New York City Ballet’s Winter Season ended yesterday with a whimper rather than with a Balanchine bang – the type of bang that makes you wish the season had not ended and makes you immediately start looking forward to spring. But this final performance curiously had no Balanchine in it at all. It was a Robbins program of ballet lites. The lovely In the Night was bookended by Interplay and N.Y Export: Opus Jazz which featured several of the same dancers, not to mention similar costume colors, to go with the recognizably similarities in the choreography.
In the Night featured a cast of strong principals, who while perhaps were not having their best performances, did manage to make this nearly 40-year-old ballet seem timeless. The other two ballets featured competent enough corps dancers along with soloists Peter Walker, Sara Adams, and Indiana Woodward. Some of yesterday's corps dancers generally do fine in Robbins’ works but cannot distinguish themselves in Balanchine’s works – on occasion even looking out of place. We wonder what it’s going to take for Devin Alberda to stop looking for places in the choreography where he can rest. When will Lars Nelson acquire stretched lines and feet and any hint of a dancer’s presentation? We’re sorry if they did not in years past get the opportunities to dance that they felt they deserved, but honestly, there were and still are artistic reasons for that.
However, there were some corps dancers on stage yesterday who delivered an extra kick in their performances that made them very worthwhile to follow: India Bradley, Mimi Staker, Emma Von Enck, Spartak Hoxha, Roman Mejia, and Gilbert Bolden III. We realize that Bolden’s physique is not yet what it should be, but we’re holding out hope for him because he’s got technique, power, and tremendous presentation. But what really intrigued us was the potential for electric performances if the immensely likable and technically gifted Mejia were to ever get paired up with the junior Von Enck, a hummingbird with uncommon articulation in her dancing. They never even came close to one another in N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz yesterday, but it was impossible not to notice how each one gave off similar vibes on stage.
The Winter Season offered fewer than usual highlights. Lauren King’s Lilac Fairy, Sterling Hyltin’s and Indiana Woodward’s Auroras, Theresa Reichlen’s Carabosse, Anthony Huxley’s Désiré, Maria Kowroski’s Mozartiana and Agon, and both Kowroski and Sara Mearns along with Daniel Ulbricht in Variations Pour Une Porte Et Un Soupir brought much joy. What the season was missing was a bigger share of defining moments by leading men. We can’t pretend that the company’s Winter Season didn't suffer from the absence of Danchig-Waring, De Luz, Ramasar, and Catazaro, and possibly even Veyette. It further suffered from the selfish grandstanding and lying by Ashley Bouder who seems to be on the verge of a breakdown and separation from reality. She even found the Instagram account of Jon Stafford’s in-law who had posted a congratulatory note about Jon. Bouder jumped on the in-law’s account to publicly admonish the relative for not also congratulating Wendy Whelan. As they say, who does this bitch think she is? Going after the new boss’s relative on Instagram is serial stalker behavior. Therapy is in order if not company discipline.
The reality is that Stafford is the new artistic director. Period. The reality is that Wendy Whelan is going to be doing pretty much exactly what Sean Lavery did for many years as Assistant to the Ballet Master in Chief, Peter Martins. Lavery planned the seasons, taught, coached, and whatever. That’s what Wendy will be doing in addition to going out and looking for new choreographers – which makes us all nervous. And while we commend Stafford for his generous attitude toward Wendy and the projection of partnership, the fact remains that he will be supervising all artistic matters and that includes what Wendy does. If Wendy’s ideas about new choreographers are a bust, Stafford ultimately will be held accountable.
It’s only seven weeks until the start of the spring season. Here’s hoping that we see the return of Danchig-Waring, Ramasar, Catazaro, and possibly Veyette along with the return of all of those ballerinas who have been out with injuries. We could have a spring season filled with extraordinary dancing or a spring season filled with pettiness, identity politicking, and egomaniacal maneuvering. Place your bets.
14 responses to “NYCB winter season blahs are behind us”
Walker and Habony were outstanding in the pas in Opus – subtle movement with clear intent exactly how Robbins designed it to be,
Walker and Habony were outstanding in the pas in Opus – subtle movement with clear intent exactly how Robbins designed it to be,
I’ve always enjoyed Bouder’s performances, but lately she seems to be flipping out online. She needs to take a serious break away from social media, pronto. On her Instagram stories last week, filming her umpteenth daily ritual documentation of her daughter’s walk to school, the daughter just stopped cold on the sidewalk and demanded that she stop filming her, then knocked the camera right out of her mother’s hands. Even Mini Me has had enough!
I’ve always enjoyed Bouder’s performances, but lately she seems to be flipping out online. She needs to take a serious break away from social media, pronto. On her Instagram stories last week, filming her umpteenth daily ritual documentation of her daughter’s walk to school, the daughter just stopped cold on the sidewalk and demanded that she stop filming her, then knocked the camera right out of her mother’s hands. Even Mini Me has had enough!
I couldn’t disagree more about Alberda and Catazaro! Catazaro looked the part but he just didn’t have the strength. I don’t think he wowed me once. Alberda, on the other hand, has stood out to me these past couple of seasons. He has a fluidity and grace to his dancing, and his jumps always have that extra oomph compared to those next to him.
As for the lack of leading men… let Mejia be developed a few more seasons! Whenever he’s on the stage–even just in the background–I feel like there’s a spotlight on him and I can’t look away. I love how tall and broad he is.
Looking forward to a great spring season!
I couldn’t disagree more about Alberda and Catazaro! Catazaro looked the part but he just didn’t have the strength. I don’t think he wowed me once. Alberda, on the other hand, has stood out to me these past couple of seasons. He has a fluidity and grace to his dancing, and his jumps always have that extra oomph compared to those next to him.
As for the lack of leading men… let Mejia be developed a few more seasons! Whenever he’s on the stage–even just in the background–I feel like there’s a spotlight on him and I can’t look away. I love how tall and broad he is.
Looking forward to a great spring season!
Catazaro was just getting started. He had to overcome multiple injuries and was on a very good path up until his departure.
I don’t disagree that Alberda has some nice qualities, but I find him very uninteresting and frequently looks like he’s resting when he should be dancing full out. Sunday he had to dance along side Mejia for a bit. The difference between their energies and their performance qualities was vast.
Catazaro was just getting started. He had to overcome multiple injuries and was on a very good path up until his departure.
I don’t disagree that Alberda has some nice qualities, but I find him very uninteresting and frequently looks like he’s resting when he should be dancing full out. Sunday he had to dance along side Mejia for a bit. The difference between their energies and their performance qualities was vast.
@LLF,
Was that on Bouder’s ‘gram account, or the special one she created for her daughter (with said toddler’s consent, I’m sure)?
I saw the comment on the in-law’s ‘gram page and gasped. This is beyond chutzpah. Not sure what to call it.
Aggression?
@LLF,
Was that on Bouder’s ‘gram account, or the special one she created for her daughter (with said toddler’s consent, I’m sure)?
I saw the comment on the in-law’s ‘gram page and gasped. This is beyond chutzpah. Not sure what to call it.
Aggression?
Diana: It was her own Instagram account, on her daily stories feed, where she always posts videos of her daughter. (The stories only last for 24 hrs.) Was the best thing I’ve seen on Instagram in a month.
Diana: It was her own Instagram account, on her daily stories feed, where she always posts videos of her daughter. (The stories only last for 24 hrs.) Was the best thing I’ve seen on Instagram in a month.
She seriously did that? Wow, she needs professional help. That is disturbing.
She seriously did that? Wow, she needs professional help. That is disturbing.