Alexandra Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 "Harlequinade" will play the Kennedy Center this week. Here are a few links to articles and reviews on danceviewtimes about the ballet that opened in New York last spring. Petipa Laughs "Alexei Ratmansky's Harlequinade" January 22, 2018 by Mary Cargill City Center's Studio 5 presentations, like the Guggenheim's Works & Process series, offer glimpses into the creative process, but the City Center's are held in a working studio, with the audience forming a U-shape around the speakers, which gives a casual, immediate air to the presentations. The most recent featured the Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky and ABT Director Kevin McKenzie discussing the upcoming production of Ratmansky's reconstruction of Marius Petipa's 1900 two act comedy "Harlequinade",which was based on the traditional commedia dell'arte characters. It tells the story of Columbine, a young girl who defies her father's choice of a rich suitor in favor of a poor but charming young man, Harlequin, who in this case, happens to end up with money too. https://www.danceviewtimes.com/2018/01/petipa-laughs.html Look Back in Joy "Harlequinade"American Ballet Theatre June 4, 2018by Mary Cargill "Harlequinade" is a cornucopia of dance styles, with extensive mime, broad physical comedy, folk dances, demi-caractère frolicking, and a radiant abstract ballet, another of Petipa's hymns to female beauty. The story is taken care of in Act I, with a wedding (always a good excuse for dancing) in Act II. James Whiteside, the rogue Harlequin with his iconic diamond patterned tights, was in love with Isabella Boylston's Columbine, who was guarded, completely ineptly by Thomas Forster's lazy Pierrot and helped by Gillian Murphy's Pierrette, Pierrot's sprightly wife. https://www.danceviewtimes.com/2018/06/look-back-in-joy.html Hop To It "Harlequinade"June 5, 2018by Mary Cargill The Petipa/ Ratmansky soufflé "Harlequinade" has many ingredients, chief among them the older terre à terre style, with its sharp, fast footwork; making lace with their feet is a frequent description of those Imperial ballerinas. Columbine, the heroine of the comic ballet, has choreography packed with these terre à terre moves, as she hops almost continually -- slow hops, fast hops, backwards, forwards, in circles, even little jumps behind the back of the kneeling Harlequin. Those Imperial dancers had ankles of steel. Despite one slight slip, Sarah Lane, the second night Columbine, was a very fine lacemaker, especially in her second act solo where she had series of slow hops on point with rond de jambes, pausing for arabesques, as her upper body opened easily outward, signaling her complete happiness. https://www.danceviewtimes.com/2018/06/hop-to-it.html A New, Young Cast Delights in "Harlequinade" June 4, 2018by Gay Morris American Ballet Theatre is offering four casts in eight performances of Alexei Ratmansky’s reconstruction of Marius Petipa’s “Harlequinade” this week at the Metropolitan Opera House. The cast I saw was particularly interesting because nearly all the major roles were taken by dancers from the company’s lower ranks. This gave them a chance to prove themselves, and they more than met the challenge. Harlequin was portrayed by corps de ballet member, Gabe Stone Shayer, while his love, Columbine was soloist Cassandra Trenary, and Pierrot was soloist Blaine Hoven. The only principal dancer in the cast was Christine Shevchenko as Pierrot’s wife, Pierrette. https://www.danceviewtimes.com/2018/06/a-new-young-cast-delights-in-harlequinade.html Link to comment
The Traveling Ballerina Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 I'm going to opening night tomorrow and I can't wait! I refrain from reading other reviews until I write my own but look forwarding to perusing them afterword. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment
lmspear Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 $35.00 Discount ticket offer for tonight and tomorrow. They want bodies in the seats. Here are the details: The Kennedy Center is offering tickets at the special price of $35.00 for select orchestra seats for the performances of the American Ballet Theatre on Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 30 at 7:30 pm in the Opera House. Tickets are normally as high as $99. You can click the link below and your discount will appear automatically. If you call or stop by the Box Office for the discount, be sure to mention Offer Number "325692." See you at the Kennedy Center! American Ballet Theatre Discount Offer About American Ballet Theatrewith the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra The D.C. premiere of Ratmansky’s retelling of Marius Petipa’s 19th-century comic ballet follows its New York world premiere in summer 2018. He brings the “lost” classic to life with a bold new staging co-produced with Australian Ballet, inspired by Petipa’s archival notes and set to original music by Riccardo Drigo. In this two-act ballet, Harlequin fights for his true love, Columbine. Playful costumes and vivid sets create a charming tribute to the Italian commedia dell’arte style, known for its slapstick humor and rollicking characters.Performance Timing: Act One - 40 min.; Intermission - 20 min.; Act Two - 40 min.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~PRINCIPAL CASTING (subject to change)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tue., Jan. 29 evening Columbine: Boylston; Harlequin: Whiteside; Pierrette: Abrera; Pierrot: ForsterWed., Jan. 30 evening Columbine: Brandt; Harlequin: Simkin; Pierrette: Seo; Pierrot: Hammoudi Conditions: Offer subject to availability. Not valid in combination with any other offer. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Service fees may apply. (202) 467-4600 | Toll-free (800) 444-1324 TTY (202) 416-8524 | Link to comment
Alexandra Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share Posted January 29, 2019 Thanks for that, Imspear. I think not that many people are familiar with "Harlequinade," which often makes for box office problems in DC. Link to comment
maps Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) On 1/29/2019 at 4:26 PM, Alexandra said: Thanks for that, Imspear. I think not that many people are familiar with "Harlequinade," which often makes for box office problems in DC. Promo code 325842: Wed Jan 30 OR =$39 [reg between $59-$79]. Unsold 2nd tier=$29 Thurs Jan 31 OR =$39 [reg between $69-$89]. Unsold 2nd tier=$29 No offers for weekend [had for SF Unbound and Bourne's Cinderella] Edited January 31, 2019 by maps Link to comment
The Traveling Ballerina Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Well, after attending the performance last night, I think that Harlequinade is precious. The evening flew as I was thoroughly enjoying myself the entire time. If you're interested, here's my review Would love to hear the opinion of others! Link to comment
Alexandra Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 18 hours ago, maps said: Promo code 325842: Wed Jan 30 OR =$39 [reg between $59-$79]. Unsold 2nd tier=$29 Thurs Jan 31 OR =$39 [reg between $69-$89]. Unsold 2nd tier=$29 No offers for weekend [had for SF Unbound and Bourne's Cinderella] I'm so glad to read this! Thanks for posting this, maps. Here's a link to a piece I wrote about Ratmansky's Harlequinade: Ratmansky's Harlequinade Link to comment
YouOverThere Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Did anyone else go to the Saturday evening performance? They drafted a guy from the corps, Tyler Maloney, to dance the Harlequin part, and I thought that he showed a lot of potential. I had mixed feelings about this ballet. A bit too much mime, yet there were some excellent riffs for the leads. Link to comment
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