ABT Fan Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 Article in the Times about Abrera’s debut. Love how McKenzie blames her injury, which healed many years ago, for delaying her promotion. Anyway, her 40th birthday is today! https://nyti.ms/2kUVRhA?smid=nytcore-ios-share Link to comment
Inge Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 2 hours ago, ABT Fan said: Love how McKenzie blames her injury, which healed many years ago, for delaying her promotion. So annoying. I assume Kourlas must know that his statement is complete BS (ballet is supposed to be a specialty of hers after all...), but just let it slide? Stella was so good this week as Pierrette. Hers is the only Juliet I'm seeing and it's usually a 3-per-week ballet for me. The casting combinations are underwhelming (Misty + Herman intrigues me, but of course the ticket prices are sky high). Link to comment
Ilovegiselle Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 On 6/8/2018 at 8:52 PM, Inge said: So annoying. I assume Kourlas must know that his statement is complete BS (ballet is supposed to be a specialty of hers after all...), but just let it slide? Stella was so good this week as Pierrette. Hers is the only Juliet I'm seeing and it's usually a 3-per-week ballet for me. The casting combinations are underwhelming (Misty + Herman intrigues me, but of course the ticket prices are sky high). I wish Stella would be partnered by David, as advertised in the posters. Imagine those beautiful dancers together with their long endless lines. Link to comment
Inge Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) Article (Kourlas, so it's very fluffy) on Aran Bell's Romeo debut. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/arts/dance/aran-bell-romeo-and-juliet-american-ballet-theatre.html Very bummed I'm going to miss this. While I haven't been particularly enamored of Bell's stage presence, his appearance in Harlequinade was notably more charismatic (perhaps a recent dose of confidence?) and most of the other casts are pretty unexciting. He looks great here. Not at all mismatched with the Teuscher, as I had initially feared. I was wondering...how many Romeos has ABT tried and dropped? Gorak and Hammoudi come to mind. Edited June 12, 2018 by Inge Link to comment
nanushka Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Just curious, what role did Bell dance in Harlequinade? Link to comment
aurora Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 21 minutes ago, nanushka said: Just curious, what role did Bell dance in Harlequinade? The unnamed friend who partners pierette Link to comment
Inge Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) 38 minutes ago, nanushka said: Just curious, what role did Bell dance in Harlequinade? Nothing extravagant. Just a henchman (I think) and then maybe a member of the court in Act II? He lost some of that awkward teen aura that's been sticking to him (probably because he's still a teen, to be fair). I realize that Romeo is a teenager, but Teuscher is so elegant I was worried it would require a very large suspension of disbelief. These past two weeks have been a blur, but his AFTERITE showing made an impression on me. Whoever is attending this week's matinee must bring us all reports! Pretty please Edited June 12, 2018 by Inge Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 20 minutes ago, Inge said: I was wondering...how many Romeos has ABT tried and dropped? Gorak and Hammoudi come to mind. Those are the only ones I can think of from the past 10 years or so. I think Jared Matthews would have been an excellent candidate, had he stayed. Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 10 hours ago, Inge said: Article (Kourlas, so it's very fluffy) on Aran Bell's Romeo debut. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/arts/dance/aran-bell-romeo-and-juliet-american-ballet-theatre.html Very bummed I'm going to miss this. While I haven't been particularly enamored of Bell's stage presence, his appearance in Harlequinade was notably more charismatic (perhaps a recent dose of confidence?) and most of the other casts are pretty unexciting. He looks great here. Not at all mismatched with the Teuscher, as I had initially feared. I was wondering...how many Romeos has ABT tried and dropped? Gorak and Hammoudi come to mind. He’s just 19! Which I think i knew, but gosh he’s so young. I didn’t think that article was too fluffy, it discussed his schooling and his debut, not his favorite yogurt. If anyone sees his debut, please report! Link to comment
