Haglund's Heel

observations 7/30

We're very glad to see NYCB taking a stand that requires all audience members to be fully vaccinated. From today's email:

With safety at the forefront, New York City Ballet will be implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for all employees and visitors to the David H. Koch Theater and Samuel B. & David Rose Building. This includes all audiences attending our repertory performances – SEPT 21 - OCT 17, JAN 18 - FEB 27, and APR 19 - MAY 29. Every audience member must be fully vaccinated and upon entering the Theater will be required to show in-person proof of vaccination authorized by the FDA or WHO against COVID-19. If a potential audience member remains unvaccinated because of a disability or sincerely held religious belief, that person may contact the New York City Ballet in writing for assistance or to request a reasonable accommodation by sending an email to customercare@nycballet.com.

At this time, children under the age of 12, for whom there is currently no available vaccination, will not be permitted to attend NYCB repertory performances. 

Now, if insurance companies would impose riders that say they won't cover the medical costs of unvaccinated people who contract COVID (subject to the usual caveats), then we might see greater compliance. We need to beat this freakin' virus, People.

Amar Ramasar's Farewell May 29th

Haglund doesn't always read his NYCB marketing mailings closely and this slipped by from last Thursday.

The reminder notice from NYCB for the priority single ticket sales opportunity for subscribers had a little addition to it: Amar Ramasar's Farewell performance will be on May 29th! They probably snuck that in there without much hoopla so that Gia Kourlas, the scorned wannabe Waterbury, and the company's scorned trollop Ms. Gina didn't start planning their own obnoxious protest for the performance date--although they probably will anyway. To their chagrin, Amar continues to have a tremendous and very loyal fan base that appreciates him both as an artist and as a human being.

Right now, the May 29th date is the final performance of the season for which A Midsummer's Night Dream is scheduled. Hopefully that will be switched to a special rep program for Amar. He's about to turn 40 but remains a charismatic and much loved box office draw. Even though we've had the privilege of enjoying his artistry for more than twenty years, it's still going to be tough to let him go.

It really seems like we should be seeing Ashley Bouder's farewell this year. It's too late for her to retire at the top of her game in her own rep which is mostly the biggest allegro roles with the most jumping, but to go on much longer is not going to compliment her legacy, and quite frankly, nobody wants to see her stray into lyrical rep in order to extend her career. Bouder's Woke ramblings haven't helped either. Worse than that, though, is that she jumped the line to get her COVID vaccine before her age group was permitted. Not only did she jump the line by several weeks, she couldn't resist putting up an Instagram story in which she bragged about getting her second shot. If there is one thing that Bouder loves to do, it's beat somebody else out of something -- doesn't matter who it is or what she's beating them out of. So now she has added a notch to her belt that she beat a bunch of older people out of a COVID vaccine. Wow, what a strong woman that makes her. Strong, strong, strong. If it had been Amar who jumped the vaccine line, Gia Kourlas would have tried to get it on the front page of the New York Times, but it isn't likely she'll do anything about Bouder except to cover up for her--she certainly won't expose the White Privilege factor or the hypocrisy of Miss Woke pushing in front of people to get her vaccine.

But that's our world right now...

 

Dance at Damrosch Park!!

This might even force some post-season azalea blooms. Great news!

The BAAND TOGETHER DANCE FESTIVAL will join Ballet Hispanico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem in five nights of performances as part of Lincoln Center's Restart Stages. This will be totally baad in the best sense. What a great idea somebody had.

Performance Schedule (subject to change)

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Lazarus by Rennie Harris (excerpt)
• New York City Ballet – Ces noms que nous portons by Kyle Abraham
• Dance Theatre of Harlem – Harlem on My Mind by Darrell Grand Moultrie (excerpt)
• American Ballet Theatre – Let Me Sing Forevermore by Jessica Lang
• Ballet Hispánico – 18+1 by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

• New York City Ballet – In Creases by Justin Peck
• Dance Theatre of Harlem – New Bach by Robert Garland
• American Ballet Theatre – Songs of Bukovina by Alexei Ratmansky (excerpts)
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Revelations by Alvin Ailey (excerpt)

Thursday, August 19, 2021

• Dance Theatre of Harlem – New Bach by Robert Garland
• Ballet Hispánico – Línea Recta by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
• American Ballet Theatre – Songs of Bukovina by Alexei Ratmansky (excerpts)
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Revelations by Alvin Ailey (excerpt)

Friday, August 20, 2021

• Ballet Hispánico – Tiburones by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
• New York City Ballet – In the Night by Jerome Robbins
• Dance Theatre of Harlem – Change by Dianne McIntyre
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Lazarus by Rennie Harris (excerpt)

Saturday, August 21, 2021

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Lazarus by Rennie Harris (excerpt)
• New York City Ballet – Ces noms que nous portons by Kyle Abraham
• Dance Theatre of Harlem – Harlem on My Mind by Darrell Grand Moultrie (excerpt)
• American Ballet Theatre – Let Me Sing Forevermore by Jessica Lang
• Ballet Hispánico – 18+1 by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano

Free assigned seats for each evening will be made available through the TodayTix Lottery, the Official Ticketing Partner of Restart Stages.

