Yuriko Kajiya has been chosen as one of Time Magazine's Next Generation Leaders. Watch this video and read the accompanying article in which Yuriko describes the obstacles that she had to overcome to achieve her level of dancing. Her account is refreshingly honest, as is her talent. The video includes a couple of snippets of her and Aaron Robison in Houston Ballet's Manon.
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What or who is holding up the publication of the rest of the casting for ABT's fall season? The longer Haglund looks at a schedule that doesn't have the names Part and Abrera featured prominently, the less interested he becomes in the entire week and a half season.
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And on the last date of ABT's season, David Hallberg will finally get himself back on some kind of a stage – elsewhere in the city. From the Performa 15 press release:
Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli in collaboration with American classical ballet dancer David Hallberg, principle dancer for the Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theater, will launch Opening Night of Performa 15 on Sunday, November 1, 2015. Vezzoli and Hallberg will use the Renaissance as a point of departure for their commission to create choreography that reflects the origins of ballet in the 15th-century. The result of carefully researched material that begins with written text, Hallberg-Vezzoi will present Renaissance dance in its earliest form, bringing into question the powerful rituals of the courts, the importance of architecture in performance, and the roles of dancer and audience.
This doesn't actually say that Hallberg will be dancing, but it doesn't say that he won't be, either. Nevertheless, the evening sounds like it could turn into a heady affair.
Artists' efforts to intellectualize or politicize the art form and to assume an authority beyond what they can deliver to the stage can be so tiresome when all we want is to see them actually perform. "[B]ringing into question the powerful rituals of the courts" – please, just:
14 responses to “observations 9-25”
On the viber public chat Stella hinted she is rehearsing Monotones and is in the new Mark Morris piece.
On the viber public chat Stella hinted she is rehearsing Monotones and is in the new Mark Morris piece.
Thanks for providing the information on the great Time article and video on Yuriko, Haglund. What a lovely dancer and person she is, and I’m pleased that Time is acknowledging her ability, as is Houston Ballet.
It saddens me that ABT is not developing its own dancers. I have been attending ABT performances for over four decades, and this company had been a source of great joy for me. As I recall, in the past they would tour (to Chicago) with two full length ballets and a mixed bill. I would see two or three performances. (Last year it was a weekend only of a repeated mixed bill of Fancy Free, etc.) It used to be affordable to attend even as a teen or twenty something years ago.
Now that is not so. Perhaps the economy is partly to blame, but so is spending the money on way too many guest artists. Without enough notice of casting, I cannot make travel plans in time. Very disappointing because I no longer live in a large city with access to ballet. ABT said they will list the remainder of casting in October. I really want to see Stella Abrera in a principal role in a full length ballet!
I will keep track of Yuriko’s performances with Houston Ballet. With luck they will tour closer to me.
Thanks for providing the information on the great Time article and video on Yuriko, Haglund. What a lovely dancer and person she is, and I’m pleased that Time is acknowledging her ability, as is Houston Ballet.
It saddens me that ABT is not developing its own dancers. I have been attending ABT performances for over four decades, and this company had been a source of great joy for me. As I recall, in the past they would tour (to Chicago) with two full length ballets and a mixed bill. I would see two or three performances. (Last year it was a weekend only of a repeated mixed bill of Fancy Free, etc.) It used to be affordable to attend even as a teen or twenty something years ago.
Now that is not so. Perhaps the economy is partly to blame, but so is spending the money on way too many guest artists. Without enough notice of casting, I cannot make travel plans in time. Very disappointing because I no longer live in a large city with access to ballet. ABT said they will list the remainder of casting in October. I really want to see Stella Abrera in a principal role in a full length ballet!
I will keep track of Yuriko’s performances with Houston Ballet. With luck they will tour closer to me.
“[B]ringing into question the powerful rituals of the courts.” I fear, Haglund, that this is what you do when you can’t dance.
“[B]ringing into question the powerful rituals of the courts.” I fear, Haglund, that this is what you do when you can’t dance.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Georgiann. America’s so-called National Ballet Company isn’t doing such a grand job of bringing dance to America.
When preliminary casting for spring is announced next month or whenever the first brochure arrives, Stella’s name had better be on it as a leading principal – not secondary principal – in some performances or there will be another firestorm.
Meanwhile, I’m dreaming about what Yuriko Kajiya will do with the Rose Adagio when Houston Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty in February and March.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Georgiann. America’s so-called National Ballet Company isn’t doing such a grand job of bringing dance to America.
When preliminary casting for spring is announced next month or whenever the first brochure arrives, Stella’s name had better be on it as a leading principal – not secondary principal – in some performances or there will be another firestorm.
Meanwhile, I’m dreaming about what Yuriko Kajiya will do with the Rose Adagio when Houston Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty in February and March.
Angelica – so true, and isn’t it sad.
Angelica – so true, and isn’t it sad.
Stella better get an O/O and a Sylvia.
Stella better get an O/O and a Sylvia.
I totally agree about the Sylvia for Stella, but only O/O with a commitment to do everything including all the fouettes. A few years ago, I saw her opt to do them to the left (with releves on the right leg) instead of to her dominant right side in a performance as Gamzatti. Apparently she was having trouble with the left supporting leg, and chose to switch legs instead of bailing on them. That was gutsy. We need gutsy in Swan Lake, not planned failure. Yes, I would like to see her do O/O with Marcelo. That would be fabulous.
I totally agree about the Sylvia for Stella, but only O/O with a commitment to do everything including all the fouettes. A few years ago, I saw her opt to do them to the left (with releves on the right leg) instead of to her dominant right side in a performance as Gamzatti. Apparently she was having trouble with the left supporting leg, and chose to switch legs instead of bailing on them. That was gutsy. We need gutsy in Swan Lake, not planned failure. Yes, I would like to see her do O/O with Marcelo. That would be fabulous.