The casting on ABT's website shows that David Hallberg has been removed from the first performance this week in L.A. (although, at the moment, he is still on the Saturday schedule). Cory Stearns will step in for the opening night. Then on Friday night Blaine Hoven debuts as the Ballet Dancer opposite Stella Abrera. What a huge opportunity for Blaine! Wish we could have seen this debut at The Met.
Hopefully, one of our L.A. Haglund'eelers will post a full report right here.
UPDATE Sat 7/16. Here are two reports from the performance:
Incredible cast last night. Hoven was an unqualified success in his debut, and didn't show any signs it was his first time out in a leading role like this. He was technically on point the entire evening in his solos and with his partnering with Stella (and Clinton!). I like that he didn't play it as a joke so much: he was deadly serious about his turn in the tutu–one got the sense he and the Ballerina have many madcap adventures in their whistle stop tours. It is their specialty after dancing, of course. Much credit goes to the star of the evening, Abrera, who gave him so much to work with. What a gracious dancer to every single person onstage. She rivaled my memories of Alexandrova in this role when I saw it about 6 yrs ago with the Bolshoi.
Part was so luscious in her dancing with Hammoudi. I think she trusts him now, and once she trusts a partner there is no stopping her onstage. The second act pas between them was so wistfully beautiful, we all forgot she was supposed to be mad at him (she did too–she was so happy to be dancing like that with her husband it was more heartbreaking every time she was reminded he thought she was someone else).
Posted by: K | July 16, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Thanks for the reports, everyone!
26 responses to “Update:
Blaine Hoven debuts in The Bright Stream in L.A.”
Now this is a role that I’d like to see from Blaine! (although I really liked Cory with Stella and Veronika).
Now this is a role that I’d like to see from Blaine! (although I really liked Cory with Stella and Veronika).
In this role, his flapping wrists will work to his advantage. I don’t see how he ever got out of NCSA with a passing grade with those wrists. If he would just cure that problem, he would be principal material and they NEED him. I recall having a teacher who quickly fixed flapping wrists. First, she told you to never do it again. Next, she threw you out of class for doing it. Then she threatened to send you away forever. Wrists fixed.
In this role, his flapping wrists will work to his advantage. I don’t see how he ever got out of NCSA with a passing grade with those wrists. If he would just cure that problem, he would be principal material and they NEED him. I recall having a teacher who quickly fixed flapping wrists. First, she told you to never do it again. Next, she threw you out of class for doing it. Then she threatened to send you away forever. Wrists fixed.
I’ll be there Friday and for opening night. Delighted to get to see an interesting debut and the dynamic duo of Part and Abrera in one evening–what luck!
I’ll be there Friday and for opening night. Delighted to get to see an interesting debut and the dynamic duo of Part and Abrera in one evening–what luck!
Fantastic! Please report. FYI, critic Joel Lobenthal thought that the dances that Part & Abrera had together were the highlight of the performances of Bright Stream which he saw. They are beautiful together. Here’s his brief review:
http://cityarts.info/2011/06/14/veronika-part-laughs/
Fantastic! Please report. FYI, critic Joel Lobenthal thought that the dances that Part & Abrera had together were the highlight of the performances of Bright Stream which he saw. They are beautiful together. Here’s his brief review:
http://cityarts.info/2011/06/14/veronika-part-laughs/
I will, and will be on the look out for flopping wrists! Part and Abrera are usually the highlight of anything I see them in, so I am not surprised they fit together so well. I’m just pleased I can see them both at once since their rep often overlaps, and Abrera only has a few roles where she will actually end up on the online cast lists.
I will, and will be on the look out for flopping wrists! Part and Abrera are usually the highlight of anything I see them in, so I am not surprised they fit together so well. I’m just pleased I can see them both at once since their rep often overlaps, and Abrera only has a few roles where she will actually end up on the online cast lists.
I was thinking exactly that about the wrists working in this role (other than Act I of course). I’m not sure the Act I costume is going to suit him that well – since it makes everyone look younger – but I suspect he’ll be hilarious in that dress!
I was thinking exactly that about the wrists working in this role (other than Act I of course). I’m not sure the Act I costume is going to suit him that well – since it makes everyone look younger – but I suspect he’ll be hilarious in that dress!
ABT website now has Stearns dancing the saturday matinee for Hallberg too – must be letting David rest up for Japan.
ABT website now has Stearns dancing the saturday matinee for Hallberg too – must be letting David rest up for Japan.
