Juliet

Les Patineurs...... Kudelka for the Canadians, Petit for the French (I am leaving out Maguy Marin, as the characters would be interesting but unrecognizable), and Eifman for the Russians....... Hmm. On mature reflection, I think we need another area for exploration....... Maybe gymnastics---Eliot Feld can have Damian Woetzel navigating across the top of the State Theatre to the tune of more thousands of dollars on that shiny jungle gym in his Mowgli costume..... [ February 16, 2002: Message edited by: Juliet ]

Well, the Danes have Caroline Mathilde....that's about as colourful/salacious as one could hope. I've only seen photos of it, but I certainly like the costumes!

I noticed the omission/drastic truncation of the "pick a husband" mime in Washington, too. I thought the rest of the mime really well done, and was happy to see that Ponomarev cut down on the hambone aspect when discovering the knitting needles. Different tastes: I thought Gumerova was really beautiful, and I liked her arrticulation of the Florine role. I also dislike White Cat as a rule, but thought the dancer did her wonderfully....one of the great things about this company is the nuances, the richness of the portrayals. I also applaud the children's performances last night--I was most pleasantly surprised (they cannot have had much rehearsal time) and thought they did a great job!

We are supposed to *believe* what they tell us? Come on, folks! I was disappointed not to see Korsuntsev--I have heard Good Things ..... Kolb's dancing was unobjectionable, but there was absolutely not a jot of stage presence, acting (oh how awful an awakening I hope not to see ever again) or princeliness. Truly--he mingled so well into his own hunting party that not one person in the audience clapped upon his arrival on the scene----perhaps they all were busy stuffing their handkerchiefs into their mouths when they saw that superemely cartoonish moustache and goateee (in black Sharpie, it appeared) sketched on his face. Blond wig, hat not seated properly on his head, that absurd makeup and the bearing of a stableboy. All the other men there with noble carriage, their lace and beautiful cravats/stocks and he was out there in a open necked necked shirt looking like he just got off the pirate ship. Clueless. ("Oh, this isn't Captain Blood? Wrong set. Sorry.") In this production, Desire does not have much dancing, so he needs to act. Please. A little. During the Awakening scene, Kolb (eventually aware of what he needs must do to get to the end of the ballet,) goes up to the bed, kisses her, stands up and carefully replaces his hat before turning around and leisurely proceeding back downstage. He did turn around and see if he was successful when he got to stage right, and poor Zakharova looked as if she couldn't believe it--"what! This is who I have to marry?" So she kicked extra high (this is saying something, for her) as if to make the best of a sorry deal and went off to change into her pretty ballgown. This was not a particularly lovable or radiant Aurora, but we all felt sorry for her. [ February 16, 2002: Message edited by: Juliet ]

No, Helena, there are also black wings to match. I had such fun in the audience last night......I think the production is wonderful in its panoply of colour.....alas, I don't have a favourite tutu. The Sapphire Fairy is lovely in the richness of colour and restraint of ornamentation, the Diamond Fairy crown is magnificent.....the Canari Fairy tutu looks like a picnic basket, but truly, the Lilac Fairy second act costume (vaguely Grecian silk chiffon with periwinkle Louis-heeled slippers), complete with accompanying feather-tipped staff is beyond wonderful. I remember when I first saw the earlier Kirov SB with Makhalina in that flowing lilac costume and it was such a beautiful look.....this is fuller, more period, but altogether wonderful, although not a tutu. Still sorely disappointed in the wedding purple and gold Aurora costume....I don't know if it is the fabric choices or ornamentation (I suspect both) but it resembles something bought from a catalog and tarted up at home for a recital the next afternoon. Sigh. . .

So? We can build an atrium. Put it in the pot with the rest of the Lincoln Center rehab plans!

But you know, Zelensky looked wonderful in the coat and wig and hat. Quite wonderful. Guess it matters who wears the costume....or the costume wears them.

Well, I sewed jewels on bodices and watched men's skating.....am taking comfort in the anticipated performances of Jewels this summer in New York. Thank you all so much for the reviews, however! Looking forward to Sleeping Beauty tonight--

Oh, Alexandra, what a great idea..... at the risk of seeming too greedy, though, couldn't we just ask for a Balanchine Centenary and not put any company/casting/coaching restrictions on our request? You can certainly say that as loyal balletomanes, we all have *plenty* of opinions!

