Nina Ananiashvili to withdraw from Met perfs.

[Alexandra]

This just in from ABT:

NINA ANANIASHVILI TO WITHDRAW FROM PERFORMANCES AT METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

Due to personal considerations, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Nina Ananiashvili has announced she will withdraw from scheduled performances this Spring.

Ananiashvili plans to return to the Company in early 2006.

[carbro]

Thanks, Alexandra.

Disappointing , but given her withdrawals from the tour, it is not entirely surprising.

Let's hope that indeed she does return in '06.

[Treefrog]

I gather from the text that the title is somewhat misleading, and that she is withdrawing from ALL obligations and not just those at the Met?

[Alexandra]

I don't think it's misleading. They're saying she's withdrawing from performances this spring at the Metropolitan Opera House.

[carbro]

. . . and implying that she's also withdrawing from City Center this fall and any tours before January (or February? March?).

[Alexandra]

I don't think the City Center season has yet been announced, so she wouldn't be withdrawing from them. I really don't think they're trying to mislead anyone. They're offering information about a change to announced plans.

[Treefrog]

Sorry, I didn't mean to drag the focus onto whether they were or weren't misleading. I was really asking if that meant she wouldn't be dancing in Chicago in April, as previously announced. It's not at the Met, but it is before 2006. The text ("...will withdraw from scheduled performances this Spring. Ananiashvili plans to return to the Company in early 2006.") implies one thing and the header ("ANANIASHVILI TO WITHDRAW FROM PERFORMANCES AT METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE") implies something a bit more limited.

So, will she not be dancing at all before 2006? Or is she just not dancing at the Met?

[GeorgeB fan]

I don't know how to feel. On one hand less money coming out of my wallet seeing I won't be paying to see any Ananiashvili performances. But on the other hand - NO ANANIASHVILI PERFORMANCES!!!!! No Swan Lake, no Don Quixote, no Ballet Imperial, but more importantly no Giselle - I've never seen her in this ballet!!! How am I going to live!?!

[Alexandra]

Treefrog, I posted the press release in its entirety.

[Ari]

So, will she not be dancing at all before 2006?  Or is she just not dancing at the Met?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Since Ananiashvili is withdrawing from these performances due to health reasons (not stated in this latest press release, but announced previously) I assume that since the Chicago engagement is before the Met, she won't be dancing there, either.

Very sad. I was hoping she'd be here in Washington now.

[Dale]

I offer my best wishes to Ananiashvili if she is sick. However, I read on Russian boards that during the time of the City Center season, she was performing with her new company in Georgia. So I'm not sure what to think. Of course, this release says "personal considerations," which is different than health reasons. It could be all sorts of things - concern over a family member, a desire not to travel when she needs to tend to her company in Georgia, or a personal sitiuation that needs her attention.

On the brighter side, maybe some dancers, such as Part, Meunier, Wiles and others, will benefit from her roles.

[Dale]

On second thought, I'm sure McKenzie is on the phone right now looking into the availability of Cojocaru, Zakharova, or Bussell. Maybe Vishneva will do more shows. (Although, Zakhaorva would be coming with the Bolshoi later in the summer, it wouldn't be good for their box office if she performs with ABT)

[Mel Johnson]

A word of caution here, however, based on Air Force experience - do not speculate or extrapolate potential conclusions in excess of the actual data available. It's part of the fun of theater, I know, but usually unfruitful.

[Dale]

I don't think it is speculation. The release says "personal considerations." I was only suggesting a wide range of possibilities. It was in print (in Russian) that she performed this winter in Georgia.

[atm711]

Fortunately, for me, I saw much of Ananiashvilli last season and I have already decided to concentrate on Vishneva and Part this season. I recall some talk a while ago that she was contemplating having a family---did this ever come to pass?

[bingham]

Fortunately, for me, I saw much of Ananiashvilli last season and I have already decided to concentrate on Vishneva and Part this season.  I recall some talk a while ago that she was contemplating having a family---did this ever come to pass?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In the article in the NYT, Ms.Sylve is quoted that she misses full-lenght ballets.

She certainly can, if her NYCB schedule allows, fill for Nina in Raymonda, Swan Lake and Ballet Imperial.

Joe

[Leigh Witchel]

Ananiashvili is slated per the National Theatre of Japan site to dance Sleeping Beauty twice on the weekend of April 29. I wonder if that was old information.

[paolo]

ABT does not need to go elsewhere for Nina's roles this spring.

[fandeballet]

I do hope that Nina comes back for a few performances in 2006 She has ALOT of fans in the US, who would come from far and wide to see her one last time and say brrrrrraaaaaaaaava Nina!

[Thalictum]

I believe that it is now much more likely that we will see Part as Raymonda at the Met.

[Dale]

In the article in the NYT, Ms.Sylve is quoted that she misses full-lenght ballets.

She certainly can, if her NYCB schedule allows, fill for Nina in Raymonda, Swan Lake and Ballet Imperial.

Joe

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If she stays with the NYCB (media reports have that she has yet to decide), Sylve would probably be too busy doing NYCB's spring season to dance with ABT.

[Hans]

Not that I want Ananiashvili gone (I think she's wonderful) but I can't help thinking excitedly about reading reviews of Wiles and Part in Raymonda and Ballet Imperial.