pirouette Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 Maybe they're giving the new Principals their moment right now, and waiting until just before or during the spring season for the new soloist promotions. It will surely happen sooner rather than later, only a matter of when they decide to announce them! Link to comment
Fernie M Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 13 minutes ago, pirouette said: Maybe they're giving the new Principals their moment right now, and waiting until just before or during the spring season for the new soloist promotions. It will surely happen sooner rather than later, only a matter of when they decide to announce them! I agree regarding giving “new Principals their moment.” I’m sure new soloist promotions will happen just before spring season. I too am disappointed Kikta was not promoted this round. Hopefully happen soon. New Soloists could be Maxwell, McKinnon, Bolden, Riccardo and possibly Bradley. Sure Takahashi is on the list as well. Link to comment
FPF Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 Congratulations to all the new principals! Link to comment
BalanchineFan Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 (edited) 13 hours ago, pirouette said: Now that space in the soloist roster has opened up, they definitely need to promote Alexa Maxwell to soloist. It would be egregious and an insult to her not to. I was shocked and disappointed that Maxwell was not promoted yesterday, but also really happy for the dancers that became principal. Edited February 27, 2023 by BalanchineFan Link to comment
matilda Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 I agree that Kikta is more than deserving of principal status based on her exceptional talents and striking stage presence. I'm ALWAYS excited to see her name on casting lists. However, I think height is a problem for her. She's an Amazon Queen. As Lilac, she was noticeably taller when on pointe than the very tall cavalier (Samuel Melnikov?) partnering her in the prologue scene. Management is likely assessing promotions in terms of practicality as much as talent. That is, they want their principals to dance the ballerina/danseur partnering roles. Kikta seems a little pigeon-holed in the rep that Savannah Lowery used to do, although I think Kikta is a better talent. And yes, Miriam Miller is also tall but she appears more dainty and modelesque than Amazonian (I don't think she's in the principal running anyway). I hope to be proven wrong and see Kikta promoted soon! For awhile I've thought it's a bit unfair that her husband, Peter Walker, rose the ranks before her. I think she's the more talented one, but of course there's less competition among the men. I just found this article from 2017 in which she's quoted about the pros and cons of being a tall ballerina: https://dancespirit.com/too-tall-to-dance/ Emma Von Enck should be getting more principal roles before they make her a principal. They should really use the opportunity of Ashely Bouder being out of commission, and Sterling Hyltin having retired, to throw her into some of those allegro roles or the parts opposite short guys. Link to comment
cobweb Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 8 minutes ago, matilda said: Emma Von Enck should be getting more principal roles before they make her a principal. They should really use the opportunity of Ashely Bouder being out of commission, and Sterling Hyltin having retired, to throw her into some of those allegro roles or the parts opposite short guys. I’m hoping to see her in Square Dance in the spring. With Roman Mejia? Link to comment
bellawood Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 47 minutes ago, cobweb said: I’m hoping to see her in Square Dance in the spring. With Roman Mejia? Taylor Stanley is also terrific in Square Dance— Link to comment
BalanchineFan Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, matilda said: I agree that Kikta is more than deserving of principal status based on her exceptional talents and striking stage presence. I'm ALWAYS excited to see her name on casting lists. However, I think height is a problem for her. She's an Amazon Queen. I don't think it's height that is holding her back, at least not in terms of partnering. All the women who were promoted this go-around had had debuts in Balanchine rep. I haven't seen them throwing leading Balanchine parts at Kikta. I also don't think she's done the Reichlen role in Everywhere We Go, which doesn't have a lot of partnering. I saw Kikta as Hippolyta awhile back (was it last spring?) and she seemed unfocused physically. If it wasn't just a one time issue, maybe she hasn't yet developed the strength and speed for those kinds of roles. A lot of taller dancers need more strength to move their limbs quickly. Hippolyta must be a bear to perform, all those turns with the smoke, the cape, the headdress, the bow and arrow. Edited February 27, 2023 by BalanchineFan Link to comment
matilda Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 (edited) Most of the Kikta roles I've seen in the past few years, or at least seen her casted for, have had either no or very little partnering: Lilac Fairy and Diamond in SB Dewdrop Everywhere We Go (Reichlen role) Brahms-Shoenberg first movement soloist Rubies tall girl Four T's Choleric Soloists in Raymonda and Divertimento no. 15 Hippolyta The Cage She did the "creepy" pas de deux in Episodes but that's a different kind of piece. Also Love Letter on Shuffle, which was really not classical. Two exceptions were Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy and Symphony in C 4th movement. Gia Kourlas commented on the height issue with the Sugar Plum pas de deux: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/21/arts/dance/george-balanchines-nutcracker-city-ballet.html She was well matched with Aaron Sanz in Symphony in C, but he's frequently out with injury and doesn't seem to be on the principal track. Edited February 27, 2023 by matilda Link to comment
bellawood Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 1 hour ago, matilda said: Most of the Kikta roles I've seen in the past few years, or at least seen her casted for, have had either no or very little partnering: Lilac Fairy and Diamond in SB Dewdrop Everywhere We Go (Reichlen role) Brahms-Shoenberg first movement soloist Rubies tall girl Four T's Choleric Soloists in Raymonda and Divertimento no. 15 Hippolyta The Cage She did the "creepy" pas de deux in Episodes but that's a different kind of piece. Also Love Letter on Shuffle, which was really not classical. Two exceptions were Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy and Symphony in C 4th movement. Gia Kourlas commented on the height issue with the Sugar Plum pas de deux: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/21/arts/dance/george-balanchines-nutcracker-city-ballet.html She was well matched with Aaron Sanz in Symphony in C, but he's frequently out with injury and doesn't seem to be on the principal track. She’s great in that B-S first movement solo role. Is she taller than Tess? Couldn’t Russell (or her own husband) partner her? Link to comment
