cubanmiamiboy

How about the American commentarist asking "why is the house upside down?" ,to which Pozner proceeded to explain Chagall's ways of painting..? Was he playing dumb or just plainly dumber...? "Oh...I knew that!"...(response post Pozner's elaborated explanation...geez...an even dumber late night comedy cliche...)

It is small scale Art Deco, Jack. I do like going around the neighborhoods looking at the simple lines of the sunny structures, but for the grand Art Deco feeling-(the sort with big buildings front bronze panels and heavy lobby lamps, which I'm more inclined to "feel")-I still have to jump on a plane...

I loved the return of Misha the bear. He was very popular in Cuba during and after the '80 games. I had a huge poster of him hung in my room as a kid.

Thanks for the report, Jack..! Yeah...I figured that this is my limitation-(and probably my inability to try to go against my instincts...). Oh well...we'll have Quiteria and Basilio next, so I'll be watching...

What a failure was the NCB 6 camera work in the ballet section of the ceremony. At the most times, it was the chandelier what the guy was pointing at, and many up shots-(I'm pretty sure they had the vague idea that this was some type of visual pattern thing, and so that's where they headed...). Oh, so shameful... I wonder if a decent telecast will be available on Youtube from a Russian source...

Jack...allow me to ask you something I've had in my head since I saw "Episodes". Now, I know about all the cons working against me being able to get such type of thing-(little exposure to abstract works, dislike for atonal music, etc..)-but...didn't you find this piece a little hard to enjoy..?

Oh...so she's advancing....that's good news indeed.!

I wonder if she has learned to do fouettes since the last-(and first and only)-time I saw her going completely out of control and almost falling after 12 Odile's...

Huum..."Pharaoh's.." is getting out of its case.... that's good news...

Just let me know via PM which performance will you attend. I'll be a pleasure to see you again, and we might even repeat the Cuban restaurant.!

Believe me, Jack-(and I don't know what brokenwing's post was, because it is now deleted)...this was not a case of "vulnerability adding dimension to fantasy world and drowning upon timeless reality"....this was plainly a case of wrong casting...these roles are not for these boys-(with the exception of Reyes perhaps). They were simply out of their league. And I'm sorry, MCB fans and/or dancers if any of you is reading this, but...not every male ballet dancer can pull out masculine roles with the same level of credibility as, let's say, Carlos Acosta or Reyneris Reyes. It is what it is, and if wrongly done, then it is a travesty. I would had love to see your impression, Jack, at seeing Jeremy Cox playing tough onstage...it was hard to digest. The last time I saw him dancing was in a backstage gala where he and Wong did a very good impersonation of Beyonce's "Single Ladies". He was better then.

Thanks, Jack...and let me keep going on now, because I was really frustrated that night. Why is this company reducing so visibly its percentage of balletic works in favor of those works by either contemporary troupes and now by Broadway..? What's next...maybe "Spring Awakening" or maybe "Cats"...?-(to stay in the classics..) This program's whole 50 %-(the one publicly announced)-was not ballet-(WST).Last program, same thing. The emphasis here and there, in the media and so on was based in Duato's thing. On top of everything, they decide to pair here the bad singing-(because it was BAD)-with this "Episodes"-(ok...maybe many of you NY'rs love it, it is in the bones of City Ballet, there are fond memories of it in the past and so on and so forth, but then, remember that you also have all the other great balletic stuff going on across the plaza, so it is not as if this is the only option...the only ballet to enjoy...which is my case here.). And talking about West Side Story. Why so purposely expose something this dancers lack, which is voice, instead of further dig the very vast world of the art form, a rich territory which its foundations are still partially uncovered by this company..? And what an ill fitted cast! Jeremy Cox as Riff is the most ridiculous thing I've seen onstage for years. Cox, and Chase Swatosh as Tony, and the rest of the "gang"-(Sean Breeden, Dunlap, Marshall et al)-looked as if they haven't even witnessed a street fight during their entire lives! MCB's men are better fitted to be called "boys". They are all too boyish and delicate looking to be convincing in this roles. The only one that looked the part was Reyneris Reyes as Bernardo. A couple of times there were voices off singing to their dancing-(as with Tony's solo). I don't know if this is supposed to be like that, but listening to an out of tune voice while another person is onstage and knowing that this is supposed to be done at the same time by the same actor wasn't pretty. Another take from FB. "When I saw this at NYCB I was really peeved. Those ballet dancers cannot do Broadway acting or attitude well. They immediately look silly" Ok...I deleted almost the other 50 % of this...rambling, because I realize this is what I'm doing...rambling.

