Here's a picture of our beautiful Stella Abrera in a recent photoshoot for the new ballet Whipped Cream by Ratmansky. She's costumed as Princess Tea Flower:

 

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The Bocca teasers and rumors are still alive. Julio met the press recently to discuss Ballet Nacional del Sodre's tour of Spain this week where it will perform Enrique Martinez's Coppelia. Among the Swanildas will be our own Maria Riccetto shown below as she clocks Franz. Ouch.

During the interview with the press, Julio said that the company will open the Cannes Dance Festival next year. The festival which runs December 8-17, 2017 is currently directed by former POB AD Brigitte Lefèvre. Bocca's plans include a brand new production of Sleeping Beauty in 2018. Then there was this (translated via Google):

On rumors that he could lead the American Ballet Theatre, where he was principal dancer 20 years, Julio Bocca said that "perhaps in the future", but does not know if now would like to live in a big city.

At the same time, he revealed that next year, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary, will be honored in New York, for his career, which ended as a dancer on December 22, 2007 in Buenos Aires, where he danced on the Avenue July 9 Before more than 300,000 people.

The bold text is that of the Espectador.com journalist. So if Julio is coming to New York for his 50th birthday celebration, can't we finally get a deal done while he's here? (His birthday is in March.) Sure, he says he doesn't know if he wants to live in a big city – which is why he's kept his UWS condo all these years. Come on, gimme a break. ABT Board, you get this deal done. All it would probably take to ink him is a fair salary and a little place in The Hamptons where he could escape on the weekends. Maybe Hallberg would be willing to spend a little more time in town if Bocca was leading the team. We need this guy running the show. Still so handsome: