Changing opinions of ballets, choreographers, etc

[BalletNut]

Are there any ballets, dancers, choreographers, or composers that you've changed your opinion of? For instance, someone or something you didn't like at first, but "grew on you" as time went by? What do you think made your opinion change?

[canbelto]

I used to not like Act 2 of Balanchine's Midsummer's Night Dream. It was because I adored Act 1 so -- the fairies! The fights! Puck! Bottom! It was all so magical. The formalism of Act 2 by comparison seemed so -- well, it seemed so Petipa. I wanted the magic to continue. It wasn't till I saw the ballet several times that I started to appreciate Act 2 not just as a beautiful abstract dance, but as a continuation of Act 1. The pas de deux in Act 2 I see now as Balanchine's comment on marriage -- between two mature, loving people. Act 1 reflects the craziness of falling in love. Act 2 represents the stability and maturity two people need for a marriage to last. At least that's how I see it.

When I first started going to ballets, I didn't like the classical tutu at all. I liked the romantic tutu or longer dresses -- I just loved the billowing skirts. For me, *that* was ballet. The classical tutu seemed so stiff and remote by comparison. Took me a long time to appreciate how a classical tutu flattered a ballerina's line. I still think that the classical tutu is not for every ballerina, but I can appreciate how it flatters ballerinas in general now

[Grissi]

When I first saw Schauffus and Hart's Swan Lake (Makarova version), I didn't like Hart's legs and feet. I found them floppy. But now I think she has an exquisite line and, in this particular ballet, her expression (body language) is SO romantic...

And every time I watch Guillem's Cendrillon, I find her more fascinating. I think that my admiration for her technique has no end.

I didn't like Paloma Herrera until I saw her in Don Quixote with Ángel Corella. WOW!

And I have the opposite problem with Midsummer night's dream. I think the lovers part is absolutely boring (musically and choreographically), but I love the second act, because of that smell of Petipa (almost perfume). The pas de deux is perfect, continuous, exigent, I love it.