observations 11/27

Roddy Doble will dance the principal role of the Snow King opposite Ashley Ellis' Snow Queen in Boston Ballet's December 4th performance of The Nutcracker. Roddy was a standout performer in everything he danced at ABT, but never got the respect that he deserved when it came to casting.

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The Russian National Ballet Theatre is bringing Swan Lake to the Lehman Center in The Bronx for one performance on Sunday, April 12. Haglund is becoming more and more interested in the second and third tier companies coming out of Russia because they compare favorably to some of what we have to endure in the way of classics from our so-called national ballet company.

There isn't likely to be a live orchestra, but one will see classical artists who graduated from most of the major schools in Russia. There are some clips of the company on YouTube which confirm that they have some very talented dancers.

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Peter Boal will perform the role of Drosselmeier at NYCB's December 13th matinee of The Nutcracker as "research" in connection with Pacific Northwest Ballet's acquisition of the Balanchine production next year, according to various media reports. Research, right. Anybody who doesn't think that Boal has his sights set on being Peter Martins' eventual successor hasn't been following his parade of trips to NYC to promote his work as artistic director in Seattle and remind everyone of his connections to this area. There is, of course, the possibilty that he also will be shopping for an underutilized ballerina or two to fill Carla Korbes' unfillable shoes.

Ashley Laracey will debut as Dew Drop at the December 10th matinee performance. That is shaping up to be a good performance with Erica Pereira and Anthony Huxley as SPF and Her Cavalier, and the lovely Alina Dronova who always is exquisite leading the Marzipan crew.

The ravishing duo of Rebecca Krohn and Amar Ramasar will lead the Saturday November 29th matinee and Sunday November 30th evening performances.

We wonder who Lauren King will dance with this year since her customary partner, Robert Fairchild, is busy performing in An American in Paris. She would look fabulous with many, but how about handsome Craig Hall or the interesting Peter Walker or the magnetic Harrison Coll or ultra-magnetic Taylor Stanley?

By the way, tickets to An American in Paris at the Palace Theater in New York go on sale one week from this Saturday.

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Yuriko Kajiya will lead the Opening Night cast of Houston Ballet's run of The Nutcracker tomorrow night. Jared Matthews will dance the Prince in the second evening's performance. We miss them here and will never forget their thrilling and beautiful performances in Ratmansky's Nutcracker at BAM last year. They were the best pair ever.

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Cynthia Harvey will be the Jury Chair for the 2015 Prix de Lausanne which will take place in February. Other jury members include Ethan Stiefel, Franco De Vita, Chi Cao, Lisa-Maree Cullum, Simona Noja, Lidia Segni, and György Szakaly. 

 

Comments

[Minnie]

I saw Roddy Doble in Swan Lake Pas de Trois recently and after viewing 3 performances of Swan Lake with Boston Ballet. IMO his was the best performance put in by any of the men. I would have liked to see him as the prince or Von Rothbart. Perhaps he is getting looked over a bit in Boston as well. It is past time for him to move up from second soloist!

[Haglund]

It's great to hear how well Roddy is doing. I don't think that he's being over-looked in Boston. He joined in 2013 and got his first promotion in 2014. It's still 2014. We'll have to wait and see what 2015 brings - maybe Theme and Variations. Wouldn't that be something!

[g]

Hi Haglund!!!

Exciting news! According to Houston Ballet's instagram (http://instagram.com/p/v-Eq9tFJPI/) , Yuriko Kajiya was promoted to principal tonight :)

[g]

My apologies, the link should be here. http://instagram.com/p/v-Eq9tFJPI/

[Haglund]

Thanks, "g" ! Terrific news.

[Pheonix]

I like Peter Walker :-)