Wow, this news makes us happy.
Congratulations to Ashley Hod, Miriam Miller, Emily Kikta, Isabella LaFreniere, Mira Nadon, Emma Von Enck, and Preston Chamblee on their promotions to soloist at New York City Ballet. Technique, style, grit, and glamour in spades.
Just turn them all loose and let them go crazy on the audience.
How exciting!
Posted by: Georgiann | January 24, 2022 at 12:36 PM
I'm still familiarizing myself with the NYCB dancers as a new audience-goer, BUT I was so thrilled with Ashley Hod's Dewdrop. When I saw her performance I was sure that she was at least a soloist. Very glad to see such a wide group get well-deserved reward for their work!
What did you think about the Jewels broadcast?
Posted by: Zachary | January 24, 2022 at 12:47 PM
I thought the Bolshoi's Jewels was fabulous. Zakharova and Tissi were superb in Diamonds. She had the perfect demeanor and those limbs - OMG - how beautifully stretched and placed. Every time her arms went to fifth position overhead, it was like a lesson in the value of purity of position. Those arms were always completely coordinated with the legs. No flailing, no messiness, truly regal in the most beautiful sense.
And Jacopo Tissi is one dream of a danseur. He is physically so beautiful that it nearly hurts to look at him -- such a handsome carriage, long neck, broad shoulders and a waistline that appeared to be as narrow as Zakharova's. His dancing was absolutely superb.
I must say that I was not impressed with the Bolshoi's new Diamonds tutus. The pancakes were too flat & stiff and the tops' fabric looked like leotards out of Discount Dance Catalog.
The young Rubies couple was pure delight. I just loved Kokoreva's blistering petit allegro and slicing battements. A very authoritative dancer for being so young.
I eventually warmed to the Tall Girl in Rubies but her first solo didn't exactly possess the dynamite factor that it should have. Those first grand battements coming forward have to strike with a deadly force and height - hers did not.
I wasn't overwhelmed by Emeralds -- partly due to the camera racing after Obraztsova's lips all the time. If the camera had stood back and allowed the viewer to watch the entire stage, I might have enjoyed it more. But even so, Emeralds was a sight for sore eyes. I've so missed this ballet and music.
Posted by: Haglund | January 24, 2022 at 06:24 PM
Hi Haglund,
My opinions of Jewels are spookily close to yours! I've never been a huge fan of Zakharova but her performance in Diamonds was so stellar that I reviewed dozens of clips of her on YouTube and enjoyed them all! I love Jewels and particularly Diamonds, and am a hard core diehard fan of Farrell's performance. Zakharova danced it with beautiful arms and upper body and gorgeous musicality. Tissi was very impressive, almost more so in Balanchine than in the big classic roles. He is talked of as "Bolle lite" but I think he's a more distinctive dancer and a great partner. I did not like the tutus; as you said they were too flat and the bodices were just plain ugly. Tissi's costume was fine though.
Kokoreva was incredibly good in Rubies! Fast feet and good elevation. I don't know her at all and I look forward to seeing more of her. I also tried to like the Tall Girl and did warm to her, but I don't think this is her role. She doesn't have the attack and the authority required.
Obraztsova is a beautiful dancer. I agree that the camera in general was just too close especially in Emeralds. I wanted to see a lot more of the stage picture. I wasn't wild about the Emeralds gowns either. I was surprised that the Bolshoi only has two Balanchines in their rep. Doesn't Mariinsky have several more?
Posted by: Marta | January 24, 2022 at 08:39 PM
Hi, Marta.
When watching these Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema livestreams, I sometimes wonder if someone hasn't messed with the aspect ratio to make the dancers' limbs look longer than they really are. However, Obraztsova looked cherubic, not long-limbed, so maybe what we see is real.
Posted by: Haglund | January 24, 2022 at 09:35 PM
Hey Haglund,
Thank you and Marta for both of your thoughts. I really enjoyed such a beautiful afternoon at the movies. Emeralds was lovely, but I couldn't help but notice the Bolshoi's claques seemed to reserve their largest bravos for Rubies and Diamonds. Rubies was so enjoyable and it made me even more excited to see NYCB dance it over these coming weeks. Kokoreva is sure to have a really stunning career.
Diamonds made me cry. It's no secret I'm a huge Zakharova fan, but I constantly found myself thinking about Patrick De Bana's words: "Being with Svetlana Zakharova...gives you the impression that you have walked into the Forbidden City and the last empress of China invites you to dance." Watching Diamonds, I felt like the last empress of Russia had invited Tissi to dance in the Winter Palace. Yes, she is a modern ballerina with high extension, but she steps out onstage and emotes a timeless aura. In the intermission, Novikova accurately described her as "our superstar."
Bravo to all the Bolshoi. The corps and soloist gave me a great afternoon. It's so wonderful to love ballet!
Posted by: Zachary | January 24, 2022 at 11:22 PM
I hope this means more promotions to principal are coming soon. If I can recall, the company has lost Scheller and Krohn prior to the pandemic. This past season we lost Stafford, Kowroski, and Lovette. Reichlen will be retiring this season. The company needs a talent transfusion in the upper ranks quickly.
Posted by: yukionna | January 26, 2022 at 04:38 PM
It seems like the "transfusion" is in process.
Posted by: Haglund | January 26, 2022 at 04:56 PM