abatt Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 2 hours ago, Natalia said: Not a classical tutu or tiara in sight. We used to get T&V or similar during these fall seasons. Mariinsky at the Kennedy Center, here we come. Skip ABT's fall season and spend your hard earned dollars in Washington DC in October to see La Bayadere. Link to comment
Golden Idol Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Because I never tire of Symphonic Variations, I will go to one performance, whatever else is on the bill. And that's it. Very uninspiring season. Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Golden Idol said: Because I never tire of Symphonic Variations, I will go to one performance, whatever else is on the bill. And that's it. Very uninspiring season. I feel exactly the same. There have been times I've gone to as many as three or four performances, but this time I'll just go to one with Symphonic Variations. I realize that it makes sense logistically and financially to repeat pieces from the previous season, but this just feels like too much of the same. I actually enjoyed Her Notes last season, but I kind of expected it to be one of those somewhat pleasant premieres we never see again. It's not something I'd rush back to. I also find it a little odd that the Lang pièce d’occasion (danced by students and apprentices) is being billed as one of three world premieres, alongside the Ratmansky and Millepied. I know it's technically a world premiere, but the one-off nature of a pièce d'occasion doesn't seem to merit that sort of attention. But who knows, maybe it will end up being the next Monotones. And I guess you have to generate hype where you can if you're a press person... Edited June 29, 2017 by fondoffouettes Link to comment
abatt Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 (edited) 11 minutes ago, fondoffouettes said: I feel exactly the same. There have been times I've gone to as many as three or four performances, but this time I'll just go to one with Symphonic Variations. I realize that it makes sense logistically and financially to repeat pieces from the previous season, but this just feels like too much of the same. I actually enjoyed Her Notes last season, but I kind of expected it to be one of those somewhat pleasant premieres we never see again. It's not something I'd rush back to. I also find it a little odd that the Lang pièce d’occasion (danced by students and apprentices) is being billed as one of three world premieres, alongside the Ratmansky and Millepied. I know it's technically a world premiere, but the one-off nature of a pièce d'occasion doesn't seem to merit that sort of attention. But who knows, maybe it will end up being the next Monotones. And I guess you have to generate hype where you can if you're a press person... Every one of the students and apprentices have parents, grandparents and siblings to sell tickets to. The Lang premiere may be artistically rather insignificant, but it will help fill the auditorium the night of the gala. I was not particularly impressed last year with ABT's performances of Symphonic Variations. I've seen video of better performances by the Royal Ballet. Maybe ABT's performances this fall will be better than last year. I wonder what roles they are planning for Hallberg. Edited June 29, 2017 by abatt Link to comment
Fleurfairy Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Interested about Hallberg as well. From what I heard/saw this season, his dancing was tentative. This obviously is due to coming back from his serious injury, but it made me wonder if he will ever be the same. Kind of like how Darci Kistler (whom I adored) had that terrible ankle injury. And she came back, but her dancing never quite had the same fearlessness. And Hallberg is not on the young side of his career either. Link to comment
its the mom Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 1 hour ago, Fleurfairy said: Interested about Hallberg as well. From what I heard/saw this season, his dancing was tentative. This obviously is due to coming back from his serious injury, but it made me wonder if he will ever be the same. Kind of like how Darci Kistler (whom I adored) had that terrible ankle injury. And she came back, but her dancing never quite had the same fearlessness. And Hallberg is not on the young side of his career either. He was not tentative in his last show of Onegin in any way, at least in my opinion. Link to comment
abatt Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I think the choreography in Onegin is much easier than in many other ballets. That's why Hallberg agreed to do 2 Onegin's in one week. Link to comment
aurora Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 (edited) 20 minutes ago, abatt said: I think the choreography in Onegin is much easier than in many other ballets. That's why Hallberg agreed to do 2 Onegin's in one week. I didn't find him tentative in Giselle either, and there is nothing easy about that series of entrechat-six in act II (though he made it look surprisingly so). (he did only do that once in a week of course!!) Edited June 29, 2017 by aurora Link to comment
Natalia Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I could easily see Hallberg cast in most of the known works on the fall schedule. Imagine Other Dances with Hee, for ex; definitely in the comfort zone of both & they've worked so well together in the past...the long, wispy duo. He may also be in some of the new ballets...Ratmansky has done wonderful work for him. Link to comment
vipa Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 4 hours ago, Natalia said: I could easily see Hallberg cast in most of the known works on the fall schedule. Imagine Other Dances with Hee, for ex; definitely in the comfort zone of both & they've worked so well together in the past...the long, wispy duo. He may also be in some of the new ballets...Ratmansky has done wonderful work for him. Who will be in the new Ratmansky work is anyone's guess but I can't root for Hee Seo to be cast in Other Dances no matter who the man is. For Other Dances my dream team would be Lane & Simkin. There are lots of unknowns for fall casting even with the listings that appear on individual dancer's bios on the ABT web pages. I'm not terrible excited about the season. When I see complete casting I'll decide if I will go or not. Link to comment
