Wednesday, November 15

[dirac]

A review of Ballett am Rhein in "Giselle" by Vikki Jane Vile for Bachtrack.

Quote

There are many ways to tell the story of Giselle, and Demis Volpi’s version for Ballett am Rhein offers up more than the odd surprise. In fact, so diverged is it from the story of a peasant girl who falls for a wealthy prince, it arguably isn’t a Giselle at all, or at least that may be the feeling you experience after Act 1. Artistic Director since 2020, Volpi makes daring choices that may sit uncomfortably with traditionalists. We meet Giselle backstage after a performance, where she has an encounter with Bathilde and the two fall in love. The male characters are reduced to purely decorative roles and the two women’s tortured romance ensues. Act 2 continues to explore the gender roles with a chorus of Willis' comprising both males and females to mixed success before a familiar conclusion.

 

[dirac]

A preview of Nutcracker productions in Bend, Oregon this season.

Quote

The beloved Christmas ballet comes to life in Academie de Ballet Classique’s student-only performance, Central Oregon School of Ballet’s program at Bend High Auditorium and a nationally touring production at the Tower Theatre.

 

[dirac]

Oregon International Ballet Academy presents a Nutcracker in time for Thanksgiving.

Quote

In addition to student dancers, the ballet will feature guest artists from a renowned Japanese dance and performance studio, Casa de Arte, who will dance side-by-side with Oregon International Ballet students.

 

[dirac]

A preview of Seattle-area Nutcrackers by Moira Macdonald in The Seattle Times.

Quote

“The Nutcracker,” Emerald Ballet Theatre

This Eastside production mixes student and professional dancers, as well as a live orchestra. The Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle will also be on hand opening weekend.

 

[dirac]

A CNN story on the life and legacy of Maria Tallchief.

Quote

Born on Jan. 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, on the Osage reservation, Tallchief began ballet training at three years old. Her family, like many of the Osage nation, lived on quarterly oil royalty checks.

After oil was discovered on Osage land and brought wealth to their community, White settlers murdered dozens of Osage to steal their mineral rights,  as depicted in the book, recently made into a movie, Killers of the Flower Moon.

Tallchief’s family used their wealth to move to Beverly Hills when she was eight years old.

 

[dirac]

Queensland Ballet says goodbye to Li Cunxin.

Quote

This brief celebratory season features excerpts from Li’s magnificent 11-year tenure as Artistic Director, from 2013 to 2023, a period during which he led the company through an extraordinarily transformational period of growth and success.