abatt

It's very unusual to retire in a Nutcracker performance. I don't recall anyone else doing that in the past. I guess Sugarplum is her favorite role.

You can call the box office, tell them you can't attend and ask them to credit your account.

That's a possibility - 3 separate ballets. However, I would have thought they would describe it differently in the materials if that's what was intended - i.e., Rodeo, New Copland/Peck 1, New Copland/Peck 2. One full evening of Peck seems like far too much Peck. And probably too much Copland. Think about the fact that the only choreographers who get full evenings at NYCB are Balanchine, Robbins and of course the classic full lengths (R&J, SL, SB and Midsummer). Wheeldon got an "All Wheeldon" evening under Martins for four performances one season, consisting of three Wheeldon ballets. I'd much rather see an All Ratmansky evening, or even an All Wheeldon evening, than an All Peck evening.

In the past I've noticed that they tend to program new works a total of 8 times. If it gets good press it comes back in future seasons, but if it bombs its gone after the total of eight performances. (The one exception here was Call Me Ben, which I think was performed twice and then dumped because it was so bad.) So they are obviously investing heavily in the Peck work if they feel the need to automatically schedule it 11 times. Since it is a "full length", they are going to be spending a lot of time rehearsing a lot of people for this. Added: I'm starting to wonder if Balanchine's "Davidsbündlertänze" is ever going to be staged at NYCB again. I think it was last performed in 2014. The lead role was a breakthrough for a young Russell Janezn.

For me, the idea of a full length Justin Peck work set to Aaron Copland music is not enticing at all.

Happy to see that they are bringing Namouna back for the Spring 2023 season.

I see they are doing Scotch Symphony in the fall. Hopefully they will give Mira Nadon the lead, since her performance in the SAB workshop was a unanimous rave from every critic who reviewed it. Bouder used to do this role, but I think it's now time for a new leading lady.

McKenzie wasn't a great dancer, but for whatever reason he got the AD job. So being a great dancer isn't a requirement. The AD has to be at the studio all the time, and also travel to every tour location for the entire tour period. Why would someone with a new baby at home, who has numerous other lucrative, less time consuming opportunities, even consider doing this?

I wouldn't assume that Copeland would even be interested in the job. She can earn a lot more by continuing to do endorsements, judge reality dance competitions on TV and so on. Ratmansky is the obvious choice here, but he probably is not interested. He is a creative person, and he wants to use his time to continue to create ballets. Maybe now that he is breaking ties with Russia, he might be available to create more works on NYCB.

I suspect that oligarch money was partially funding these annual Mariinsky visits to the Kennedy Center. To the extent that people now view this as tainted money, even if Putin is out and the war ends tomorrow, there will continue to be issues regarding the massive funding required to present the company, and where that money will come from.

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/season-announcement/ballet-dance/ Slim pickings, in my opinion. I understand why the Mariinsky is not scheduled, but they will be missed. The only two offerings of moderate interest are Joffrey's Anna Karenina and Scottish Ballet's The Crucible. ABT will bring R&J. NYCB will bring two mixed bills. The one American company I was hoping might appear was Miami City Ballet with the Ratmansky Swan Lake. Alas, no such luck.

Thanks for all of the reports on the Don Qs. These reports made me excited and hopeful in some respects by the success of certain dancers who are new to their roles, but also disheartened that McKenzie is continuing to put people out there in lead roles who cannot perform the choreography. There is no place to hide in a difficult classical ballet, and the shortcomings of those who don't have the technique become very obvious, very quickly.

The reason Alec Baldwin has never been arrested is because the shooting was accidental, and he had no intent of firing a loaded gun, and he had no knowledge that there were real bullets in the gun. Nor was he responsible for knowing what types of bullets were in the gun. That was the job of others. The reason police were ready to arrest Will Smith was because he committed intentional battery. The only thing that stopped him from being arrested was that Rock did not want to press charges. So you see the intent behind the action makes a tremendous difference under the law.

You cannot seriously compare Alec Baldwin's ACCIDENTAL shooting on a movie set with Will Smith's INTENTIONAL CONDUCT of belting Chris Rock in the face.

Netrebko's family still lives in Russia, so her words may have consequences for them.

Netrebko is now experiencing a backlash in Russia because of her press release earlier this week. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/arts/music/anna-netrebko-putin-ukraine-backlash.html

Nobody should be waiting at the stage door in the age of Covid, and no performer should have to face the prospect of having to get close to audience members to give selfies or autographs. Thanks for the reports. Can't wait to see Simkin in NYC. ABT needs him.

Likolani is training to be a surgeon at NYU. She also has two young children. Congratulations to her. She is an inspiration. https://nypost.com/2022/03/23/former-nycb-ballerina-becomes-surgeon/

I thought the most insightful comment in the above article was the description of CODA as a "nice, little, pedestrian heart-tugger."

I agree that Chris Rock was correct in refusing to press criminal charges, but Will Smith still needs to be punished for this in some way. I saw that Smith just issued an formal apology to Chris Rock but this is too little too late. The time for apology was up on that stage, but he decided to apologize only to the Academy and the nominees, not to Rock. Instead of apologizing, he tried to justify the assault. I sure don't want to see Will Smith up on that stage again next year presenting the Best Actress trophy, which is the tradition. SAG also just came out with a statement condemning Smith's conduct. I don't know if it's legal to suspend his SAG membership for a period of time, but making it impossible for him to work in film for a year by stripping him of his SAG membership might be in order.

I liked CODA, but it was a very predictable feel good movie. The Power of the Dog was full of complex, nuanced characters, and a more viable candidate for Best Picture than CODA. So what will be done to Will Smith for assaulting Chris Rock on live television? I don't think his award should be taken away, but I think he should be suspended from the Academy for at least a year, maybe two years.

Additionally, various ballet companies have acquired the rights to and regularly perform some of Taylor's work, and ABT even commissioned a Taylor work (forgot the name of the work) which is now part of the Taylor rep.

Ditto😂

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/16/arts/dance/olga-smirnova-bolshoi-ballet-ukraine-war.html Smirnova's departure, as well as the departure of other Bolshoi and Mariinsky dancers is reported by the NY Times. If Smirnova has any extra time on her hands, I would love to see her at ABT.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/14/arts/music/juilliard-damian-woetzel-bruce-kovner.html Damian Woetzel was asked by a powerful donor and board member to resign his position at Julliard. With support from some very prominent figures at Julliard, he has refused to resign and will continue in his position. Fascinating article.