NY Ballet fans

**beepbeep** · 05-29-2011, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by emason

Thanks for posting; that was interesting to look at, but I don't think you are going to be delighted to read my impression. Bussell is telegraphing her turns way too much for my taste. As we used to say, 'her technique is showing'; that's not a good thing so far as I am concerned.

...

Running away from the tar and feathers now.

Besides some years on Adult Ballet classes, I'm not much of teknik, so unless it's really bad (Somova in her old days bad) I really don't mind.
And I meant your impressions from the live preformances you guys have been watching these days.

What I like about Darcey here is her portrayal of the role, the maturity (am I making sense here??). They just don't make them like that these days.
Ok, maybe Dupont, but I've never watched her as Gamzatti.

**emason** · 05-29-2011, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by beepbeep

Besides some years on Adult Ballet classes, I'm not much of teknik, so unless it's really bad (Somova in her old days bad) I really don't mind.
And I meant your impressions from the live preformances you guys have been watching these days.

What I like about Darcey here is her portrayal of the role, the maturity (am I making sense here??). They just don't make them like that these days.
Ok, maybe Dupont, but I've never watched her as Gamzatti.

I'm actually not in much teknik, either, but some things really bother me when I see them. However, yes, you are making sense. Gamzatti needs to be strong; after all she is a rajah's daughter. All the ABT dancers I have seen are much too passive; I think they have been brainwashed into thinking Nikiya is the be all and end all of the ballet and they shouldn't do anything to detract from the star - wrong.

**IceAlisa** · 05-29-2011, 05:06 AM

I saw this video of Dupont's Kitri and it was

. Where's the fire, the Spanish temperament?

**beepbeep** · 05-29-2011, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by IceAlisa

I saw this video of Dupont's Kitri and it was

. Where's the fire, the Spanish temperament?

You're comparing her (Dupont) to best firecracker these days.

I was going for Dupont for the maturity factor.
I haven't watched that one of Osipova before, thanks, that was awsome.

We had the Cuban ballet here some years ago and it was the very best Don Q I've ever seen (although I can't remember the line up to save my life...). Flawless interpretation (well, they're latin...). Bonus of having Alicia Alonso being walked to the stage to take bows with the cast at the end.

Has anyone watched Semionova in Don Q with the ABT? I read she was quite good.

**IceAlisa** · 05-29-2011, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by beepbeep

You're comparing her (Dupont) to best firecracker these days.

I was going for Dupont for the maturity factor.
I haven't watched that one of Osipova before, thanks, that was awsome.

True, there is no firecracker more fiery than Osipova. Her La Sylphide is also fantastic. I think dramatic roles like the second act of Giselle are her weak point.

Originally Posted by beepbeep

Has anyone watched Semionova in Don Q with the ABT? I read she was quite good.

I would LOVE to see that.

**Lara** · 05-29-2011, 07:09 AM

Back home.

I'm so very grateful to have seen this. I only wish I was knowledgeable enough to fully appreciate just how good it was.

**Holley Calmes** · 05-29-2011, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by beepbeep

What I like about Darcey here is her portrayal of the role, the maturity (am I making sense here??). They just don't make them like that these days.
Ok, maybe Dupont, but I've never watched her as Gamzatti.

Absolutely! Gamzatti is a conniving, scheming, murderess, man-snatching bitch who likes to slap her rivals around. Imperious too. She is the perfect foil for the goodness of Nikiya. A limp Gamzatti would destroy the dramatic tension of the whole ballet! Besides, what actress worth her salt wouldn't rather play a bitch than the good girl? Well..ok...maybe some, but I know I'd rather play a bad girl any day!

**IceAlisa** · 05-30-2011, 09:27 PM

So I've been in an Osipova state of mind (I adore her) and thought that the Esmeralda variation and even some moves would make a great short program for Mirai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV0jT...eature=related

(how awesome is this Esmeralda? Even with the telegraphed and a bit wonky turns). The end pose SO reminds me of Sasha Cohen.

**beepbeep** · 05-30-2011, 11:04 PM

^I think I've seen it about some 30 times already

I love it too.
Given it's a triple pirouette, and she was 17, I can overlook it ('cause I'm a specialist

)

Here's Maria Kochetkova's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGcyI...eature=related . Solid! (I still prefer, Osipova's though)

And the title of best Esmeralda variation ever goes to...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdiQvyWQo2o

**IceAlisa** · 05-30-2011, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by beepbeep

And the title of best Esmeralda variation ever goes to...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdiQvyWQo2o

OMG, this is too cute for words! Excellent handling of the tambourine! Adorable.

**Holley Calmes** · 05-30-2011, 11:57 PM

My Zach is 3...he needs to see this! Of course, all Zach cares about is "going fast..."

Seriously, the child has music and tempo bred in the bone, plus a healthy desire for adulation. I'll give him that, precious thing.

**IceAlisa** · 05-30-2011, 11:59 PM

Little Alexei's sense of tempo and timing is better than that of some pros out there...

**Mozart** · 05-31-2011, 12:46 AM

This timine with the tambourine is excellent. So many of the pros are off with the tambourine!

**Mozart** · 05-31-2011, 02:48 AM

Alexei is better than this girl...ouch... her teacher is insane to even let her own pointe shoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W87Z...eature=related

**IceAlisa** · 05-31-2011, 03:03 AM

Well, these days ballet is all about being inclusive. Technique and body types are too elitist. We are all dancers now.

**emason** · 05-31-2011, 04:22 AM

The Giselle-a-Thon continues: Jealous of everyone who's been to see it in the last week, I went to tonight and saw Paloma Herrera and Roberto Bolle. It gets a serviceable B+ - some really good moments and some really bad ones. I'll post my no teknik report tomorrow after I've had some sleep.

**Holley Calmes** · 05-31-2011, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by emason

The Giselle-a-Thon continues: Jealous of everyone who's been to see it in the last week, I went to tonight and saw Paloma Herrera and Roberto Bolle. It gets a serviceable B+ - some really good moments and some really bad ones. I'll post my no teknik report tomorrow after I've had some sleep.

Can't wait!

IceAlisa-your latest comment. Truly. Dead on.

**Holley Calmes** · 05-31-2011, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Mozart

Alexei is better than this girl...ouch... her teacher is insane to even let her own pointe shoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W87Z...eature=related

That breaks my heart. That poor child.

**emason** · 05-31-2011, 04:27 AM

Originally Posted by Holley Calmes

That breaks my heart. That poor child.

That was pretty sad. Where are this child's parents?

**Holley Calmes** · 05-31-2011, 01:17 PM

It's really not a surprise. There are so many "Dolly Dinkle" schools out there.

I'll never forget the time this 16 year old girl came to take a class where my daughter took-a professional company's 10 a.m. morning technique class. The girl was all full of herself and said she had been dancing since she was 3. She came from some school in Atlanta I'd never heard of.

What tipped me off (I worked for the company-I was there) was that she insisted on taking class in her pointe shoes. The instructor-a former classmate of Baryshnikov's at the Kirov-questioned this, but she insisted.

The poor child did not even know basic terminology! She never made it halfway through barre. She fled, crying.

I know that little one had taken years of dance-her parents had paid thousand of dollars-for what? Very bad instruction. But my heart ached for her-her dream was shattered, and she had been humiliated. The little one in this video is being humiliated too, probably without even being aware. It's criminal.

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