Mary Cargill

"Cinderella"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
June 29, 2015

ABT's final week is devoted to Sir Frederick Ashton's "Cinderella", a glorious combination of lyricism, virtuosity and comedy, both high and low. Cory Stearns was the opening night Prince; he had been scheduled last year but was injured so this was his New York debut. Even though, like his cousin in "The Sleeping Beauty", he Prince doesn't arrive until Act II, he dominated the evening with his

"The Dream", "Song of the Earth"
The Royal Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, NY
June 24, 2015

by Mary Cargill 
copyright © 2015 by Mary Cargill

The Royal Ballet made a rare appearance in New York, opening their brief season with works by their two knights, Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan. They danced the same program in their 1976 visit, and since then "The Dream" has become familiar thanks to ABT's sparkling production, but the darker "Song

"The Sleeping Beauty"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
June 10, 2015, evening

At three plus hours, including two shortish intermissions, ABT's new "Sleeping Beauty" is long by today's standards, but in ballet heaven, it would be even longer, with the entr'acte music playing for a real panorama, more processions in the last act, and a grand transformation, à la the 1999 Mariinsky version, in the last act.  Three hours is too short

Lydia Johnson Dance
"Barretts Mill Road: A Remembrance", "What Counts", "Untitled Bach", "Giving Way"
The Ailey Citigroup Theater
New York, NY
June 11, 2015

by Mary Cargill 
copyright © 2015 by Mary Cargill

Finances being what they are, Lydia Johnson's small company danced to recorded music. Even so this ballet-based, contem- porary-inflected company is musically incisive and nuanced.  Johnson's tastes are eclectic and this performance had music ranging from Bach and Mozart to modern jazz. Her company wears

"The Sleeping Beauty"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
May 29, 2015

Petipa, the father of classical ballet, choreographed "The Sleeping Beauty" in 1890, and this stupendous work has had a restless history at ABT. It does seem that the fourth time is the charm, and the new Ratmansky/Petipa version revealed some astoundingly beautiful choreography.  It would probably take a ballet archeologist/time traveller to unravel all the choreographic layers, and though Ratmansky used the

“Giselle”
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
May 27, 2015, matinee

There were lots of lilies the Wednesday afternoon Paloma Herrera gave her farewell performance in "Giselle", both in the ballet and on the stage afterwards. There was a lot of toiling and spinning too, though by and large the toiling didn't show. Herrera was a gentle and youthful Giselle, looking and dancing as if she were about 22, supported generously and lovingly by Roberto Bolle. ABT's

“Giselle”
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
May 27, 2015, evening

Xiomara Reyes, like Paloma Herrera, bade farewell to ABT in a beautifully danced "Giselle". Reyes, with her Cuban training, has always been a moving and accomplished Giselle and needed to make no concession to time in her dancing; she looked strong and confident hopping through her first act solo.  But her Giselle was so much more than technique, fine though her dancing was.  She

"Bournonville Divertissements", "La Sylphide"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, NY
May 23, 2015, matinee

New York City Ballet hosted another "La Sylphide" debut as Lauren Lovette and Anthony Huxley danced the unfortunate couple on Saturday afternoon. Lovette is a dark-eyed beauty with an expressive face and a light, easy, airy jump and she used both to great effect.  Her opening bourrées, as she skimmed over the stage, were particularly effective. Her sylph was

"Bournonville Divertissements", "La Sylphide"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, NY
May 16, 2015 Evening

The New York City Ballet's continuing crash course in Bournonville included a number of debuts and last minute changes; the results were somewhat mixed as the fleet, effortless, skimming steps seemed to flummox some of the dancers.  Fortunately Taylor Stanley, leading the Ballabile in the opening of "Bournonville Divertissements," looked completely at home as the happy fisherman, dancing with a

"Les Sylphides", "Jardin aux Lilas", "Rodeo"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
May 13, 2015 matinee

ABT is showing off a number of its early productions in the first week of its spring season in honor of its 75th anniversary. Since the company is a comparatively recent convert to the full-length blockbuster approach to scheduling, the first week is made up of triple bills, always a hard sell to the Met's summer audience. These bills, however, are

"Bournonville Divertissements", "La Sylphide"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, NY
May 7, 2015

The New York City Ballet gala featured works by the 19th century Danish choreographer, August Bournonville, with a revival of the 1977 potpourri  "Bournonville Divertissements" concocted by Stanley Williams, and the first performance of Peter Martins' staging of the full-length "La Sylphide". The pieces included in the divertissements have varied slightly over the years, as the luminously youthful pas de deux

A Tribute to Nijinksy
"Les Sylphides", "L'après-midi d'un Faune", "Petrushka"
Sarasota Ballet
Sarasota Opera House
Sarasota, Florida
May 1, 2015 

The Sarasota Ballet's "Tribute to Nijinsky" program featured two works by Michel Fokine ("Les Sylphides" and "Petrushka") and one by the dancer ("L'après-midi d'un Faune"). These ballets are now over 100 years old, ancient history in the ballet world, but the Sarasota Ballet's scrupulously rehearsed performances were fresh. Live music, such a luxury in today's economy, certainly