abatt Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Sara Mearns - wonder what Macauley would say about her? She definitely has an unorthodox build. Very womanly and curvy, and without the long stretched look of most ballerinas. Yet she also moves in such a distinct way that it's impossible not to be transported by her dancing. She sometimes almost reminds me of Galina Ulanova -- the short neck and arms, the sweetly lyrical style of dancing. Unlike many NYCB ballerinas she doesn't really punch out the steps according to the music, but instead seems to "dance through" the music, Kirov-style. She was one of the most memorable SPF's I've seen. And she handled the shoulder-lifts and balances of the grand pas de deux superbly. In today's NY Times, Macaulay singles Mearns out as one of the highlights of 2010. He particularly noted her outstanding Swan Lake, as well as her wonderful performaces in various other ballets during 2010. He did not mention any other NYCB dancers among his highlights. Link to comment
LiLing Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 If any of you saw Suzanne Farrell's Dew Drop, I would love to hear you memory of it. I can't imagine her in that role. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 That would be me. In many ways, Dewdrop was an ideal part for her. Most durable memory is the diagonal of double ronds de jambe sautés that she did in the minor period of the waltz. She also had a lot of sweep and a highly flexible torso, which she exercised to good effect in exiting. My friends and I called the big windmilling arms and deep carriage of the body "The Ficker". Link to comment
LiLing Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Thank you Mel. How I wish I'd seen Miss Ficker's Dew Drop! Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Most durable memory is the diagonal of double ronds de jambe sautés that she did in the minor period of the waltz. Isn't this the same combination of steps used for the opening of Youskevitch second variation in T&V...? Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Don't know. I never saw Youskevitch dance. I did, however, see Ted Kivitt (rather a slow version) in the part, and also Peter Fonseca (speedy!) and also Baryshnikov - really the best tempo - and they all did very similar rond de jambe - piqué arabesque things, but all subtly different. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 Don't know. I never saw Youskevitch dance. . When pointing to a specific variation/role, I sometimes refer to the name of the dancer who originated it-(if I happen to know it)...you know, as a matter of tribute. Thanks for the answer, major...! Link to comment
carbro Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 Most durable memory is the diagonal of double ronds de jambe sautés that she did in the minor period of the waltz. She also had a lot of sweep and a highly flexible torso, which she exercised to good effect in exiting. That's my most vivid memory of Farrell's DD, too.Isn't this the same combination of steps used for the opening of Youskevitch second variation in T&V...?Essentially yes, but with two differences. Dewdrop piques into attitude, and the man in T&V does arabesque. Also, most of the men I've seen in T&V (both ABT and NYCB) alternate the arms in the arabesques. Dewdrop (in attitude) doesn't. Link to comment
papeetepatrick Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 She also had a lot of sweep and a highly flexible torso, which she exercised to good effect in exiting. My friends and I called the big windmilling arms and deep carriage of the body "The Ficker". Nice, all of it. Thanks. Link to comment
Helene Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 A note from Admin, for clarification: Links to blogs, public Facebook pages, Tweets, etc. by dance professionals, dance critics, and members of the mainstream press are valid for Ballet Alert! Links to those by fans aren't, however articulate or informative. Link to comment
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