Figurante

Wu and Zou Yang danced in MCB's Sleeping Beauty last season. It would be wonderful to see them both in this role again at least. Luckily for us audience members, Sleeping Beauty is on the roster again. Yay! I believe they also danced the Nutcracker pas de deux together as well. Wu would be amazing in Emerald's pdd no matter whom her partner may be.... That is one of my wishes for this season! I have to say that Wu in Liturgy was something to DIE for as well! Zou Yang performed one show of Giselle with Tricia Albertson last season. His stage presence was phenominal, and so believable! It was the first time all season where he really shined through as an artist. It was actually one of my favorite Albright performances to date. I know he is cast in some certain wonderful things this coming season through word of mouth, but until casting is finalized and posted, nothing escapes from my lips! In any rate, these two dancers, no matter what ballet they perform, or whom they are paired with, are both full of integrity, and a definite delight to watch!

See below:

Here is a great article on Joseph Phillips, the coined "Golden Boy" of ballet, who has now joined MCB this season. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...T/70806016/1025

Victoria Morgan.... Twyla Tharp... Jillanna? Valentina Kozlova?

From the Kennedy Center Website: http://kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.c...amp;event=BIBSB Celebrating the remarkable breadth and depth of American ballet as never before, the Kennedy Center brings together nine renowned companies, many of which are rare visitors to Washington. Through three mixed repertory programs--each featuring an envoy of dance from the eastern, middle, and western U.S.--audiences can immerse themselves in a full range of our nation's magnificent ballet spirit. East coast companies include Pennsylvania Ballet with In the Night, Jerome Robbins's masterpiece that reveals the soul of Chopin's nocturnes through three romantic pas de deux. D.C.'s own The Washington Ballet performs Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs danced to "My Way," "Strangers in the Night," and more. Boston Ballet stages a new work by their Choreographer-in-Residence Jorma Elo. From America's heartland comes Kansas City Ballet with Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender's The Still Point, taking inspiration from Debussy's music and T.S. Eliot's poetry. Chicago's Joffrey Ballet performs Lilac Garden, Antony Tudor's haunting, Edwardian vision of lovers torn between society and their passionate longings. Houston Ballet's Velocity, by Artistic Director Stanton Welch, has been described as his "hyperkinetic tutu extravaganza." Arriving from beyond the Rocky Mountains is Salt Lake City's Ballet West performing Serenade, the first ballet George Balanchine created in the U.S., performed to the music of Tchaikovsky. Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet stages Jardí Tancat, Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato's first work, based on Catalonian folk songs. And Oregon Ballet Theatre will bring a work by Christopher Wheeldon. June 10 & 11 Ballet West--Serenade (Balanchine/Tchaikovsky) Pennsylvania Ballet--In the Night (Robbins/Chopin) Houston Ballet--Velocity (Welch/Torke) June 12 & 14 Pacific Northwest Ballet--Jardí Tancat (Duato/del Mar Bonet) Kansas City Ballet--The Still Point (Bolender/Debussy) The Washington Ballet--Nine Sinatra Songs (Tharp/various) June 13 & 15 Boston Ballet--Elo work to be announced Joffrey Ballet--Lilac Garden (Tudor/Chausson) Oregon Ballet Theatre--Wheeldon work to be announced -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arts Across America is made possible through the extraordinary generosity of Clarice and Robert H. Smith, Arlene and Robert P. Kogod and the Charles E. Smith Family Foundation.

Has Isanusi Garcia Rodriguez has been promoted to a Principal Soloist? His name has been moved up to this rank on the website... there is not official published information from any press... He rejoined Miami City Ballet for this coming season as a soloist... Here is his bio from the website: Isanusi Garcia Rodriguez Havana, Cuba Trained at the National School of the Arts in Havana and the Academy of Ballet and Jazz in Brazil. Danced with Carolina Ballet, Ballet National de Cuba, Torino Ballet and the National Ballet of Caracas Rejoined MCB as a Soloist in 2007. \ Anyone have any information? Miamicityballet.org

The full Basier de la Fee hasn't been performed in a very long time (except a pas de deux set by Tallchief at a Works and Processes program in 2004). If you mean, the Divertimento from "Le Baiser de la Fée" - NYCB performed for 2 seasons a year ago and it's on next winter's schedule. That's great news!! But I would still love to see the full version, as I have all the music.

I would love to see Glinka Pas de Trois @ nycb... I do not remember the last time it was performed, but it is definitely one of my favorites to dance! In addition I would also love to see The Fairy's Kiss, or Baiser de la Fee.... I am unaware also, of the last time this was performed.... In any rate, I adore the music! :-)

I have been lucky enough to see this ballet on many an occasion. I had a hard time at first. People in the audience mumbling how boring an hour and a half of waltz music is doesn't help my thought process. The second and third time I saw it, however, it definitely grew on me. I am so thankful to have seen it this past season with a cast of my all time favorite dancers. Jenny Ringer, Darci, Kyra and Rutherford, with Angle, Hubbe, Neal, and one other that is escaping my mind. In any rate, I absolutely ADORE the sets and costumes, and there is definitely something to be said when seeing it performed by such a cast as I just named.

