cubanmiamiboy

Prayers for Petersburg. A beautiful, vibrant city that without a doubt will be able to face and confront such evil.

Edited: Double post

I started to watch this and couldn't pass Albrecht and his 80's inspired lycra shorts. What a travesty of a production, mamma mia...

Edited: Double post.

I went to see this last night.  More thoughts later on, for which I plan to attend a different cast tonight, and tomorrow matinee.  But...just to give a hint of last night's, I swear Jeanette Delgado and Kleber Rebello are two of the MOST FINEST DANCERS I have ever witnessed in my entire balletomanne life.  They are truly MAGNIFICENT.

???

I am just watching this from the endless and marvelous collection of John Clifford channel. Oh my....what a magnificent production, sets and costumes. And then....Allegra...once again mesmerizing me. This is definitely NOT what I saw down here. Here it was bare and...just forgettable. 

Is this ballet presented with this opulence in its current production at City Ballet..?

I just hope she doesn't drag little sister Jeannette with her and out of here...?

1 hour ago, abatt said:

I would be thrilled to see her join NYCB (or, less likely, ABT), but I doubt it will happen.  

She would be PERFECT for ABT...

She will be certainly missed, but yes...go to the city, girl. 

17 hours ago, jsmu said:

It is indeed crazy, especially considering that Nutz is the one and only guaranteed moneymaker in the ballet rep, isn't it? Josette, I think you will adore the Balanchine Nutcracker live. Flowers alone is worth the entire price of admission, to say nothing of Snow (never seen a Snow anywhere close in terms of beauty) and the first act generally, which has remarkably masterful handling of kids and interactions between kids and adults...

B's Nut's Snow and Flowers are enough to "convert" to Balletomanne domains l.

I have been seeing the checkpoints at the Arsht Center for a while...and although it doesn't look too glamorous I am VERY happy that patrons' safety is being prioritized. Two thumbs up.??

1 hour ago, CTballetfan said:

A few years ago I saw Janie Taylor perform the role beautifully with New York City Ballet and at intermission I noticed Jacques D'Amboise sitting a few rows in front of me. I loved his dancing and had read his recent memoir so I asked him if I might say hello. He was very gracious and we reminisced about those days and about Allegra.

A little OT but..I also saw D'Amboise a few years ago and also after reading his book. A true gentleman...very humble and approachable. In that ocassion I asked him about "Apollo", and he told me that he much preferred the longer version-(birth and Parnassus). He also said that it had been very hard for him to dance the ballet in the televised version in such small studio. He laughed all the way during my mini-interview.?

BEST DRESSES.

Winner Viola Davis in Armani.

Taraji P. Henson in Alberta Ferreti

Karlie Kloss in Stella McCartney.

Jessica Biel in Kaufman Franco

Brie Larson

WORST DRESSED.

Octavia Spencer-(again...)-in Marchesa.

Dakota Johnson in Gucci.

Naomie Harris

Blanca Blanco

Sofia Boutella

Are we watching...? i dn't care for the ceremony...but watching the dresses in between push up sessions. Will report back. 

Just one name: JANELLE MONAE!! WHAAAAAT?!?!?! 

On 2/13/2017 at 8:21 AM, DanielBenton said:

Cubanmiamiboy - Yes is was from the D'Amboise autobiography: he (J.D.) asked Balanchine the question

Thanks!!🤗

I really can't remember where did I get this quote from Balanchine-(and it was fairly recent that I read it...in someone's memoir...maybe D'Amboise's?), but there is a moment when someone asks Balanchine that if he had to name ONE single name from the myriad of ballerinas who inspired him in his long choreographic life, which would his favorite and he, without hesitation, rapidly answered "Allegra".  And something along the lines that he still knew that he couldn't get all he wanted from her, but it was her "The One".

Edited: I posted a message meant to go on Wassup!! ???

On 2/7/2017 at 5:42 PM, pherank said:

Hello Altongrimes - there isn't really a "definitive" work that makes everyone happy. The Homans book is liked about as well as any - except for the ending section (she took a lot of flak for that part).

You could try to locate this one at your library:

 

Ballet in Western Culture: A History of Its Origins and Evolution
Carol Lee
https://www.amazon.com/Ballet-Western-Culture-History-Evolution/dp/0415942578

 

You really just have to read books that focus on particular eras and people, such as Lynn Garafola's Diaghilev's Ballets Russes to piece things together in your own mind. 

I loved Homan's book..although her grim epilogue spoiled the whole thing.???

Oooh...thanks for the notes, RG.  I have never heard that name-(Albisson).  I thought Toumanova was the lead in Les Rubis.  Well...it was fun "visualizing" Albisson as Toumanova  in the original color scheme of the ballet.  

I have seen Symphony in C-(not too often)-and mainly in NY, a couple of runs in Miami and several online videos.  Still...every time I watch the John Clifford 1973 video-(on my smart TV)-I get glued to the screen whenever the second movements comes along.  What is with Allegra Kent that makes this section...almost surreal..???.  There is something on her which I can't quite describe...that comes from within and out.  She dances this all the way from her face to her fingers.  There is as if she truly inhabits the music...as if she BECOMES the music itself.  Very rarely I have seen a ballerina that is able to transmit almost a hypnotic quality to the choreography.  What was that?! I can't describe it as aloofness...or sadness-(could it be maybe..??), but it is certainly something she has...probably a natural quality of hers.  It is very strange, but that particular movement WITH HER, doesn't fail to move me to tears.  Can someone shred some light on the subject...? What is this strange feeling of Kent that she radiates...? Who IS Allegra Kent..? What was going on with her as a ballerina-(or maybe as a person)- while in NYCB....? Yes...it is very peculiar what she gives...what she does....but definitely beautiful and certainly-(and strangely)- unique.

4 hours ago, Juliet said:

Actually, second cast pulled out of this afternoon. First cast on Sunday.

 

So...only one cast for the three nights...?

I watch quite often the older multi colored version of the ballet-(as well as the all white 1973's Clifford's video).  Here, in the POB, when I watch the first movement in red, I swear I can "see" Toumanova in the solo ballerina, fouettes and everything!-(which was her trademark). She even looks like pics of Toumanova I have seen! Who is she..?

21 minutes ago, brokenwing said:

 

Christian, it sounds like you are as big of a Delgado fan as I am, and if that's the case, I imagine you are excited about her debut in 'Walpurgisnacht' today. A major ballerina in a major Balanchine role. <3

I am...but I think she has been, for quite a time now, heavily underused, and for that matters totally absent from the big major roles of the company's last seasons-(Odette, Giselle, Titania and now The Fairy). She is being used rather as a soloist, and I just find that appalling.

I have edited the pictures. I must had mixed up the names while posting them-(I have been thinking heavily about Messmer  during this run to why is that I still don't get her being, apparently, the most favored dancer of the company right now. Anyhow...  I saw both opening night and last night, and it was indeed the same casting.

I don't know what's up with the fairy costume, but I found it makes Messmer look quite square.

The tossing of the baby among The Fairy and her entourage was indeed awkward, although I suppose it hints at their general disregard for human life.

Oh...and last night I also "heard" the lovely "None but the lonely heart", which   came and went inadvertently over my head the previous night.