The TodayTix Lottery will open for entries two weeks before the performance and close three days prior to the performance at 12:59 p.m. EDT.

For more information visit TodayTix.com or download the TodayTix app. For those without access to the app, please call Lincoln Center Guest Services at 212-875-5456 to reserve.

This performance will also be open to general admission.

Beginning 10 minutes before the show, non-ticketed guests will be invited to claim any available seats.

Read the article from Harlem World Magazine.

 

observations 6/3

NYCB's final digital season installment opens tonight. Vienna Waltzes will begin streaming at 8pm on the website and the YouTube channel and will be available until June 17th. It's a 2013 performance with Tyler Angle, Megan Fairchild, Anthony Huxley, Erica Pereira, Sean Suozzi, Teresa Reichlen, Ask la Cour, Maria Kowroski and Jared Angle.

This article about one of Haglund's most favorite Balanchine ballet conductors, Clotilde Otranto, popped up in the news feed. She's pretty excited about returning to the NYCB stage in September, and we're pretty excited for that, too. She always challenges the dancers to take their energy to a higher level. A quick glance at the NYCB website revealed that Daniel Capps is no longer listed as a conductor. He's currently Music Director of the University of London Symphony Orchestra, London Mahler Orchestra and the Sirius Ensemble.

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As of right now, TDF still has tickets to ABT's little gig at Little Island in Hudson River Park (Pier 55 at W. 15th St) on July 3rd at 5pm and 8pm. Remember, ticketholders have to bring proof of vaccination.

 

 

observations 5/22

Apparently 7:15 a.m. is considered a late arrival at the new Little Island in Hudson River Park. The place was crawling with locals who knew how to hustle to beat the slow-moving tourists out of a front place in line.

What a beautiful addition to Hudson River Park. There are so many different species of mature plantings that Haglund had to download a plant identifier app before he got up the first hill. White and purple wild garlics, phloxes, shrub roses, and this strange thing named Witch's Moneybags:

 

There's a little amphitheater that is supposed to hold over 600 people, but with New Yorkers' lingering fondness for social distancing ("Yo, man, stay outta my space. I get a full 6 ft all the way around. Do you know how much 6 ft costs in Manhattan?"), it's doubtful that many will agree to cozy up with strangers like they used to in the theaters.

The theater's stage is about the size of a basketball half-court. Very small. It would be more than adequate for two or three actors or a small collection of musicians. So, of course, ABT will be performing there at some point soon -- this according to the metropolitan New York travel correspondent for the online newspaper, The Times of India - India Times. If this is accurate, folks, you should expect a lot of posing, arm waving, and maybe a good amount of that famous ballerina hair-swinging melodrama 'cuz there ain't room to do much more.

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Thanks to Jeannette for alerting us to the Monday 1PM livestream from Queens Botanical Garden of NYCB dancers performing choreography by Clara Miller to live music performed by NYCB Orchestra musicians. This performance will be livestreamed at this link:

https://www.lincolncenter.org/lincoln-center-at-home/show/love-from-lincoln-center-livestream-on-may-24-119?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=052120JuneRSAnnouncement&utm_content=version_A&uid=&sourceNumber=

and at Lincoln Center's YouTube and Facebook pages -- not NYCB's website, YouTube or Facebook. There will be no repeat or opportunity to view it afterward.

observations 5/9

Damrosch Park is ablaze with these beauties as well as construction to get the stage and audience areas ready for Restart Stages at Lincoln Center. SAB will hold its Spring Performances at Damrosch in June.

Thankfully, our little pink renegade in the Rubies Corps de Azaleas has been flourishing this spring. Isn't she beautiful in all her individuality?

And then, my friends, there's this which officially opens tomorrow. Click on picture for full sized view:

If you like artificial turf, you'll love rolling around on this. The dogs can't wait to do their thing, either.

To quote Christopher Cross: "Well it's not far back to sanity, at least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away and find serenity."

