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[sandik]

David Lang score!

[pherank]

An Intimate Duet for Not-Quite-Retired Ballerinas (and Friends)
Benjamin Millepied made “In Silence We Speak” for two ravishing dancers: Carla Körbes and Janie Taylor.

[dancinginthesnow]

Patricia Barker appointed Artistic Director of Royal New Zealand Ballet

 

[pherank]

1 hour ago, dancinginthesnow said:

Patricia Barker appointed Artistic Director of Royal New Zealand Ballet

 

 

Congratulations to Ms. Barker. She looks a bit angry in that picture.  ;)

[Helene]

Congratulations to Patricia Barker and to Royal New Zealand Ballet!

 

The weather in New Zealand is a lot like the weather in Seattle, on the opposite latitude line .  She'll be skipping summer in Michigan and going back to late Fall/winter in the southern hemisphere.

[sandik]

10 hours ago, pherank said:

 

Congratulations to Ms. Barker. She looks a bit angry in that picture.  ;)

 

I think she looks quite a bit like Francia Russell in this image, though yes, on the stern side.

 

This should be an interesting move for her -- the NZ company has a fascinating history, with influences from Denmark and the US as well as the UK connection that you would expect in a Commonwealth country.

[Helene]

Here's a link to a new article in "Dance Magazine" by Barry Kerollis about his life as a super-commuter from Philadelphia to NYC, where he'll be moving this Fall:

http://www.dancemagazine.com/why-i-became-a-dancing-super-commuter-2392386868.html

 

He has been teaching up a storm, choreographing, writing, podcasting, and doing speaking engagements.

 

[sandik]

Kerollis has really worked hard on this transition -- I've been so impressed.

[Helene]

I don't think he sleeps.  Seriously.

[SandyMcKean]

I always loved the way Barry danced at PNB.  He put so much energy and pieces of himself whole-heartedly into his performances.  His comic sense was of the highest caliber.  His Puck was the best I'd ever seen.

Edited July 20, 2017 by SandyMcKean

[sandik]

I remember him best as one of the four guys in Rubies, and in West Side Story Suite -- he reminded me so much of Action from the film.

[Helene]

I also remember him at the two extremes, too: in lead roles as that fabulous Puck and as Mercutio in the Maillot -- both "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and many versions of "Romeo and Juliet" are listed among his ten favorite dance works in this week's Pas de Chat podcast -- but also in the corps as a dancer who always drew my eye.  I'll never forget him crossing the stage in the first movement of "Glass Pieces," for example.

 

I still miss his dancing.

[Helene]

Bella Ureta, who performed with PNB as a Professional Division student and went to Boston Ballet II after graduation, has joined Cincinnati Ballet as a corps member:

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/arts/2017/08/05/new-ballet/104243646/

[Helene]

Thanks to link in  @millvillemurphs post in the BalletMet forum, I learned that Sean Rollofson is one of the seven new dancers going to BalletMet.

[sandik]

7 hours ago, Helene said:

Thanks to link in  @millvillemurphs post in the BalletMet forum, I learned that Sean Rollofson is one of the seven new dancers going to BalletMet.

 

I'm glad to hear this -- I was wondering what happened to him.  Any idea where he's been since he left PNB?

[seattle_dancer]

45 minutes ago, sandik said:

 

I'm glad to hear this -- I was wondering what happened to him.  Any idea where he's been since he left PNB?

 

He went to NYC/Broadway:

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/bleepmag.com/2016/01/27/sean-rollofson-from-ballet-to-broadway-and-back-again/amp/

[sandik]

Thanks!

[Helene]

Carla Korbes performed this summer at the Vail International Dance Festival, and Michael Breeden and Rebecca King interviewed her for their Vail series.  She spoke about her decision to retire, and how she became part of LA Dance Project and on the faculty of Indiana University:

http://conversationsondancepod.com/2017/08/14/carla-korbes-former-pacific-northwest-ballet-principal-dancer/

[sandik]

11 hours ago, Helene said:

Carla Korbes performed this summer at the Vail International Dance Festival, and Michael Breeden and Rebecca King interviewed her for their Vail series.  She spoke about her decision to retire, and how she became part of LA Dance Project and on the faculty of Indiana University:

http://conversationsondancepod.com/2017/08/14/carla-korbes-former-pacific-northwest-ballet-principal-dancer/

 

Thanks for this -- I'm still sad that she's gone.  I'll miss her in Emeralds this fall.

[Helene]

Miranda Weese has joined Boston Ballet as Children's Ballet Master, where she will partner with her former NYCB colleague and Director of the School, Margaret Tracey:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/Boston-Ballet-Announces-Miranda-Weese-as-New-Childrens-Ballet-Master-20170921

[Helene]

Charles McCall will perform with his parents -- violist and cellist -- and his brother Henry Max, also a dancer, in a recital in St. Louis.

 

Quote

A talented bass-baritone as well, he just accepted a position in the ensemble of “Hello, Dolly!” on Broadway. 

 

The article also says he danced as a soloist with New Zealand Ballet after he left PNB.

 

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/musical-mccall-family-will-play-and-dance-together/article_10d215b8-604a-5f16-97b8-07845fe31c9f.html

[sandik]

I'm glad to hear about McCall's current dance life -- I enjoyed his work here, and was sad to see him leave.

[Helene]

From Dance Magazine, a short article on Septime Webre and Patricia Barker, who head new companies this season:

http://www.dancemagazine.com/on-the-move-septime-webre-and-patricia-barker-on-their-new-international-gigs-2485213216.html

 

From the article:  Barker will continue to run Grand Rapids Ballet as well as New Zealand Ballet, until they can find a replacement for her at GRB.  Also, the operating budget to RNZB is over 5x the operating budget for GRB. 

 

And despite the title on the video, Barker was teaching class, not taking class ;)

[California]

Septime Webre is also choreographing a new ballet, The Wizard of Oz. It's a co-production of Kansas City Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and Royal Winnepeg:

https://ticketing.kcballet.org/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=11221&_ga=2.32884985.650607374.1506627980-1779684648.1506627980

 

He choreographed the Alice (in Wonderland) which has been performed by several regional companies. I confess that I loved it when Colorado Ballet did this a couple  of years ago. Lots of fun choreography for soloists and principals, lots of children used in clever ways. My sister's grandchildren adored it and it was an easy sell-out.  This is the kind of ballet that keeps regional companies in the black. Kansas City is doing it next May and I hope Colorado gets it next.  

[Helene]

I'm not a big fan of Dracula's, but I'm glad to see story ballets that can take the financial burden off Nutcracker, where one winter storm can devastate the year's box office.

 

Retired PNB Dancer Jessika Anspach once called Nutcracker a gateway drug, and, typically, that supply runs out by December.  More in the pipeline, especially recognizable stories, to take advantage of an audience, especially a young audience, is a good thing.

 

Co-producer are generally win-win-win [n] when everyone cooperates.