Natalia Osipova collided with another dancer during a performance of Wayne MacGregor's new dance, Tetractys – The Art of Fugue, and suffered a "mild concussion" for which she must rest for 48 hours. Consequently, the Royal Ballet had to cancel MacGregor's piece on Saturday night while proceeding with the other two-thirds of the program. Ticketholders were given the option of either a full refund if they declined to attend or a one-third refund if they sat through the partial program. Apparently there was no understudy or second cast dancer available. Nor was there a replacement dance that could be substituted.
There have been no reports on the condition of the other dancer – you know, the one who Natalia bashed into or vice versa. But does it matter? Apparently not.
Natalia has never been keen on bunch formations and trap plays. When given the option, she's always chosen to tuck the ball under and run the sweep with the hope that she can break open and sprint to the goal line and then launch into an unsportsmanlike song & dance "This field isn't big enough to hold me."
We'll probably never see the footage of this collision just like we've never seen the footage of when Natalia went sailing over the shoulder of her partner during a Nutcracker performance at the Paris Opera Ballet some years back.
Concussions aren't funny and can have serious consequences if not managed wisely. A second impact experienced before complete recovery of a first concussion can be fatal. While Natalia and the choreographer MacGregor may be well-known for creating excitement by pushing limits, it's time for ballet to throw a penalty flag when concussions and violent impact injuries begin to occur.
18 responses to “A new Osipodrama”
I was there on Sat. night. Kevin O’Hare made the announcement and the audience was, shall we say, not happy. Many did leave (shocking, as the other two ballets on the program, “Rhapsody,” and “Gloria,” are masterpieces). Anyway, I did not chose this program to see Osipova (earlier in the week I saw Marianela Nunez — I adore her — in Giselle), but because I happened to be in London (back in NYC now). Thiago Soares, Nela’s husband, also didn’t dance (O’Hare said he was “unwell.” It seems to be the flu), but he had an understudy in “Gloria,” (he was to dance in McGregor’s ballet, too). I can’t understand why there was no back up for Osipova; the ballet had many principals in it (I was so disappointed not to see many of them). It seems the Royal is now obsessed with Osipova (too). How sad since they have so many other wonderful dancers (including several who should be promoted right away!).
I was there on Sat. night. Kevin O’Hare made the announcement and the audience was, shall we say, not happy. Many did leave (shocking, as the other two ballets on the program, “Rhapsody,” and “Gloria,” are masterpieces). Anyway, I did not chose this program to see Osipova (earlier in the week I saw Marianela Nunez — I adore her — in Giselle), but because I happened to be in London (back in NYC now). Thiago Soares, Nela’s husband, also didn’t dance (O’Hare said he was “unwell.” It seems to be the flu), but he had an understudy in “Gloria,” (he was to dance in McGregor’s ballet, too). I can’t understand why there was no back up for Osipova; the ballet had many principals in it (I was so disappointed not to see many of them). It seems the Royal is now obsessed with Osipova (too). How sad since they have so many other wonderful dancers (including several who should be promoted right away!).
You are “where the action is” once again! How do you do it?
Seriously, thanks much for the eyewitness report. How crazy it is for a company to place such reliance on one dancer when they have so many other wonderful ones.
I do wish the RB would bring Gloria and Rhapsody or any of its other masterpieces to New York instead of Don Q.
Thanks, Deb.
You are “where the action is” once again! How do you do it?
Seriously, thanks much for the eyewitness report. How crazy it is for a company to place such reliance on one dancer when they have so many other wonderful ones.
I do wish the RB would bring Gloria and Rhapsody or any of its other masterpieces to New York instead of Don Q.
Thanks, Deb.
MacGregor’s choreography is very one-note for a modern choreographer. I heard raves about Borderlands and when I saw it, I was less than impressed. His earlier works, while similar, were not as self-referential. I’m mainly talking about Infra and Chroma.
Find it odd too that there wasn’t an understudy for Osipova. Did MacGregor feel that she was so crucial and special to this work that only she could have done it? Royal Ballet have so many wonderful dancers they should foster and promote, other than Osipova. Yuhui Choe is definitely a better classical dancer than Osipova. That is just one name.
Seems the Kevin on the other side of the pond is equally enamored of Russians while neglecting home talents.
By the way look for Kevin to add Olga Smirnova as next ABT guest principal when she dances excerpt from Onegin in NYC in April. Wheels are already in motion. Who will they pair her with at ABT, Stearns or Whiteside? Maybe Simkin, Smirnova is actually not that tall maybe I would guess around 5’4″, but definitely Cornejo would be just a tad too small to partner her.
MacGregor’s choreography is very one-note for a modern choreographer. I heard raves about Borderlands and when I saw it, I was less than impressed. His earlier works, while similar, were not as self-referential. I’m mainly talking about Infra and Chroma.
Find it odd too that there wasn’t an understudy for Osipova. Did MacGregor feel that she was so crucial and special to this work that only she could have done it? Royal Ballet have so many wonderful dancers they should foster and promote, other than Osipova. Yuhui Choe is definitely a better classical dancer than Osipova. That is just one name.
Seems the Kevin on the other side of the pond is equally enamored of Russians while neglecting home talents.
By the way look for Kevin to add Olga Smirnova as next ABT guest principal when she dances excerpt from Onegin in NYC in April. Wheels are already in motion. Who will they pair her with at ABT, Stearns or Whiteside? Maybe Simkin, Smirnova is actually not that tall maybe I would guess around 5’4″, but definitely Cornejo would be just a tad too small to partner her.
Smirnova in NY in April?
Smirnova in NY in April?
Wheels are in motion? How so?
The three TBAs left in the spring schedule are two Ashton Cinderellas and one La Bayadere. She’s not suited for Ashton and her outings as Nikiya have been rather revealing about her technical weaknesses, haven’t they? However, it’s possible that Hallberg would drag her here to dance something badly rather than see himself have to dance with an honest ABT ballerina other than Murphy. Unlike Bocca, Corella, Baryshnikov or Carreno, he’s not the strongest box office draw without the back-up of a star ballerina.
Wheels are in motion? How so?
The three TBAs left in the spring schedule are two Ashton Cinderellas and one La Bayadere. She’s not suited for Ashton and her outings as Nikiya have been rather revealing about her technical weaknesses, haven’t they? However, it’s possible that Hallberg would drag her here to dance something badly rather than see himself have to dance with an honest ABT ballerina other than Murphy. Unlike Bocca, Corella, Baryshnikov or Carreno, he’s not the strongest box office draw without the back-up of a star ballerina.
Angelica, Olga Smirnova is part of YAGP’s lineup at the Koch – The Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow gala on April 10th. There is no mention of what she will dance, however. Perhaps that’s been published somewhere else on social media.
Angelica, Olga Smirnova is part of YAGP’s lineup at the Koch – The Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow gala on April 10th. There is no mention of what she will dance, however. Perhaps that’s been published somewhere else on social media.
Thanks, Haglund. I must put that on my radar.
Thanks, Haglund. I must put that on my radar.
Haglund,,
Did you read the item on “Parterre Box” regarding your commentary on Osipovas` “collision” ?
Haglund,,
Did you read the item on “Parterre Box” regarding your commentary on Osipovas` “collision” ?
LOL.
LOL.