Coming up this evening on NYCB's digital spring season is Donizetti Variations with Ashley Bouder and Andrew Veyette from January 28, 2015. Let's hope that NYCB extends and ramps up its digital offerings over the next few months. How about a full Stars and Stripes for the week of July 4th?
It's great to see that NYCB is seriously exploring paid digital streaming which is long overdue. Let's hope they really make it First Class; perhaps even join with another Lincoln Center resident company to produce a spectrum of content that might rival what the MariinskyTV webcasts produce.
NYCB should also be getting licensing fees from dancers who are using their NYCB identities to sell video content -- especially those who are teaching the SAB curriculum. It's only fair. If unions want to get grabby with NYCB video revenues, NYCB and the Balanchine Foundation should get grabby with dancers who want to profit from distributing to others what SAB and NYCB have given them -- particularly during a crisis time when NYCB has continued to pay the dancers salaries. It's like they're double-dipping while so many others are suffering. Just saying...
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Speaking of the fabulous MariinskyTV content -- right now they are running a video class taught by the Mariinsky coach, Elvira Tarasova. She currently coaches Mariinsky stars Ekaterina Kondaurova, Anastasia Matvienko, Tatiana Tkachenko, Kristina Shapran, May Nagahisa and Maria Khoreva. The class is free of charge.
Maria Iliushkina, a coryphee in her 4th year, is Tarasova's pupil in this video. My goodness, the harmony in her lines is exquisite.
Posted by: Haglund | May 26, 2020 at 12:53 PM
Hi Haglund,
Thanks for posting this class. I did it for about 20 minutes before I had to drop out or keel over. Iliushkina was exquisite, every movement beautifully executed and with such clarity and no fudging. Mamma mia, the 180 degree turnout of both teacher and student!
Posted by: Marta | May 26, 2020 at 11:23 PM
True, Marta! The commitment to excellence from head to toe is inspiring. Training is not a joke there.
Posted by: Haglund | May 27, 2020 at 06:25 AM
NYCB streaming goes from great to greater. What an outstanding Donizetti Variations. Each and every dancer fantastic! Yeah, even Bouder, who can sometimes be a bit over the top, LOL! This is her perfect ballet.
Posted by: Jeannette | May 27, 2020 at 05:23 PM
I agree This was Bouder's role. It was five years ago, but the role fits her. Dancing was gtat. Loved it. Hoping NYCB continues as you hope, Haglunds.
Posted by: FanPhyl | May 27, 2020 at 05:49 PM
ITA. Everyone was outstanding. I missed this particular performance in the theater in 2015 because the Mariinsky was at BAM that week. But I happened to see the Donizetti the prior week with Bouder and Joaquin De Luz which was also a highlight. Veyette was in great form, too, last night on the video.
Posted by: Haglund | May 27, 2020 at 05:55 PM