canbelto Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I always associate Other Dances as being exactly wrong for Hallberg and Seo. It was made on Baryshnikov and Makarova, two very short dancers. Their compact size and Russian folk dance familiarity are part of the ballet's DNA. At NYCB it's still cast with short, terre-a-terre dancers. de Luz and Peck, or Garcia and Fairchild. Link to comment
vipa Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 39 minutes ago, canbelto said: I always associate Other Dances as being exactly wrong for Hallberg and Seo. It was made on Baryshnikov and Makarova, two very short dancers. Their compact size and Russian folk dance familiarity are part of the ballet's DNA. At NYCB it's still cast with short, terre-a-terre dancers. de Luz and Peck, or Garcia and Fairchild. True Canbelto - I forgot about the NYCB casting, which I admit I've found quite satisfying. As far as Hee Seo, willowy certainly isn't something I'd associate with the ballet. I am trying to remember the last ABT couple I saw do Other Dances, but I can't. I guess it wasn't memorable! Link to comment
Natalia Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 10 hours ago, vipa said: True Canbelto - I forgot about the NYCB casting, which I admit I've found quite satisfying. As far as Hee Seo, willowy certainly isn't something I'd associate with the ballet. I am trying to remember the last ABT couple I saw do Other Dances, but I can't. I guess it wasn't memorable! You're both right. I was thinking the flowey dress and the way it would move on Hee...similar to her dress in R&J. The long alternatives? I loved Arbo:Legris in this, at POB. My gold standard, beside the originators. Link to comment
its the mom Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 9 hours ago, canbelto said: I always associate Other Dances as being exactly wrong for Hallberg and Seo. It was made on Baryshnikov and Makarova, two very short dancers. Their compact size and Russian folk dance familiarity are part of the ballet's DNA. At NYCB it's still cast with short, terre-a-terre dancers. de Luz and Peck, or Garcia and Fairchild. I think the last time ABT performed Other Dances, it was Hallberg/Murphy and Gomes/Part. Not sure if that is correct. Link to comment
Natalia Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 43 minutes ago, its the mom said: I think the last time ABT performed Other Dances, it was Hallberg/Murphy and Gomes/Part. Not sure if that is correct. Hallberg/Murphy must have been lovely in this. Also, I recall having seen long-lean-wispy Julie Kent in this...as an NYCB guest? So, yeah, Hee Seo should be gorgeous in this, with an equally long-lean partner. Link to comment
lmspear Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Once upon a time, when the theater had it's original name, I saw Farrell and Martin's do Other Dances. They were wonderful. Link to comment
vipa Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 43 minutes ago, lmspear said: Once upon a time, when the theater had it's original name, I saw Farrell and Martin's do Other Dances. They were wonderful. Wow - I would have loved to have seen that! Link to comment
mimsyb Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Not a very interesting season, for sure. I'm looking forward to Mathew Bourne's "Red Shoes" in stead. Sara Mearns alternates as the lead! Link to comment
Natalia Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I've just received my flyer for the ABT fall 2017 season in the mail. Sorry to be so crude but...that has to be the least appealing cover photo for what's intended to be a ballet-marketing brochure. Good grief! They obviously were aiming for the least classical look possible! Yuk. (Those who got it know what I mean...it's not worth acknowledging who is depicted. I feel sorry for the man in the pic, who is a fine dancer and always looks good.) After seeing this, I've decided to completely forego the season & stay in Washington, DC. Link to comment
vipa Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 1 hour ago, Natalia said: I've just received my flyer for the ABT fall 2017 season in the mail. Sorry to be so crude but...that has to be the least appealing cover photo for what's intended to be a ballet-marketing brochure. I have to agree Natalia. Unless I didn't look carefully enough, there was no mention of the principal dancers who would appear. I will probably go once to see Symphonic Variations. Link to comment
nanushka Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, vipa said: I have to agree Natalia. Unless I didn't look carefully enough, there was no mention of the principal dancers who would appear. I will probably go once to see Symphonic Variations. You'd think with all the text they did manage to include (and really, do we need the complete run-down of what pieces will be in every single program?) that they might've found room for the rest of the dancers to be at least mentioned. Edited July 23, 2017 by nanushka Link to comment
Natalia Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 My first thought was "Hooters Ballet Theatre." Let's see a basic professional-ballet look. I thought, for a moment, that I had received a flyer for my local college's amateur year-end workshop. Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) Well, ABT's old press release for the Avery Fisher Hall season was no help in determining who danced Other Dances back then (it says TBA for all performances of the piece). But this old thread confirms that both Hallberg/Murphy and Gomes/Part danced it: So, I guess ABT didn't feel like they needed to cast short for this one. I remember enjoying Hallberg/Murphy in Other Dances, though It was my first time viewing the piece so I had no point of reference for how it should be danced. The reactions in the thread above are rather tepid/negative. Seems like Part/Gomes were more enthusiastically received. Edited July 23, 2017 by fondoffouettes Link to comment
Natalia Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 The only clue in the mailer about Other Dances casting is the photo of Gillian (alone) on the back, in her OD costume...a far more balletic photo than what's on the cover. Link to comment
canbelto Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Um who is on the cover? I received a brochure a few days ago but didn't really look at it and recycled it. Link to comment
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