Giannina

I go to few movies and choose them carefully; therefore I'm rarely disappointed. Except for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"; yikes. In my defense I must add that my friend picked it rather than I. Giannina

Re: trees and shrubs covering Albrecht in Ek's "Giselle". This was just on the video, not on stage. As Estelle added he does dance a bit and I don't think the censors would have gone for the nudity. It's done very well; at times it's only the position of Albrecht's body that hides his nakedness. I didn't realize he was naked until I watched the tape for the 2nd time years after my first viewing. Giannina

I admit I'm a prude. But beyond that I try to think of how much nudity I see in life. Outside of within my household......none. Even in news clips of some of the most devastating incidents where emotions run rampant (recently: 9/11, Katrina) there is no nudity. For that, and other reasons, I find it unnecessary in ballet. You can be emotional, vulnerable, whatever, fully clothed. There was a ballet company here several years ago in which nudity figured in two of the presentations. If you can be tastefully nude, this was tasteful nudity. After the first ballet audience members left, though most stayed. Eks "Giselle" shows Albrecht nude in the final scene. The ballet was taped for TV, and Albrecht's nudity was very cleverly covered by trees and bushes. Giannina

My God; the work involved! Thanks so much, Carbro, and to all involved. Giannina

"On Golden Pond". Anyone who, after years of marriage, can lovingly call her husband "you old poop" is truly in love and loved back. Giannina

I had the privilege of seeing Gregory in Swan Lake and she was amazing, one of those performances during which you can't believe what you're seeing. She appeared in Sleeping Beauty on TV eons ago and again, she was wonderful and it's my favorite Beauty. She and Bujones had a great partnership; not only were they attuned to each other but they spurred each other on in a "contest" mode: "anything you can do I can do better". Great fun to watch. I read (or heard her say) that American ballerinas (Gregory) were overlooked during Makarova's tenure; I think she had a point. Giannina

Giselle gives me the Willis Position heel thyself Turnout is fair plie Giannina, shame on you.

ami1436's long "No" echos my sentiments. Not only will I never see him dance again but I never got to see him and Rojo in "Mayerling", a major loss. I wish him well, and thank him for the hours of siblime dancing pleasure he gave all of us. Giannina

All of Monotones II Manon: the scene where her brother offers her to whatshisname and the 2 men hand her back and forth to each other Carmen: the bedroom pas de deux Fancy Free: the rhumba solo Firebird: the finale These jump into mind; it kills me that I can't think of more. Giannina

I couldn't have said it any better; the review (link below) says it all. It made for a long 3 hours. I took my daughter. This was her 2nd live ballet performance, and though she agreed with this assessment she had a very delightful evening. http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/segal/cl...e-more-channels Giannina

The Bright Stream is now in Orange County, California. On Thurs. night Alexandrova was The Ballerina and I agree that she is simply gorgeous. Jumps that are suspended in the air, plus all her other attributes. Pchelkina was Galya and a joy to watch; a look, style and technique all her own. I can't see her as Odette/Odile but I can see her as Kitri. An interesting evening for me. The ballet starts with a prelude (Shostakovich, says the program) to die for; lovely. I watched the drummer. Have you ever closely watched a drummer? Each hand is doing a different rhythm. This man was playing Boom....Boom....Boom with his left hand while his right hand played Bam diddle dum bum Bam Bam dum de dum. Amazing. The description of the ballet's plot was the most complicated thing I've ever read, and it went on for 3 full pages. Luckily the ballet was simpler to follow than that reading assignment. The first act was lots of fun; at that point I considered the ballet an excellent choice for someone's first experience at a ballet. The dancers are wonderful; my reason for liking one better than the other was determined by choreography. Except for Alexandrova who was excellent just standing there. The second act turned into slapstick and my enthusiasm waned. Yes, The Ballerina's Partner in drag was a riot (Godovsky: nice technique and great feet!) and I'm glad the audience got such a bang out of it. Haven't seen Bolshoi for a long time and it's nice to have them back. Giannina

OK, here goes. The name of the company is, "I Don't Know That Many Dancers"! I am therefore free to move dancers from company to company. 1. Mayerling: Rojo and Cope 2. Onegin: Tapper, Askegard, Cojocaru 3. Monotones II: 3 people who dance exactly the same Fancy Free: Corella, Carreno, Gomes A Month in the Country: Guillem, Cope, Putrov 4. Agon: Whelan and anyone she wants Tour Temperaments: I'm Old Fashioned: Kowroski, Woetzel 5. Ashton's Cinderella: Bussell, Cope 6. SwanLakeGiselleRomeo&JulietGreenTableRubies Giannina

I want to play so badly, and I have my 6 programs selected, but I don't know enough dancers to fill the casts. Sigh. I'm tempted to name the same dancers for every program but I guess that's cheating. Fun to read everyone else's choices. I must say we certainly are a smart group! Giannina

This is eerie but Ashton's legs and feet are actually recognizable...from the DVD of his portrayal of one of Cinderella's step-sisters. Giannina

I hate to admit I kept mine. I asked myself, "What would I do if something happened to my DVDs?" Well, by saving the videos I could always transfer them again. And so they stay in the garage, awaiting possible future service. My movies I tossed. Enough is enough already. Giannina

Giselle gives me the Wilies (perhaps negative but I think it's funny) Giannina

We are a wicked, hysterically funny, bunch. And, of course, it's almost August. Giannina

Answers here will be subjective, of course. My favorite R&J is MacMiillan's and there are several excellent presentations. Some say none is better than Fonteyn and Nureyev, plus it has historical significance since they were the first to perform the ballet (even that is an historically interesting tidbit, but I digress). Of the MacMillan DVDs my choice is the one with Ferri and Eagling, followed by Makarova and McKenzie. Nureyev staged and choreographed a R&J for Paris Opera Ballet; that DVD stars Loudieres and Legris and, tho very different from MacMillan's, is also enjoyable. It's even more enjoyable if you watch the DVD of "Dancer's Dream, The Great Ballets of Rudolf Nureyev, Romeo & Juliet" first. Giannina

And no further than her body and balance can withstand. Giannina

Just watched the new POB La Sylphide. I liked Dupont and Ganio very much, and Melanie Hurel as Effie was equally admirable. Dupont's opening solo introduces her as a weightless entity, setting the tone of her character. Surprisingly the camera misses all but the last instant of her chimney flight! At the end of Act I Hurel has a terrific solo. Just after that Ganio does a series of lifts with Dupont that made her absolutely weightless; amazing. I agree that Act II does go on and ON, but there is lots of wonderful dancing and I can't complain. I do prefer Bournonville's version. Giannina

I've got it on my Amazon Wish List. Can't wait! Thanks for all the info. Giannina

Jayo, Monotones II and 2 other Joffrey offerings were broadcast on TV and I taped it. As far as I know the taping was never offered commercially. Giannina

Oh, Jeez, Paul! Giannina

Mine would be Joffrey's "Monotones II". This is one of my favorite ballets, perhaps my all-time favorite. As far as I know this is the only filming available and I treasure it beyond words. Of course there are other gems. Giannina

Our prayers for all of you. The world has gone mad. Giannina