenan developed while attending New York City Ballet’s Choreographer Institute in September 2003. The concept grew into an exciting commission for Pennsylvania Ballet in April 2004, and was critically acclaimed for “Neenan's crisp choreography, creativity, and innovativeness are refreshingly unpredictable.” In the Night uses four Chopin nocturnes as inspiration for three intimate pas de deux that articulate graduated stages of love and romance. Each episode is a tableau of romance - tender young love, mature and balanced love, and explosive passion. Robbins’s three heroines each has a distinct character, as do the principals who portray them. When last performed, The Washington Post observed “[The Company’s performance]… was liquid smooth. At its heart was an extraordinary dancer, Riolama Lorenzo, who made you notice critical little things such as how she rose onto pointe as if a breath started in her feet and advanced right up into her rib cage.” The Concert, Robbins’s comedic masterpiece set during a piano recital, envelopes audiences with its sidesplitting humor, witty timing, and satirical choreography in its spirited salute to Chopin. The onstage accompanist engages in the antics, which send everyone home laughing. Program IV May 5 – 9, 2010 Merriam Theater Square Dance: Balanchine/Vivaldi/Corelli Afternoon of a Faun*: Robbins/Debussy Requiem for a Rose: Ochoa/Schubert In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated*: Forsythe/Willems Master choreographer George Balanchine’s Square Dance explores the juxtapositions of American folk dances and classical ballet. The hierarchal pairings and partner exchanges suggest the formal patterns of square dance, but the piece also offers virtuosic performances from the lead ballerina and male soloist. The Company has not performed this celebrated work since its 1992-1993 Season. The transient nature of love is explored in Requiem for a Rose, a dynamic work created for the Company during its 45th Anniversary Season. This encore engagement reunites choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s vision of 12 dancers as bouquet of roses, in bold and fluid movements that hinge on a single heartbeat. The Company’s newest Robbins acquisition, Afternoon of a Faun, is considered a landmark piece of lyrical dance theater. A nymph-like figure interrupts a male dancer’s work in the dance studio, and the pair engages in a delicate duet with the audience as their mirror. The stunning simplicity of the choreography underscores the compelling complexities that lie behind the glass. Nuance and depth saturate In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, a frenetic experiment in angular movement that demands the raw commitment of its cast. The feigned disdain of the dancers contrasts the technical demands of the choreography. The New York Times declared this work “changed the way people perceived classical dance: how the fundamental principles of ballet technique could be used in new ways, how dancers could behave onstage, how we could see them.” The Company Premiere of In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated has been funded by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, through Dance Advance. Program V June 4 – 12, 2010 Academy of Music Romeo & Juliet: Cranko/Prokofiev Luminous in its power and poignancy, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet is set to Sergei Prokofiev’s famous musical score. The ballet version of Shakespeare’s famous tale established Cranko as a master story teller, using powerful music and pristine movements to explore the powerful relationship between the two title characters. When Pennsylvania Ballet last produced Romeo and Juliet in 2005, The Philadelphia Inquirer said it was a “sumptuous production” that keeps audiences “fully engaged and at times transfixed.” 2009-2010 Season Subscriptions are available by calling 215.893.1955 or online at www.paballet.org. Full season subscription prices have not increased at all this year, and range from $77.50 to $413.50. Subscribers receive many benefits over single ticket purchasers including a 10% discount, priority seating, convenient partial payment plan in three easy installments, flexible ticket exchanges, discounts to fine Philadelphia restaurants, shops, hotels and museums, advance ticket purchasing for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and more! New this year… subscribers will receive Artistic Director Roy Kaiser’s monthly e-letter with exclusive inside news about his work and the Company. For more information or to subscribe to Pennsylvania Ballet’s 2009 – 2010 Season, please call 215.893.1955 or order online at paballet.org. Pennsylvania Ballet’s 2009-2010 season sponsors include The Sporting Club at the Bellevue and 10 Arts by Eric Ripert and USAirways. Pennsylvania Ballet receives support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company’s annual local season features classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. For more information, call 215.551.7000 or visit paballet.org. For further press information or to set up interviews, please contact: Brooke Honeyford, Public Relations Manager Phone: 215.587.6923; FAX: 215.551.7224 E-mail: bhoneyford@paballet.org

Pennsylvania Ballet's 2009-2010 Season has been posted on the website: http://www.paballet.org/season/next.aspx Pennsylvania Ballet’s Bold and Innovative 2009-2010 Season Pennsylvania Ballet's diverse repertoire is a body of work that stimulates the senses and astounds audiences. The 2009-2010 Season is defined by bold, impassioned performances of innovative and classic work that showcase the dancers' technical virtuosity and vitality. The Company has announced a compelling season featuring 14 ballets on five dynamic programs, including two Company debuts and a world premiere by Choreographer in Residence Matthew Neenan, and the perennial holiday favorite George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. Other highlights include a return to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in November when the Company demonstrates to the nation that oustanding ballet thrives in Philadelphia. From Balanchine to Robbins, Petit to Forsythe, and de Mille to Ochoa, each ballet on this year's schedule will be a truly extraordinary experience. Program One: Theme and Variations - Balanchine A new World Premiere by Matthew Neenan Rodeo - Agnes de Mille George Balanchine's The Nutcracker on tour to the Kennedy Center in November, and in Philadelphia in December Program Two: Four Temperaments - Balanchine Carmina Burana - Matthew Neenan Program Three: The Crossed Line - Matthew Neenan In the Night - Robbins The Concert - Robbins Program Four: Square Dance - Balanchine Afternoon of a Faun - Robbins* Company Premiere Requiem for a Rose - Annabelle Lopez Ochoa In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated - Forsythe* Company Premiere Program Five: Romeo and Juliet - John Cranko

Casting for both the orchestra and the dancers are up... enjoy! http://www.paballet.org/season/production....id=30&src=l

The rest of the season sounds amazing as well (at least as rumor has it)... but I'm waiting for something to be put in writing before I share!

"The Pennsylvania Ballet was handed $80,000 for the company premiere in April 2010 of In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, by the important American-born choreographer William Forsythe." The full article is here: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment...ce_funding.html