pirouette Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 16 minutes ago, bellawood said: Is she taller than Tess? Couldn’t Russell (or her own husband) partner her? Tess is 5'9, Kikta (based on that Dance Spirit article linked above) is 5'10. So not that much of a difference, and Walker partnered Christina Clark in Haieff Divertimento this past season. I believe Clark is taller than Kikta, but someone correct me if I'm wrong. Link to comment
vipa Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 14 hours ago, canbelto said: Suzanne Farrell was 20 when she was promoted to principal, so was Gelsey Kirkland. Patricia McBride was only 19. Of the current crop, Megan was 21 when she was promoted, Tiler was 20, Sterling Hyltin (now retired) was only 22. To add if it hasn't been mentioned, Ashley Bouder was either 21 or 22 when she became a principal (I don't know what month she was promoted). She was born Dec. 1983. She joined NYCB as an apprentice in 2000 and became a principal in 2005. Another dancer who rose quickly. Link to comment
Balletwannabe Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 I believe Lauren Lovette was early 20s as well. It doesn't seem that unusual. I think it's a shame that ABT doesn't follow suit and they wait until their dancers are near retirement to promote them. Link to comment
Kathleen O'Connell Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 47 minutes ago, bellawood said: Couldn’t Russell (or her own husband) partner her? I've seen Kitka partnered with Walker (her husband) and IMO, it didn't quite work. He's tall enough, but his slender rangy-ness isn't an ideal match for her Amazonian splendor. Bolden might be a better match in terms of physical scale if he's tall enough. He's a fabulous backstop for Mearns for just that reason. Perhaps NYCB needs a "Principal Tall Girl" tier much as some companies have a "Principal Character Dancer" tier. Link to comment
bellawood Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 30 minutes ago, Kathleen O'Connell said: Bolden might be a better match in terms of physical scale if he's tall enough. He's a fabulous backstop for Mearns for just that reason. Yes, I think this is his niche (he's also quite a wonderful dancer) -- in the spirit of Jared Angle and James Fayette (and I'm sure others) before him. Link to comment
Kathleen O'Connell Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 41 minutes ago, bellawood said: Yes, I think this is his niche (he's also quite a wonderful dancer) He was terrific in Sanguinic—and I'm not even going to mention his partner because I think he's got potential to be more than a backstop for ballerinas. 😉 (OK, it was Gerrity, and she was terrific too.) Link to comment
tutu Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 On 2/26/2023 at 6:20 PM, pirouette said: Ashley Hod just posted on her Instagram story that Mira Nadon, Emilie Gerrity, Isabella LaFreniere, and Roman Mejia have been promoted to principal dancers! All very well deserved — I’m especially relieved that Gerrity is finally getting her due. Link to comment
tutu Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 On 2/26/2023 at 7:12 PM, pirouette said: Now that space in the soloist roster has opened up, they definitely need to promote Alexa Maxwell to soloist. Agreed! Believe she may have had a long-term injury (and that that may have been the reason for her delayed ascent) but Maxwell is ready. Link to comment
canbelto Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 Sara Mearns is talking about body image issues and how it's caused her overwhelming anxiety: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOPBtSuQK2/ Link to comment
abatt Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 Program change for the Spring Season George Balanchine's Raymonda Variations will be performed in place of Jerome Robbins' Brandenburg on the spring's formerly named Masters at Work: Balanchine & Robbins I program, which is now titled All Balanchine. This update applies to the following performances: Tue, April 18 at 7:30 PM Wed, April 19 at 7:30 PM Thu, April 20 at 7:30 PM Sat, April 22 at 2 PM Sat, April 22 at 8 PM Wed, April 26 at 7:30 PM Fri, May 5 at 8 PM Jerome Robbins' Brandenburg will now be performed on the spring's Masters at Work: Balanchine & Robbins III program on the following dates: Wed, May 10 at 7:30 PM Tue, May 23 at 7:30 PM Sat, May 27 at 2 PM Sat, May 27 at 8 PM Link to comment
Marta Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 Jerome Robbins' Brandenburg will now be performed on the spring's Masters at Work: Balanchine & Robbins III program on the following dates: Sat, May 27 at 2 PM Sat, May 27 at 8 PM Argh. Don't hate me for saying it . I think Brandenburg is a masterpiece, but I don't want to see it that night! Link to comment
mille-feuille Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 Raymonda Variations is one of the very few Balanchine works I've seen that I did not care for at all. Everyone looked incredibly tense in it when I saw it in the fall Link to comment
abatt Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Got an email from NYCB re company updates. In addition to Fahoury and Anderson, corps member Clara Miller has left the company. I didn't realize the company is touring to Madrid this month, doing Serenade, Square Dance and the Times Are Racing. Link to comment
bellawood Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 36 minutes ago, abatt said: Got an email from NYCB re company updates. In addition to Fahoury and Anderson, corps member Clara Miller has left the company. I didn't realize the company is touring to Madrid this month, doing Serenade, Square Dance and the Times Are Racing. Yes, Clara Miller has a lovely post on her Instagram about leaving -- injuries were just too much. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cocz4YkuHJQ/ Olivia MacKinnon did a q&a on her Insta stories and said that she will be dancing "as one of the Russian Girls" in Serenade-- Link to comment
BalanchineFan Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 On 3/6/2023 at 1:03 PM, abatt said: Got an email from NYCB re company updates. In addition to Fahoury and Anderson, corps member Clara Miller has left the company. I didn't realize the company is touring to Madrid this month, doing Serenade, Square Dance and the Times Are Racing. Marika Anderson said on IG that her last NYCB performance would be Serenade in Madrid. Sorry to hear about Clara Miller. Link to comment
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