Maxi3D Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Just found out that ABT has cancelled its November tour in Orange Country ABT claim lack of funds was the cause. It's the first time that ABT has cancelled its tour in So. Cal. as far as I can remember. I hope it does not become a habit of ABT to treat its L.A. fans this way Link to comment
Dale Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 This was posted in links today: http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/07/14/s...icle_166370.php It seems a shame as ABT has visited Orange County regularly and it appeared to have built up an audience there. Also, the dancers are now paid for only 38 weeks this year. The financial woes continue for the company. On the bright side, the OCPAC will now see the Bright Stream by the Bolshoi. Link to comment
Giannina Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Bummer! Major bummer! Giannina Link to comment
Juliet Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 AND......NYCB will be there, don't forget..... Link to comment
Maxi3D Posted July 16, 2004 Author Share Posted July 16, 2004 On the bright side, the OCPAC will now see the Bright Stream by the Bolshoi. Yes, Bolshoi will be very nice, but it's next summer As ABT financial woes continues, I have a feeling that it will be more of a "stay at home" kind of ballet company. NYCB in September is the only thing that I can look forward to, but after that then what? Not even a Nutcracker, Nothing until Bolshoi gets here. Until then I will be suffering from major ballet withdraw Link to comment
art076 Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Don't forget ABT will still also be in Los Angeles in April - granted, Los Angeles is quite a bit further from Orange County, but its still a heck of a lot closer than New York. They will be performing a TBA mixed rep and a weekend of "Giselle." The dates are April 27 to May 1 2005, at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles. It appears that the close proximity of the Los Angeles dates might have made it easier for the company to drop its November engagement - the November one would have been more costly, and the company would have another date on Southern California during this touring season anyway. (Though technically, LA and Orange County are pretty distinct markets - not very widespread cross-mixing of audiences except for devoted dance fans [like us] or unless the event is exceptionally special [e.g. Paris Opera Ballet or Royal Ballet]. It's actually quite a drive between the two areas - an hour, or more in traffic.). I'm still a bit disappointed though, because the November rep in Orange County looked really interesting: they had listed a piece by Christopher Wheeldon ("VII," I think it was), as well as "Symphonic Variations." I was interested to see ABT do a Wheeldon for the first time. This probably means that it will be done in the New York City Center season - marketing copy for the Orange County run advertised the company as being "fresh" from its City Center engagement. Maybe we will see one of these pieces in Los Angeles instead - here's hoping! Maxi - You really should check out Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker while it is in Orange County this year. Bourne is not ballet per se, but I find his sensibility to be very much like story ballet. His choreography is very inventive and his story telling top notch. I can guarantee you his Nutcracker will be a bit wacky and irreverent (and unlike a classical Nutcracker), but it will be a good experience nonetheless - with great dancers to boot. Link to comment
liljules5 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 ABT will be performing in Dallas in November. from TITAS AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE November 16 & 17, 2004 Back in Dallas for the first time in over 30 years! Experience the passion, power and movement of one of the world's most revered and innovative dance companies. The full company of New York's American Ballet Theatre will electrify the McFarlin Auditorium stage, featuring such phenomenal talents as Jose Manuel Carreño, Irina Dvorovenko, Maxim Belotserkovsky, Nina Ananiashvili, Ethan Steifel, and many more. Since 1940, the American Ballet Theatre has performed in the greatest theatres around the world, creating a tradition of passion, innovation, and athleticism that transcends cultural boundaries and touches the soul of ballet lovers old and new. "Defining the best in American dance!" -San Francisco Chronicle "A guaranteed crowd pleaser!" -The Globe and Mail Link to comment
mussel Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 According to the company's official site, it seems like a Texas tour. In addition to Dallas, they will be in Houston Nov. 12 & 13 and in Austin Nov. 19 & 20. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 And now for a note from ANOTHER Orange County, on the other side of the country: Has anybody but me noticed that 2004 is the calendar year when no major company has performed Giselle in NYC at all? Link to comment
nysusan Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Has anybody but me noticed that 2004 is the calendar year when no major company has performed Giselle in NYC at all? You are not alone. I actually scheduled a family trip to Florida to coincide with a weekend's worth of MCB's Giselle to get my fix. I'm very much looking forward to it's return to ABT's rep for their 2005 Met season. Hopefully it will be the familiar version rather than some "streamlined" new staging by McKenzie where Giselle turns out to be a figment of Albrecht's imagination... :angelnot: Link to comment
OCBalletMom Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Back to ABT opting out of OC performances this year . . . Interesting decision. We've attended ABT performances at both OCPAC and the Music Center and it always seems that the Orange County performances are better attended. I'm glad to see more dance performances in LA but sad to see it at OC's expense. Link to comment
Mrs. Stahlbaum Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 More cancellations. I just got a letter from the Cerritos Center (in southern California) that "Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company has chosen to cancel their upcoming tour, including their September 24 & 25 performances at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts." Link to comment
rkoretzky Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 More bad news on the touring front. ABT has cancelled a one-night stand at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, a performance that was highly anticipated since ABT has not performed in NY's Capital District in recent memory. The news about Suzanne Farrell being forced to cancel the entire tour is devastating indeed. Other arts aren't in much better shape. The Philadelphia Orchestra opens tonight at SPAC with the spectre of a labor dispute facing them as soon as they return to Philly. Something has to change in the way that arts are funded in this country or we're going to be left with a gaping hole. The classical performing arts are going to disappear. Our SPAC troubles are only indicative of what the entire country is facing. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 My post was not so OT as might seem. There's something dreadfully wrong with the economy, and ballet is one of the "canaries in the mine" that indicates trouble. Cancellation of dance events in Orange County, CA, and a no-Giselle year in NYC is a definite symptom. Link to comment
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