If McKenzie is not bothered by the height differences between Cojocaru and Hallberg or Osipova and Hallberg, he should not be bothered by height differences between Sarah Lane and Marcelo Gomes or anyone else.
Sarah knows the role of Juliet and can be ready on a moment's notice to dance it. Everyone knows that she would be the hit of the week – and maybe that is exactly the problem. The dirty politics and enormous purchasing power of one ambitious soloist seeking celebrity at all costs is costing the most talented at ABT their opportunities and costing the audience the joy of seeing one of its most beloved artists rise to the occasion.
We need Sarah Lane as Juliet on June 17th which has opened as the result of Osipova's withdrawal. In fact, she should have gotten the nod when Semionova withdrew. Had that happened, we could now have the opportunity of seeing yet another one of our own step into the role and sweep us off our feet.
The small-mindedness of McKenzie keeps ABT on its tried and true course into the chamber pot.
40 responses to “We need her as Juliet”
They could promote her as “the legs of Black Swan” or “Natalie Portman’s legs,” or something else that would have some popular recognition and appeal. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot that ABT doesn’t promote its home grown dancers.
They could promote her as “the legs of Black Swan” or “Natalie Portman’s legs,” or something else that would have some popular recognition and appeal. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot that ABT doesn’t promote its home grown dancers.
… except for one.
… except for one.
OMG, if she replaces Osipova…. Well, I don’t have a ticket for that night anyway.
OMG, if she replaces Osipova…. Well, I don’t have a ticket for that night anyway.
Angelica, it’s not anywhere nearly sold out. There are still a couple of hundred seats in the orchestra available and many in the tiers.
Angelica, it’s not anywhere nearly sold out. There are still a couple of hundred seats in the orchestra available and many in the tiers.
Kochetkova just posted photos of her rehearsing today, she’s wearing very Juliet-like rehearsal dress.
Kochetkova just posted photos of her rehearsing today, she’s wearing very Juliet-like rehearsal dress.
I mean to add Kochetkova posted them on her instagram account.
I mean to add Kochetkova posted them on her instagram account.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone. Every negative that McKenzie ladles on Sarah is a ladle of love over Kochetkova. Why save money having one of your own enormously talented dancers seize the opportunity and thrill the audience when you can spend money you don’t have on a piece of ordinary, imported Russian Дерьмо.
WP’s Sarah Kauffman on Kochetkova’s Juliet: “lacking dramatic vibrancy”, “gives the impression of having dutifully learned when to show expression”, “her interpretation seems to begin and end with what she has been told to do”. But on the positive side, she can “flick her leg high up to the back”.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone. Every negative that McKenzie ladles on Sarah is a ladle of love over Kochetkova. Why save money having one of your own enormously talented dancers seize the opportunity and thrill the audience when you can spend money you don’t have on a piece of ordinary, imported Russian Дерьмо.
WP’s Sarah Kauffman on Kochetkova’s Juliet: “lacking dramatic vibrancy”, “gives the impression of having dutifully learned when to show expression”, “her interpretation seems to begin and end with what she has been told to do”. But on the positive side, she can “flick her leg high up to the back”.
The photos posted by Ms. Kochetkova show her dancing with a colleague from SFB, and the backdrop is neither a Romeo & Juliet backdrop nor a New York City window view. I think it is unlikely that she is the replacement for next Wednesday.
The photos posted by Ms. Kochetkova show her dancing with a colleague from SFB, and the backdrop is neither a Romeo & Juliet backdrop nor a New York City window view. I think it is unlikely that she is the replacement for next Wednesday.
Let’s hope you’re right, Ken, about her not being a replacement as Juliet.
Let’s hope you’re right, Ken, about her not being a replacement as Juliet.
Well hee stepped in for Osipova and misty’s debut is on Tuesday. Sadly I have to go Tuesday night and am forced to see misty and Alex.
Well hee stepped in for Osipova and misty’s debut is on Tuesday. Sadly I have to go Tuesday night and am forced to see misty and Alex.
Unfortunately, the AD has assigned the evening performance of R&J on 6/17 to Hee Seo. Seo’s Tuesday night performance has been given to superstar Misty Copeland, which may or may not make Seo’s audience very happy. The AD’s attitude is definitely ABL (anyone but Lane).
Unfortunately, the AD has assigned the evening performance of R&J on 6/17 to Hee Seo. Seo’s Tuesday night performance has been given to superstar Misty Copeland, which may or may not make Seo’s audience very happy. The AD’s attitude is definitely ABL (anyone but Lane).
Well that certainly sucks. The worst case scenario comes true.
Now Misty’s team has to buy all the tickets up for Tuesday night as well. If they don’t, then the “demand” for Misty will look artificial – as we all know it is.
Well that certainly sucks. The worst case scenario comes true.
Now Misty’s team has to buy all the tickets up for Tuesday night as well. If they don’t, then the “demand” for Misty will look artificial – as we all know it is.
