Tours en l'air organizes ballet-themed escorted holidays to see the best companies perform great ballets in beautiful places. You can join a trip from anywhere. A highly knowledgeable balletomane who has enjoyed 100s of performances in over 20 cities around the world,I speak English, French, and German, and am a Travel Industry Council of Ontario certified Travel Counsellor. I also teach ballet appreciation courses.
For a taste of what our trips are like, follow https://www.facebook.com/toursenlair/ on facebook.
Tours en l'air Ballet Holidays are offered in partnership with CWT Victor Travel, 101 - 8800 Dufferin Street, Concord, ON L4K 0C5, 416-736-6010, TICO # 1892647

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Joffrey movie screenings in Canada


Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance tells the story of this groundbreaking cultural treasure, known as the first truly American dance company. Narrated by Tony® and Emmy® Award winner Mandy Patinkin and directed by Bob Hercules (Bill T. Jones-A Good Man), the film documents how The Joffrey Ballet revolutionized American ballet by daringly combining modern dance with traditional ballet technique, combining art with social statement and setting ballets to pop and rock music scores.

October 5-8, 2012
Bytowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON Canada

-July 20-26, 2012
Landmark Globe Cinema, Calgary, AB Canada
-July 25-26, 2012
Cinecenta-University of Victoria, Victoria BC Canada
-July 27-August 2, 2012
Landmark Globe Cinema, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

July 27-31st 2012
Bloor Hotdocs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON Canada
Co-founded in 1956 by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey and dancer Gerald Arpino, who would become their principal choreographer, The Joffrey Ballet began as a DIY dance company of six dancers touring the United States in a borrowed station wagon. What started as a childhood dream quickly grew into one of the world’s most exciting and prominent ballet companies. Together, Joffrey and Arpino transformed the face of dance with bold new perspectives for edgy ballets that challenged conventions. Aggressive touring took the Company from school auditoriums across America’s Heartland, to the White House at Jacqueline Kennedy’s invitation, and on to Russia for a month-long tour during the height of the Cold War, and beyond.  They also garnered extensive media attention for their daring originality, which included appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, the cover of Time magazine, and in major motion pictures such as Save the Last Dance and Robert Altman’s The Company (which is based on the Joffrey).
Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance weaves a wealth of rare archival footage and photographs along with interviews featuring former and current Joffrey star dancers, showing the full history of the Company from its founding to the present. It describes how the Joffrey repeatedly resurrected itself after devastating financial and artistic setbacks and introduced cutting-edge choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Laura Dean and Margo Sappington to larger audiences.
The film features rare excerpts from many seminal Joffrey works including Astarte, Trinity and Billboards, as well as breakthrough collaborations with choreographers Twyla Tharp (Deuce Coupe), Kurt Jooss (The Green Table) and Leonide Massine (Parade).
Featuring: Kevin McKenzie, Helgi Tomasson, Lar Lubovitch, Ashley C. Wheater, Gary Chryst, Trinette Singleton, Anna Kisselgoff, Adam Sklute, Christian Holder, Dermot Burke, Paul Sutherland, Francoise Martinet, Brunilda Ruiz, Jonathan Watts, Diane Consoer, Sasha Anawalt, Fabrice Calmels, and Hedy Weiss.



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Win tickets to POB Giselle in New York

The Huffington Post is running  a contest to win two tickets to Paris Opera Ballet's Giselle at Lincoln Center on July 17. Deadline July 10. For details click here.

