Swan Lake Samba Girl - Latest Comments in AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

Re: AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

SwanLakeSambaGirl — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:26:44 -0000

Thank you Julia -- I knew they'd be fantastic together! I love both of them and am so sorry I had to miss them. I love Simkin :)

Re: AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

Julia — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:57:04 -0000

I've had the great chance to see Daniil Simkin and irina Dvorovenko in the Prodigal Son-they were both absolutely OUT of this world wonderful, I'm glad Mr. Simkin has replaced for the night Mr. Cornejo. For me, after PS the rest of the show - desir, Dnieper went totally downhill, but that's just me, and my European formation perhaps...

Re: AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

SwanLakeSambaGirl — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:22:13 -0000

Yes, I agree with both of you -- I do think the story is complicated and in order to show the full character development it needs to be much longer. I thought Diana Vishneva did the best job trying to create a dynamic character, having her undergo a real change from flighty silly girl to adult woman who learns to take responsibility for her actions and empathize with another's heartbreak. But I still think the ballet needed more time to tell its full story and create more rounded characters. It did feel very rushed and cramped.

I will definitely look forward to seeing Hee Seo in Romeo and Juliet too!

I haven't seen Philadanco -- will look into it! Thanks Marie!

Re: AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

Marie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:59:24 -0000

Just read Apollinaire's thoughts on Dnieper; I fully agreed with the following (and actually had tried to say the same thing).

"Finally, On the Dnieper (I know, you've been waiting): I thought Ratmansky did the best he could--which at times was a great deal--with a story that was too emotionally complex for a short ballet (it's 40 minutes) and with music--winsome, striking music-- that seemed to work against the story it was supposed to tell."

The story needed as much time as, say, Giselle, to be told and for the characters to be developed, but he did the best he could. It felt hurried and cluttered to me, but I understand why the other characters were there. It just felt cramped. And, of course, who could miss the meaning behind the two lovers going off to a life where they wouldn't have parents and friends watching over them all the time? Ratamansky isn't the first Russian to come here to dance, but home must feel far away, and that must be freeing to some degree. Can't wait to see what he does next season.

As for Desir--I really wish you had both seen Hee Seo and Marcelo Gomes. They really exceeded the ambitious choreography. I am so curious to see her Juliet in July.

And don't forget Philadanco at the Joyce!

Re: AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

SwanLakeSambaGirl — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:20:43 -0000

Hi Marie -- thank you for commenting! I love long comments! It's interesting how you found the number of people onstage distracting. I had some of the same thoughts and then I read Apollinaire ("Foot in Mouth" blogger who I linked to in the post) and she mentioned that, surmising that all the family members / friends, etc. were there to show how in Soviet society, one's individuality was so curtailed. Your actions are never fully your own and you often have to succumb to the larger group in terms of meeting your individual needs. It was so odd how people kept poking their heads over fences, the boy and the girl's parents were so involved in everything -- the stage was really crowded. You should read Apollinaire's blog too, by the way -- she's very astute and is critic for the Financial Times, among other places -- and I think you'd like her.

I didn't notice the green suit blending in, but then I had Marcelo as the lead (on the first night at least) and that may be because he's such a large man, he never blends in :) I love Marcelo -- overall my favorite dancer! I can only imagine how he and Hee Seo must have danced together in that 4th movement in Desir! I bet they totally made that ballet! I had Cory Stearns and Isabella Boylston in that role the first night and they're a younger, more up and coming pair of dancers - but they did beautifully with that part. Marcelo is a big guy and he can really lift the women high -- it is always so beautiful to watch his partnering.

And I loved Hee Seo when I saw her -- I didn't see her in Desir but she was Natalia in the second Dnieper cast I saw. Veronika Part is one of my favorite dancers in the company and she was in my first cast and I never thought another dancer would add up to her (in my mind!) but Hee Seo really blew me away; I ended up liking her just as much. They have different bodies and so looked differently in the role, but both danced that role with such passion and such intensity -- they were equally brilliant. I think she is still a corps member -- I'll have to check -- but she is definitely one to watch for the future!

I think casts do make a big difference. I think all of the dancers at ABT are technically excellent but they have different dramatic and expressive abilities, and sometimes, with certain choreography, different bodies just give the work a different look. I know with Marcelo, practically anything he's in is going to be enjoyable to me. He is very dramatic, quite the actor, and his size just seems to give everything an added dimension. And, as I said, he excels on the partnering.

You should definitely see more by Ratmansky. New York City Ballet usually performs his Concerto DSCH, which is very good, and very different from Dnieper. They're getting ready to end their season, but I'm sure they'll be performing it when they start up again in the winter. And, Ratmansky's the new resident choreographer at ABT, so I'm sure he'll have at least one new piece in their fall season at City Center.

Thank you for the very thoughtful comment, Marie!

Re: AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S PROKOFIEV PROGRAM

Marie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:21:24 -0000

I loved Kristi as the Siren, too. For me, that made the ballet worthwhile, and, yes, I liked Angel as the Son.

I have mixed feelings about Dnieper. It could be that I didn't see the best cast. I don't want to take up too much space with my ramblings--I don't really know how to write about dance--but I found the piece a strange hybrid. There were so many people on stage, and yet the piece was quite short. I was contrasting Dnieper in my head with something like Limon's "Moor," which shows incredibly dramatic tension with only 4 people. I felt like all the extra parts and dancers in Dnieper diluted the emotion for me. I don't feel this way with something like Giselle, where there is enough time to "absorb" a large cast. Also, the set crowded the stage for me and made it smaller somehow. I felt claustrophobic.

I was also really irritated with Alistair McCauly's criticisms of the staging. I generally don't worry about the staging. But to be honest, I had difficulty "seeing" the dancers because of the colors. The lead's green uniform blended into the floor too easily, so his moves didn't stand out. I love cherry petals, but again, something about the colors made it hard for the movement to pop out. I can't believe I'm complaining about something like this, but it bothered me.

I liked the choreography, but left Dnieper feeling like I wanted to see something else by the choreographer, and not necessarily the same piece again.

Oddly, though, I LOVED Desir. I loved Gillian Murphy, but it was Hee Seo, who danced in the 4th movement, who really impressed me. She danced with Marcelo Gomes and both were absolutely fearless, and just so emotional--the way he held on to her foot. Beautiful pairing,

Finally, it does occur to me just how much the dancers can affect a performance. What if I had seen your casts of Dnieper and Desir? I might feel differently about both pieces.