angelica
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Posts posted by angelica
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5 hours ago, ABT Fan said:
I had the same problem a few weeks ago and couldn't listen to it either. I haven't tried again since but it sounds like the issue is still there.
Okay, one last try to BA members: If anyone was able to listen to James Whiteside's interview with Cory Stearns, please could you post the link that worked for you?
The reason I'm eager to hear this interview is that somewhere I read that one of the subjects addressed was the experience of dancing before an audience of some 3000 people. When I saw Stearns in the studio rehearsal of La Fille Mal Gardee, he was so extraordinary, in his expression, the height of his leaps, and the number and speed of his turns. I thereupon bought a ticket to see him in performance. And once again, in performance, he wasn't extraordinary at all--competent, yes, but the performance had nothing of the élan of the studio rehearsal. So I'm hoping for a window into what is causing that disconnect. Does he get stage fright, for example? Or does he take risks in the studio that he dare not take on stage?
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12 hours ago, angelica said:
Will try this tomorrow. Thanks, Helene!
Hi Helene,
I went to iTunes, but #7 gave me the David Hallberg interview. I couldn't see anything about Cory Stearns on the listing. I think I will simply give up for now, unless you can get it and send me a new link.
Thanks, Angelica
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1 hour ago, Helene said:
That's interesting, because the links to his other podcasts from the Balancing Pointe website seem to be working fine.
I usually listen through my iTunes subscription. If you have iTunes, click the "View in iTunes" link for #7 The CocoMotion.
It's supposed to be available from Stitcher.com, too, but I did a search (not signed in), and there was no match on James Whiteside or The Stage Rightside.
Will try this tomorrow. Thanks, Helene!
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On 6/1/2017 at 0:35 AM, Helene said:
James Whiteside interviewed his dressing room mate Cory Stearns for his podcast, "The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside." Isabella Boylston makes a guest appearance towards the end:
I tried to connect to the above link but when I clicked on the "Play" icon, nothing happened. Is it too late to access this interview? I've been out of town for awhile.
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On 7/26/2017 at 3:53 PM, Fleurfairy said:
I'm not convinced Skylar is all that well-rounded a performer. I can't picture her in Swan Lake, Giselle, or R&J. She just seems more inclined to the high energy showmanship roles, so Corsaire was a good fit for her this season. Don Q would be another good one.
I saw Swan Lake a few years ago when Skylar Brandt was still in the corps and she was an exquisite swan and did not stand out in any way that would be inappropriate for a swan corps member. Her classicism was so pure that I remember thinking what a beautiful O/O she will be some day. I wouldn't typecast her just yet. I think she's the whole package, from her over-the-top comic Medora to the Swan Queen I hope to see from her some day.
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Someone once said "Ballet is the cruel art," but I can't for the life of me recall who said it or find the quote via a Google search. I used to think it was Pushkin, but I can't find it anywhere in his writings. Has anyone else heard this? It could have many meanings, of course, including the difficult and intensive training; the difficulties rising in a company; and a hundred other factors would fall under these difficulties; but I think the worst is the shortness of a dancer's career and the difficulty of retiring from an activity that can bring tremendous sacrifice, satisfaction, accolades, narcissistic gratification, but above all, joy, is the cruelest part of the equation. They don't always tell you about retiring when you're winning competitions at the beginning of a promising career. Too tired to write more, but you get my gist.
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I would say that life has been very unfair to Part, from the time that her mentor at the Mariinsky died. During her time at ABT she was never fully recognized, except by a core admiring audience, for her sublime and unique talent. Not by the Artistic Director, not by the then Executive Director, not by the then Board, and certainly not by the then influential, although dangerously unknowledgeable, New York Times dance critic, who summed her up in one word, damning her with faint praise: statuesque.
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3 minutes ago, abatt said:
Actually, Hallberg is dancing in the fall season. It is Gomes who is skipping the Koch.
Gomes is going to be dancing in the Matthew Bourne production of "The Red Shoes." As I understand it, in every performance at City Center, but I'm not sure about other venues. He'll be playing the role of Julian Craster. Be still my heart!
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11 minutes ago, vipa said:
Personally I thought the Golden Cockerel a real waste of money. Whipped Cream seemed to be popular, we'll see if it has legs, I certainly hope so. The Ratmansky Nutcracker wasn't a financial success in NY. I hope it has better success in the west. The Ratmansky Sleeping Beauty is controversial (I wouldn't recommend it to a new or casual ballet goer). Now he's been given a big check for another "historically accurate" ballet.
I understand that there are different pools of money for dancer salaries and new productions. I also admire many of Ratmansky's works BUT maybe the overall direction of the company needs an overhaul.
I digress with a discussion about the artistic vision or lack there of. Bottom line is that ABT made a mess of the departure of a ballerina who deserved better.
vipa, I think you would make a better AD than McK. I agree with everything you said.