Paris Opera Ballet Giselle reviews

More reviews will be posted as they appear.
If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

Chicago:
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times:
"exquisitely uniform corps de ballet, ...in many ways are the true stars of this company. 
Ciaravola’s delicacy, lightness, quickness and musicality, along with the sublime beauty of her second act adagio, and Ganio’s remarkably fleet footwork and light-as-air jumps, consistently brought to mind those old prints of 19th century dancers poised between earth and air."
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/13427230-421/gorgeous-fluid-paris-opera-ballet-triumphs-with-giselle.html

Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/theaterloop/ct-ent-0628-paris-opera-ballet-giselle-20120628,0,6490652.story 
This one, staged by Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov in 1991, performed by clearly one of the best ballet troupes on the planet, is Dom Perignon, its subtle superiorities sublime. And they build magnificently: the fine Act I doesn't quite prep you for the spellbinding Act II, a singular, unforgettable rendering of the great classic this very same troupe invented.

Matthew de la Pena, time out Chicago:

http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/dance/15472401/paris-opera-ballet-dance-review

Lori Dana, Chicago Stage Review
http://www.chicagostagereview.com/?p=25752 

For Washington reviews, please click here: http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2012/07/paris-opera-ballet-giselle-reviews.html

More reviews will be posted as they appear.
If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ABT Swan Lake reviews


Steve Ha, Youdancefunny: (Murphy, Gomes

http://youdancefunny.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/my-first-swan-lake-2/

Leigh Witchel's facebook page  (accessible even if you don't have a facebook account)

https://www.facebook.com/danceleighwitchel/posts/435911053106877

Review - American Ballet Theatre, Swan Lake (and Angel Corella’s farewell):

Gia Kourlas, New York Times
Mary Cargill, danceviewtimes
Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Globe
Tobi Tobias, Arts Journal

Marina Harss, dancetabs (Corella/Herrera, Simkin/Boylston)
http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/07/american-ballet-theatre-swan-lake-angel-corella-farewell-new-york/

Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times: (Corella) "The Spanish dancer’s final dance for ABT demonstrated both technical brilliance and nuanced interpretation"

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/83c1fe78-c4f5-11e1-b8fd-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zbQsdTE3 

Andrew Blockmore-Dobbyn, Huffington Post (Boylston)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-blackmore-Dobbyn/american-ballet-theatre-swan-lake-_b_1643712.html
More reviews will be posted as they appear.
If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here

 

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Bolshoi Raymonda on YouTube

For those of you who missed this in the theatres, the whole ballet is available on the Bolshoi's YouTube channel.UPDATE: This video was taken down from YouTube after 24 hours.

Ballet broadcasts in Canada 2012-13

Cineplex is offering a season including not just the Bolshoi but also the Royal Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. Here is the schedule:

Tickets on sale now!
  • Dance Series

    Bolshoi Ballet

    La Sylphide (Bournonville)

    September 30, 2012

     


    Dance Series

    The Royal Ballet

    La Fille Mal Gardée

    October 14, 2012

     


  • Dance Series

    Bolshoi Ballet

    The Pharaoh's Daughter

    November 25th, 2012


  • Dance Series

    The Royal Ballet

    The Nutcracker

    December 13, 2012

    December 22, 2012


  • Dance Series

    Bolshoi Ballet

    La Bayadère

    January 27, 2013


  • Dance Series

    Nederlands Dans Theatre

    Move to Move

    February 17, 2013

    The worldwide admired ballet Silent Screen from resident choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot and a world premiere by their hand: Shine a Light. Ohad Naharin is back at the Nederlands Dans theatre with the Dutch premiere of his ballet Secus.
  • Dance Series

    The Royal Ballet

    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Christopher Wheeldon)

    March 28, 2013

    April 21, 2013


  • Dance Series

    Bolshoi Ballet

    Rite of Spring

    March 31, 2013

    This new choreographic version by Wayne McGregor brings new energy to the themes of the Russian Spring, the Adoration of the Earth, and of course the provocative Sacrifice of the Virgin. 

    Esmeralda Encore Presentation - Bolshoi Ballet - FRCE Dance 
    Important note: The Bolshoi has postponed this production of Rite of Spring. In its place Cineplex will be re-broadcasting the Bolshoi's Esmeralda  from last year.
  • Dance Series

    Bolshoi Ballet

    Romeo and Juliet

    May 12, 2013


If you would like a "ballet buddy" to attend these broadcasts with in Toronto, please get in touch: toursenlair@gmail.com 


If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Bolshoi Live Broadcasts 2012-13

Pathe Live, the producer of the Bolshoi Live Broadcasts, has announced the 2012-13 season. In Canada, Cineplex theatres will be showing some of these, combined with Royal Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. For Canadian broadcast schedule, click here.

NEW BOLSHOI BALLET SEASON SCHEDULE
2012 September, Sunday 30th : LA SYLPHIDE (Live)
                                                                                            

2012 October, Sunday 21st :   SWAN LAKE (Recorded)
2012 November, Sunday 25thTHE PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER (Live)
2012 December, Sunday 16th : NUTCRACKER (Recorded)
2013 January, Sunday 27th : LA BAYADERE (Live)
2013 February, Sunday 10th : DON QUIXOTE (Recorded)
2013 March, Sunday 31st :  THE RITE OF SPRING (Live)
2013 May, Sunday 12th : ROMEO AND JULIET (Live)

If you would like a "ballet buddy" to attend these broadcasts wtih in Toronto, please get in touch: toursenlair@gmail.com 



If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Friday, June 22, 2012

ABT Firebird, Dream reviews


Alastair Macaulay, New York Times:
" Herman Cornejo’s Puck is the most definitive performance of any role to be seen anywhere in ballet today, but no superlative will suffice...the dancing of the 16 female fairies, with much of Ashton’s most intricate choreographic detail, is among Ballet Theater’s finest achievements."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/arts/dance/american-ballet-theaters-dream-and-firebird.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share

Steve Ha
http://youdancefunny.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/face-your-fear/ 

Marina Harss, thefastertimes.com
" Titania is one of Murphy’s best roles–the petulant way she kicks the air when she argues with Oberon is priceless...But Reyes, too, showed fiery temperament and cunning femininity. Stearns and Hallberg are both excellent Oberons; Hallberg deals more cleanly with Ashton’s fussy footwork, but Stearns has an intimidating quality that works well in the role.Herman Cornejo’s Puck simply defies description."

http://www.thefastertimes.com/dance/2012/06/23/snapshot-%E2%80%9Cthe-dream%E2%80%9D-at-american-ballet-theatre/

Leigh Witchel's facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/danceleighwitchel

Steve Ha, youdancefunny

http://youdancefunny.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/reviewing-ratmanskys-firebird/

Cast change for Bolshoi Raymonda broadcast

Raymonda will now be danced by Maria Alexandrova rather than Svetlana Zakharova. Full casting here.

Ballet in Europe - Master Performance Calendar 2012-13

I have just posted my master performance calendar for major European companies for the 2012-13 season.
Most major ballet companies and venues are listed Baden-Baden Festspielhaus, Ballet de l'Opera de Lyon, Ballet du Theatre du Capitole Toulouse, Ballet of La Scala, Milan (till end Nov. 2012), Ballet of the National Theatre Prague, Bavarian State Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Bordeaux Opera Ballet, Dresden Semperoper Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet (through January 2013), Finnish National Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, National Ballet of Estonia, Nederlands Dans Theater, Northern Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Prague State Opera Ballet, Rome Opera Ballet (till end Nov. 2012), Royal Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Vienna State Ballet (Staatsoper and Volksoper)
Please click here for details.
North American master performance calendar coming soon!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Anna Pavlova's Dying Swan tutu

The Museum of London has a very interesting online "Dress for Dance" collection, including many Pavlova artifacts, most famous being her Dying Swan tutu:

Anna Pavolva's #ballet costume for The Swan heads our ne... on Twitpic

Visit the collection by clicking here.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Great Forsythe Rehearsal footage

Dutch National Ballet rehearses William Forsythe's steptext and the second detail as well as Balanchine's Symphony in Three Movements

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Tutu Project events at the Design Exchange

