Plisskin Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Unless he's been ill this whole time, the guy has not danced in quite a while. Why does ABT continue to employ him? His position could go to one of the soloists. To be honest, the same could be said about his wife, Irina, too. She's not completely vanished, but she hardly dances. I'd love to see a soloist be promoted in her place as well. Link to comment
ksk04 Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 For awhile I assumed they were keeping him on the roster to keep Irina, who is still in her peak (in comparison to Max, who has, by all accounts, slowed way down). But now Irina is only dancing two performances in spring...so that's clearly not it either. Obviously something is up behind the scenes, but who knows what. Link to comment
Natalia Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 It just might be an 'h.r. move' related to pension and/or visas? (If they're already US citizens or perm residents, then it's not visas.) Maybe they have iron-clad contracts specifying a minimum number of years? In Russia, some dancers are kept on the roster -- at any level -- to meet some minimal requirement for pensions or some other legal benefit that can be accorded only if dancer-x is on the roster for a certain number of years. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 In Russia, some dancers are kept on the roster -- at any level -- to meet some minimal requirement for pensions or some other legal benefit that can be accorded only if dancer-x is on the roster for a certain number of years. Isn't that the case of Nioradze, Natasha...? Link to comment
abatt Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Good point. The visa problem didn't even occur to me, but I guess that could be a significant concern. Their daughter was born in the US,and she is a US citizen, but I have no idea whether either of her parents are citizens. I saw a news story just this weekend about a mother who was trying to stay in the US even though she was not a citizen and her visa expired. She had an infant daughter who was born here, and apparently there is some rule that allows the parent to stay if the parent is the primary caregiver. However, it seems like quite a hassle to get that permission, and it would not necessarily permit both illegal parents to stay in the country. Link to comment
FauxPas Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Well very few companies are hiring 40-something dancers. It says somewhere that Max debuted professionally in 1990 when he probably was a teenager. So he is forty or above. Max and Irina had big guesting engagements worldwide. It precluded their participation in the tours and Fall City Center gigs with ABT. They are not included in the City Center season this year or on any of the tours. Frankly, they probably could still dance the Iago and Emilia roles in "The Moor's Pavane" rather well. The only outside engagements they have right now are some "Nutcracker" performances in December - one series in a high school auditorium. http://www.festivalballet.org/fbt/nutcracker2012.html It is probably worth it staying on just to be able to market himself as a current ABT principal. It would help them get outside gigs. The other big question is "Why is ABT keeping Max B on the roster - paying him - and then not casting him?". Do they have a per performance contract or is it a seasonal contract? Maybe Max has a benefactor (Theresa Khawly in the past) who keeps sponsoring his contract. Link to comment
California Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 The only outside engagements they have right now are some "Nutcracker" performances in December - one series in a high school auditorium. http://www.festivalb...racker2012.html A small correction: Festival Ballet actually performs in the new Barclay Theatre at the University of California, Irvine. It's a lovely theater, with great sightlines, far from a high school auditorium. And FTB has had some impressive guests in recent years, such as Marcelo Gomes and Gillian Murphy in the full-length Don Quixote. Link to comment
abatt Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I think Faux Pas was referring to Irina & Max's upcoming performances in Greenwich, CT at a high school there. http://irinamaxballet.com/ Link to comment
Natalia Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 .... Isn't that the case of Nioradze, Natasha...? Partly, cubanmiamiboy. In her case, I will guess also 'pride' and desire to market herself as a Mariinsky Principal whenever she guest-stars in galas, Andris Liepa's producitons, and such. My understanding is that she is quite 'well to do' and enjoying family life outside of Russia. The h.r. and pension/benefits are more the concern of those in non-principal positions. Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I noticed that Max is no longer listed on ABT's website as a principal. Must have happened very recently. Link to comment
abatt Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 No retirement gala? Surprising. Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Not too surprising to me. He's barely danced in the last couple of years, so I can understand there being no retirement gala; I can't imagine it would sell out. I imagine some patrons would be thinking "Max Who?". Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 It is still somehow sad to see a dancer just gone in such silence... Link to comment
Drew Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Beloserkosky's Aminta in Ashton's Sylvia was my favorite of the three I saw at ABT a few years back--the most fluid and, to my eyes, having the right unemphatic pastoral quality. When I think of him, that's the performance I call to mind. Link to comment
angelica Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Drew, you have just given him a lovely "farewell." Link to comment
cargill Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Drew, I agree with you. I think he was so perfect in that role, so noble, with such a passive, for lack of a better word, yet powerful elegance. I can still see him standing by the temple, mourning Sylvia, looking like a Greek statue. Mary Link to comment
Plisskin Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 Wow. No announcement or anything... However, I personally see his retirement as a positive. Up and coming Corp/ Soloist members can be given more chances to move up in the ranks. I wouldn't be sad to see Irina follow suit to be honest. At most, she dances 2-3 times a year. So far for this year, ABT has posted the upcoming schedule for the upcoming 7 months, and she has 1 performance. Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Wow. No announcement or anything... However, I personally see his retirement as a positive. Up and coming Corp/ Soloist members can be given more chances to move up in the ranks. I wouldn't be sad to see Irina follow suit to be honest. At most, she dances 2-3 times a year. So far for this year, ABT has posted the upcoming schedule for the upcoming 7 months, and she has 1 performance. I agree completely with you Plisskin. Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 The suddeness of this is odd. I hope that he is OK (healthwise). I fondly remember his Desire opposite Irina in Sleeping Beauty. Link to comment
canbelto Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Irina when I first started going to the ballet was one of my favorite dancers. She was technically excellent, and fun in a kind of old-fashioned, over-the-top way. She took some time off to have a baby and when she returned I started to notice that her performances became more brittle and generic. The technique was still there but it was all very careful and expressionless, and not really the Irina I remembered. Eventually I started to avoid her performances. Link to comment
ksk04 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 I think her performances with Max were more mechanical than not, I guess, since they've been dancing together (and almost exclusively together) for so long. But her Romeo & Juliet with Bolle that I saw was incredible. The last time I saw Max was in Giselle w. Irina 2-3 yrs ago...he was serviceable and a good partner to Irina. I confess (not that I am ashamed of it or anything!) I do like Irina a lot and I hope she will take her time following Max out. He did perform in Nutcrackers here over the holidays (at least as far as I know he wasn't replaced), so I'm sure he's fine. I guess the reason for the disappearance in the manner it occurred will be a mystery unless someone does an interview with him. Link to comment
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