Thanks for the info, Rachel. It seems that Hallberg has done a lot of dancing over the years without encountering a major injury. Here’s hoping that his frustration with being sidelined doesn’t persuade him to try to come back too soon.
Thanks for the info, Rachel. It seems that Hallberg has done a lot of dancing over the years without encountering a major injury. Here’s hoping that his frustration with being sidelined doesn’t persuade him to try to come back too soon.
Blaine Hoven was amazing as the Ballet Dancer last night! He’s a great actor and dancer–I didn’t notice any flopping wrists. I hope ABT will cast him in more now. Veronika and Alexandre were mesmerizing; Susan Jones and Clinton Luckett were hilarious. The audience was roaring with laughter 75% of the time.
Blaine Hoven was amazing as the Ballet Dancer last night! He’s a great actor and dancer–I didn’t notice any flopping wrists. I hope ABT will cast him in more now. Veronika and Alexandre were mesmerizing; Susan Jones and Clinton Luckett were hilarious. The audience was roaring with laughter 75% of the time.
Julie, thanks for the report! We all knew that Blaine would triumph in this. How was Stella? How were the accordion player, schoolgirl and milkmaid?
Julie, thanks for the report! We all knew that Blaine would triumph in this. How was Stella? How were the accordion player, schoolgirl and milkmaid?
Incredible cast last night. Hoven was an unqualified success in his debut, and didn’t show any signs it was his first time out in a leading role like this. He was technically on point the entire evening in his solos and with his partnering with Stella (and Clinton!). I like that he didn’t play it as a joke so much: he was deadly serious about his turn in the tutu–one got the sense he and the Ballerina have many madcap adventures in their whistle stop tours. It is their specialty after dancing, of course. Much credit goes to the star of the evening, Abrera, who gave him so much to work with. What a gracious dancer to every single person onstage. She rivaled my memories of Alexandrova in this role when I saw it about 6 yrs ago with the Bolshoi.
Part was so luscious in her dancing with Hammoudi. I think she trusts him now, and once she trusts a partner there is no stopping her onstage. The second act pas between them was so wistfully beautiful, we all forgot she was supposed to be mad at him (she did too–she was so happy to be dancing like that with her husband it was more heartbreaking every time she was reminded he thought she was someone else).
Incredible cast last night. Hoven was an unqualified success in his debut, and didn’t show any signs it was his first time out in a leading role like this. He was technically on point the entire evening in his solos and with his partnering with Stella (and Clinton!). I like that he didn’t play it as a joke so much: he was deadly serious about his turn in the tutu–one got the sense he and the Ballerina have many madcap adventures in their whistle stop tours. It is their specialty after dancing, of course. Much credit goes to the star of the evening, Abrera, who gave him so much to work with. What a gracious dancer to every single person onstage. She rivaled my memories of Alexandrova in this role when I saw it about 6 yrs ago with the Bolshoi.
Part was so luscious in her dancing with Hammoudi. I think she trusts him now, and once she trusts a partner there is no stopping her onstage. The second act pas between them was so wistfully beautiful, we all forgot she was supposed to be mad at him (she did too–she was so happy to be dancing like that with her husband it was more heartbreaking every time she was reminded he thought she was someone else).
Hurray for Blaine and the whole cast!
Thanks much for the report, K.
Hurray for Blaine and the whole cast!
Thanks much for the report, K.
Haglund, you’re right about Stella–she only gets better and better. When she dressed up as the man and danced his variation, she did it just as good as Blaine Hoven. She and Blaine are great actors; their expressions and movements read well to the audience.
Sarah Lane was perfectly cast as the schoolgirl. I loved Sascha Radetsky’s expression when the dog, Isaac Stappas, jumped up and started dancing with Sarah. The milkmaid was Simone Messmer; I wish her role had more dancing in it.
I agree with K about Blaine. He danced it very seriously which made it all the more hilarious. I think he ruined La Sylphide for me though–how can I watch it without bursting out laughing?
Haglund, you’re right about Stella–she only gets better and better. When she dressed up as the man and danced his variation, she did it just as good as Blaine Hoven. She and Blaine are great actors; their expressions and movements read well to the audience.
Sarah Lane was perfectly cast as the schoolgirl. I loved Sascha Radetsky’s expression when the dog, Isaac Stappas, jumped up and started dancing with Sarah. The milkmaid was Simone Messmer; I wish her role had more dancing in it.
I agree with K about Blaine. He danced it very seriously which made it all the more hilarious. I think he ruined La Sylphide for me though–how can I watch it without bursting out laughing?