ABT's 75th anniversary year looks as if it will be as tired as any other year – and more so now that important, sparkling talent has defected for lack of opportunities at this company where classical merit holds its lowest value in the 75-year history.
In addition to the new ballet by Liam Scarlett, the fall season at New York State Theater will include Fancy Free, Seven Sonatas, Bach Partita, Sinfonietta, Raymonda Divertisements, Lilac Garden, 13 Diversions, and some other things that Haglund cannot now recall.
We can expect to see a few of those short works repeated in the spring at the Met in addition to Cinderella, Giselle, R & J, a new Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, and Othello.
The whole year looks like it has been designed to force upon us ad nauseam one old, retiring dancer – and we're not talking about Herrera who was so kind to announce that her retirement would be next year. So the 75th anniversary will include little celebration until it's all over – and of course, we can expect to see much company-hype of opportunities given unmeritoriously.
Does ABT have lifetime contracts for its principals, like how Bolshoi did until very recently when it was finally done away with? Now over there at the Bolshoi, the past their expiration date dancers who collect paychecks and don't do much else are required to demonstrate their technical fitness in order to have contracts renewed. Though bribes and nepotism may still part of culture there, at least on paper and publicly they are trying to something. Kent seems to have a lifelong contract at ABT, can't say I blame her for taking a fat paycheck since no one is stopping her from doing so. It is just wrong that Paloma is retiring ahead of Kent.
Posted by: Genna | July 05, 2014 at 11:01 AM