In conjunction with the National Ballet of Canada's 60th anniversary Tutu Project, in which 60 designers unleashed their creativity on plain tutus, the Design Exchange in Toronto, which will host the exhibition of tutus and a major exhibition about design for ballet from July 11 to September 2nd, is having 2 special events:

Designing the Ballet: Panel Discussion
July 18, 2012
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Internationally renowned dance historian and critic, Michael Crabb, will moderate an informative panel discussion offering an intimate look into the design of the ballet from wardrobe to choreography to set design.
Cost:
$10 / Free for DX Members

Register here: http://guestlistapp.com/events/100641

Talking Tutus with Caroline O’Brien
July 24, 2012
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Curator and costume designer Caroline O'brien presents on the iconic tutu from a historical and contemporary perspective. Following the talk, Caroline will invite guests “back stage” for an in depth tour of the 60 Years of Designing the Ballet Exhibition.
Cost:
$10 / Free for DX Members
Register here

The Design Exchange is at 234 Bay Street in downtown Toronto.
Hours: Monday 10-5
Tuesday 10-8
Wednesday 10-5
Thursday 10-5
Friday 10-5
Saturday and Sunday 12-5

Tuesday evenings between 5 and 8 are pay what you can admission
Free tours on the last Friday of every month at 1 pm.




60 Years of Designing the Ballet
July 11 – September 2

Exhibition Hall – Paid Admission

This exhibition offers an intimate look at the design of one of Canada’s most celebrated treasures – the National Ballet of Canada. The exhibition is organized thematically – highlighting the various ways in which the ballet as an institution is designed through hundreds of items from the ballet’s archive. The exhibition provides a private invitation into the world of one particular company. Unique to this exhibition is that the players themselves – the designers, dancers, creative directors, amongst others – are invited to comment on the process of designing costumes, dance, lighting, sets and so on. This back stage pass offers viewers a rare opportunity to engage with the theatricality, innovation, glamour and beauty that is the National Ballet of Canada.


DX 2012 SUPPORTING EXHIBITION

The Tutu Project
July 11 – September 2

Lobby – Pay What You Can

The tutu is the ballet's most universally recognized symbol and to celebrate the National Ballet's 60th anniversary, 60 tutus will be displayed during the 2011/2012 season. The Tutu Project is generously sponsored by the Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada.


If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

National Ballet of Canada Gala Rep & Casting


Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto


BALLET CHOREOGRAPHER MUSIC CAST
Amarant Matjash Mrozewski Scanner Xiao Nan Yu
Jiri Jelinek
Polar Night* Robert Binet Elgar Cello Concerto 1st Movement Heather Ogden
Guillaume Cote
Silence screams venom* Guillaume Cote Ravel Bolero Greta Hodgkinson,
Keiichi Hirano,
Etienne Lavigne,
Patrick Lavoie, Christopher Stalzer
Herman Schmerman
Pas de deux
William Forsythe Thom Willems Aleksandar Antonijevic
Sonia Rodriguez
Diamonds excerpt George Balanchine Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 3
Heather Ogden
Guillaume Cote
* = world premiere

If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Saturday, June 16, 2012

ABT Romeo and Juliet reviews

Brian Seibert, New York Times:
"Cornejo’s performance in American Ballet Theater’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Metropolitan Opera House on Thursday should leave little doubt about his fitness for this one."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/arts/dance/romeo-and-juliet-at-american-ballet-theater.html?_r=1

Alastair Macaulay, New York Times
 "Even without its stars, Ballet Theater’s way with the MacMillan production is the equal of the Royal Ballet’s for which MacMillan created it. The stars of 2012 made Ballet Theater’s “Romeo” the envy of the ballet world."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/arts/dance/ballet-theaters-romeo-and-juliet-at-metropolitan-opera.html?smid=fb-share 

Tweets from Hallberg Osipova performance June 18th:


Ballet joy 2nite : , & sharing the stage=an amazing 1st act. What ballet should be always.


A standing ovation for and Natalia Osipova at the 1st intermission! magic!!

