Someone else noticed Brittany DeGrofft too!

Remember a few weeks back when I mentioned Brittany DeGrofft, an apprentice at ABT, as a dancer to watch?  Well, not only did my friend point her out as stunning in Saturday's Cinderella Act II ballroom scene (I noticed her too - her legs are ridiculous and she's a similar kind of gorgeous as Irina Dvorovenko under the lights) but it looks like Capezio has taken note as well.  What a nice surprise on the back cover of July's Dance Magazine!

High above the NYC streets can be so beautiful

Working on my review of ABT's Cinderella....but thought I'd share this photo (forgive the quality, taken on my phone) of something that caught my eye yesterday afternoon.  
Cheers!

A breath of fresh air and an exciting debut (ABT Coppelia, June 18th matinee)

Heading back to Lincoln Center for my second American Ballet Theatre Coppelia in less than 24 hours, I was both worried and excited.  Worried because my unpleasant experience the night before left me wondering how I could sit through another 2.5 hours of pantomime, but beyond excited to see ABT soloist Jared Matthews in his first full-length leading role dancing opposite the lovely Maria Riccetto. 

Although I think I can safely say that Coppelia is not going to be added to the list of my favorite ballets, this performance left me beaming and understanding why so many of my friends who saw it first as a child still love it so.

  

A doll, an old man and two brats? (ABT Coppelia, June 17th)

It's taken me a while to write this review of Friday night's Coppelia at American Ballet Theatre.  While technically well executed, and despite one wonderful individual performance, I can think of only maybe one or two evenings at the theater that I actively disliked more than this one.  I kept hoping some distance over the past few days would change my mind.  But it hasn't.  So I thought at least I should tell you why.

The Bright Stream Redux - Stellllllaaaaaa!!!! (June 15, 2011)

Somewhat impulsively, I decided to see Wednesday night's final performance of Ratmanksy's The Bright Stream.  Partly in the hopes of erasing Tuesday's The Lesson from my mind, partly out of curiosity to see Cory Stearns as the Sylph, and partly in need of some inspiration from Stella Abrera...off I went to see my third cast of this production. I'm so very glad I did.