observations 11/24

Like, not much has been going on – in terms of ballet, that is. A couple of cinema screenings are on the horizon:

The Royal Ballet's Nutcracker featuring Lauren Cuthbertson, Federico Bonelli, Francesca Hayward, Alexander Campbell, Gary Avis hits Landmark Cinema screens this coming Tuesday, November 26th. Here in NYC on West 57th Street, it will begin at 7PM.

The Bolshoi Ballet's new staging of Giselle by Alexei Ratmansky will be live-streamed on a delayed basis on January 26, 2020. Locations and tickets here.

Bolshoi in Cinema is promising a fresh cast for the Swan Lake transmission on February 23, 2020. Tickets here. Wouldn't it be nice if Alyona Kovalyova was cast as our Odette/Odile?

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NYCB's Nutcracker season opens this Friday. We'll catch up with the season during Week 2 when Maria Kowroski and Tyler Angle reprise their roles of Sugarplum Fairy and Her Cavalier.

We've gotten so tired of hearing some of the other veteran ballerinas in both of New York's companies publicly grumble about how they dread the season and how tired they get during this time of year. Instead of complaining, why don't they just step aside and let some of the deserving lower rank ballerinas have the opportunity? It seems that within all of the illustrious ballet technique they possess, one step is missing: the side step. The ability to step aside is an important aspect of ballet. How well or how poorly a ballerina executes her side steps will color our memory of her forever.

 

Comments

[Mr. G]

I totally agree with your last comment! Every dancer has been there, but how many apprentices, and Corp members would die to see their name under a matinee Sugar Plum or Dew Drop? Also, if anyone should complain, it should be the corps members who perform every single show of snow and flowers, meanwhile swallowing a plastic bottle worth of plastic. Spare me your weekend of principal roles, and your guest weekends where you’re making 5 grand.
Also, it makes me think back on Paloma’s statements about the change of atmosphere in the class room. Dancers sharing their social lives, instead of perfecting their plies or going over their artistic intent. I’m sure Balanchine would roll over in his grave to see the extent at which some dancers extort themselves for popularity.

[J]

I do so agree with your last paragraph, Haglund, and with Mr.G. Also, the last thing I want to see is a dancer who has thrown herself on the floor for a selfie for everyone to see how tired she is after a performance or gripe about a role. This attitude does color their stage performance.

Good to have you back, Haglund. HAve a great Thanksgiving!

[pennsylvania]

I would love to see Ratmansky's Giselle, it got wonderful reviews. I hope he brings it to ABT soon.