Giannina

Ditto, zerbinetta! Giannina

Amitava, I'd reply (and I have previously) but this issue is a pet peeve of mine and it's too early in the day to get so upset. I'll let it go with encouraging you to continue to wait for a bow before you applaud. @#$%&!! Giannina

This isn't a movie but it might qualify. It was Jackie Gleason's TV show. He had those dancers who danced as a group at the beginning and end of each program. At the end of this program the dancers (women) were wearing calf length skirts that were quite narrow. As a result every time they did a step that required extending their legs more than about 35 degrees they knocked themselves over. They were dropping like flies! Giannina P.S. The June Taylor Dancers!!

Got it! Thanks so much. Giannina

I admit it; I'm computer stupid. Where is the "Front Row Center" section on NYCB's web site? I Searched for it and all I got was a discription of what it is. Giannina

Thanks, John-Michael! I didn't even know this DVD existed. Made a quick trip to Amazon via the upper right hand corner of this page ( ! ) and ordered it! It's on special order so there's a chance they won't be able to get it but at least I know it's out there somewhere. Giannina

I'm not sure I understand it completely, or I can't believe my eyes. Does it mean that selected, or EVERY, performance will be recorded? All of them suitable for DVD's, or ALL of them ON DVD's? Some, or ALL, available to the public on DVD? If so, "be still my heart". I'm sure there are drawbacks, but as a ballet-starved ballet fan I can't see a single one at the moment. Think of it: Cope is close to retirement and the chances of seeing his famous partnership with Rojo in Mayerling are slipping, but with this access we can see it if it's performed! Giannina

I echo Paul Parish in Sylvie Guillen's feet. Giannina

I was hesitant to write this review, but after reading some newspaper reviews I see that I'm not entirely alone in my opinion. For the most part I like Eifman's ballets; however one should not see Anna Karenina and Red Giselle back to back. Same ballet. Since I loved Red Giselle I was ready for something new, and this wasn't it; I would have liked Anna.... more without the memory of Red Giselle fresh in my mind. Arbuzova, Markov and Turko starred in it; that's even a repeat of the Red Giselle cast I saw! (Singing Medora, Turko was very good, and they mentioned Belorussian Ballet in his bio.) There were two particularly exciting scenes. One was a masked ball in which the dancers were dressed in gold, wearing ornate gold masks. Gorgeous costumes; they could have danced the Hokey Pokey and looked good. The other was the suicide scene. There is driving modern music that gets louder and louder; the dancers are doing an equally driving dance, and you realize they are imitating a train's motions. Anna falls into their arms in her suicide leap. Her mad scene is sorta wormy; everyone is on white full length leotards and they look, well, wormy. Effective, I must say. As I said, if I hadn't just seen Red Giselle I think I would have been bananas about Anna Karenina; I'll have to limit my assessment to "enjoyable"; I'm glad I saw it. And by the way, how do you pronounce Eifman's name? I've heard "Ay-fman" and "Eye-fman". Giannina

I saw Ferri in ABT's Manon and she was wonderful. Giannina

"Mayerling" with Rojo and Cope. Giannina

On the Favorite Manons thread Bart mentions that Darcey Bussell is rarely mentioned/praised. So let's talk about her. I reviewed her January 2005 performance in Cinderella and stated that I found her amazing. I read another review somewhere that said her pyrotechnics (spelling?) may have abated a bit but her stage presence and over-all ability are better than ever. I thoroughly agree. In Cinderella she was the complete dancer, so in control of her presentation that you could sit back and just enjoy her without worrying about possible mistakes. In truth I have seen relatively little of her: a few times on stage, DVD performances, never in Manon. With the little I've seen I would say she is at her peak. Bart? Giannina

I've seen good and bad Manons. I saw Leanne Benjamin dance the bedroom pdd and I was surprised at how much I liked her....right up there with my favorites. Giannina

I can't add a darn thing. Agree that there was no chemistry and that Corella did indeed look different; perhaps it's because he's usually such a pixie and it's hard to put him in a princely mode. But that Murphy!! I haven't seen much of her, especially in leading roles, and tho she's not an actress her dancing/technique more than made up for it. Simply yummy. Giannina

That is such sad news. I remember him fondly from his days with ABT; he was immediately recognizable and a joy to watch. I followed his stormy post-ABT career with a sense of frustration for him. Giannina

socalgal, I pretty much agree with you about "Don Juan and Moliere". The thought of leaving crossed my mind but I was visiting with my subscriber seatmates and that was enjoyable enough to make me stay for the entire ballet. I've now seen 4 Eifman ballets and "Don Juan...." was by far the least enjoyable. Giannina

I can't believe I'm going to say this but.......I loved "Red Giselle"! Can you believe it? This conservative, Catholic, classical, old fashioned grandmother loved "Red Giselle". I can hardly find words. It was classical, modern, sexy, brutal, happy, tragic, and wonderful. There were times when I was grinding my teeth and squirming in my seat because it was so beautiful; gritty stuff. It is being performed tomorrow and I'm sorely tempted to see it again, but the cast tonight was so perfect that I don't want to take the chance of spoiling the effect: Ballerina: Vera Arbuzova Teacher: Oleg Markov Secret Police Agent: Albert Galichanin Partner: Alexei Turko I know "Red Giselle" has been reviewed before and I'm now going to go back and read those reviews (which were mixed, as I recall). But I stand by my guns, and I had one terrific time tonight. Jeez! Giannina

I agree with 2 out of the 100. About normal for me. Giannina

Green, green green!! Giannina

EvilNinjaX and/or Andre Yew Were your DVD's coded for the US? Giannina

And how much did it cost? Giannina

I read it on my recent trip and loved it, tho' I thought it dragged a tad in the middle. The plot was full of surprises and I fell for every one of them. It's been a long time since I've read a book that had me gasping in surprise; lots of fun. Giannina

Actually, "slouching" is good since you sink DOWN into your seat as your back remains in contact with the seat's back; we short people behind you love you for it! When you sit forward you......well, you know. Giannina

You kick the seat??!! Wow! Angry as I get at this misbehavior (I do ask them to sit back) I never thought of kicking the seat. Makes one think of the 2 year old sitting behind you on a plane who has nothing to do and then discovers that his feet reach that soft thing in front of him. Good going, Carbro, I think. Giannina

Welllll, I like it. I don't think it would be classified a masterpiece, but I like MacMillan. Bussell is very young and shows it, but she's great to watch. It's in the classical sense but not with tutu's, etc; it's typical MacMillan classical. If nothing else it's a piece of ballet history. Giannina