Monday, May 9

[dirac]

Susan Jaffe will succeed Kevin McKenzie as American Ballet Theatre's artistic director.

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Jaffe takes over in December as artistic director at ABT, succeeding Kevin McKenzie as the first new director in 30 years. Jaffe says her goals include making the overwhelmingly white ballet world more accessible and inclusive.

The New York Times

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“But can she sing?” McKenzie joked in a phone interview, after enumerating her qualities: “You’ve got someone who had a major career as a performer, is a great teacher and coach, has experience in academia and the ballet world, has choreographed and has established relationships with choreographers.”

“She worked under three directors at Ballet Theater,” he added. “It feels like the organic continuation of a line.”

 

The Washington Post

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Jaffe said she is excited to pass on the wisdom she gained from Baryshnikov, choreographer Twyla Tharp, Russian ballerinas Natalia Makarova and Irina Kolpakova, and others.

 

[dirac]

Helgi Tomasson bids adieu to San Francisco Ballet.

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The ending of Sunday’s performance, already emotional with 24 swans prone on the stage, was made even more emotional by a long standing ovation. And only after all his dancers got their due and the orchestra conductor took his bow, did Tomasson take the stage. The ovation grew louder, and the roses, red and white, rained in from the wings. The last thing Tomasson did as artistic director of San Francisco Ballet was bend down, pick up a white rose and hand it to the white swan, Odette.

 

[dirac]

Utah's Cache Valley Civic Ballet celebrates its fortieth anniversary.

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Upon arriving in Northern Utah in 1981, Emile and her young family lived near the Whittier Center in Logan. She was struck by the beauty of the historic building and one day wandered in. There she met the building director, who told her that they had recently renovated Studio Three in the upper level. Emile was told that the center had received a grant to produce “Peter and the Wolf” but that they didn’t have anyone qualified to direct the production. The two agreed that Emile could use the new studio rent-free for a couple of months to see if she could attract ballet students, and in exchange she would direct “Peter and the Wolf.”

 

[dirac]

A review of the Royal Danish Ballet by Eva Kistrup for danceviewtimes.

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“Don Quixote” arrived at The Royal Danish Ballet in 1983 and became a great hit, as well as having a significant number of runs in the following years. It proved to be a great match with the Royal Danish ballet´s owns stars in acting as well as comedy - all going back to the Bournonville lessons that have remained until this time. “Don Quixote” had since remained a standing member of the RDB.  However, some changes have hit “The Don” and made it somewhat more difficult to keep the performances on a high level.