Oh, Kevin. You came to exactly the right place! Come one, come all--you know you don't all need *two* copies......

Jenifer Ringer hurt herself in Divert. the other night. I don't think it was a calculated move on any regime or person's part to irritate anyone by Tracey agreeing to do Scotch at the last minute. Borree was doing R & J pdd in the second half of the program and the other person cast for Scotch this season is Abi Stafford, who did a great job in Walpurgis Nacht. I think that for Tracey's farewell it was both exhilarating and very gracious for her to do this Scotch. I know that I was immensely pleased by the substitution, although I was disappointed a couple of days ago when I heard that Ringer was injured and would probably not be doing Scotch. I hope that is just a minor hurt.

There is a good costumes/bad costumes thread which we've just begun on the Pro Shop forum..... I think it would be very interesting to weigh in with some more opinions there....

Abi Stafford....she was just made soloist today at NYCB.

Yes, it has what you need and anything conducted by Richard Bonynge will be the proper tempo for dancing! That entire series is a great set.

Well, this is gettiing to be more of a problem than it used to be. The big video rental stores used to carry some, but now many have gone to DVD....you might call and see if anywhere in your area has any "performing arts" videos. If you go to your library again, you might talk to a staff person there and find out if they have an interlibrary loan agreement with any other county systems in Virginia which will lend videos. In Maryland, there are several county systems which will do so, and the state library resource center might be able to help out as well. Other than that, you can check on the link above which goes to the Amazon.com site and sometimes you can find used ones there, or on other sites as well. Your dance teacher or studio might be able to work out some sort of borrowing system if you talk to her as well. Good luck--

Did anyone attend? I heard it was Quite Something......with La Stafford and La Bouder duking it out onstage,,,,,, Also heard that Yvonne Borree looked beautiful, which is always cause for a sigh of relief.....

Well, joy to all of you who like to hang on to everything. I have worked in a variety of libraries my entire professional career, and I am happy to know that no one need ever lack for a ballet program anywhere on this planet. Actually libraries and the companies themselves(not only NYPL, I am not speaking specifically here) sometimes still welcome donations as their collections become spotty through vandalism, mystery losses, etc. My feeling is that if I want to find a reference, I know how and where to do so. I understand how some like to relive past pleasures through scrapbooks or collections, however. (Unfortunately, in my daily work I am all too familiar with the donations given to libraries.....(sigh). One reason why I seldom go in bookstores for recreation any longer!) My personal habit is to keep a program for a special engagement, and one representative program for a season. I actually like having the publicity brochures as much as the programs (the pictures, you know!!!)

Write or email the school which sponsored the program. They will have a list of the faculty who worked there that summer. Good luck!

I read these threads with horror. Bravo, Calliope, for giving them to the library. Would that everyone had your focus! Everyone has things that make them happy, however. If stacks of programs do it for you, then that's good.

It may be affected and pseudo-French, but it is much more euphonious as a ballet title. I am sticking to my soft "a" without a care in the world for those who may think I am silly......

I'm Tchaikovsky. I took it several times. Somehow, I Just Knew This........

I'm Tchaikovsky. I took it several times. Somehow, I Just Knew This........

OK, I'll be brave and start this!!! Hope the forum provides lots of interesting discussions and exchanges of information and ideas-- For a big ballet competition, the training and coaching start a long time in advance. Do you decide that you want to do this to get a job? To have a chance to perform out of the home pasture? To meet other dancers? How do you decide which competitions to attend? By the names on the judges panel? We can break this down into lots of other areas--how do you pay for it? Good luck to all dancers competing this year--we have a wealth of talent out there right now!!!

I love the diamonds allusion.... That said, I am a fan of a pause between two shorter ballets..... Intermission after a 20+ minute ballet, followed by another 20+ minute ballet makes me nuts. Maybe a five minute pause? (I didn't keep track, but thought that it was adequate.) Then a proper intermission for restroom breaks, working the lobby, buying next year's calendar, getting coffee, etc..... Frequently I like to remain in my seat during intermission, thinking about the ballet I've just seen.....I don't necessarily object to getting home a little earlier, either, especially in the winter season. I don't think it is a mark of wanting to hie oneself out of the theatre....... At the opera on Monday night, there was indeed an intermission--after an hour and 45 minutes.....(I was ready.) I guess no matter what they try, they can't please us all....

All these singe-sentence replies do not sound too encouraging......... [ January 08, 2002: Message edited by: Juliet ]