And so we will stand six feet apart and wait for sanity and serenity:

observations 5/6

The NYCB Gala video presentation directed by Sofia Coppola which was shown at last night's online gala will become available for everyone to view at 8:00 PM tonight on the company's website or YouTube channel. Excerpts from Duo Concertant, Liebeslieder Walzer, Divertimento No. 15, and Dances at a Gathering will be presented as will a new solo by Justin Peck for Anthony Huxley. The video will be available for viewing for two weeks -- for free.

We've read recently how the reopening of NYC is being somewhat accelerated. A full Broadway opening at 100% capacity is set for September. However, pols have said that in the months leading up to that date, performance venues around town will be tested with partial capacities. Let's go NYCB! Get something on the stage and some butts in the seats this summer.

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

 

Jacques d'Amboise RIP

 

 

observations 4/29

DuhBlahs says that NYC will fully re-open July 1st. He says Broadway theaters will be later because it takes time "to ramp up productions." However, we know that it doesn't take much time to ramp up for a summer season of ballet at the Koch Theater. Given all the "dancing" that NYCB and ABT artists have been loading up on Instagram, it would seem that the combined companies should be able to produce a sufficient number of vaccinated, in-shape dancers to put on a few shows at the Koch this summer.

Let's go, folks. Make it happen. Get the miracle moving. Let's go let's go let's go!!

We're gettin' antsy here on the blog. New York ballet companies need to step up and contribute something to the recovery this summer.

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Meanwhile, Pennsyvania Ballet's spring digital season continues beginning tonight. The program includes Allegro Brilliante, Raymonda Suite, Polyphonia, and an excerpt from Dwight Rhoden's And So It Is. Tickets are $25. Order here and enjoy the show for a full week.

 

Okay, we've got stuff to talk about

You have three more days to binge-watch the video stream of NYCB's Theme and Variations - a superb compilation of the October 6, 2015 and January 21, 2016 performances with Tiler Peck and Andrew Veyette in the leads. We hope that everyone with the technical capabilities will rip a copy of this performance and save it for the future benefit of balletomanes everywhere. A copy should be packed into the payload of Elon Musk's next trip to Mars. Once it's cut loose on the surface, those little green Martians will be dancing for joy -- doing entrechat-vingt and quintuple tours in their heavenly half-gravity. You heard it here first.

On Thursday, NYCB will present its final installment of Three Sides of Balanchine with a performance of Stravinsky Violin Concerto featuring Sterling Hyltin, Ask la Cour, Sara Mearns, and Taylor Stanley. Tonight at 8pm there is a rehearsal segment with Sara Mearns, Claire Kretzschmar, and Rebecca Krohn. Both will be available on the NYCB website and YouTube channel.

The May 5th digital gala is coming up; so keep an eye out for the info.

Believe it, People, we are clawing our collective ways out of the pandemic. A terrific segment about NYCB's plans for its slowpening has just been uploaded to Spectrum News NY1. It's an excellent piece with some heart-stopping footage of Maria Kowroski rehearsing Mozartiana.

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Pennsylvania Ballet has announced its upcoming digital season which begins on March 25th. The first performance will include Balanchine's Concerto Barocco. We can't help but pause here to observe that the other day this ballet's Bach music was being piped loudly out onto the sidewalk in front of a deli on W34th Street in order to dissuade vagrants from hanging out by the door. It worked on the vagrants, but Haglund hung around for about 10 minutes snapping his fingers and doing little plies. Thank goodness Security didn't intervene.

Also on this first program will be Stanton Welch's Clear, a piece entitled Suspended in Time which was choreographed by Angel Corella, Russell Drucker, and Kirill Radev, and a solo made for Jermel Johnson by Matthew Neenan.

The second installment of the digital season will include Allegro Brilliante, Polyphonia, Raymonda Suite (Corella), and an excerpt from a  Dwight Rhoden dance.

The final installment will be a collection of contemporary premieres.

$25 to view each performance OR $50 for all three. You can even pick your preferred cast or purchase both casts.

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University of Minnesota's Northrop Auditorium is presenting a pay-to-see digital program produced with Nina Ananiashvili's State Ballet of Georgia from March 20th through March 28th. The film will include parts of Chabukiani's Laurencia, Lavrovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Les Sylphides, Giselle, and more. Nina is laying out an irresistible buffet that we intend to gorge on until our eyes pop out.

$25, $10 for students.

Chins up, Everyone!! Ballet is making its return, and the yellow Peeps are on the shelves at CVS.