cubanmiamiboy

So Chicago, ah?. I've been wanting to go there forever...Anyways, that was a labor of love you did with your excelent detailed review. As i was reading it, i was having flashes of my own performance experience, and it's very interesting, as you noted, to se reflected in somebody elses's writing your own feelings on a particular aspect or detail of the work, even small ones that one might think would pass unnoticed...I really look forward to see your posts in the future!. bart, i spotted Daniel Sarabia in the Corps. I can't wait to see him doing something more substantial soon. I saw him at the launching of the Classical Cuban Ballet of Miami Gala more than a year ago doing Don Quijote PDD, and he was great...

Please, can we keep the ballet in its traditional ways...? If we start getting used to tatooed Giselles, what's next...? we might as well eliminate the tutus so we can start seeing hyperextended developes and athletc 6 pm arabesques in full display...Lovely!

...can't imagine Marie Taglioni with a tatoo...and there's always the risk of being visible, even with a good make up....

RIP, Mr. Adams.

I totally agree with you in the aspect of taking music liberties while rechoreographing a ballet. I do certainly have problems if i don't see the Sugar Plum Fairy dancing the "SPF PDD" adagio , but rather Clara in her nightgown, for what i've always considered a good to be respectful to both the choreography and the score, (and i know this is Ballet Talk, and not Classical Music Talk, but still), and that's why ( ) i've always had some problems accepting the "original" status of the 1895 Tchaikowsky-truncated Swan Lake production rather than the 1874 one )There, i finally said it!. But back to "The story of Clara", i haven't seen this DVD, but for what i've read , i believe this is not another "Nutcracker" production, but rather a theatrical work with incorporated dancing elements telling a complex story that takes the Tchaikowsky ballet as a centerpiece, powerful leid motif and inspiration.

Jack, many thanks for your post! I must confess, as i was reading it, my mouth was watering just thinking about the Catoya/Sarabia performance. Now i know that i have to see them at the Kravis. I was hoping to see them in Broward, but again, i got caught in a middle of my never ending studying and couldn't go . I must proudly note that this is an essential to learn in the partnering demands of the cuban school. The male dancer, since they start PDD classes, is taught to be in fully guarding all the time at his ballerina demands, dance for her and look at her instead of the audience. I always remember Sarabita being specially carefull about this. Jose Manuel Carreno works like that too.... Again, thank you for taking the time to write your excelent and detailed review. It's very pleasant to feel the presence of a South Floridian in BT among the majority new yorker fellows. So,we had Miami and Broward already... Now, it's your turn, Bart!...

Viengsay Valdes, principal at Ballet Nacional de Cuba, started as a gymnast before getting into ballet...No wonder those never ending balances...!

Thanks for this information, Innopac. I'm looking forward to get the DVD. I'm sure some of us relate to this story, and it makes perfect sense to place it in Christmas time, when the past and the memories of your homeland hunts you more than ever.

Personally, i don't want to see a costume that pretends to look like an original peasant skirt. If we would stick to the real thing, they might as well present the tutus somehow dirty and ripped off...No, i like the "ilusion" of the ballet, and the cute game on presenting a "village girl" with an obviously unreal dolled up version of a costume. That's why my pick goes to the fluffy and over the top blue Bestmernova's lovely number for the Bolshoi old production with Lavrowsky. For the real thing...well, there's a lot of "reality" out there, and it's not glamorous nor pretty...Let's keep the game of the ilusion of the imperial days alive! Again, this is my own humble opinion...

As usual, Mel...

That's my boy.! Bravo Carlitos!!!

Wow, you never know when and how one will come across a forgotten name. She was one of the young promises of Ballet Nacional de Cuba more than 10 years ago, and suddenly dissapeared. Also, one of our many black dancers. (Specially remember her Godmother Fairy in BNC/ Strauss's "Cinderella") Anyways, back to Bejart...

Can't help but loving the reference...

That's ,indeed, a nice incision...

"Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome". by G.Umpierrez ,M Khajavi M and A Kitabchi . I just love those ol' fashioned bodice-rippers! One hopes epaulement has been cherished.

"Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome". by G.Umpierrez ,M Khajavi M and A Kitabchi . :smilie_ Translation ... please! (Am I correct to assume that this is NOT the text on which "Metastaeis and Pithoprakta" was based ??? ) ...it's just work related...basically about diabetes...

I so envy you, Jack...please, details. ..!!!Does he still display those magnificent "ronde de jambes"...?

"Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome". by G.Umpierrez ,M Khajavi M and A Kitabchi .

Actually, when i finished writing my review on "Jewels", i almost made the mistake to post it on the thread that i had started on"Heads on" . . Then, i remembered that "Recent Performances" had been created for that matters, and opened a new topic there..but i agree that is easy to forget...

I ordered the book already...can't wait to get it... Here's an extract... http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle2539937.ece

Here's an update on Carlos performance... Renowned Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta is presenting his show "Carlos Acosta and Friends" with Cuban National Ballet members in London in late October. The show mixes classical dance techniques and choreographies with Afro-Cuban drum rhythms and live music. Acosta, a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet since 2003, is taking top dancers of Cuba's National Ballet to London for six performances of his program that promises to bring a distinct Cuban flavor and energy to the European city. While in Havana in August, the dancer rehearsed a program with seven members of the Cuban National Ballet that will be performed at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre. "Carlos Acosta and Friends" tells the contemporary story of a young woman, played by Yolanda Correa, who wears jeans and dark glasses as she reads a book of stories to her uninterested boyfriend -- Javier Torres. They quarrel and he leaves. The four classical pieces arise from stories she imagines in her book that include "El rio y el bosque," "Muñecos" and "Paso a tres" by Cuban choreographer Alberto Mendez. Acosta and Cuban National Ballet Company principal dancer Viengsay Valdes will also dance Acosta's favorite pas de deux: Petipa's "Le Corsaire." The program ends with an energetic samba played by its Cuban composer Aldo Lopez Gavilan and his band. http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/cultura/notes.htm

Sad news..."From here..." was the center piece of an ongoing joke between somebody who i always remember dearly and i...He would tease me all the time about how kitsh i was for listing the famous beach scene as one of my all time favorites... It brings back a lot of memories... RIP, Deborah Kerr...

I'll be there too!!!... so we'll see..."The battle of Jewels: MCB vs. NYCB"