theo

I got so caught up in the highlights of the Saturday Matinee that a forgot to voice my one complaint:  The Bows.  The entire cast never came out and I thought that was a shame.    There were also no flowers.  Veronika certainly deserved them!  Entirely too brief and understated in my opinion.  

Stand outs of the Saturday Matinee (In my Humble Opinion):

VERONIKA!  As I mentioned in an earlier post, she was absolutely beautiful!  She commanded every moment she was on the stage.  She IS O/O!   

I find myself almost without words describe it. To try to say more would spoil it. 

James Whiteside.  I felt that  he was trying to be an attentive partner.  He seemed very concentrated on being there for Veronika.  I didn't sense a chemistry between them just yet, but I saw him try to gaze at her and I'm not sure she noticed it.  I felt like she didn't expect it and therefore was not Looking for it.  I found his approach to some of the movements interesting.  I am not proficient with ballet terminology so I won't attempt to describe some of the steps that caught my eye.  At certain points he seemed to think, stop, move.  I was sitting in the fourth row so I could really see him working.  Not in a bad way though.  He just seemed very thoughtful about the way he moved.

Calvin Royal!  OK, I really liked him a lot.  He shines. He moves beautifully and elegantly and he also commands the stage.   I hope he does get promoted soon.

Katherine Williams - She danced beautifully and had an infections smile.  She made me feel happy.

Cortney Lavine -  She was  the Spanish Princess.  It's not a big role, but  I thought she sparkled.

Christine Shevchenko - She was the Italian Princess.  Again, not a big role but there was something very 'present' about her.  I saw her in Sleeping Beauty last year. She was the Diamond Fairy for my performance.  She seemed to have a whole other way about her this time though.  Much more elegant.

Gabe Stone Shayer  - In the Neapolitan Dance.  He was a burst of energy and such fun to watch; a joy actually. 

Jamie Kopit - She's got a nice comedic side to her.  I can always pick her out on stage.

And finally...THE SWANS!  They were really a pleasure to watch. Excellent performances for all of them! Brava!

Thank you ABT for a truly enjoyable afternoon!

Yes she was!!  Absolutely beautiful!!

As far as the orchestra is concerned, if you want to see feet, then you should be no closer than the 4th row. If you're not a tall person, then I would suggest attempting to grab an aisle seat. Otherwise you could be squirming around tall heads to try to get a view. Just to the left or right of orchestra center is okay too. You still get a near center view from the 3rd or 4th seat in on the side rows. Kennedy Center also offers a 'virtual' tour of the theater. You can access the tour from the "Visit" tab on the homepage. You can also get an idea of the view from a particular section if you access the seating chart when attempting to buy a ticket. If you access the “let us chose for you” link you’ll see a view of the Opera House with the seating chart next to it. Hovering over a particular section gives you an idea of the view.

From time to time I search for dancers that pop off the grid. I found this today. It looks like Simone Messmer will be dancing in Catskill Ballet Theater's Nutcracker.

http://catskillballet.org/?page_id=360

Thanks Batsuchan. I've never been to that website before. I'm going to check it out!

Thanks little-junkie!

Hi Batsuchan

Sorry for the double post. I'm lousy with the "quote" thing. I'm wondering how you were able to get to the "Fond Farewells" gallery on ABT's website? I can get to the gallery via the link you've included but I can't get to it any other way?!

Hmm, I don't think I saw this posted anywhere, but ABT has a gallery devoted to Angel and Ethan photos, in honor of their farewells:

http://www.abt.org/g...?Gallery_ID=117

Hi,

so I haven't been to City Center for very many years. Back in the early 90's I would sit in the front row and I was able to see everything, including feet, despite the fact that I was looking up a little.

This year is a big B'day for me, and my gift to me is to trek up to NY from DC to City Center. I wanted to do this mostly because City Center is (used to be I guess ) one of those cool more intimate places that you can/ could sit right in front, unobstructed and see feet, faces and every other nuance. And of course, you get to see some up and coming and/or lower profile dancers perform. Win, win and win!

So my question is, even though I might be looking up, will I still be able to see the bottom half of the dancers including feet? I would appreciate it if anybody could shed a bit more light on the seating after renovations. My concern with the balcony is that I will not be as close as I would love to be. This is my pure indulgence!

Replies are very much appreciated!