But to place so much money at the feet of Ratmansky and to strain the budget for dancer salaries seems like a very poor choice of resource allocation.
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3 minutes ago, Drew said:
Mandatory retirement ages are illegal in the U.S. except in a few areas (certain gov't jobs for example) --
So they don't call it mandatory retirement, but they just go ahead and do it.
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Just now, vipa said:
Difference is that after retiring from Paris Opera Ballet dancers get a pension!
YES!!! And I don't see how you can run a ballet company like ABT on short rations, i.e., rationing the number of principals because you have only a certain amount of money to spend on dancers' contracts. Those people on the Board should get busy and do more fundraising. Or stop spending all that money on productions like Golden Cockerel and Whipped Cream. McKenzie and the Board really made a mess of this company by bringing in guest artists for so many years.
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1 hour ago, cobweb said:
At Paris Opera Ballet, the mandatory retirement age is 42. At ABT they should set it at 39 if they're going to behave that way. And by "that way" I mean forcing people out at age 39.
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I just want to add my voice to those who are angry and bereft at the firing of Veronika Part. She is a sublime dancer, and has brought an elegance and stage drama to ABT that will be sorely lacking without her. Technique is one thing, depth is another. While I salute the new female principals, especially the promotion of Sarah Lane, I find it difficult to believe that their promotion depended on the availability of Veronika's contract. Is money that tight? Ridiculous! Whoever wrote above about Walmart got it right. ABT should have invested in finding a suitable partner for her, someone with her high level of training and experience, someone whose eloquent body matched hers, and then promoted them to the hilt. Shame on ABT!
As for Malakhov, I remember his gorgeous line and beautiful feet. And his deep plies in the role of Lankendem. Feel free to delete this, Moderators, but someone once whispered to me that ABT found him too "feminine."
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10 minutes ago, nanushka said:
I was just watching him the other day and thinking "gosh he would be such a perfect next AD."
Maybe we should start a petition....
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17 minutes ago, miliosr said:
With Messmer, I would point out that she went to San Francisco Ballet for one season and that didn't work out either.
Am I mistaken that Messmer then joined Miami City Ballet and that worked out well?
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3 hours ago, miliosr said:
"A Julie Kent or, say, a Cal Ripken can set the terms of their departures based on built-up good will. But most everyone else will always be at the mercy of management.
Even Julie Kent was at the mercy of management.
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8 minutes ago, abatt said:
Does that fact that there were 3 principal promotions instead of 2 mean that Kochetkova is history at ABT?
One can hope.
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1 hour ago, vipa said:
Aside from that, I am confused by the economics of it. Are there a specific number of principal contracts to give out or is there a pool of money for dancers' salaries to be divvied up. What about sponsors? I thought they covered the salary of the dances they sponsored, or do they pay part of it? If you sponsor a soloist that gets promoted, are you expected to raise your donation level?
Is there anything remotely like this at City Ballet?
When did ABT sponsors start paying the salaries of the dancers? Are there other companies that do this? It sounds like an area ripe for conflicts of interests, as if there aren't enough of those already in this company.
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I wonder how anyone can dance a performance knowing their contract isn't going to be renewed. I guess that's what makes a "professional," but still.
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9 hours ago, mussel said:
Signed. And I contributed to share.
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20 minutes ago, California said:
Here's a thought: If Part doesn't want to publicly announce her retirement until the last minute, or make a big fuss over it, it might make sense for all the announcements to be made after company class that Saturday -- her retirement + promotions.
So we still have to wait a whole week? I thought it would be any day now, at least from Wednesday on.
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5 hours ago, Kathleen O'Connell said:
Yes indeedy. I keep wondering when his career is going to get some traction. Not that Forster is a Balanchine dancer, but I can't help but go ... Hmmmm, I wonder if ? ... when I cast my eye across the plaza to the theater brimming with tall ballerina talent.
I truly hope we don't lose another promising, talented, handsome male soloist, to another company the way ABT lost Sterling Baca. If that happens, someone very important is not paying attention and should be replaced.
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1 hour ago, abatt said:
McKenzie seems to be interested in seniority and diversity. Although Hammoudi is not anyone's idea of a great dancer, he may just get the promotion. Hallberg, Gomes and Bolle are simply not able to carry a big workload anymore. There is a chronic lack of tall men available at the principal level. Stearns and Whiteside can't do it by themselves.
Lane should be promoted too.
Stone Shayer and Royal need to get out of the corps, ASAP. I
Please don't forget Thomas Forster! He's tall, has a beautiful ballet line, and fine acting skills. I think he can be groomed to be a prince.
James Whiteside Interviews Cory Stearns
in American Ballet Theatre
Posted
Thanks so much, ABT Fan. You are true to your name! Strangely, I didn't even see the title of the podcast with Cory. Helene said it was #7, but #7 was an interview with David Hallberg. And Cory was not mentioned in any of the other titles. But I do appreciate your taking initiative on this!