NYCB's Tiler Peck has formally won the title role in "Little Dancer" at the Kennedy Center according to the Washington Post. Haglund alerted you earlier that Peck had previously performed the role when the production was workshopped last year. The musical based on the Degas sculpture of a 14-year-old POB student is a Susan Stroman project and will open at KC in October 2014. Actor Boyd Gaines (remember Contact?) will portray Degas. Rebecca Luker will be the older version of Peck's character. Can't wait to learn what other ballet dancers will have the opportunity to participate in this musical.
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NYCB opens its fall season in less than two weeks. The Fall Gala on Thursday 9/19 looks to be quite an evening with premieres by Justin Peck, Benjamin Millepied, and Angelin Preljocaj. Preljocaj is going to use a mostly unfamiliar piece of music by John Cage for his piece. Very much looking forward to it. Haglund will be skipping the Swan Lakes that week because the production can seem like a caricature of Swan Lake with a Giselle-like ending. While Haglund loves all the dancers in their neo-classical and contemporary reps, this ballet can't do without unaffected classical port de bras.
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ABT's spring season plans might be included in NYT's Arts and Leisure section on Sunday or possibly on 9/15 in the Arts Preview section that discusses some of what's coming up. We already know about Ashton's Cinderella, Coppelia, Manon, Giselle, Don Q, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, and The Dream. It could be a nice season if it's not ruined by inferior guest artists.