Transparency and honesty would be nice, although it's never expected from ABT.
Marcelo Gomes has intimated strongly that he's dancing Solor in La Bayadere this week, but ABT has yet to put his name on the schedule.
Natalia Osipova has left the country, but she's still on the R&J schedule.
Come on.
––––––––––
In case you missed the reader comment in the Sleeping Beauty review below, ABT is using a new kind of state-of-the-art floor tape on the stage instead of regular gaffer tape which seems to be contributing to the dancers' difficulties.
42 responses to “observations 6/2”
If only they would give Sarah Lane a debut in R&J or even Stella Abrera. Heck give one of the corps dancers a big opportunity to show off.
I’ve never seen a company so stingy in handing out roles to its own dancers. Its also scandalous how many guest artists are pulling out on them.
If only they would give Sarah Lane a debut in R&J or even Stella Abrera. Heck give one of the corps dancers a big opportunity to show off.
I’ve never seen a company so stingy in handing out roles to its own dancers. Its also scandalous how many guest artists are pulling out on them.
Yes, Sarah Lane in R&J. And Stella Abrera as Nikiya instead of Kochetkova and Seo three times each. Good grief.
Yes, Sarah Lane in R&J. And Stella Abrera as Nikiya instead of Kochetkova and Seo three times each. Good grief.
Do we have any confidence that Alina Cojocaru will dance on Friday?
Do we have any confidence that Alina Cojocaru will dance on Friday?
Don’t know what to think about that. I wasn’t going to go anyway. It’s another performance that should have gone to Sarah Lane.
Don’t know what to think about that. I wasn’t going to go anyway. It’s another performance that should have gone to Sarah Lane.
Was Osipova meant to dance Sleeping Beauty as well? Did she fake an injury to get out of it again? Cause there she was last night, with her crack head boyfriend Polunin, in London.
Was Osipova meant to dance Sleeping Beauty as well? Did she fake an injury to get out of it again? Cause there she was last night, with her crack head boyfriend Polunin, in London.
We don’t know why she was removed from SB (other than she should never have been cast in the first place). We can only speculate that there wasn’t sufficient rehearsal time. But, the rehearsal schedule would have been arranged far in advance and approved by all; so, who knows…
We don’t know why she was removed from SB (other than she should never have been cast in the first place). We can only speculate that there wasn’t sufficient rehearsal time. But, the rehearsal schedule would have been arranged far in advance and approved by all; so, who knows…
Her hyped up existence annoys me so much. I can already see the strings being pulled as to make Polunin-Osipova the new power couple in ballet like Vasipova was. And they are going to be shaved down people’s throats as the best thing in ballet right now. Urgh
Her hyped up existence annoys me so much. I can already see the strings being pulled as to make Polunin-Osipova the new power couple in ballet like Vasipova was. And they are going to be shaved down people’s throats as the best thing in ballet right now. Urgh
Dare we hope for a Part/Gomes Bayadere? I will feel like I’ve died and joined the shades in Heaven. I think I saw Nedak on stage during one of the curtain call videos for either Herrera’s or Reyes’ farewell, though, so presumably he’s at least in the U.S. right now.
Dare we hope for a Part/Gomes Bayadere? I will feel like I’ve died and joined the shades in Heaven. I think I saw Nedak on stage during one of the curtain call videos for either Herrera’s or Reyes’ farewell, though, so presumably he’s at least in the U.S. right now.
I suspect if Lane was given an R&J, it would be an extremely last minute substitution. Just to spite any of her fans who would buy a ticket in order to cheer her on. They don’t want a repeat of Abrera’s Giselle triumph.
I suspect if Lane was given an R&J, it would be an extremely last minute substitution. Just to spite any of her fans who would buy a ticket in order to cheer her on. They don’t want a repeat of Abrera’s Giselle triumph.
So much disrespect for fans to be so nonchalant and brazen about it. I have a friend who is a big fan of Osipova, she bought tickets to her Bayadere and Sleeping Beauty. Now even she is questioning the way Osipova treats her fans. So now it’s Kochetkova the uninspired gymnast as Nikiya instead of over the top and unlyrical Osipova. Anyone know why Kochetkova dances so much at ABT? Perhaps due to Russian connections Makarova or Kolpakova?
So much disrespect for fans to be so nonchalant and brazen about it. I have a friend who is a big fan of Osipova, she bought tickets to her Bayadere and Sleeping Beauty. Now even she is questioning the way Osipova treats her fans. So now it’s Kochetkova the uninspired gymnast as Nikiya instead of over the top and unlyrical Osipova. Anyone know why Kochetkova dances so much at ABT? Perhaps due to Russian connections Makarova or Kolpakova?
http://www.pointemagazine.com/issues/junejuly-2015/abts-homegrown-ballerinas wondered if you had seen this article on the ‘homegrown’ Auroras from ABT – some interesting stuff
http://www.pointemagazine.com/issues/junejuly-2015/abts-homegrown-ballerinas wondered if you had seen this article on the ‘homegrown’ Auroras from ABT – some interesting stuff
Now that Liz brought it up, it totally makes sense. Osipova probably need Polunin to replace Vasiliev now that he is married to Bolshoi soloist Maria Vinogradova (who is more famous as model than dancer in Russia). Polunin would also benefit from income and publicity generated by Osipova’s side, vanity project shows. Perfect.
