Haglund's Heel

On Haglund's Calendar – Bouder's NYC debut in 4Ts on Fri 9/16

A couple of important NYC debuts during the first week of the season:  Ashley Bouder in The Four Temperaments and Robert Fairchild in Apollo.

Don't miss these performances on Friday, September 16th.

Ocean's Kingdomonium has begun

Just want to reiterate how DISAPPOINTED Haglund will be if he cannot purchase a souvenir tee shirt at the NYCB premiere of Ocean's Kingdom on September 22nd with some version of this fantasmagorial artwork.  According to Sir Paul's website, "Though [the artwork] seems to suggest a city skyline, it is actually a digital readout of the notes from the ballet score."  Must have.

 

Look out

Vanity Fair's James Wolcott just dove into the Twitter pool yesterday and is already splashing around with more than 350 followers.   Well, heck, his Twitter photo is, eh hem, well, see for yourself:

 

YAGP Documentary First Position to premiere at Toronto Film Festival

Just reported by BroadwayWorld.com – The new documentary which follows five dancers as they prepare and compete in the Youth America Grand Prix will have its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday, September 11th.  "First Position"  is being produced by Bess Kargman of First Position Films.  The film company's website already has a lot of enticing footage and photos, and has promised a trailer soon.  The FB page has additional photos and info.

Following Toronto, the film will make a tour of film festivals:  Boston - 3rd week of September; Vancouver - 4th week of September; Washington DC and NYC - 1st weekend in November; and other cities.

This whole effort looks fabulous!

 

NYCB – Ocean's Kingdom costumes

From the September issue of Vogue, here is a glimpse of what Stella McCartney has designed for the Martins/McCartney Ocean's Kingdom.  The costumes look kind of Merce-inspired, don't they?  Add some funky lighting, video images, and hopefully strong melodies and thoughtful choreography, and we could have ourselves a very interesting and pleasing new ballet. 

Haglund's excited.  Don't blame him if the Fourth Ringers start a group singout before the curtain goes up:  Naa, Na, Na, Na-na-na-naaa, Na-na-na-naaa, Hey Jude.  It could happen.

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Totally psyched about the NYCB Gala performance on September 22nd.  And to think that Haglund's Hunch-O-Meter was the very first to sniff out the Martins-McCartney collaboration more than a year ago - long before the NYT or anyone else. 

A souvenir tee-shirt with this blue image is a must have.  A cannot live without.

 

Why isn't this man a soloist?

WHY?

It's beginning to look like the B in ABT stands for Brainless.

Earthquake totally expected

A few minutes after ABT announced via the Segerstrom Center's Facebook page and BroadwayWorld.com that it was handing over a plum premiere performance of its new Firebird to a freakin' guest artist, the East Coast delivered a 5.8 earthquake.  Enough said.

Congratulations to Misty Copeland and Isabella Boylston for getting some well-deserved recognition in being designated as also-leads in Ratmansky's new production which will premiere in March 2012 in Costa Mesa, CA.  Regardless of the obvious pressure that will be placed upon them, it is hoped that neither of these wonderful dancers will feel the need to adopt any of the tasteless Osipovisms that the uninformed media goes goo-goo-gaa-gaa over. 

ABT's Chronic GAS continues.  Stay tuned for the announcement about Funani, the pirouetting baby hippo and ABT guest artist, coming to a theater near you. 

 

Maria Riccetto to dance Medora for Bocca

Julio Bocca has hired ABT's Maria Riccetto to star in his company's full length production of Le Corsaire.  El Ballet Nacional del Sodre will present El Corsario at the Auditorio Nacional Adela Reta in Montevideo, Uruguay from September 30 through October 11.  José Martin of The Royal Ballet and Avetik Karapetyan of The Royal Swedish Ballet will also perform.  Tickets go on sale this Monday.

When will the ABT soloists get the respect that they deserve from their home company?  Maybe when Julio Bocca becomes Artistic Director.  Let us pray. 

NYCB – A grand reunion

Together – unbelievably.

Helene Alexopoulos, Alexandra Ansanelli, Merrill Ashley, Yvonne Borree, Maria Calegari, Suzanne Farrell, Judith Fugate, Jillana, Allegra Kent, Gelsey Kirkland, Darci Kistler, Maria Kowroski, Sara Leland, Lourdes Lopez, Kay Mazzo, Patricia McBride, Yvonne Mounsey, Kyra Nichols, Jenifer Ringer, Melinda Roy, Stephanie Saland, Margaret Tracey, Violette Verdy, Heather Watts, Miranda Weese, and Wendy Whelan. 

The rafters of the theater will surely be tested on Friday, September 30th when all of these magnificent ballerinas gather together on stage during NYCB's evening performance to accept the 2011 Jerome Robbins Award. 

Imagine.  You really don't want to miss this.