abatt

I was surpised that ABT did not even bring back the Raymonda Variations ballet excerpts that they had performed in the Fall 2014 season at the Koch. Maybe next Fall?

I can't bestow enough praise on Tiler Peck regarding her performance in Who Cares last night. Do not miss her in this ballet. She is phenomenal. I've never seen anyone else perform her role with such theatrical presence, musicality, impeccable timing and bold attack. Robbie Fairchild was also compelling, and excellent, but I've seen other dancers at NYCB also excel in his role. Tiler, however, is really in a class by herself in this.. .

Fogot to add as one of my best of - the Alina Cojocaru and Friends gala at the Rose Theater in December.

Best - Mariinsky's Swan Lake at BAM in January 2015. Seeing Lopatkina, Kondaurova and Tereshkina as O/O was a highlight of my year. Also high praise to the Abrera Shkylarov Giselle at ABT. Worst - the new Kim Brandstrup ballet at NYCB (Jeux). Pretentious hooey.

Looks like her decision to go the Bolshoi worked out very well. Happy to hear this good news. I hope she appears in the US again soon.

I don't think NYCB is accepting of other body types. The women are required to be extremely thin. The only variation in body type is that they permit dancers to have broad shoulders, short necks or short torsos, but the weight still has to be within a certain range. I think they have a double standard, though, as far as the men. The weight of the men does not seem to be so scrutinized.

Boylston from ABT will be the artist in residence. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/vail-international-dance-festival-announces-program/?ref=arts

Per Kennedy Center Website: RINCIPAL CASTING (subject to change) 2/23 eve. | 2/26 eve. | 2/28 mat. Raymonda: Oxana Skorik Countess Sibilla: Elena Bazhenova Jean de Brienne: Timur Askerov Abderakhman: Konstantin Zverev René de Brienne: Soslan Kulaev Ali: Islom Baimuradow Henrietta: Nadezhda Batoeva (2/23 & 28); Nadezhda Gonchar (2/26) Clémence: Kristina Shapran (2/23 & 28); Yekaterina Chebykina (2/26) 2/24 eve. | 2/27 eve. Raymonda: Yekaterina Kondaurova Countess Sibilla: Elena Bazhenova Jean de Brienne: Daniil Korsuntsev Abderakhman: Yuri Smekalov René de Brienne: Soslan Kulaev Ali: Islom Baimuradow Henrietta: Nadezhda Gonchar Clémence: Yekaterina Chebykina 2/25 eve. | 2/27 mat. Raymonda: Anastasia Kolegova Countess Sibilla: Elena Bazhenova Jean de Brienne: Yevgeny Ivanchenko Abderakhman: Yuri Smekalov (2/25); Konstantin Zverev (2/27) René de Brienne: Soslan Kulaev Ali: Islom Baimuradow Henrietta: Nadezhda Batoeva Clémence: Kristina Shapran

I've read a few interviews over the years given by NYCB ballerinas. Some mention that they got "weight warnings" during various points in their careers. Weight is definitely something that management looks at closely and often, at least for the ballerinas. I think that even if Morgan could have somehow managed her weight, any company would have serious doubts about her stamina for the job. It takes a very healthy person to endure the class, rehearsal and performance schedule of a major ballet company.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/arts/dance/in-fiddler-a-balancing-act-to-rival-tevyes.html?ref=dance&_r=0 Here is a Jan 6 article about the choreography of the Broadway Fiddler revival.

Isn't he too short to partner Sterling in Mozartiana. Interesting that Huxley used to do the secondary role in that ballet, but is now elevated to the lead, while Danny Ulbricht is still doing that same role after so many years. Good to see Finlay is back. Oh, and Robbie Fairchild is dancing w. Tiler Peck in Who Cares. That will be great. No casting of Catazaroo - hope he recovers soon.

