observations 8/19

Renewal letters for Society NYCB (aka 4th Ring Society) will be mailed out this week according to the theater box office. The agent was quick to add that there was no price increase. That is, the membership is still $20. But as most of us know, the "facility fee" has been raised to $3 per ticket, which now will represent a 20% charge for members. Kind of an excessive burden for the most loyal audience, isn't it?  A local Haglund'eeler let us know that last week she was able to renew her membership over the phone. 

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ABT's tickets for Alexei Ratmansky's Nutcracker at BAM go on sale today. There are several must-see casts this year. Most notably, Jared Matthews and Yuriko Kayjia finally get paired up. It was totally worth the trips up to Westport, Connecticut last year to see them perform together in a local Nutcracker production and to Chicago to see their Giselle. It's hard to watch them without asking yourself Why aren't these two glorious, homegrown artists principals? 

Anyone who even loosely follows ABT does not want to miss an opportunity to see Eric Tamm as the Prince opposite Gillian Murphy's Clara. They were fabulous together in 2011 when Eric had his stunning debut.  He's homegrown, too, but his elegant and gallant manner make him look like he is straight out of the Royal Ballet soloist ranks.  Maybe that's why the Ashton stagers favor him. Here's hoping for a Tamm/Abrera pairing for Ashton's Cinderella this spring.

Lucky for us, Sarah Lane and Joe Gorak are paired up again. Last time around, their performances were hindered because of Gorak's injuries in both feet. This is an ideal match-up of artists. Knock-on-wood for both to be 100% this December. Once again, you'll be asking yourself why these two world-class homegrown artists are only soloist and corps.

Finally, when was the last time any of us got to see Veronika Part and Marcelo Gomes paired up for three performances over nine days? The needle on the H.H. Paranoia Indicator is nervously fasciculating at the possibility that maybe this generosity in the casting is a setup for a horrible spring in which we may not see them together at all. Haglund is going to grab tickets to their three Nutcracker performances and stick them under his pillow before the week is out and continue to pray on his knees each night for a Veronika/Marcelo Swan Lake next spring.

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Meanwhile, Stella Abrera and Sascha Radetsky are touring around the west as part of Daniel Ulbricht's Stars of American Ballet troupe. Tiler Peck, Robert Fairchild, Rebecca Krohn, Lauren Lovette, and Jared Angle are on the tour as well. Haglund is watching the news on this group very carefully, because when it gets to Santa Fe this weekend, someone is dancing the PdD from Giselle. The H.H. Gisellemobile is in the shop undergoing extensive maintenance; otherwise, we'd be on the road to Santa Fe in a heartbeat.

 

Comments

[Deb Broide]

Hi Haglund,
I'll actually be seeing Danny's troupe on Santa Fe this Friday night. It turns out that they will be in Santa Fe the same time that they we will be there. We go every year for the past 20 years. It's a schlep from NYC but worth it. How fun to see some of the best dancers from "my" company in Santa Fe! Will report back (just went to the Pillow to see Wendy Whelan, a friend, this weekend. She was wonderful and it was a terrific program).
Deb Broide

[Haglund]

Lucky you! I think the Giselle PdD is on Saturday night while The Leaves Are Fading PdD is on Friday night. It sounds like there could be an NYCB/ABT composite cast for Fancy Free. I would just die to see that.

Good to hear about Wendy. Look forward to seeing the program in NYC.

[Deb Broide]

Yes, you are right! Giselle is on Sat. night. I am trying to find out who is dancing it. I may go to that, too.

And yes! It is a NYCB/ABT cast for Fancy Free! (as you know, I am the PR consultant for the Jerome Robbins foundation). Can't wait for this!

[angelica]

Hi Haglund, The A.S. Nutcrackermobile immediately purchased tickets for opening night (Part/Gomes) and for the 18th (Kajiya/Matthews), but it doesn't think it will be able to spring for any others this year. The A.S. member of the Veronka/Stella cheering squad, however, is definitely willing to pray on her knees each night for a Veronika/Marcelo Swan Lake and a Stella/Sascha Giselle in the spring. Wouldn't that be absolutely the cat's pajamas? Not to mention a dream come true?

[Haglund]

Good choices, Angelica. I'll be there, too.

Pray, pray, pray.

[Laurel]

Hi, Haglund I really enjoy your blog. I went to Swan last summer and didn't know Joe Gorak who was brilliant in the pas de trois and I kept thinking. Why isn't this dude the prince? He's divine. Then I found out that he was only in the corps? huh??? Simkin is wonderful as Aly, but his partnering sucks and he just is NOT a prince. not yet, any way.

[Haglund]

Hi, Laurel. You echo the thoughts of many with regard to both artists. Gorak may be kicking himself for not staying at the School of American Ballet. His talent would certainly have been put to better use by NYCB.

[Laurel]

I've just started going to see ballet performances this past summer. While I've been a dancer most of my life, I wasn't able to get out much. (finally managed to get rid of my very young adult kids and ditched the wasband.) LOL. Anyway, I saw Swan, (which I loved) Sylvia (loved the corps/soloists more than the principals) And Corsaire. Okay. Wut up with Vasiliev? First of all, I couldn't take my eyes off those hugely Trunkated legs which I'm sure could very well kick start a jumbo jet. So, I'm thinking... well... he must be VERY talented. errrrmmm... uhhh... no. Oh, sure... he does lots of pirouettes (but soooo sloppy) His dancing is painful to watch. I could see him getting work in a small regional company, say in North Dakota. (no offense to N. Dakotans) But this is ABT, for God's sake. Am I missing something here? I don thin so... the dude jumps up really, really high--- soooo? His form is incorrect and he lands with a thud and it appears that he's ripping his body apart; like I said... really painful to watch. I say... give him about 5 more years--tops, before he burns himself out. Just had to get that out. thank you. His wife certainly has enormous energy and charisma. But her feet suck. Sorry, but they do. They point nicely and then just before you get to the end, the toes curl backwards. WTF? its ugly. I think she's wearing Gaynor Minden's and they look horrendous on her. I guess 99% of the audience doesn't notice stuff like that... but as you say... there are some amazing home-grown dancers in the company and I would rather see them. Am I farting in a thunderstorm?

I must see Stella Abrera, I also have a friend who adores her and is miserable that she keeps getting passed over for a promotion. At least, the powers that be give these talented dancers opportunities to perform lead parts. Back in my day, I don't recall that ever happening.

I am dying to see Olga Smirnova and Semyon Chudin. I think possibly two of the most elegant dancers evah! (on youtube. haha) If they wanna import some Russians... bring those two on!!! I so hope they come back!

[Haglund]

Hi Laurel. Your comments about Vasiliev and Osipova - all true. They have a large appeal to the ignorant and of course, to the bus loads of unsupervised tweenarinas who feel the intense need to scream their lungs out like they're at a Bieber concert.