observations 6/10

Stella Abrera will finally perform the role that we all know she has been destined to dance. Unfortunately, it will be on the other side of the planet at the height of monsoon season.

Ballet Philippines has invited Stella to be their Giselle for its gala performance in September which marks the company's 45th anniversary - The Sapphire Season.

In connection with that trip, Stella has created a fundraiser to help build a school in Guiuan that was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan last November. Here is a link to the CrowdRise page for Steps Forward for the Philippines which includes a brief video message from Stella.

Haglund will be making a contribution as soon as his next Social Security check arrives. What better way to help those in need while honoring our favorite ballerina in Giselle.

Thanks to Meg and Franklin in far off places for alerting us to this information last week. We didn't want to blog about it until Stella made her own announcement.

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 Eight more dancers have defected from Alicia Alonzo's Ballet Nacional de Cuba while the company was on tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At least six of them have already arrived in Miami. No firm confirmation yet who the six are but TheCubanHistory.com reported that the dancers included Monica Gomez, Carlos Ignacio Galindez and Rayssel Cruz.

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Haglund has been peering through his legendary speculation spectacles this morning.

Angel Corella has virtually worldwide sympathy from the ballet community for his situation in Spain. Everyone believed in him and his abilities to succeed as a director to the extent that he succeeded on the stage as a dancer. Many wanted to work for him. Many still want to work for him.

Now that Angel has announced that he has had to dismantle his ballet company due to Spain's failure to support it and will leave his country, everyone is curious where he will land. Probably some bright-thinking dancers have even dusted off suitcases.

You know, Pennsylvania Ballet needs a new Artistic Director now that Roy Kaiser has decided to retire. Wouldn't Angel be a perfect fit? His sister Carmen used to dance there before joining ABT.

Philadelphia would be so lucky, and America would be so lucky to have Angel back on its soil. Let's cross our fingers and hope that this or something similar happens very soon.

 

Comments

[Genna]

So sad about Corella leaving his dream of national company in Spain. He invested time and energy not to mention his own savings, but when the environment is not supportive of ballet, then it's a futile effort no matter how great the dancers and repertory. Maybe New Zealand is a possibility though it is far from everything.

[Haglund]

Hi Genna.

I thought that it was interesting that Angel and the King quit Spain in the same week.

Angel said that he had turned down the job in New Zealand, but has also intimated in another article that he has a Director's job lined up which he would announce soon. Pennsylvania Ballet would be such a good fit for him. And to think that it would be a real opportunity where a company is already is good shape - artistically and financially. Their season next year includes Fancy Free, Prodigal Son, Swan Lake, along with Forsythe and Ratmansky and other interesting pieces. Angel would be in heaven there. I hope I'm right, but it is complete speculation.

[J]

I loved Corella's ballet company when it toured in L.A. a few years ago and went two or three times, and then drove up to Santa Barbara mid-week to see it again. (It was also fantastic to see Cornejo in a contemporary piece instead of a full-length ballet.) He spoke to the audience after the shows and he had the same bright vitality and intelligence he shows on stage. It was impressive to hear him talk about dance, his career, and his company. Wherever he goes, it will be a truly fortunate group of dancers who get to work with him.