cubanmiamiboy

Why not insert a drunken visit to a tattoo parlour into Prodigal Son,

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....

the Royal Ballet could have crossed the Atlantic in one of Beryl Grey's pointe shoes

with enough effort a female dancer could keep her breasts from moving

He absolutely would not tolerate someone ignoring an instructor or showing up his students.

RIP, Mr. Adams.

For my part, I didn't object to the dance theatre aspects of the production, which I've only seen on video. However, I couldn't quite get used to the complete reordering of the score. Sure, I'm used to hearing Swan Lake rearranged every which way, but I've always thought of the Nutcracker score as pretty much perfect as written. I still have trouble getting used to the placement of the Sugarplum Fairy's variation in Balanchine's version, or his interpolation of music from The Sleeping Beauty, beautiful though it is. In Murphy's version the music is not at all in the familiar order, and for me it's strange to hear the lushest and grandest music from Act 2 being used for something other than the ballet's finale, so ultimately I found the production to be anti-climactic because of it.

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.

Then we had the Catoya-Sarabia "Diamonds", and what an event that was.

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 .

Rolando Sarabia was everything she needed, evidently, although if you look at the Farrell-Martins video, you will see that he expresses "regard from a distance" for his queen in the passage where he travels and jumps across the space behind her, which I did not see from the three MCB men, who more merely moved and jumped, filling out a pattern.

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!...

What other major ballet dancers have started out in figure skating or gymnastics?

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

I found this ballet a moving memorial to the past from the very beginning with its poignant evocation of the memories of migrants - memories of loss, love and joy.

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.

Is she setting next year's fashion trend?

So do you think Giselle's dress should be peasant-like with earth tones, or should the prettiest girl in the village also be somewhat dolled up?

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...

Amen, Mel

As usual, Mel...

"the most critically acclaimed dancer since Nureyev."

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

...there are a lot of magnificent solists like (...), Catherine Zuasnabar,(...)

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...

with the ballerina wearing a mask a la Madonna 'Erotica'

Can't help but loving the reference...

just come on over and let me show you how to do this neat little procedure. That's me at the top of frame, bobwig and all.Ever read Benjamin Rush on surgery? His principal advice is, "work as fast as you possibly can!"

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

Well, people, what are we reading?

"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.

Well, people, what are we reading?

"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...

(from Ft. Lauderdale) I'm not able to post at length just now, but the (first!) Catoya-Sarabia Diamonds went this afternoon,

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

Well, people, what are we reading?

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

Thankfully, Quiggin posted the link to the MCB Jewels video preview, the discussion of which has made the thread. But I'll be more diligent about posting a link to the "Recent Performances" review, so the corresponding review thread is one click away.

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...

The book is due to be published in the UK, during October 2007. Available via the Royal Opera House on-line shop (preorder):

http://www.rohshop.org/acatalog/info_NO_WAY_HOME_BK.html

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

Not only fantastic in 'From Here to Eternity' ..

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 can only wonder if the review of MCB will impact on the rehearsals and coaching of NYCB's upcoming performances of Jewels in January. I am planning on getting tickets.

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

And Cristian, any further thoughts that might help the rest of us as we prepare for future performances?

Hi bart!..The only thing that i'm just dying to see, and i guess it will have to wait until the II Program starts, is Sarabita paired with Catoya. Maybe for the upcoming "Jewels" performance at the Kravis ?. If he could make a full recovery of his knee problems and dance the way i remember he used to, i'll assure you a memorable night...Do you have any news on the casts?