Quick thoughts about today's matinee (Sat) with Seo, Muntagirov and Boylston. It was an enjoyable performance. The audience truly appreciaed Montagirov, and I was among them. He’s a guest artist, and you could kind of tell that he hasn’t quite mixed in yet; but he had a lovely charm about him, and you just couldn’t help but love him. I thought he looked a bit like Stiefel from a distance. I hope he dances more with this company. I think he and ABT are a good fit.

The ladies were also lovely. I think Hee is a lovely Nikia in the making. I enjoyed her performance, but I feel like there's more in her. It seems like she could almost be on the verge of letting go, but hasn’t quite yet. She got better and better as the performance progressed.

I think Isabella is a great Gamzatti. She was a bit unsteady in the first act, and eventually fell and appeared to be visibly injured. I was sitting in the 4th row a bit to the left and could clearly see her limping as soon as she got up from her fall, and as she continued off stage. It was hard to watch. I thought.....”Oh... they will have to replace her”. But no, she came back like a trouper and did very well for the rest of the performance, in my opinion. It was almost as if the fall was her signal to relax and let loose. The audience seemed to appreciate her "Moxie" in taking a fall, and coming back without once losing the regal "Gamzatti" persona. Brava!

I was with my husband today. He’s been pretty good about accompanying me in the past few years. When Isabella fell and the first act came to a close, I don’t think he knew what to make of it all. I whispered in his ear, “the best is yet to come”. I’ll tell you what, when the curtain rose and the shade came out, he was memorized. I thought the corpse did an admirable job, and so did he!

Let us not forget the lovely, lovely soloists. Today, for me, Sarah Lane stood out among them all.

I’m interested to hear what other people thought.

Of course I meant "corps" not 'corpse" Bedtime for Bonzo.

Didn't want to forget: Roddy Doble was a fun High Brahmin. He was replacing Roman Zhurbin. The audience appreciated him, as did I.

The real reason I had to add to my previous post though, was because I could not let it alone without mentioning Aaron Scott as the Bronze Idol. "Silk Explosion" is what comes to mind. He was explosive, yet smooth as silk; graceful, strong and....oh so shiny!

Quick thoughts about today's matinee (Sat) with Seo, Muntagirov and Boylston. It was an enjoyable performance. The audience truly appreciaed Montagirov, and I was among them. He’s a guest artist, and you could kind of tell that he hasn’t quite mixed in yet; but he had a lovely charm about him, and you just couldn’t help but love him. I thought he looked a bit like Stiefel from a distance. I hope he dances more with this company. I think he and ABT are a good fit.

The ladies were also lovely. I think Hee is a lovely Nikia in the making. I enjoyed her performance, but I feel like there's more in her. It seems like she could almost be on the verge of letting go, but hasn’t quite yet. She got better and better as the performance progressed.

I think Isabella is a great Gamzatti. She was a bit unsteady in the first act, and eventually fell and appeared to be visibly injured. I was sitting in the 4th row a bit to the left and could clearly see her limping as soon as she got up from her fall, and as she continued off stage. It was hard to watch. I thought.....”Oh... they will have to replace her”. But no, she came back like a trouper and did very well for the rest of the performance, in my opinion. It was almost as if the fall was her signal to relax and let loose. The audience seemed to appreciate her "Moxie" in taking a fall, and coming back without once losing the regal "Gamzatti" persona. Brava!

I was with my husband today. He’s been pretty good about accompanying me in the past few years. When Isabella fell and the first act came to a close, I don’t think he knew what to make of it all. I whispered in his ear, “the best is yet to come”. I’ll tell you what, when the curtain rose and the shade came out, he was memorized. I thought the corpse did an admirable job, and so did he!

Let us not forget the lovely, lovely soloists. Today, for me, Sarah Lane stood out among them all.

I’m interested to hear what other people thought.

Bart, I actually turned it off after the darned bees and right after Mother Gigogne appeared. Sounds like it was a good idea. I know babies cry, but punching them is absolutely out of the question!

theo, what did you think about the grown men punching or killing the babies when they came out of Mother Gigogne's skirts? That surprised me. I still don't understand what the point was. Everything else was okay as something different. I found it fascinating, but I don't think it should be someone's first Nutcracker. There were things I liked and things I didn't like. I really didn't like the men abusing the babies. It was the main thing I really did not understand. Why would they do that in the land of sweets? It made no sense. There was a dark element to this production but harming babies is way too dark for Nutcracker, in my opinion. Or did I misinterpret this? I wish someone knew what it meant and could explain it to me.

