Boston Ballet.....getting ready.

So it's been almost 3 years since I blogged....I found it was dampening my enjoyment of the ballet to critique and complain.  A lot has changed since then, but not all for the better.

Since then, my dream came true when American Ballet Theatre finally (finally!) promoted the beautiful and gracious Stella Abrera to principal.  Since then, Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews are now winning the west down in Houston.  Maria Riccetto was just nominated for a Benois for her work down in Uruguay.  Cedar Lake is no more (the saddest news of all), but at least Ebony Williams is killing it dancing with Beyoncé.

But also in this time away, ABT has also promoted and given many performances to other newer principals I can't bear to watch.  In many cases I'd rather watch a corps member do a lead role than these dancers.  It makes me sad and wistful for 2005-2007 when ABT was a shining cosmos of near perfection.  Times have changed.

Honestly, that actually helped with my decision to escape New York City and venture back north.  It's been about six months now.   But I miss the Joyce Theater and Lincoln Center. I miss City Center and Alvin Ailey.  I miss all the international theater companies coming through.  I miss ABT - well, some of the company anyway.  Very few touring companies up here in New England.  

Boston Ballet's Le Corsaire came too soon after my move, so I skipped it.  I wasn't ready to let new dancers into my heart.  (I may never be ready, actually, as I've only seen one performance of Corsaire since the a-ma-zing night Ethan Stiefel retired.  I can't imagine any four principals ever coming close to that night.) The upcoming presentation by Boston Ballet (Forsythe/Artifact) doesn't tempt me much, so I'm waiting for the Kylián/Wings of Wax program at the end of March to venture into new waters.  I've already got tickets to see their Sleeping Beauty in April though, and then hoping to make it to New York for at least a couple of ABT performances.  As Haglund would say, the Stella Acela is ready and waiting.  And as long as Alessandra Ferri continues to dance, I will continue to find a way to be there.

I know a little about Boston Ballet, and grew up watching their Nutcracker, but not enough yet to have any opinion.  Anyone have any thoughts to share?

Shall I be a ballerinerd once again?  

 

Burying the lead....again

Unsurprising in the scope of American Ballet Theatre's lackluster support of its soloists...buried at the very bottom of a short press release on Denis Matvienko's injury and guest artist replacements for Met season is the news that ABT's own wonderful Jared Matthews will finally get to dance Albrecht in New York opposite Xiomara Reyes' Giselle on Thursday, June 19th.  

Nowhere does the release mention that Jared has already performed beautifully opposite Paloma Herrera, Hee Seo and his best partner, Yuriko Kajiya, in Minneapolis, Chicago and Korea. Nowhere does it mention the mature and gorgeous Mariinsky Gala performance he just completed with Veronika Part (see Haglund's Heel for the link to the video).

Jared is a strong, thoughtful dancer and a sensitive, dedicated partner.  He should not be overlooked in ABT's roster simply because he doesn't have a twitter or youtube campaign of shameless (or frightening) self-promotion or because he brings realism rather than hammy overacting to the stage.

He's also dancing two performances in Coppelia this season, but my money is already bet on his Albrecht.  If he lifts Reyes like I saw him lift Kajiya in Act II in Chicago in 2012, it will take your breath away. (I hadn't seen lifts like that since Ferri/Bolle in the Manon pdd during Ferri's final ABT season.) Go see him!!  Show ABT your support of the home team.

Departures from ABT...

So ABT finally updated its website and along with a few previously-known departures there are some other faces missing today:

Principals

Irina Dvorovenko - retired in June, still gorgeous and a wonderful actress.  Here's hoping she keeps popping up on the New York stage.

Natalia Osipova - not sure what the official story is here, but I for one thank the Royal Ballet for spiriting her across the pond.  It's probably too much to hope for that she won't be guesting next season and real opportunities will finally go to Stella, Sarah and Yuriko, but I'll keep my fingers crossed anyway.  

Soloists

Simone Messmer - we knew it was coming, but it doesn't make her understandable move to San Francisco any less sad for New York audiences.  I suspect she will be especially missed during the fall repertory season.

Corps

Roddy Doble - don't have any official word on this but a while back I'd heard he was off to the Boston Ballet for better growth opportunities. 

Mikhail Ilyin

Vitali Krauchenka

Renata Pavam

Anyone know anything about these departures?  Vitali in particular I thought was dancing quite well this Met season....

Let him lead.

Working 15 hour days doesn't leave much room for ballet blogging. But Jared Matthews was such a wonderful leading man in his debut Aminta in ABT's Sylvia Wednesday night, I'd be remiss if I didn't shout it to the blogosphere before his newly scheduled second performance at the Saturday matinee with Gillian Murphy.  

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet at the Joyce (Friday, May 10, 2013)

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet is one of my favorite companies around.  They are consistently the most rehearsed, most athletic, committed and talented crews I have the pleasure of watching.  The majority of their pieces are well costumed and expertly lit, and always have a loud signature.