ballet blog with occasional diversions

It’s about time ABT’s dancers started to speak out about the despicable import/guest artist situation

This elevates Irina Dvorovenko to Goddess/Heroine. 

Time Out New York: You need that nourishment.
Irina Dvorovenko:
Yes.
In Russia, each ballet dancer was attached to a coach, and it was like
having a mother in the ballet pretty much. So you need something more
personal. Here, you cannot be attached, because everyone is running
from one studio to another. So it’s a different structure. I cannot
blame it, because the theater functions in this way. But that’s what
people want—everyone from the dance world. Gillian [Murphy] arrived
from New Zealand, and she went to take class with [ABT], and then we
saw her at class at Steps and we said, “Well, how was it?” And she
said, “What’s the matter with ABT? Everybody’s so depressed,
everybody’s crying. What’s happening?” So it’s not only me. Everybody’s
noticing that. Something strange is going on with this bunch of guest
artists who take performances from the dancers who work hard. And
nobody develops our dancers. The dancers who come from out [of the
company], they have been already nourished by somebody and molded so
they have experien
ce to share, but our dancers also need this
experience and they cannot, because no one is helping them.
And also
everybody is working so hard in the studios, but the amount of time is
so compressed. It’s hard for everyone.

Irina seems to understand a lot.  ABT's dancers would fare better under her and Max's direction, and it's long past time for a change.

Read the full interview here.


20 responses to “It’s about time ABT’s dancers started to speak out about the despicable import/guest artist situation”

  1. nanushka Avatar
    nanushka

    Wow. Just wow.

  2. nanushka Avatar
    nanushka

    Wow. Just wow.

  3. rachelmarch Avatar
    rachelmarch

    I knew I loved her.

  4. rachelmarch Avatar
    rachelmarch

    I knew I loved her.

  5. K Avatar
    K

    ABT should be embarrassed, but they probably won’t. I liked what she said about Stearns too–that she feels there is more inside of him that he is not yet able to express because ABT hasn’t worked enough with him.

  6. K Avatar
    K

    ABT should be embarrassed, but they probably won’t. I liked what she said about Stearns too–that she feels there is more inside of him that he is not yet able to express because ABT hasn’t worked enough with him.

  7. Angelica Smith Avatar
    Angelica Smith

    Now wouldn’t that be interesting, to have Irina and Max as the new artistic directors of ABT. They know what dancers need to develop their full potential as mature (repeat: mature) artists.

  8. Angelica Smith Avatar
    Angelica Smith

    Now wouldn’t that be interesting, to have Irina and Max as the new artistic directors of ABT. They know what dancers need to develop their full potential as mature (repeat: mature) artists.

  9. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    How can ABT have the money to give Rachel Moore and Kevin McKenzie big raises and go out and buy guest artists and imports, but not have money for first class coaches and reasonable rehearsal time for its own dancers? What asses are setting the priorities for this company?

  10. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    How can ABT have the money to give Rachel Moore and Kevin McKenzie big raises and go out and buy guest artists and imports, but not have money for first class coaches and reasonable rehearsal time for its own dancers? What asses are setting the priorities for this company?

  11. Kit Avatar
    Kit

    Oh my. Way to go, Irina.

  12. Kit Avatar
    Kit

    Oh my. Way to go, Irina.

  13. FrmrDancer Avatar
    FrmrDancer

    She sounds like such a wise soul- so verbally expressive too. I haven’t seen her dance much, but I love how she approaches her roles so completely. Wish I could be in New York for her farewell. Perhaps she and Max would be good directors for ABT.

  14. FrmrDancer Avatar
    FrmrDancer

    She sounds like such a wise soul- so verbally expressive too. I haven’t seen her dance much, but I love how she approaches her roles so completely. Wish I could be in New York for her farewell. Perhaps she and Max would be good directors for ABT.

  15. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi FrmrDancer.
    Irina has always invested her characters with a lot of emotion in contrast to the dryness and lack of color that we see from several other ballerinas. When Irina and Max acquire a ballet company to direct, you can be sure that it’s going to be a company worth watching – and supporting.

  16. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi FrmrDancer.
    Irina has always invested her characters with a lot of emotion in contrast to the dryness and lack of color that we see from several other ballerinas. When Irina and Max acquire a ballet company to direct, you can be sure that it’s going to be a company worth watching – and supporting.

  17. FredS Avatar
    FredS

    Haglund,
    I was invited to the stage after the curtain calls were over : Dvovorenko made a short speech which illustrated what a wonderful , generous person she is .A real Mensch ! No conceited star turn for her – just heartfelt sentiment…she will be missed.

  18. FredS Avatar
    FredS

    Haglund,
    I was invited to the stage after the curtain calls were over : Dvovorenko made a short speech which illustrated what a wonderful , generous person she is .A real Mensch ! No conceited star turn for her – just heartfelt sentiment…she will be missed.

  19. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi Fred. Yes, she will be missed from the stage but hopefully she and Max will stay very active in classical ballet in some capacity in this city for a long time.

  20. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi Fred. Yes, she will be missed from the stage but hopefully she and Max will stay very active in classical ballet in some capacity in this city for a long time.