ABT Fan Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Forster has now been cast as Prince Desire opposite Hurlin for the matinee on 6/17! I really think this could be his year to be promoted. Debuts as Albrecht, Siegfried, Romeo AND Desire! (OMG, that's a lot in a short amount of time....) Lane and Brandt's Desires are still TBD. Link to comment
abatt Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 1 hour ago, ABT Fan said: Forster has now been cast as Prince Desire opposite Hurlin for the matinee on 6/17! I really think this could be his year to be promoted. Debuts as Albrecht, Siegfried, Romeo AND Desire! (OMG, that's a lot in a short amount of time....) Lane and Brandt's Desires are still TBD. This is certainly Forster's big chance at a promotion, with all of these new important roles. Fingers and toes crossed that he stays healthy and does well in all of these assignments. The amount of new material he will be learning for the spring season seems overwhelming. Link to comment
Lena C. Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 3 hours ago, ABT Fan said: Forster has now been cast as Prince Desire opposite Hurlin for the matinee on 6/17! I really think this could be his year to be promoted. Debuts as Albrecht, Siegfried, Romeo AND Desire! (OMG, that's a lot in a short amount of time....) Lane and Brandt's Desires are still TBD. Wow, that's quite a lot! In addition to his Rochester in Jane Eyre. Hopefully he makes it through without injury. I'm so happy he's finally being given these opportunities. I'll be surprised if he's not promoted along with Bell. Probably not Royal but then again Royal is getting Romeo and Albrecht. Link to comment
Drew Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 4 hours ago, abatt said: This is certainly Forster's big chance at a promotion, with all of these new important roles. Fingers and toes crossed that he stays healthy and does well in all of these assignments. The amount of new material he will be learning for the spring season seems overwhelming. That strikes me as well --wish he had done one or two of these already ...but here's hoping! Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Drew said: That strikes me as well --wish he had done one or two of these already ...but here's hoping! I'm thrilled with this news! I may need to do a Sleeping Beauty double-header that Wednesday. At least he's getting an Albrecht and Siegfried when ABT is on the road, so that should help a bit. But yes, it's still a lot to take on for the spring season. Link to comment
LadyBubbles Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Good for Forster. If he nails those roles, he has to get promoted. I wouldn't be surprised if Bell gets promoted again. We're down to two full time male principals (sorry but Cornejo seems to be starting to retire roles and he's very injury prone; has always been and now that he's flirting with 40 it won't get easier). Finger crossed that all goes well. In other news, did anyone else see Brandt's Instagram audition for T&V? It may not have worked out for Giselle, but maybe this one will work out. We shall see. Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 I didn't really take Brandt's Instagram posts to be an audition for T&V, as I believe she was dancing the demi-soloist role in all the videos she posted. If they'd shown her rehearsing bits of the principal role, then I'd feel differently. They certainly highlighted her technical prowess, but then again, so do all of her videos. Link to comment
LadyBubbles Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 True, if she had a coach with her teaching her the lead part then that'd be a serious auditions. Nonetheless, so many back to back posts aren't for nothing. Well, I'm sure we'll get to watch her dance the ballerina role eventually. Maybe sooner than we think if they keep giving the cold shoulder. Also, with her skills, her T&V is one I'd want to witness some day. Link to comment
canbelto Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 I really wish they'd actually retire all Balanchine from their repertoire. Their Balanchine is danced at a horrifyingly bad level. Unless they're willing to invest serious money in some coaching I don't see it getting better. Link to comment
nanushka Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 13 minutes ago, Leah said: I loved their Symphonie Concertante and hope they do it again soon. I agree. That looked much better than most ABT Balanchine. And I'd hate to see that work go completely out of the repertoire of a NYC company, however unlikely it may be that they'll do it again very soon. Link to comment
nanushka Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 (edited) 42 minutes ago, fondoffouettes said: I didn't really take Brandt's Instagram posts to be an audition for T&V, as I believe she was dancing the demi-soloist role in all the videos she posted. If they'd shown her rehearsing bits of the principal role, then I'd feel differently. They certainly highlighted her technical prowess, but then again, so do all of her videos. Yeah, I really don't think those videos should be construed as an audition for the ballerina role, given that she just recently performed the demi (no?), and so it's no surprise that material from that role would be showing up in her feed. Edited November 5, 2019 by nanushka Link to comment
canbelto Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 I say this as a big fan of Skylar Brandt the dancer, but all of her Instagram posts seem like auditions. The good thing is that it's also a compelling look at the usually invisible work dancers do to get a role. And I certainly prefer her method of self-promotion to the ballerinas who just hawk leotards and other promotions. But still ... to me it's really obvious she's auditioning. Link to comment
BalletFan Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Leah said: I loved their Symphonie Concertante and hope they do it again soon. I agree, Leah. I LOVED Symphonie Concertant and wish I could see it again (and again!). Link to comment