NinaFan Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) I’m looking forward to Bell's debut as Romeo tomorrow as well as his Von Rothbart next week. I saw him in both of his Harlequinade roles last week and like many others on BA, I have been watching him as a corps dancer since he was hired. He seems to have a lot of “front row” corps roles this season, and I was hoping that he was being groomed for larger roles. It never occurred to me that he’d get a Romeo. I wish Lendorf had not missed his Romeo along with the entire season, but at least Aran is getting a chance in a principal role. If Aran is anywhere near as good as corps dancer Harrison Coll's debut as Romeo (NYCB), then we've got a real up and comer in Aran. Edited June 12, 2018 by NinaFan Link to comment
bingham Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 9 hours ago, ABT Fan said: He’s just 19! Which I think i knew, but gosh he’s so young. I didn’t think that article was too fluffy, it discussed his schooling and his debut, not his favorite yogurt. If anyone sees his debut, please report! Denys Ganio, Aran’s teacher in Europe, is the father of POB etoile Mathieu Ganio. Link to comment
Inge Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) 10 hours ago, NinaFan said: I’m looking forward to Bell's debut as Romeo tomorrow as well as his Von Rothbart next week. I saw him in both of his Harlequinade roles last week and like many others on BA, I have been watching him as a corps dancer since he was hired. He seems to have a lot of “front row” corps roles this season, and I was hoping that he was being groomed for larger roles. It never occurred to me that he’d get a Romeo. I wish Lendorf had not missed his Romeo along with the entire season, but at least Aran is getting a chance in a principal role. If Aran is anywhere near as good as corps dancer Harrison Coll's debut as Romeo (NYCB), then we've got a real up and comer in Aran. If Bell knocks it out of the park (& I think he will), I hope this means more fun casting surprises in the future. Even if he's wobbly here and there, it will be exciting to witness the beginning of something! It's a well sold performance, so I'm sure the energy will be great. I'm more upset about missing this than I was the Hallberg/Osipova SuperGiselle. And I could be totally wrong, but is this Gabe Stone Shayer's debut as Mercutio? If I weren't going to Alvin Ailey on Fri, I would have bought tickets to the Seo/Stearns performance just to see him. Edited June 13, 2018 by Inge Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 45 minutes ago, Inge said: And I could be totally wrong, but is this Gabe Stone Shayer's debut as Mercutio? If I weren't going to Alvin Ailey on Fri, I would have bought tickets to the Seo/Stearns performance just to see him. Yes, his Met debut. He performed this first on tour a few months ago, I think that was in Detroit. Link to comment
its the mom Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Because of my work schedule, I have been attending Tuesday evening performances. It was a wonderful show last night. Juliet is probably a better vehicle for Misty. Herman was a heartthrob Romeo, and teamed up with Cirio as Mercutio and Gorak as Benvolio, it made for a very entertaining evening. There was a mishap during the crypt scene. I didn't see it, but one of the monks fell from above. I am not sure if it was when they were descending the stairs or just at the entrance. He was there throughout the whole scene, apparently. (All of this I heard after from some of the dancers.) When it came time for bows, we were wondering what was happening because there were no open curtain bows. They did two sets of page bows instead. I always find the storytelling of R&J somewhat weak and that bothers me. Nevertheless, I am hoping to see Hallberg on Saturday night, if I can make it. Link to comment
BalletFan Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Is this why there were no open curtain bows? I was there on Tuesday evening, too, and it was puzzling to me. I don't think I've ever seen this happen before. Yes, Juliet is a good role for Misty (and for Hee Seo, too, by the way). I thought Misty, and Herman, were great last night. Link to comment
Guest Missjohnsonfromlondon Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Bell was a bit diffident this afternoon at the beginning, but a switch was flipped in the Balcony Scene and he took command of the role and the stage from then on. A splendid first realization in NYC for him of a very tricky role. Bravo! Link to comment
Rick Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) Aran Bell was amazing. Such command of the stage. Born to play Romeo I thought. Devon was bland as Juliet, not feeling the role at all, though her technique was above reproach. Edited June 13, 2018 by Rick Link to comment
nanushka Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) How was Devon’s upper body flexibility? Some found it lacking in Bayadère. I don’t imagine her as a Nikiya or Juliet, though I’ve found her quite good in many other roles. Edited June 13, 2018 by nanushka Link to comment
