Barbara

My copy of the "On Your Toes" piece doesn't include this delightful sequence. I don't think I'd every seen this. Thanks for the link, I love it!

Thank you so much for the laugh - I needed that!

Pleeeease, post Spoiler Alert before announcing the days Oly outcomes! Thanks!!!

Reading all the Jo Nesbo thrillers. I'm on Snowman now, Leopard to go before his new one this fall.

The feed cut off at 1:14:31 when I was watching. Total time is supposed to be 1:36:04. Did this happen to anyone else? Thanks!

I'd also like to see Roddy Doble given chances at a few more things. How about purple Rothbart? Or a Hilarion?

I don't see anything regarding what happened. Is he injured?

Do you think he'll enter as principal, as he is at Boston Ballet? Wonder when the announcement will be made. Look forward to hearing from posters here that have seen him dance.

Yes, please - I have been waiting patiently for Manon!

bingham, I have the same wish for Month in the Country and the same casting you mention. I think I read somewhere that A. Dowell owns the rights. I wonder how difficult it would be for ABT to acquire it for a season or two.

I felt so bad for Stella - she wouldn't have come off point if Sascha had arrived in time to assist her pirouettes. Before that happened I was finding myself quite impressed with his dancing (unlike in previous roles) but I think he was showing off his own turns and therefore took too long to get in place behind Stella. I hope he irons this out for Friday. I think of all the purple Rothbarts I've seen (of course not counting magificent Marcelo or Hallberg) Hammoudi has the most potential. He has the look definitely, but needs to work on the technique. I'll be interested to see how he develops.

But ABT now has the JKO school. How will this change the dynamic in years to come?

I'm curious as to where Ballet West fits into the hierarchy of best regional companies. Where do they fit in relation to San Francisco, Boston, Miami, PNB, Houston, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Joffrey, others? Perhaps San Francisco is more in line with NYCB and ABT?

I'll add a different view of the Swan Lake. I knew it was a modern-ish re-imagining so I wasn't expecting much and was thankful that this wasn't going to be the only Swan Lake on my menu this year (upcoming Hallberg/Semionova). I was able to get low cost tickets through TDF or else I would not have sampled this production. So basically I went not expecting much and felt if all else fails at least there will be the music. I have to say that I found it very compelling. The cast I saw was Amber Scott, Adam Bull and Lana Jones; each one excellent dancer/actors. Physically Adam Bull reminded me of a Hallberg/Stearns mix. Amber Scott was touching and vulnerable and Lana Jones proved that a petite dancer can have chilling stage presence. I liked the costumes in the cream-colored monochromatic first act and the black costuming at the ball in the last act. My biggest complaint is that it needed some definite editing - Odette goes crazy, then goes crazy some more, then seems better but then goes REALLY crazy. And the last act seemed to end but no, still more, and then still more. The performance seemed almost sold out as I peered around the orchestra level. The balconies were occupied but I couldn't tell if they were to capacity. The audience loved the performance and gave it a standing ovation singling out Amber Scott with the most applause. So no, not a beloved Swan Lake but one I'm happy to have seen and welcomed the introduction to some wonderful dancers.

I remember getting these. One or two would be in the box with your newly purchased toe shoes. Probably the late 1950s. My mother would take me by bus to downtown LA Capezio store since in those years there was no where to buy toe shoes in the burbs. Oh how I wish I had saved those cards!

Ray, I think Gomes does that too and it is thrilling. This time Hallberg also flung his head back as if in exhaustion when he comes down on one knee at the end of his entrechats. Everyone here has articulated my thoughts about this memorable performance. Something I can add about Osipova is the lovely touches she adds in the first act. She is a Giselle that is obviously of a weak constitution from the very start. The way she lays her head on Albrecht's shoulder as if gathering her energy to continue dancing - so touching. And here's the icing on the cake: after the performance the trainer was on the plaza with the two Russian Borzois. What a treat! She explained they were from PA and stay in a nearby hotel during the Giselle run, a hotel with a lawn for the dogs. They know the music so well that they hear their cue and immediately arise to go on stage! A small crowd had gathered to admire the dogs when a woman arrived in a wheelchair - the dogs immediately went to her and the trainer explained that they are therapy dogs as well, which would explain their calm demeanor. A wonderful afternoon and one I won't soon forget!

Never knew Von Rothbart was an owl! I'll have to check out the ABT swamp creature more carefully for owlish aspects.

Have you considered Kickstarter, 4mrdncr?

Meant to also say I'm very much in favor of creating a principal character level and fill it immediately with Roman (!!!), Craig, and Julio. Maybe there are apprentices that would aspire to this category if they are not leading man types.

How about promoting both Stella and Sascha to principal status, using Sascha as the utility/fill in dancer? I've also been impressed with Roddy Doble over the last few years and feel he should certainly be promoted to soloist. He's got the virility and appears tall on stage and I feel could do much more than he is given. On the issue of height. Tamm, who I like a lot, did not appear that tall when I saw him fill in for Hallberg in Nutcracker last Dec. Maybe I just had the vision of the leaner musculature of Hallberg in my mind.

Lovely, I'm dancing inside too!

I always set my sights to get there early-ish but 11:00 is about the best I've managed (I'm a good 1.5 hrs away). I'm usually quite far back in the line. I'm still deciding whether to drive in, which would save me about 2 hrs or take the bus/subway, which is the cheapest way to go but time-consuming on a Sunday. Disappointed to hear there is rain predicted after all this beautiful weather.

Exchange period starts Sunday March 25th at noon.

I don't pretend to know all the reasons Alex Wong left MCB but Polunin's story sounds very similar - young man wanting to spread his wings in a more relaxed, less rarified atmosphere. I'm always aghast when someone wants to leave the classical ballet world since I love it so much as an audience member. But now that I see the wide range of experiences Alex Wong has made for himself, I understand where he may have been coming from. I hope young Mr. Polunin finds a path in life that will be rewarding for him. But more's the pity for we bunhead audience members.

Natalia, are you sure that was Millipied in the commercial? I thought the man looked much younger and wondered why Ben hadn't done the spot with Natalie. I'll have to watch for it again.