abatt

I would have gone to her SB farewell regardless of her partner, but I'm not planning on taking the day off of work to go to the Wed matinee farewell. Additionally, they have been charging higher prices for the farewell tickets than for other tickets, so now everyone who bought tickets to her SB farwell has been overcharged. Refunds? I doubt it. I've never heard of anyone at ABT retiring on a Wed matinee.

Outrageous. How insulting for Paloma and her fans. She learned the new SB role, so why did she suddenly have a change of heart now. No adequate partner for her?

I'm not sure if it's only a matter of size. It's also a question of timing and dexterity, not to mention confidence of the ballerina and her partner. Now that we've been talking about it, I'm remembering that when Ethan Steifel was first brought into ABT, he partnerned Nina Anaiashvilli in an excerpt from the wedding pdd of SB at a gala. He screwed up the fish dive (don't recall the nature of his error) and Nina shot him a look that could kill. They never danced together at ABT after that, based on my recollection.

Yes, I've seen quite a few dumbed-down versions, including, I believe, Cory Stearns during the last run of SB. Pretty sure I've also seen Tyler Angle use the dumbed down version at NYCB. Probably others but I can't recall. Perhaps Veyette. Once you are aware of the correct way it is supposed to be performed, the dumbed down version sticks out like a sore thumb and diminishes the thrill of the fish dive. Speaking of diminishing the choreography to suit the dancer, given the fact that they had to modify Part's LF choreography, I'm guessing that she will not get opening night LF in NY. I bet they will teach Semionova the role and give it to her.

There was an excellent slow motion clip of Gomes practicing the fish dive w. Vishneva. I think the clip was posted earlier in this thread. For me, it clearly demonstrated the correct way of doing a fish dive, as opposed to the modified/dumbed down way a lot of men do the fish dive at ABT and elsewhere.

My opinion on the SB's is to go for either Murphy-Gomes on opening night of the production in NY, or go for Lane/Cornejo. Seo is no technical wizard, to put it mildly. Boylston is a work in progress. I've always liked Paloma in this role, but there seems to be a sense that she is phoning it in for this from what I read of the Calif performances. Also who knows what her chemistry will be with TBA for her farewell. Also re CT balletfan comments above, be warned that Othello is modern dance, not classical ballet.

Hope they bring Laurencia too.

She still does Juliet and a number of other full length ballets. However, her appearances at both ABT and Mariinsky are quite limited in number.

Because she is a top tier artist and is one of the few dancers whose name sells vast quantities of seats at the Met, especially in certain ballets like Giselle, R&J, Manon, Onegin.... SB is a stretch for her at this stage of the game. I'd rather see her do a modified SL than SB.

According to the NYCB homepage, apprentice Preston Chamblee has been promoted into the corps de ballet.

I agree, Mussel. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Gomes - Vishneva partnership is a great one, and on the same high level as Ferri - Bocca, in my opinion. Those two dancers should always be cast together.

Maybe the fact that Marcelo is no longer dancing Bayadere contributed to Vishneva's decision not to dance it at ABT this season. I'll bet she was mighty pleased when the casting reshuffle caused by Hallberg's cancellations resulted in her getting Marcelo as her Giselle partner instead of Hallberg.

I didn't know she was from Bayside, Queens. That's where Edward Villela was from too.

The problem is that if the show closes before the Tony awards, the reality is that the voters for the Tony award are less likely to bestow any awards on it. I suspect that it will get some nominations. The nominations come out in late April, I think. Let's hope it can hang on until Tony time in June. Lots of competition in the Best Musical Revival category this season: The King and I On The Twentieth Century Definitely they picked a theater that was ridiculously oversized. I liked the show too.

The last time I saw Vishneva dance SB was with the Mariinsky at the Kennedy Center. I think it was in 2006, and I believe Shkylarov may have been her partner. Her style then was classic, refined and beautiful. There was none of the idiosyncratic interpretation issues that have been mentioned in reference to her performance in the new ABT version. (I also recall that there was a blizzard that night in DC) Correction: I was way off on the date. It was 2010, not 2006. Here was the review of the Washington Post of that 2010 performance. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021003477.html

Osipova works with La Scala too, right? She may end up in the mix for the performances at La Scala with Sarafanov. Very odd that Bolle's previous casting with Herrera in SB for her farewell is listed as "TBA". It will be a shame if Herrera, after 20 years at ABT, ends up doing her farewell with Nedak, who has zero previous relationship with her and virtually no relationship with ABT.

There are many ballets I would like to see filmed with Vishneva, but Sleeping Beauty isn't one of them. That ship has sailed.

Here's a link to an in depth article on the production in the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/23/08/theater/christopher-wheeldon-directs-an-american-in-paris-for-broadway=refars&r=0

I'm wondering if they will give Hammoudi the open slot for Swan Lake. They taught him the role and he did it once in Australia. I'm also wondering whether Osipova's partner for Giselle might end up being someone from the Royal Ballet. This is pure speculation on my part. Alternatively, maybe Sarafanov? He will already have his hands full trying to learn the new SB.

It took a lot of negotiations over a long period of time and a payoff to get the heirs of Avery Fisher to consent to a renaming of the hall. Those heirs were the impediment that stood in the way of gaining the capital needed to fund the renovation for a long time.

Just curious. Koch played a major role in funding this. Was he (or anyone else) acknowledged in a curtain speech before the show? If so, what was the reacton of the audience. Thanks for the reviews.

I'm happy that Bolle is doing some SL's as Semionova's partner, though I wish he would have been paired with Part instead. Bolle and Semionova were splendid together a few years ago in Sylvia.

Avery Fisher Hall to be renamed for David Geffen, who is donating $100 Million for the renovation of the hall. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/arts/david-geffen-captures-naming-rights-to-avery-fisher-hall-with-donation.html?ref=arts

ABT has updated the calendar. Vishneva is getting Gomes for Giselle and R&J. Osipova's Giselle partner is now TBA. Also, for some reason Bolle is no longer listed as Herrera's partner for her SB farewell. Mistake? Or is she saying goodbye with Nedak? They still have not figured out who will replace Hallberg for Cinderella or Swan Lake. And, Gomes gets opening night SB in NYC as Murphy's partner. Looks like we may never get to see an Osipova -Hallberg pairing again. Such a pity, since they were so excellent together. Update: Bolle partners Semionova for SL, Gomes partners Murphy in Cinderella.

I feel sorry for Hallberg. I hope he can make a full recovery soon. But the lineup of replacements is absolutely incredible. Sarafanov and Shkylarov are among my two favorites. Let the season begin. Now we must wait and see if Cornejo can return and if so, when.