Sorry folks, but some of the comments coming into the blog regarding the updated casting – while very true – can’t be published. But it seems we all feel the same way.
Sorry folks, but some of the comments coming into the blog regarding the updated casting – while very true – can’t be published. But it seems we all feel the same way.
I saw Sarah Lane last night as Aurora. She was brilliant and the only good thing in a terribly boring and disappointing production of Sleeping Beauty. I generally think Ratmansky is a genius- however this is a real dud and ugly costumes too- as a a patron of ABT i cringe at the money poured into these ugly concoctions- what a shame. Sarah, however was strong, sparkling and beautiful.
I saw Sarah Lane last night as Aurora. She was brilliant and the only good thing in a terribly boring and disappointing production of Sleeping Beauty. I generally think Ratmansky is a genius- however this is a real dud and ugly costumes too- as a a patron of ABT i cringe at the money poured into these ugly concoctions- what a shame. Sarah, however was strong, sparkling and beautiful.
Hi Rusty. Thanks for stopping by H.H.
The costumes certainly overwhelm the dancing. Less would have been more. I, too, cringe at the money spent on them, particularly when ABT has other pressing needs.
Hi Rusty. Thanks for stopping by H.H.
The costumes certainly overwhelm the dancing. Less would have been more. I, too, cringe at the money spent on them, particularly when ABT has other pressing needs.
I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in this casting change. I have purchased so few tickets to ABT this season and to have the casting change at the last minute is so frustrating. Seo-Hammoudi was what I was interested in seeing! Grrrr. I don’t have anything against Misty, but wasn’t interested in seeing her Juliet. Lane would have been a delightful change.
I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in this casting change. I have purchased so few tickets to ABT this season and to have the casting change at the last minute is so frustrating. Seo-Hammoudi was what I was interested in seeing! Grrrr. I don’t have anything against Misty, but wasn’t interested in seeing her Juliet. Lane would have been a delightful change.
Hi, Liza.
Try asserting yourself at the box office (or by phone) if your dates are flexible. It’s very low class for ABT to make such arbitrary changes in the casting. If you stand at the box office window long enough or are sufficiently adamant over the phone, you may have some success because there is really no VALID reason for refusing to exchange tickets when ABT has COMPLETELY changed the product originally sold to the customer.
Hi, Liza.
Try asserting yourself at the box office (or by phone) if your dates are flexible. It’s very low class for ABT to make such arbitrary changes in the casting. If you stand at the box office window long enough or are sufficiently adamant over the phone, you may have some success because there is really no VALID reason for refusing to exchange tickets when ABT has COMPLETELY changed the product originally sold to the customer.
I would NEVER pay to see an ABT performance with Misty Copeland cast in a lead role. It’s a shame some audience members were forced to. She is not lead role material. I am so disappointed that ABT seems to be making artistic decisions based on NON-ARTISTIC reasons.
Also, I am so tired of hearing that she is “paving the way” for future black ballerinas. I fully support more diversity in ballet, but for goodness sake, ACTUAL BALLET TALENT cannot be compromised. There are many black ballerinas that have what it takes to mold into successful professionals. Unfortunately, “powerhouse Misty” is NOT one of them.
I know the media has been making not-so-famous people into sudden “celebrities” these days. It is just such a shame to see the ballet world succumb to such superficiality.
I would NEVER pay to see an ABT performance with Misty Copeland cast in a lead role. It’s a shame some audience members were forced to. She is not lead role material. I am so disappointed that ABT seems to be making artistic decisions based on NON-ARTISTIC reasons.
Also, I am so tired of hearing that she is “paving the way” for future black ballerinas. I fully support more diversity in ballet, but for goodness sake, ACTUAL BALLET TALENT cannot be compromised. There are many black ballerinas that have what it takes to mold into successful professionals. Unfortunately, “powerhouse Misty” is NOT one of them.
I know the media has been making not-so-famous people into sudden “celebrities” these days. It is just such a shame to see the ballet world succumb to such superficiality.
Well, Bbta, I agree with you. Her demand may be artificial but not everyone realizes that. When her PR team didn’t buy all the tickets to her late-date sub performance on Tuesday and didn’t engineer a Twittercacophony, few attended and few mentioned her performance. Today is a different story. She made a lot of money from a nasty book of lies and is now spending it to buy out her own performances and buy attention to make it look like she’s the most important person in the ballet world. Too bad the Twittersphere can’t help her with her fouettes and hops on pointe ….
Well, Bbta, I agree with you. Her demand may be artificial but not everyone realizes that. When her PR team didn’t buy all the tickets to her late-date sub performance on Tuesday and didn’t engineer a Twittercacophony, few attended and few mentioned her performance. Today is a different story. She made a lot of money from a nasty book of lies and is now spending it to buy out her own performances and buy attention to make it look like she’s the most important person in the ballet world. Too bad the Twittersphere can’t help her with her fouettes and hops on pointe ….
I couldn’t agree more, Haglund!
I couldn’t agree more, Haglund!