onxmyxtoes

Gillian performed as Giselle with Royal New Zealand Ballet, which was filmed and broadcast in movie theatres internationally

M7 was great for Giselle -- could see the entire stage and facial expressions. I would recommend moving to a similar seat if you can for R&J

correct! left side of the audience! S isn't too bad. I'm sitting in row R (center) for Giselle, and I'll let you know how the seats were. I actually see some recent left-orchestra seats in row M for Obratzova's Juliet... and I have a similar ticket for another Giselle show this weekend. After I sit in both I'll give you my assessment!

yup, the alumni reunion has been in the works for awhile. all the better for stella to show off her elegance to the greats from the past.

R&J you'd probably want to be close. some of the expressions during the pas de deuxs are best seen up close, IMO. However, you don't want to sit on the right side of the audience because you'll miss some of the most beautiful moments in the balcony scene. How far back are you?

Angel came out at the end. He accompanied Susan Jaffe.

I also wonder if her body can handle all of this extra workload. Why would he risk injuring her from all of these additional shows? Spread the love!

Supporting casting for the first 3 shows of Sleeping Beauty has been posted: I believe it is: Aurora Prince Lilac Carabosse Diamond Fairy Bluebird Princess Florine. Except they switched the first night and it looks like Isabella Boylston is Blue Bird and Daniil Simkin is Diamond Fairy! May 29 G. Murphy M. Gomes S. Abrera C. Salstein D. Simkin I. Boylston C. Trenary May 30 mat S. Lane H. Cornejo D. Teuscher N. Raffa S. Brandt B. Hoven S. Abrera May 30 Eve: H. Seo C. Stearns C. Shevchenko M. Gomes C. Trenary J. Gorak I. Boylston

cojucaru also backed out of a sleeping beauty in 2013. That was devastating because I paid a lot of pretty pennies to see her as Aurora and was v. unsatisfied with the replacement's performance.

According to Gillian Murphy's instagram, Julie Kent will not perform in Cinderella tonight.

I can't figure it out. But if anyone can teach me, I will upload it. Anyway letter says that this is Herrera's express wishes to withdraw from the show and instead make her last show Giselle. The letter, unsurprisingly, uses some really clumsy language. Also offers May 27 Giselle as an exchange for all ticket holders of June 9. Casting for June 9 is to be announced in a few days.

ABT has just sent out a "courtesy notice" regarding the major cast change. I am figuring out how to post the image (letter is in form of an image) to the site. Please hold... SUBJECT: Courtesy Notice: Paloma Herrera changes ABT Farewell performance date

DId you read this piece in the Huffington Post where 5 retiring/retired prima ballerinas (Korbes, Whelan, Herrera, Kent, Reyes) spoke about the future of ballet. Kent expresses exactly what you said. Quote here: "It's difficult to develop as a dancer with so few opportunities to tackle the big roles in multiple performances - because the process of learning in the rehearsal studio is different than the process of learning on stage through multiple performances. Talking with Isabella Boylston who debuted as Odette-Odile in 2013, I realize it's been a similar challenge for her. It's a tough balancing act for big companies to give dancers opportunities to grow. Audiences also want to see foreign guest stars - which is exciting for us, too, in the company, but it makes it harder for up-and-coming dancers to develop. I was fortunate to have partners who wanted me to dance with them around the world - Julio Bocca in Argentina, Vladimir Malakhov in Finland, Jose Manuel Carreño in Japan, Roberto Bolle in Italy, etc. So even though I stayed with one company, I had opportunities to perform roles multiple times, and grow in that way." Link here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carla-escoda/changing-of-the-guard-five-prima-ballerinas-reflect-on-the-biggest-change-in-the-dance-world_b_6409688.html

Yup that's the choreography (the leg slide). I remember it because I always find that part a little awkward, tho Veronika Part did it quite nicely in prior years.

Looks as though Jessica Saund has been removed from the roster. I don't recall seeing her all of 2014, wonder where she went.

I believe Career Transition for Dancers also has their big gala on Halloween each year, so a bunch of dance patrons and professionals go to that on Halloween evening.

somehow the orchestra went from about 1/2 sold this morning to maybe 85% sold tonight. Was a very memorable evening and Sascha looked fantastic, genuine, humble and gracious, as always. He will be sorely missed on the Met stage!

Except performing "The Dream" first allows us (if we wish) to leave early! It's something I've always hated about the Peter Martins ballets at NYCB. He always places them in the middle of two superior works, so one either has to endure his ballet to get to the last one on the bill, or spend the time in the lobby and drink! So, go see "The Dream", leave before the lengthy intermission and go home with beautiful thoughts! That's what I did two nights in a row

Per Daniil Simkin's Instagram new promotions: Isabella Boylston Roman Zhurbin Devon Teuscher Christine Schevchenko Joseph Gorak

Predictions for next year: Swan Lake Giselle Romeo and Juliet Cinderella Le Corsaire Ratmansky's Sleeping Beauty Mixed Bill including Fancy Free, Push Comes to Shove, Pillar of Fire sorry realizing it's very similar to bookworms, but I made it before I saw that one! Can't wait to see what they pick for us.

Does Stella have a sponsor? I'm convinced that the dancers who get promoted are those who have sponsors, so ABT doesn't pay their salaries. If she doesn't, maybe a bunch of us should get together, either to find her one or sponsor her ourselves (haha). Seriously, I've seen Wendy Whelan 3 times this week and she is constantly chatting people up (the members of the Boston Ballet Board of Directors all knew her). Stella should also think about cultivating that skill set - it can come in very handy. Were she to find a rich sponsor I think she would get promoted. (Of course that doesn't mean you will dance much; one need only look at Veronika Part to see that) FYI: contrary to belief, the sponsorships don't pay for the dancers salaries. The money goes into the general fund and the amounts for each level are (as I remember) $15k for corps, $25k for soloist, and maybe $40k for principal? Also Stella is certainly capable of chatting up donors. I met her once during the fall season and happened to run into her right before the met season. She approached me and was as friendly as could be and made me feel important (and I'm definitely not) by asking how I was doing and being truly interested and engaged. She's really the sweetest; she and Sascha are so humble and gracious, it's a shame that they haven't gotten the recognition that they deserve

I think Gabe Stone Shayer should be considered for Puck. He studied at the Bolshoi school and Ratmansky cast him right after joining ABT's corps to dance the leading role of Ariel in the second cast of his "Tempest". McKenzie has been neglecting him passing over Shayer for Bronze Idol or Gypsy Boy in "Don Q". Zhiyao Zhang has danced both those roles well and should be covering Puck. Agree that Gabe is extremely talented. I saw him as the lead gypsy twice!

Nothing yet from Kobborg or Cojocaru, although Kobborg did say a few days ago that he had a grueling two-day journey from New Zealand back to Bucharest. Must rest the hoof for the big Bolshoi season coming up... humph wasn't there supposedly a stipulation in their contracts that they couldn't perform with other groups that were performing in NY within X weeks of the Met Season? He skipped out on 1/2 of the season to be with Bolshoi - it's 100% obvious where his loyalty/priorities lie.

According to Roberto Bolle's instagram, Friday's show is an "extra" Swan Lake. Thus, I believe Hee and Roberto truly are doing a back-to-back Swan Lake marathon. Brutal!

This is a little delayed, but no one here saw Herrera and Whiteside on Tuesday?