Oh. My. God. Balcony scene so incredibly stunning, and applause so prolonged & deafening, Hallberg & Osipova just took a curtain call. WOW.

You know you're a superstar when...you get a first intermission standing ovation. Bravo & .
First intermission of r&j with hallberg osipova--already curtain calls, roaring cheers, tears onstage....


....and Herman Cornejo is an unbelievable Mercutio: dashing, fiery, and absurdly musical



WOW! This is a GREAT R&J. Audience kept applauding after lights went up at 1st intermission so Osipova & Hallberg out for curtain call

I've seriously never heard intermission applause like it. It took a while before they came out. Incredible.

I agree 100%! Those two are out of this world! Not everyday the audience gives up intermission for a curtain call!!

Oh my god, I can't even explain it. Transcendent.


Agreed, 100%. RT : THIS RT This was THE BEST R&J I've seen in many years (since Ferri & Bocca retired). One for the ages.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Mikhailovsky Ballet Swan Lake Vancouver reviews

Kevin Griffin, Vancouver Sun

"The role of Prince Siegfried is danced by the tall and regal Leonid Sarafanov... On his jumps, he landed soundlessly as if his legs were shock absorbers. In addition to dancing, his role requires acting... Sarafanov carries it off with great skill, and conveys complex and genuine emotions, especially remorse and distress.


http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Russian+dancers+bring+passion+Swan+Lake/6787328/story.html


Janet Smith, straight.com

http://www.straight.com/article-712016/vancouver/mikhailovskys-swan-lake-polished-not-coldly-perfect

Alicia Novak, Plank magazine

http://www.plankmagazine.com/review/love-conquers-all

photos of rehearsal here: http://tdfoto.ca/fr_home.cfm

If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Australian Ballet in New York reviews

Alastair Macaulay, New York Times: mixed program:
" A solo for Daniel Gaudiello, with his limbs pulling him open in opposite directions, and his legs and feet pulsating, is the single finest dance I have seen by Mr. McGregor; it makes Mr. Gaudiello both fascinating and appealing... Most of his dances look like a brew of gimmickry and stunts, and the idea of humanity that emerges from his work inclines toward the freakish. New York has recently experienced at least two other dances done to Mr. Reich’s “Double Sextet”; Mr. McGregor’s revealed the architecture of the music far less than the pieces by Larry Keigwin and Peter Quanz"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/arts/dance/australian-ballet-at-the-koch-theater.html

Swan Lake (Graeme Murphy)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/arts/dance/swan-lake-by-australian-ballet-at-koch-theater.html?_r=1

Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times:

"The Australians’ placid performance often struggled to compete with the rough energy that New York emanates"

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/fb9d9a2a-b540-11e1-ad93-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%252Frss%252Flife-arts_theatre-dance%252Ffeed%252F%252Fproduct#axzz1xg4A3lHh 

Margaret Fuhrer, Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-fuhrer/the-australian-ballets-in_b_1604090.html 

Vanity Fair

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/06/australian-ballet-50th-anniversary-david-koch-theater#slide=1

Marina Harss, dancetabs.com
"The good news is that the dancers are excellent: athletic, superbly trained, with lovely lines and crisp footwork, and an unmannered, open style. The bad news is that, for the most part, the repertory – at least what we saw here – was not on the same level."

http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/06/australian-ballet-infinity-mixed-bill-swan-lake-new-york/


Wendy Perron, Dance magazine:
"Graeme Murphy’s choreography, step for step, lift for lift, is complex and daring. He uses more modern-dance type back curves than most ballet choreographers. His organic patterns for the swans (in Odette's dream and later) really show them as a flock."

http://www.dancemagazine.com/blogs/dance-glance/4465

Robert Gottlieb, New York Observer

http://observer.com/2012/06/what-makes-the-firebird-sing-at-abt-alexei-ratmanskys-action-packed-version-has-energetic-bird-engaging-maiden/  


