New York City Ballet – Spring Gala with Wheeldon premiere – New York
But ‘A Place for Us’ (new Wheeldon) feels like a bauble, not quite a jewel.
San Francisco Ballet – From Foreign Lands, Scotch Symphony, Golden Hour – San Francisco
From Foreign Lands: “This amusing, yet subtle send-up of classical ballet is rewarding in its expertly-shaped choreography, and made all the more appealing by the slight wackiness of the costumes and visual jokes.”
Joffrey Ballet – American Legends bill – Chicago
The second movement (of Son Of Chamber Symphony) is a sumptuous duet, performed by Victoria Jaiani and Fabrice Calmels, an on-stage pair made in heaven.
Jose Manuel Carreno – former American Ballet Theatre Principal and freelance dancer
Toba Singer talks to José Manuel Carreño: “Coming from Cuba, with the Cuban school you end up with a very strong foundation because you train so much in technique and partnering. These are two things that were very strong from the Cuban school, but on top of that, there was a lot of attention paid to the theatrical elements…”
Sara Mearns – New York City Ballet – Principal
Sara Mearns has been New York City Ballet’s reigning Swan Queen since her breakout performance in 2006, when she was only nineteen years old and a member the corps de ballet. It was a performance of surprising intensity, edged with danger.
New York City Ballet – N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz, Waltz Project – New York
N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz is certainly not Robbins’ finest or most original work but perhaps because of its relative straightforwardness, it reveals much about what is so remarkable about this choreographer.
San Francisco Ballet – Borderland (premiere), Suite en Blanc, In the Night – San Francisco
The highly anticipated world premiere of Wayne McGregor’s Borderlands, commissioned by SF Ballet, meets with a standing ovation.
Nancy Reynolds – George Balanchine Foundation – Director of Research
An in-depth interview with the lady who helps bring Balanchine back…
New York City Ballet – Paz de la Jolla premiere and bill – New York
It’s a good thing indeed when a visit to the ballet turns out to be a night full of surprises, all of them good.
Mikhail Baryshnikov – the Art Collector
What one does not see much of, at least at first glance, is nostalgia for the motherland. “I never had nostalgia about anything,” Baryshnikov says.
23rd International Ballet Festival of Havana, 2012
The festival was as intensive as ever, with three performances running on seven days, four on one day, some concurrently. The range and quality of dance overall was impressive.
Natalia Makarova Honoured at The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honours
The Honors are America’s highest award for those whose creative triumphs influenced and enhanced American culture. This is a celebration of their outstanding careers and extraordinary talents and appreciation of their unyielding commitment and contribution to the arts.
L.A. Dance Project – Moving Parts, Winterbranch, Quintett – New York
It’s always been clear that Millepied is a man of intelligence and taste.
American Ballet Theatre – Drink, Cruel World, Stars/Stripes, Rodeo, Pavane, Upper Room – New York
The highlight of the gala was the seventieth-anniversary performance of Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo, preceded by a short film describing its creation, with archival footage of the hilariously histrionic, diminutive choreographer.
New York City Ballet – Two Hearts, Year of the Rabbit, Les Carillons – New York
There should be more nights like this at New York City Ballet.
Interview: Justin Peck – New York City Ballet – Dancer and Choreographer
“It’s very lonely out there… I mean, it would be nice to have some sort of mentorship with regard to what it takes to be a choreographer.”
Elana Altman – San Francisco Ballet – Soloist
Muriel [Maffre] was an inspiration for me because she got so many great roles even though she was tall. After she retired I started to get some of her old parts.
San Francisco Ballet – Primer and London Season Preview
Aimée Tsao, watching San Francisco Ballet for over 35 years now, with a general primer on the company and some thoughts on the repertoire they are bring to London in September 2012…
Amy Seiwert’s SKETCH 2, The Women Choreographers & ODC/Dance Summer Sampler – San Francisco
The idea behind Amy Seiwert’s SKETCH 2 is to promote women ballet choreographers. Included in the press kit was an informal survey of twenty-four ballet companies with income over $5 million in the United States. Of the 302 works to be performed this upcoming season only 27 were by seventeen women.
New York City Ballet – Concerto Barocco, Kammermusik No. 2, Firebird, Symphony in C – Saratoga Springs
After the dreary bombast of Alexei Ratmansky’s recent Firebird for American Ballet Theatre, the Balanchine/Robbins version, with its blessedly shorter score (Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite), heavenly Chagall designs and the great Ashley Bouder in one of her first great roles, was a welcome palliative.