vipa Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 3 hours ago, fondoffouettes said: I didn't really take Brandt's Instagram posts to be an audition for T&V, as I believe she was dancing the demi-soloist role in all the videos she posted. If they'd shown her rehearsing bits of the principal role, then I'd feel differently. They certainly highlighted her technical prowess, but then again, so do all of her videos. I agree, and I really like these postings. Even though I've seen the ballet many, many times there are sections in which I'm so focused on the principal that I don't pay a lot of attention to the demi-soloists. This gave me a new appreciation for how much dancing they do, and how difficult it is. Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 1 hour ago, vipa said: This gave me a new appreciation for how much dancing they do, and how difficult it is. Yes!!! I felt the same way. It was amazing to see the difficulty of the demi-soloist choreography in isolation from the rest of the ballet. Link to comment
Emma Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 1 hour ago, fondoffouettes said: Yes!!! I felt the same way. It was amazing to see the difficulty of the demi-soloist choreography in isolation from the rest of the ballet. Agreed. That choreography is so fast and complex I had to watch the clips about five times to even begin to understand it! I love seeing dance clips on Instagram and am glad Brandt posts frequently. Link to comment
Fleurfairy Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Not a fan of anyone of any profession tooting their own horn constantly. I know that's what social media if for to an extent, but Brandt goes above and beyond with the endless videos of her own dancing as well as reposts of everyone who comments or posts a story about her. I find it tacky. But I guess this is what gets you promoted at ABT, Home of Misty Copeland. Link to comment
mille-feuille Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I for one love the videos of her dancing. She deserves a shot at bigger roles and if I can't see her take those roles on onstage, I'd rather Instagram than nothing. Link to comment
angelica Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 33 minutes ago, Fleurfairy said: Not a fan of anyone of any profession tooting their own horn constantly. I know that's what social media if for to an extent, but Brandt goes above and beyond with the endless videos of her own dancing as well as reposts of everyone who comments or posts a story about her. I find it tacky. But I guess this is what gets you promoted at ABT, Home of Misty Copeland. I would venture a guess that she is disappointed in her casting in the upcoming spring season, although there are still possibilities left open. I'm sure that if they were doing DonQ she would have gotten a Kitri. She has really paid her dues all the way from JKO, through Studio Company, through corps, and is ready for more principal roles. Someone remarked above thread that she looks so happy when she's dancing that maybe she doesn't yet have the soul for an O/O or Juliet. Does anyone think of her as a soubrette dancer? Link to comment
Lena C. Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 7 minutes ago, angelica said: Someone remarked above thread that she looks so happy when she's dancing that maybe she doesn't yet have the soul for an O/O or Juliet. Does anyone think of her as a soubrette dancer? Jane Eyre was not my favorite last spring but I have to say that Brandt was mesmerising as young Jane. She certainly had the deep, emotional maturity to play/dance this troubled girl. The way her family abused her and her reactions were quite similar to the family dynamics of Juliet and her parents. Brandt is known for her bright, happy dancing but I'd definitely say her Young Jane proved her deep capacity for emotional, soulful dancing. Link to comment
aurora Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 53 minutes ago, Fleurfairy said: Not a fan of anyone of any profession tooting their own horn constantly. I know that's what social media if for to an extent, but Brandt goes above and beyond with the endless videos of her own dancing as well as reposts of everyone who comments or posts a story about her. I find it tacky. But I guess this is what gets you promoted at ABT, Home of Misty Copeland. I think it is very unjustified to call sharing videos of her dancing as "tooting their own horn constantly." She is a dancer. She posts videos of her dancing. She isn't advertising other things--she's showing a rare glimpse of her process and progress. She's also a very good dancer, who I think richly deserves a promotion for her dancing...which is precisely what she's showing on social media. Her dancing. I really don't understand the indignation about it on here. If one is a fan of dance (which I assume we all are) why the intense criticizing of a dancer for providing increased access to just that. Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Leah said: Also, this is what Instagram is for. If you follow a dancer you’re signing up for their self-promotion. And more dancing videos, than say sponsorships for random leotard companies, is always a good thing. I much prefer behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage over endless mirror selfies or glossy shots promoting a leotard line. It's interesting to see the process, and sometimes dancers are able to accomplish extraordinary things in rehearsal (five- or six-revolution pirouettes) that never make it to the stage. Regarding Brandt resposting fan posts in her Instagram Stories, I see this as a nice way of acknowledging fans. Mearns routinely does this after a performance, when people post photos of her curtain calls, often accompanied by adulatory language. It can feel nice to know an artist saw your post and acknowledged your appreciation of them. Brandt seems to have a lot of young dancer fans who really look up to her. Edited November 6, 2019 by fondoffouettes Link to comment
maps Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 (edited) I enjoy Brandt's instagram. I don't subscribe but do surf every few weeks. She's doing the Sunday mystery cast matinee with Ahn at the Kennedy Center and Forster is our Albrecht with Murphy on Sat eve. I love the casting and it's a marathon. https://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/BUBSE Edited November 6, 2019 by maps Link to comment
aurora Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, maps said: I enjoy Brandt's instagram. I don't subscribe but do surf every few weeks. She's doing the Sunday mystery cast matinee with Ahn at the Kennedy Center and Forster is our Albrecht with Murphy on Sat eve. I love the casting and it's a marathon. https://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/BUBSE oh wow! That is great! Link to comment
canbelto Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I think Brandt is a very technically proficient dancer, but not really emotionally engaging. But that's just my opinion. Link to comment
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