Reopening

As we already wrote somewhere in the comments, the Brooklyn Nets are dipping their toes back into training.

They are conducting training sessions at the new HSS Training Center in Sunset Park. The Hospital for Special Surgery created the 70,000 square foot facility atop a warehouse. It has all the requisite equipment plus a basketball court.

The first rule is that only four players are allowed in the building at one time. No coaches permitted. No scrimmages. No practice games. AND players are strictly forbidden from using non-team facilities such as health clubs or gyms.

(Rules courtesy of https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2020/05/26/a-return-to-normalcy-under-new-guidelines-nets-return-to-sunset-park-practice-facility/ )

One toe at a time back in the pool.

Let's hope NYCB and ABT are working on reopening plans. With regard to NYCB, starting with classes three or four days per week would be reasonable. Four or five dancers could be assigned to each of the many studios available at the Koch Theater and at SAB. One of those studios could include a teacher and pianist who would be transmitted via internet to the other studios. That's all very workable provided precautions are taken and the dancers remain disciplined with regard to social distancing and quarantining when not on site.

Let's assume -- because we're pessimists -- that there will be no fall season. Let's think ahead to Nutcracker season. What can be done to preserve that tradition and some of the income and also ignite the crazy joy that comes with the season?

How about 50 video streams of a shortened Nutcracker Suite of dances at $5 a swig? But these 50 video streams would have a different Sugarplum Fairy, Cavalier, Dewdrop, Tea, Coffee every time. That's right, every time. In fact, every single dancer in the company, right down to the newest apprentice, could run a principal role on some night thereby insuring plenty of repeat customers willing to slap a five down on the bar for another swig of Nutcracker. Everyone remembers how disappointing last year's Nutcrackers were with the same veteran dancers hogging the spotlight with fingernails dug into their tutus while side-eyeing all the talented up & comers. Enough of that!

But you also need a narrator to pull this hodgepodge of dances together. Let's say upfront -- not SJP, please. Someone like Tom Hanks or Nathan Lane or Elsa, Princess of Arendelle would fit the bill. Princess Elsa would be perfect, wouldn't she? Let it go. Let it go. It's time to see what I can do. To test the limits and break through.

Hopefully, NYCB is thinking outside the box. There could be a lot of excitement and instant focusing among corps dancers preparing their principal roles for a digital stream.

We're also noticing how the MariinskyTV is running some fabulous concerts of ballet music. Just today, they launched Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Gergiev, Denis Matsuev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. Isn't it time for our NYCB Orchestra to be on stage playing and streaming some of their fantastic music? There were rumblings some time ago about recording possibilities, but we're in the streaming age now. Time to step up the game.

Let's go let's go let's go.

Comments

[Jeannette]

Great idea for NYCB Nutcracker Suite streams, Haglund. Heck, I’ll slap my fiver on the bar for that! I’m ready for a Mira Nadon Sugarplum.

[Haglund]

Yep, I wanna see that, too. I'd be drinking every night if we continuously got a new cast.

[Krystin]

Love the Nutcracker idea! I don't live in New York, and have to say that one major silver lining from the pandemic for me has been a few of the digital spring season offerings that I never made it to the city to see in person. I really hope when things go back to some sense of normalcy, NYCB remembers the larger audience it garnered when they were offering these streams. I would GLADLY pay.

[Haglund]

Thanks, Krystin.

This situation and the exceptional steps we have to take at the moment are temporary. But when we're in the middle of it, it all looks interminable. The obstacles look insurmountable and the adaptations we need to adopt for the moment may seem unappealing. But we'll be back in the theaters eventually and this tragedy will be behind us. Of course, there will always be another one down the road and around the corner.

[Anon]

For those who were around way back when, I don't think people would mind if NYCB revived something along the lines of the now defunct Fourth Ring Circle pricing: $20 "membership" for $15 tickets per show, max two tickets per show. I used to happily spend money at the New York State Theater that way: past four tickets, one would be getting a deal on the membership. Also, 2+ hours of live music and live dance for $15? What a deal that was.

[Haglund]

Yes, I definitely remember. You could buy all the 4th Ring Society tickets way ahead of time, too. Going back a bit further in time, seats were $10 and they included the whole 4th ring, 4th sides and 5th ring sides. We had 4th Ring Society T-shirts. There's a lady who still wears hers to performances.

I agree that NYCB needs to re-open 4th Ring Society memberships and think long-term in terms of building support rather than thinking short-term about how many more nickles they can squeeze from each poor fan's wallet.

[Fay]

I'm not very hopeful about opening up by winter. This inspired idea at least gives me hope that I can still have something to look forward to. I hope they're reading!