According to Uruguay's El Pais and a 2014 culture consumption survey, 1 in 9 Uruguayans attended a ballet performance, 1 in 12 attended a folk dance performance, 1 in 18 attended a modern dance performance, and 1 in 43 attended a tango performance. Prior to the arrival of Julio Bocca to Ballet National del Sodre, folk dance attendance ranked first place. Imagine how great it would be if the U.S. could boast like that.
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ABT opens its Spring Season tomorrow at the Met where the billboards currently feature a picture of the Fake Principal Dancer Polina Semionova (who isn't even dancing) instead of one of our own ballerinas and a grossly over-used old image of Firebird, one of ABT's worst productions. Never a new marketing idea.
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Last night, NYCB's Anthony Huxley was a marvel in everything he danced – such a brilliant light on a stage where the brightest lights stream nightly. This Tuesday evening Huxley debuts in Ballo Della Regina opposite Megan Fairchild. Not to be missed.
I keep reading buzz on another site that Alexei Ratmansky should be ABT's new AD. All I can think is "You want the person responsible for both Firebird and The Tempest, arguably ABT's two worst productions, as Artistic Director?". No, just no, at least for me. Your thoughts, Haglund?
Ellen
Posted by: Ellen Mason | May 08, 2016 at 05:08 PM
Ellen, my choices in no particular order are Bocca, Corella, Stiefel. I don't like the idea of a choreographer running ABT. There would be an immediate conflict of interests and a danger that the look of the company would evolve to favor his choreography.
Posted by: Haglund | May 08, 2016 at 05:21 PM
I totally agree about the reused advertising poster. But then again, I'm not surprised. This whole season is dedicated to showcasing just one dancer. That is why Giselle was not mounted this year.
And they should be embarrassed by the poster. It does not show the dancer in a favorable light at all. The body looks ungainly with the fire looking like the result of a college joke.
And when I think about on Stephanie Dabney's landmark performance along with the gorgeous poster. It makes me angry that said dancer's guard dogs got on film to say that Dabney, her company and her ballet were not the work of a major dance company.
Posted by: melponeme_k | May 08, 2016 at 11:15 PM
ABT is well known for its lame, unimaginative marketing. The glorious poster of Jose Manuel Carreno in Le Corsaire continued to be used after he retired. Then, they re-hashed it with Marcelo Gomes.
Every year they put out a commercial that has the absolute worst pre-1970s script and voice. It is a total embarrassment to the field of advertising, not to mention ABT.
Posted by: Haglund | May 09, 2016 at 07:34 AM
I like Anthony Huxley more each time I see him. I don't know if it's just me seeing him better or if he's improving so much since being elevated to principal but I love the guy now.
Posted by: Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn | May 10, 2016 at 01:01 PM
AB-D,
Huxley is definitely improving, especially in the partnering area and in making connections with his ballerinas. He still has some weaknesses: double tours to the left and double saute de basques, but he's a brilliant light on the stage, that's for sure.
Posted by: Haglund | May 10, 2016 at 01:14 PM