Video trailer of the program here:


more about the ballets here:
http://www.australianballet.com.au/newyork2012

cool photos of Australian Ballet dancers in famous NY locations (on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150952820966132.439188.64013826131&type=3

and slideshow of dancers in rehearsal:
http://www.behindballet.com/new-york-tour-2012-the-rehearsals/

and the insider's view: Australian Ballet ballerina Juliet Burnett blogs about the tour to NY:

http://www.behindballet.com/a-ballerina-in-manhattan/

If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Elite, Chroma, Wayfarer at National Ballet of Canada reviews

Michael Crabb, Toronto Star:

"The triple bill that opened Wednesday, all revivals of popular works from the repertoire, has something for everyone — veteran fans who enjoy a walk down memory lane and younger fans who really like their dance well spiced. The program spans different eras, evokes varied emotions and offers a clear sense of how ballet has evolved during the past 30 years or more."


http://www.toronto.com/article/732637--review-national-ballet-s-triple-bill-ends-season-on-exhilarating-note

Paula Citron, Globe and Mail
 "The young man in blue (Zdenek Konvalina), with his obvious pain, is manipulated by his destiny, the man in red (Guillaume Côté). Konvalina captures the fragility beautifully, while Côté has never looked more commanding. The chemistry between the men is palpable. Their performances are magnificent...
Dylan Tedaldi and Brendan Saye continue to impress.
And one to watch is newcomer Adji Cissoko. She’s a knockout"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/at-the-national-ballet-making-the-invisible-visible/article4267601/


Gary Smith, Hamilton Spectator
 "Sonia Rodriguez and Aleksandar Antonijevic, dancers of a certain age, eat up space to sear images on your brain. With 43 years of dance between them, they prove they aren’t getting older, just better. Hot as smokin’ pistols, their physical perfection melts into globs of passion as they fire the heat at the core of this work.
They’re not alone. Greta Hodgkinson, Robert Stephen and Brendan Saye stand out as well in a tight, combustible unit that gives [Chroma] edge."
http://www.thespec.com/whatson/article/743205--drama-defines-this-triple-bill


If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Nureyev exhibition in San Francisco

Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance


October 6, 2012 - February 17, 2013
This special exhibition is dedicated to the life and work of the legendary dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev (1938–1993). It will showcase more than 80 costumes and 50 photographs from the dancer’s personal collection, entrusted to the Centre national du costume de scène by the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, and will incorporate key loans from active ballet companies.
The Soviet-born Nureyev was a rising star in his native country before he defected to France in 1963. He was soon recognized worldwide as the most magnificent and charismatic dancer of his time. Incredibly driven, he traveled the world to work with leading figures in the dance world in order to absorb their techniques and to promote Soviet dance. Nureyev loved sumptuous shows and was particular about his costumes, often imposing changes and improvements. The costumes on view expose the wear and tear of daily use, bearing witness to the lives and bodies of Nureyev and his partners Margot Fonteyn, Noella Pontois and so many others.

For more info:  de Young Museum, San Francisco: http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/rudolf-nureyev-life-dance


Panel Discussion: "The Life and Work of Rudolf Nureyev"
Sat, Oct 6; 10am  
de Young’s Koret Auditorium
Leaders of SF Ballet, including Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson and other special guests will discuss their memories of Nureyev and the artist’s lasting impact on the dance world. Check out the event page on the de Young website for a full list of panelists and special guests.

Capacity for the panel discussion is extremely limited, so don’t delay, buy tickets today! Friends of SF Ballet can receive $10 off admission to the panel by using code NureyevSFB when purchasing tickets online, in person, or by phone.

PLEASE NOTE: Sat, Oct 6 is the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. Please allow time for parking, or use public transportation.

For more information and a full list of events around this exciting collaboration, visit the de Young website.

