Mary Cargill

Matters of the Heart
"Raymonda Variations", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "Robert Schumann's 'Davidsbundlertanze' "
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater
New York, NY
February 14, 2008

Pity the poor marketing person who thought this program was a celebration of love--the audience saw tragedy, insanity, indifference, abandonment, and death.  The opening ballet, "Raymonda Variations", however, was more like it, a Valentine by Balanchine to the luscious Gazounov music.  Ashley Bouder danced

"Apollo", "Flower Festival in Genzano", "Zakouski", "Cool", "Western Symphony"
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater
New York, NY
February 10, 2008

 New York The packed and appreciative audience said goodbye to Nikolaj Hübbe in a cowboy hat, flirting with Maria Kowroski, while being saluted by his colleagues—the applause backstage could still be heard as the audience was leaving. This cheerful and cheeky final farewell was some compensation for the loss of that great artist. Loss

"Traditions"
"Square Dance", "Prodigal Son", "The Four Seasons"
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater
New York, NY
January 29, 2008

The marketing department has apparently decided there is more than one Tradition to be celebrated in the Balanchine and Robbins program, but the tradition of great choreography coherently danced is the most important tradition of all, and fortunately this program had that to offer. The inevitable tradition of dancers retiring was also, quietly, celebrated, as Nikolaj Hübbe gave

"Jewels"
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater
New York, NY
January 11, 2008

Each jewel on Friday night had a new facet, some glowing more than others. “Emeralds” saw Abi Stafford’s debut in the Mimi Paul role, a somewhat unexpected piece of casting, since she is a compact and rather un-lyrical dancer. She may improve with experience, but so far, she seemed to concentrate on the steps, with some rather deliberate arms (which while

“Jewels
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater
New York, NY
January 2, 2008

The evergreen Nutcracker was finally put to rest for another year, as NYCB opened the dance part of the Winter season with the even more evergreen Jewels. Green is the operative work for “Emeralds”, in the redesign (or re-redesign) by Peter Harvey; the slightly oppressive mass of green with its strings of gaudy baubles gives the impression that the miraculous

“Ballo della Regina”, “The Leaves are Fading”, “From Here on Out”
American Ballet Theatre
City Center
New York, NY
October 26, 2007 

 Effervescent, frivolous charm is a rare commodity in any art, and the most successful attempts tend to be underrated, since part of their success is the lighthearted ease they must present.  Balanchine’s "Ballo della Regina" is usually viewed as a female dancer’s technical tour de force, which of course it is.  But

“Ballo della Regina”, “Clear pas de deux”, “The Leaves are Fading pas de deux”, “Don Quixote pas de deux”, “Fancy Free”
American Ballet Theatre
New York City Center
New York, New York
October 23, 2007

The very brief gala program opened with the first performance by ABT of Balanchine’s sparkling exploration of female allegro, Ballo della Regina. It was staged by its originator Merrill Ashley, who got a curtain call and her own bouquet of flowers, in addition

Kyra Nichols’ Farewell
"Serenade," “Robert Schumann’s ‘Davidsbündlertänze'”, and 'Der Rosenkvalier' from "Vienna Waltzes"
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater, 
New York, NY 
June 22, 2007   

Ballet dancers tend to live in people’s memories through the roles they create, the roles that are permanently linked to their careers. A dancer like Carlotta Grisi lives whenever "Giselle" is performed, and dancers whose lives intersect with great choreographers tend to survive in people’s memories

“The Sleeping Beauty”
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
June 1, 2007   

Other than the dancing, there’s very little beauty in American Ballet Theatre’s new “Sleeping Beauty.” The words “additional choreography by…” added to any Petipa ballet have always struck fear into a balletgoer’s heart, but a new fear has been added — the word “dramaturge”.  The Sleeping Beautyhas always been the tightest and most coherent of classical ballets. Conceived

“Symphonie Concertante”, “Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes”, “Rodeo”
American Ballet Theatre
City Center
New York, NY
October 21, 2006, Matinee

This family-friendly triple bill was a big hit with the many youngsters in the audience, who ooed and awed and laughed at all the right times. And to ABT’s great credit, there was no shortage of fine dancers performing at the top of their game.

“Symphonie Concertante” is early Balanchine, and has many echoes of more