Now that Liz brought it up, it totally makes sense. Osipova probably need Polunin to replace Vasiliev now that he is married to Bolshoi soloist Maria Vinogradova (who is more famous as model than dancer in Russia). Polunin would also benefit from income and publicity generated by Osipova’s side, vanity project shows. Perfect.
Nedak can be seen (unless if he has a doppelganger)on Marcelo’s Instagram post with Nina, so he’s definitely here. Of course he could have been injured rehearsing and Marcelo has to be a last-minute sub, again. Or maybe he is taking over for Stearns tomorrow?
Nedak can be seen (unless if he has a doppelganger)on Marcelo’s Instagram post with Nina, so he’s definitely here. Of course he could have been injured rehearsing and Marcelo has to be a last-minute sub, again. Or maybe he is taking over for Stearns tomorrow?
Misty keeps up the campaign – maybe she is auditioning for a part in Stars & Stripes? (Wrong company, I know.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-misty-copeland-1432827688
“A soloist with American Ballet Theatre, Copeland will be the first African-American ballerina to star as Odette and Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with the internationally acclaimed company on U.S. soil.”
Misty keeps up the campaign – maybe she is auditioning for a part in Stars & Stripes? (Wrong company, I know.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-misty-copeland-1432827688
“A soloist with American Ballet Theatre, Copeland will be the first African-American ballerina to star as Odette and Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with the internationally acclaimed company on U.S. soil.”
MRR, you’re definitely right about Nedak being in the picture.
Maybe we’re so desperate for relief this week that we over-optimistically interpreted Marcelo’s words: “Tigers , high jumps , opium smoking , jealously , love , candles , snakes and a bronze idol …. I’m in !!! “ along side the picture of his glorious Solor.
What a pointless, lackluster week Makarova’s La Bayadere has become over the years. ABT should really dump this production and get one that its own dancers can fully lead.
MRR, you’re definitely right about Nedak being in the picture.
Maybe we’re so desperate for relief this week that we over-optimistically interpreted Marcelo’s words: “Tigers , high jumps , opium smoking , jealously , love , candles , snakes and a bronze idol …. I’m in !!! “ along side the picture of his glorious Solor.
What a pointless, lackluster week Makarova’s La Bayadere has become over the years. ABT should really dump this production and get one that its own dancers can fully lead.
Hi Haglund-along the lines of transparency, would you happen to know where I can get casting info for soloist roles like bronze idol, Benno etc? Trying to see as much Gorak as possible. Thanks!
Hi Haglund-along the lines of transparency, would you happen to know where I can get casting info for soloist roles like bronze idol, Benno etc? Trying to see as much Gorak as possible. Thanks!
Pippa, the only way I know to get the second tier casting is to call ABT’s main number and ask for it. Sometimes they have it; sometimes they don’t.
Pippa, the only way I know to get the second tier casting is to call ABT’s main number and ask for it. Sometimes they have it; sometimes they don’t.
“What a pointless, lackluster week Makarova’s La Bayadere has become over the years. ABT should really dump this production and get one that its own dancers can fully lead.”
Agreed, but Vishneva and Gomes were superb in Bayadere last year. They made the production seem much better than it is.
“What a pointless, lackluster week Makarova’s La Bayadere has become over the years. ABT should really dump this production and get one that its own dancers can fully lead.”
Agreed, but Vishneva and Gomes were superb in Bayadere last year. They made the production seem much better than it is.
True, MRR. Marcelo and Veronika were always quite divine.
True, MRR. Marcelo and Veronika were always quite divine.
I don’t know, the production has looked good at times. A few of those votives in the candle dance always go out. I think Bayadere is a very unforgiving ballet and if the company is at a low ebb it shows.
Marcelo and Veronika were definitely the best. I remember Marcelo finishing his variation and then exiting still in a complete backbend, looking to the rafters the entire time. He cultivated virtuosity as Solor, more than I can recall in other ballets.
I don’t know, the production has looked good at times. A few of those votives in the candle dance always go out. I think Bayadere is a very unforgiving ballet and if the company is at a low ebb it shows.
Marcelo and Veronika were definitely the best. I remember Marcelo finishing his variation and then exiting still in a complete backbend, looking to the rafters the entire time. He cultivated virtuosity as Solor, more than I can recall in other ballets.
Agree that La Bayadere has looked good in the past – just not the past several years. Dvorovenko was always one of my favorites – so good as either Nikiya or Gamzatti.
Agree that La Bayadere has looked good in the past – just not the past several years. Dvorovenko was always one of my favorites – so good as either Nikiya or Gamzatti.