 

ABT Firebird Apollo reviews

If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR


Alastair Macaulay, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/arts/dance/ratmanskys-firebird-for-american-ballet-theater.html?_r=1&src=dayp

Apollinaire Scherr, Financial Times
"The genius of Alexei Ratmansky – American Ballet Theatre’s artist in residence, former Bolshoi director – is to turn the lack of dramatic imperative to his advantage. The pathos and delight of his Firebird lies in the fact that this Ivan and Maiden are not destined to fall in love; they decide to.... In a Firebird full of things to love, this refusal to take the steps for granted may be the most endearing of all.
5 stars
 
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/5699d128-b3b1-11e1-a3db-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1xg4A3lHh

Apollinaire Scherr,artsjournal.com : Isabella Boylston as Firebird, Alexandre Hammoudi as Ivan, Kristi Boone as Maiden, Cory Stearns as Kaschei; and Natalia Osipova for, alas, an injured Misty Copeland as Firebird, Herman Cornejo as Ivan, Maria Riccetto as Maiden, Roman Zhurbin as Kaschei.

http://www.artsjournal.com/foot/2012/06/ratmansky_redux_firebird_again.html

Mary Cargill, danceviewtimes.com:

http://www.danceviewtimes.com/2012/06/out-of-steppe.html

Joan Acocella, The New Yorker
"Ratmansky’s choreography is so much like him—detailed, complicated, nuanced, witty—that a blind man would have known that this was him. The erotic charge of Ivan’s duet with the Firebird is surprising."

 

Leigh Witchel, New York Post

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/russian_tale_set_ablaze_3gTdmsEOVSr51Pe25zoaOP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Entertainment 

Marina Harss, dancetabs.com:

http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/06/american-ballet-theatre-firebird-thirteen-diversions-apollo-new-york/

Deborah Jowitt, artsjournal.com

"Despite issues to do with narrative coherence and theatrical timing, this Firebird is handsome to look at and full of arresting images and clever conceits...The Apollo at the performance I saw was Maxim Beloserkovsky. A dancer who doesn’t often get the attention he deserves, he received enthusiastic applause on June 13...The program opened with Christopher Wheeldon’s wonderful 2011 Thirteen Diversions, set to Benjamin Britten’s “Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra,” Op. 21—a stunning work. I admire everything about the ballet."

http://www.artsjournal.com/dancebeat/2012/06/flaming-magic-and-goofy-girls/ 

Tobi Tobias, artsjournal.com
"I can’t imagine what Alexei Ratmansky was thinking of in creating his New Look Firebird.  ..it‘s dressed for Las Vegas by Galina Solovyeva, with complementary décor (including a sci-fi forest with hints of porn) by Simon Pastukh.  It wrests the fairy-tale narrative that Michel Fokine created for his 1910 LOiseau de Feu (in which good, abetted by generosity, duly conquers evil and is rewarded with love) into a tale that is sardonic at best, sleazy at worst...there’s almost no distinctive dancing in the piece but this, given the circumstances Ratmansky set up or succumbed to, was inevitable.

http://www.artsjournal.com/tobias/2012/06/five-alarm-firebird.html

Susan Yung, ephemeralist.com
 "Misty Copeland in the title role with Herman Cornejo as Ivan. ..both dancers possess an internal complexity and the pyrotechnique to add some welcome sparks. But surprisingly, or maybe not, the choreography for these lead roles hewed to a romantic, heroic, conventional route. A bit of a shame as it is another major role for Copeland, whose star is on the rise."

http://www.ephemeralist.com/2012/06/ratmanskys-new-firebird-for-abt.html 

Apollinaire Scherr, artsjournal.com:
http://www.artsjournal.com/foot/2012/06/the_flap_about_firebird.html

Robert Gottlieb, New York Observer

http://observer.com/2012/06/what-makes-the-firebird-sing-at-abt-alexei-ratmanskys-action-packed-version-has-energetic-bird-engaging-maiden/ 