Rick Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 (edited) Devon’s upper body flexibility was fine. What was lacking was a sense of abandon, or surrender. I mean, her Romeo was this tall, dashing Aran Bell who seemed completely in love her, and yet she seemed to feel nothing. She went through the movements without expressing emotion. I think it’s her first time dancing Juliet so hopefully her interpretation will be more convincing next time. Edited June 14, 2018 by Rick Link to comment
balletlover08 Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Did anyone get a chance to see Gillian Murphy's Juliet? I know is the past that hasn't been one of her "signature" roles but i was wondering if it maybe got better this year? Link to comment
Inge Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 (edited) 58 minutes ago, Rick said: Devon’s upper body flexibility was fine. What was lacking was a sense of abandon, or surrender. I mean, her Romeo was this tall, dashing Aran Bell who seemed completely in love her, and yet she seemed to feel nothing. She went through the movements without expressing emotion. I think it’s her first time dancing Juliet so hopefully her interpretation will be more convincing next time. Perhaps they were a little mismatched. I was wondering if Bell's youth would make it difficult for Teuscher to connect with him romantically. Maybe her brand of more muted elegance doesn't gel as well with Juliet, or it was just first-time jitters. Since Bell's debut was so successful, it would be fun to see him with another young corps member next year. Paulina Waksi does look like Olivia Hussey from the Zeffirelli version, just saying. (or Hurlin maybe?) I'm also curious about Shayer & Ribagorda. Although Juliet goes through the ballet's real character arc, 'the boys' have all the best choreography. Bell, Shayer & Ribagorda seem like a dream team. Edited June 14, 2018 by Inge Link to comment
Ilovegiselle Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Just saw Boylston and Halberg. Her Juliet is one of my new favorite in recent years. She complete innoncence ans captures Juliet’s youth so perfectly. She surenders herself to the role. In act 3, she was devastated and confused, physically running into stuff in her desolation. Love them! Link to comment
Barbara Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Rick said: Devon’s upper body flexibility was fine. What was lacking was a sense of abandon, or surrender. I mean, her Romeo was this tall, dashing Aran Bell who seemed completely in love her, and yet she seemed to feel nothing. She went through the movements without expressing emotion. I think it’s her first time dancing Juliet so hopefully her interpretation will be more convincing next time. I must respectfully disagree with this description of Devon's characterization. I thought it was a triumph and that she and Bell show the makings of a wonderful partnership. Even from the Dress Circle I could read her emotive body language and the very thing I did think she showed was abandon and passion. They had a palpable chemistry. It was the most moving R&J I've seen at ABT in a long time. Link to comment
NinaFan Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Bell/Teuscher R&J - What a spectacular performance! Bell is a natural born Romeo with his boyish good looks, but that is just the icing on the cake. His dancing, emotion and acting were exquisite! I loved him from the moment he walked out on the stage to mess around with his two buddies. He has wonderful chemistry with Devon who was a glorious and very lovely Juliet. Like Bell, Devon shows great emotion in her acting. They were so convincing that I could not stop myself from crying during the last scene which was extremely heartbreaking and beautiful. Gabe Shayer was a superb Mercutio, as were Luis Ribagorda as Benvolio and Hammoudi as Tybalt . The entire supporting cast were really outstanding, which made for an exceptional performance. The audience gave an immediate standing ovation and I was hoarse from screaming by the time we left. The first time I saw Bell was when he guested in an Eglevsky Nutcracker when he was about 13 or 14. He danced a number of different roles, and at the end of the performance they had a Q&A with the dancers. My husband and I were able to move up to the front row for the Q&A. Aran seemed so shy! We knew he was going to become an extraordinary dancer someday, and feel privileged to have attended his first major role at ABT. We’re looking forward to his Von Rothbart next week, but really can’t wait to see him cast in more lead roles! I certainly hope Kevin promotes Aran and Gabe to soloist in the next few weeks. Gabe is way overdue, and Aran has already proven that he needs to be fast tracked. Link to comment
Recommended Posts