observations 7-25

Beginning this November, José Manuel Carreño will become the Artistic Director of Ballet de Monterrey, a company that includes many Cubans within its roster of forty dancers. Here is merely one of them, Ernesto Mejica, rehearsing Acteon four years ago. Oh yeah, we think José can do something with that.

Ballet de Monterrey's director of two years, Jorge Amarante, will depart at the expiration of his contract. He accomplished much in the way of strengthening the company's contemporary abilities by adding works such as Kylian's Sechs Tanza to its impressive classical repertory that already included most of the huge Petipa classics.

José, a legend to all Cuban dancers, will follow a long list of ballet greats who have directed this company during its more than 25 years:

• Ann Marie D'Angelo (1990 - 1995)
• Fernando Alonso (1995)
• Fernando Bujones (1995 - 1998)
• Kouloubek Ishenaliev (1998 - 2003)
• Robert Hill (2003 - 2007)
• Luis Serrano (2007 - 2014)
• Jorge Amarante (Current)
• Jose Manuel Carreno (as of November 2016)

We're definitely going to keep both eyes on Ballet de Monterrey. Maybe it will soon be time for the Joyce Theater to bring them back – this time with some classical offerings.

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We're very excited that National Ballet of Canada is about to trek into Lincoln Center with Christopher Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale. Opening night is Thursday and performances run through Sunday afternoon. Haglund plans to see it at least 2-1/2 times. He'll have to leave early from Thursday's performance to rush home to see a historical event on television.

 

Comments

[Haglund Fan]

Best news yet Haglund!! :) I have been wondering whatever happened to José and haven't been able to find any updates online, must be looking at the wrong places but this is a lovely surprise and will keep both eyes on this as well. Thank you!

[Haglund]

Thanks for the comment, HF. I'm glad to see that José landed on his feet after the unfortunate implosion of Ballet San Jose/Silicon Valley Ballet. Somewhat as in San Jose, his new company also appears to be virtually single-person-funded by an extremely generous donor. She has an extraordinary love of classical ballet and clearly recognizes talent. But ballet companies are always at some risk when their support is concentrated in a few generous patrons instead of being spread out over a wider population. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe that is just an American problem.

[Haglund Fan]

I am hoping for the best of him too! Unless of course we can have him here to take over this disaster of an AD for which we call our National Ballet Co.! I personally think José would be a tremendous gain if we can get the board to bring him in!!