Robert Greskovic, Wall Street Journal

"Wonderfully aided by strikingly vivid scenic designs by Simon Pastukh and costumes by Galina Solovyeva, all further enhanced by Wendall Harrington's projections, ABT's 2012 "Firebird" is closer to a Tim Burton movie than to a Ballets Russes panoramic pageant....Unforgiving traditionalists will no doubt be left reeling by Mr. Ratmansky's bold changes; newcomers, with no such preconceptions, just might take this "Firebird" for what it is: a freshly told fantastical tale."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303703004577474583884677546.html 



Monday, June 11, 2012

Ebe, MacDonald, Stalzer promoted at National Ballet of Canada

Promotions for the 2012/13 season announced! Rebekah Rimsay promoted to Principal Character Artist, Naoya Ebe promoted to First Soloist and Alexandra MacDonald and Christopher Stalzer promoted to Second Soloist

Paris Opera Ballet Mixed Program casting Harris Theater Chicago


If you love ballet, check out my season of outstanding ballet trips in 2012-13 by clicking here.

GET MORE BALLET OUT OF LIFE WITH TOURS EN L'AIR



Suite en blanc


L'Arlesienne


Bolero
Fri. June 29 @730 pm
LA SIESTE Eve Grinsztajn, Marie-Solène Boulet, Sarah Kora Dayanova
THÈME VARIÉ Emilie Cozette, Karl Paquette, Stéphane Bullion
SÉRÉNADE Nolwen Daniel
PAS DE CINQ Alice Renavand and Cyril Mitilian,  Fabien Révillion, Daniel Stokes, Sébastien Bertaud
LA CIGARETTE Marie-Agnès Gillot
MAZURKA Mathieu Ganio
ADAGE Aurélie Dupont, Benjamin Pech
LA FLÛTE Dorothée Gilbert


Isabelle Ciaravola,
Jérémie Bélingard


Nicolas Le Riche
Sat. June 30 @ 2 pm
LA SIESTE Eve Grinsztajn, Aurélia Bellet, Laura Hecquet
THÈME VARIÉ Sabrina Mallem, Audric Bezard, Vincent Chaillet
SÉRÉNADE Amandine Albisson
PAS DE CINQ Alice Renavand and Cyril Mitilian,  Fabien Révillion, Daniel Stokes, Sébastien Bertaud
LA CIGARETTE Emilie Cozette
MAZURKA Mathieu Ganio
ADAGE Isabelle Ciaravola, Stéphane Bullion
LA FLÛTE Dorothée Gilbert


Nolwenn Daniel,
Benjamin Pech


Aurélie Dupont
Sat. June 30 @ 730 pm
LA SIESTE Eve Grinsztajn, Aurélia Bellet, Laura Hecquet
THÈME VARIÉ Emilie Cozette, Christophe Duquenne, Nicolas Paul
SÉRÉNADE Nolwen Daniel
PAS DE CINQ Alice Renavand and Cyril Mitilian,  Fabien Révillion, Daniel Stokes, Sébastien Bertaud
LA CIGARETTE Marie-Agnès Gillot
MAZURKA Karl Paquette
ADAGE Aurélie Dupont, Mathieu Ganio
LA FLÛTE Dorothée Gilbert




Amandine Albisson, Stephane Bullion


Nicolas Le Riche
Sun. July 1 @ 2 pm
LA SIESTE Eve Grinsztajn, Marie-Solène Boulet, Sarah Kora Dayanova
THÈME VARIÉ Sabrina Mallem, Audric Bezard, Vincent Chaillet
SÉRÉNADE Nolwenn Daniel
PAS DE CINQ Alice Renavand and Cyril Mitilian,  Fabien Révillion, Daniel Stokes, Sébastien Bertaud
LA CIGARETTE Emilie Cozette
MAZURKA Karl Paquette
ADAGE Aurélie Dupont, Benjamin Pech
LA FLÛTE Dorothée Gilbert




Isabelle Ciaravola,
Jérémie Bélingard


Marie-Agnès Gillot