Thanks, Jack. As polite and proper as always. I hope to see you at one point here back at the ballet!

I suspect we will witness Skorik's promotion to Principal instead. I wish Fateev would still have a sudden flash of common sense and leave her where she is. This "beautiful ballet tragedy" needs to have a quiet, decent ending.

You're right, Helene. Somova's ordeal preceded that of Skorik. But I think Somova's badness exposure focused more on her exaggerated extensions rather than lack of technique. Skorik went beyond Somova's point on that matter.

Definitely, Helene. I have witnessed in this very forum disagreements about Martins's tenure, or Hubbe... and Alonso was legendary for decades at stopping ballerinas to be rightfully promoted, but...this worldly exposure of Skorik's badness I think is a very isolated case. I don't think such thing has happened before to such extent AND in such iconic territory AND with such ample exposure. I mean...how many videos of a Prima of any company-(past or present)- focusing on her lack of technique are floating around the net...? And if there's the argument of Youtube being just a recent fixture...how many cases ballerinas, past or present, can have any similarity to what's going on with Skorik in terms of audience's public uproar..? I do believe that, even if AD's being questioned is an old thing, Skorik's case scenario is the first of such.

This was one of the most boring "ballet" evenings I've ever witnessed. Given, I don't "get" the sort of choreos like "Episodes". I hated the whole thing...the atonal music, the floor rolling, the, to me, nothingness to infinity...and yes, I read all about its history, Graham, Taylor, etc, etc. I guess I just approached it with the same curiosity I approached Duchamp's "Fountain"..("Oh, ok...so this is what it was, ok...the times, the significance...oh, ok...next..let's finally get to Rubens' Maria de Medici series...") Tchai.PDD was the blandest I've seen it in recent years. Cerdeiro is NOT up to this type of technical challenge-(I think he better stays in the "Episodes" territory)- , and Arja looked totally underwhelmed. Wet Side Story Suite. I don't even know where to start. I think this is the first time I saw a ballet company doing a musical and singing-(and bad singing, on top of everything...). Lopez is good at PR. She organized a post performance gala, and so all the rich Miamian socialites-(normally absent from ballet performances)-were there exhibiting their minks in 75 degrees Miami and having their pics taken by local media. Lourdes herself was stunning in a red carpet form fitting strapless red dress with a huge bow on her back. She spent time onstage pre performance acknowledging some rich Cuban sponsoring family. And she did so both in English and in Spanish. Smart woman, I think. Behind me there was an old couple in formal tuxedo and black gown attire, and the guy was very happy with West Side..."Oh, I love Brodway!", he said to his wife... In between all this 80's barefoot Duato and now this Brodway, I don't even know what to think. To better explain, I'll quote a FB exchange on the subject... -"What a caricature of a ballet program...MCB is in the verge of becoming a sad hybrid of a company. Bad singing, barefooted choreo...little exposure to the grand XIX Century core. Just very sad, BUT the house was happy and revenue was collected so I guess that's all that matters" -"I did not attend...MCB loosing its "ballet... -"It was so awkward...it looked to me like a modern dance company attempting at some classical stuff-(the boring "Episodes" and the bland TchaiPDD"

It is his job and his right, given, to do as he pleases, but...history-(and not only ballet's)-is full of case scenarios where "rightful" decision were-(are)-endlessly questioned when outcomes are just too much to witness or accept. Given, Skorik is dancing right now all she wants under her powerful tutelage, but given also that this is being exposed to the whole world as the decline of the company. It is not a win-win situation. Both Skorik and Fateev are destroying a legendary symbol. And yes...this is all "legal".

There's no puzzle. It is as simple as being in the right place at the right time favored by the right people. It is just very sad that a whole company is being discredited by such actions...

Oh...I need to be in the house for "Iolanta"...

Getting some hours of sleep before heading to the theater. Will report back!

My bad about the R&J-(but then...didn't they also danced MacMillan a couple of years ago...? I have to check, because now I'm confused...) Yes, brokenwing...I'm sure we could had wonderful Auroras and Odiles over here....what a waste.

Still no Petipa... And...why another R&J if the company recently presented McMillan's...? Nice to see Raymonda Variations, which I have never seen. I do have nice memories of Pas de Dix, so I'm happy to see this.

You are just missing the entry into the balletomane's realm... Want the secret code...?

This thing with the bids reminds me of those old silent clips of the serpentine dance ladies...it is all about the visual effects of the prop.