I think that ABT and PA Ballet are very different, and have very different needs. PA Ballet doesn't do 8 consecutive weeks of performances, with 8 shows per week. Also, ABT needs to fill 3,800 seats every night at the Met, whereas I think the venue where PA Ballet performs isn't nearly so large. Additionally, ABT competes head-to-head with NYCB right across the plaza. PA Ballet does not have that kind of competition in its backyard. While it's admirable that Corella does not want to hire guest artists, the needs of his company are very different from ABT's circumstances and needs. When he was running Corella Ballet, he had no issues with inviting Sara Lane and Herman Cornejo as company guest artists, because that's what was needed at the time.

When was the secondary casting announced, and when was the price hike put into effect? It appears that both events occurred very recently, perhaps nearly simultaneously? If that's what happened, then the price hike was not driven by ticket sales. All performances were selling at about the same rate, but then a sudden price hike was instituted once the additional casting came out.

I saw the opening night Nutcracker back in November, and Lovette did Marzipan. She came off pointe in what is really a soloist role. I chalked it up to nerves at her first post surgery show. Based on Zobeide's observations, it appears she still has not regained her form post-surgery.

If you read Krysta's post, you will see that the dates for Misty's shows have, so far, not sold better than the other SB shows. So the increase was not based on demand (which is what dynamic pricing is all about) but on anticipated demand. That is what Krysta and I find "sickening". If the Ferri show is selling so well that they increase the price, okay, that's dynamic pricing. The Misty price increase, however, was NOT based on dynamic pricing. That's the point.

California, I am anticipating that the price of all performances in which Misty is announced will be increased almost immediately after the date that the priority period is over. If you want to go to the new Ratmansky ballet on a date in which Misty is scheduled for Firebird, you should consider buying your tickets before the date the dynamic pricing starts. The date when dynamic pricing kicks in is somewhere in the fine print of the ABT booklet. I think it is sometime in late March. Re Krysta's comment, it is sickening. I hope this policy backfires and they are unable to sell any additional tickets at the new doubled price.

We don't know whether the pricing was set by ABT or by the KC. Either way, it's pretty awful, especially considering that the Kennedy Center is supposed to be a national institution largely funded by the federal government. I guess I had better buy my tickets for the Met SB during the priority week, because if Misty ends up as a Bluebird in any performance the price will be jacked up immediately.

It doesn't appear that they have plans to teach Aurora to Misty. Otherwise I think they would have listed her as an Aurora for the Spring season at the Met.

Interesting that Macauley happened to mention in his overall review of the new casts that Mearns has finally fully mastered Sugarplum.

FYI, there is a review in today's NY Times (Macauley) of all the debut performances.

Georgina seems to be thriving right now. She is also performing a gig with American Dance Machine at the Joyce Theater (running through Jan 3). The NY Times (Macauley) review made particular mention of her excellent performance at the Joyce. I'm sure the review is posted in the Links section.

Here's an article about Peter Martins working with the dancers who will be debuting lead roles in Nuts this week: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/arts/dance/the-nutcracker-gives-young-dancers-a-spotlight-role.html?ref=arts PS: Does anyone recall who Darci's partner was when she debuted as Sugarplum?

That is incorrect. If you open the link, you will see that although Part's picture appears, she will not dance her scheduled performance in Connecticut. Part is replaced by Lauren Lovette as Ask La Cour's partner. The website states that Part is unable to appear due to injury. That should be interesting. One of the shortest members of NYCB dancing with one of the tallest. Actually, I'm very glad I opened that link because I had no idea Stella was dancing on Sunday in Connecticut. Will have to see if I can convince Mr. Abatt, who is a big Stella fan, to schlep out to Connecticut to see this.

There are important casting changes for this week. On December 17 Lowery is replacing Isaacs as Dewdrop. On December 19 at 2 PM Isaacs replaces Lowery as Dewdrop. Hope nobody got burned by the casting change.

Any reports on Ashly Isaacs' Sugarplum debut?