I was wondering everyone's opinions on Gaynor Minden pointe shoes on dancers? I have seen numerous performances by a plethora of professional companies this summer, and there seems to be an abundance of dancers choosing to wear Gaynor Mindens, (especially at ABT, but perhaps this is a sponsorship thing?).... In any rate, it is rather doubtful that I will ever learn to like them on any dancer really, (although I really want to). I think I just find it scary when the satin wears off the box, and neon blue plastic is exposed, among other things. I wouldn't ever want to worry about something like that with my shoes! Then again, I suppose that in the end, it is the dancer's choice on what type of shoe to wear, and what they are comfortable in... but I definitely feel that there are some dancers that are wearing Gaynor Minden shoes, whose feet would look completely different (and much better) in a different brand of shoe. Ah well. Any thoughts?

All of the bios are up for all the new dancers in Miami City Ballet for this coming season..... still waiting on the head shots... but I'm sure it will be any day now... especially since Rolando Sarabia's is already up http://miamicityballet.org/

oooh.. bummer. Well, at least the reviewed sentiment is somewhat cohesive throughout the country

The first immediate dancer that sticks out in my mind is Ashley Bouder. Her musicality coupled with her technique makes for her impeccable phrasing.

I was wondering; Is Valerie Limbrunner related to Suzanne Limbrunner who used to be in Miami City Ballet? She is now in Bordeaux dancing: http://www.opera-bordeaux.com/index.php?id=22. Anyways, I was just wondering if anyone knew. Suzanne is a beautiful dancer!

Oops! Thanks bart!

I just picked up this book yesterday from Borders. I will withhold my opinion thus far until I've gotten a little farther. The August issue of Dance Magazine features the book in its recommendation section along with Before, Between and Beyond: Three Decades of Dance Writing by Sally Barnes and Landscape with Moving Figures: A Decade on Dance by Laura Jacobs. Here is the Entertainment Weekly book review on Acocella. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20011339,00.html

Thank you for that!

Piazzolla Caldera is lovely. One of my favorites... and free now at that! I'm going to try to make it up to the city to see the performance on the 4th...

Sorry.... I know these aren't really related to this topic.. but... Two other movies that are definitely worth seeing are: Letters from Iwo Jima The Last King of Scotland And two recent ones you MUST see: Joshua Sicko Both are AMAZING. Especially Joshua. Psychological child horror films always get me. And of course, Sicko makes me want to pick up my bags and move overseas to a company with crazy healthcare arrangements. More mainstream, I thought 28 Weeks Later was properly fictional thriller. P.S. two others I am dying to see are Black Book and Naqaab. Unfortunately I am in a city where indys are sporadically shown.. Has anyone seen them? Opinions?

Oh thank goodness someone posted about The Lives of Others. My gosh.. I think it may be one of my favorite movies yet, as I've seen it around 6 times, I think. I fell in love with Weisler and the plot outline surrounding the "starving artist" type. I definitely recommend it!

Perhaps it is somewhat comparable to today's Julia Stiles in Saved the Last Dance - ballet wise? Mme. Hermine - I just meant that in the forties, ballet was more raw and unfinished than today... And we are lucky that is has progressed into something more polished.

I think this is an interesting topic. I agree with Mel. I believe the costumes should change with the coming of age. But, for example, I have recently seen Kudelka's version of Cinderella performed by ABT, and I was appauled at the sets. Granted, it was a very different version of the ballet, and I can handle that with respect to new choreography, and an innovative way of telling the story. But the sets were completely Art Deco-esque, and not appealing to me personally. I mean, it still is Cinderella, a classic. On top of this, correct me if I'm wrong.. but Most Balanchine ballets have a design for costumes and sets that can be altered slightly, but not to the extreme flexibility as other ballets by other choreographers. I kind of like that. It keeps a part of ballet history grounded and unchanging. Perhaps this is why I am so obsessive over the correct way to perform Balanchine ballets. I always want to perform them as they were originally, rather than what would suit me best (as some companies do, as I have found, and it appauls me!). In any rate, I am getting off topic. I think that sets and costumes should correspond with the ballet, while still keeping with the times, but not be overly flamboyant (ABT Cinderella), or overly historical.

haha.... it was the forties! At least ballet has matured to a much more pleasing art form.

Thanks for that! How did I not know that website existed! Well. now I have a new site to pick through and find new videos!.. thanks!

I was watching television the other day (which I rarely do).. but in this instance, I actually found something worthwhile and unrelated to reality tv. I came across the ending of a movie called The Unfinished Dance .. i believe it was circa 1947.. I was wondering if anyone has seen or heard of it? I tried searching online to rent it, or even to buy, but found nothing. It was a rather interesting movie, (or what I saw of it) and I love the mid-forty time period.... anyways.. if you have any info.. please let me know! Thanks! p.s. sorry .. this is more of a movie, than a performace by a company.. .. but still ballet related nevertheless...