I watched the Chemiakin/Shemyakin version for the Mariinsky last night. I'll cut right to the chase....HATED IT... First word that came to my mind was "Abomination". No insult directed at the dancers though. They were just doing their jobs.

It makes me very happy to know that gifted people I wrote about last year (and their Mom's!) have read my words. Ms. Mariana and that wonderful young lady (lead creature), you were a pleasure to watch. Sorry I haven't had an opportunity to catch Baltimore Ballet this year. I'll be back though. I hope Baltimore Ballet is having a great season and that many folks come to enjoy it!

.

Thank you for actually posting the casting Natalia. I was in a hurry when I wrote yesterday. I guess that's obvious by my use of the term "threat" in my last sentence, as opposed to "thread" as I had intended. I will try to make lemonade out of lemons though by saying that the casting for the Feb 4 matinee "threatens" to be fabulous!

Folks, the casting is posted on the ABT website for the February performances at Kennedy Center. I'm attending the Saturday Matinee on February 4th. Bought the tickets in the blind with a hopeful heart. Casting is promising for the performance I am attending; two of ABT's up and coming ladies, and a dynamic guest artist in the male lead. Faith prevails.

I'm sorry ABT did not cast one of their own as the male lead though. This is a shame; yet I'm pretty excited about the guest artist , he seems very interesting, and was in fact specifically wished for by another member in a previous threat. Pretty cool.

Maria Bystrova Is gone from the ABT Roster. She had been a Jennifer Alexander Award recipient not to long ago. I'm wondering if anybody knows where she went?

Hi,

I did not make it to BMA but I've already purchased my tickets for the April performance at Maryland Hall. I will report back after that.

Hi,

I was looking at that March 12 performance. I'm also considering catching you folks in April for Star Spangled Sketches. Not sure which one I'll attend but it's pretty much a guarantee that I'll be back, front row center as is my habit whenever possible.

Regarding Romeo and Juliet, it was obvious that emotions were running high for the dancers. When Joshua Burnham and Nichole Seitz took their bow they were obviously emotionally drained. The next time I see tissues being sold I will know that you had a very good reason for selling them. Luckily, I always bring my own.

You are a true theater company and I thought the dancers coming in to the aisles and walking pretty much right in front of me was a great touch. I haven't been that close to point shoes in years!

Thank you for all you do.

Tari,

I'm so sorry I didn't read your original post more carefully! I don't know how I missed that. I see clearly now that you were asking about BTM. I'm glad you got the answer you were looking for even if it was in a round about way.

Theo

Hi theo,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I was originally asking about the Ballet Theater of Maryland performance, which you responded to so well on another thread (and I agree!), but your response on this thread also brings out a similar point - the importance of good, honest acting in dance. This is something I've noticed in my limited experience, that I most enjoy performances that evoke emotion, or a memory, or a better understanding of relationships, and those that lack that, while they can be great technically, are not that memorable to me. It's the honest emotion that makes dance relevant and fresh. And it took me a while to understand why so many companies were called "Ballet Theater" until I realized that the "theater" part was an essential feature!

Thanks for helping me put it all into perspective.

Hi Tari,

It's an honor to be asked my opinion, thank you. I struggled with Baltimore Ballet's production of the Balcony Scene from Romeo and Juliet. The steps and movements were technically executed well enough, but what was missing was the emotion that this ballet really demands. I think acting is something the company needs to work on. Either that or they need to stick to works that don't require emotion to convey a particular story or choreographer's vision. I have only seen them perform a few times. One of my favorite performances of theirs was a piece called "Salome's Daughters," which is a modern work that was choreographed by Nejla Yatkin, one of Dance Magazine's "25 artists to watch in 2009." I was front row center for that performance and thought it suited the company (which has had several changes in the roster since then) very well indeed. They were natural in that piece and I would even go as far as to say they were dazzling.

I am no ballet expert either but I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to it since I was very young and was blessed with the ability to see world class companies and dancers perform live. I even danced myself, but lacked the discipline, and probably the talent to attempt to pursue it professionally. Sometimes love is not enough. And I do LOVE this art form. I feel it in my bones (especially my feet) and in my heart when ever I watch a performance.

In my humble opinion, Baltimore Ballet appears to be trying to find its identity. They rely a lot on guest artists which I think may prevent them from truly developing as a cohesive unit/company on their own. They are worth watching though and as I said in my original post, going to see them at the Baltimore Museum of Art is a lovely way to spend an evening.

Theo