CriticalDance Forum

Chan Hon Goh, a principal of the National Ballet of Canada, has organised several galas in two different venues in Beijing next week. Here is the list of the dancers from American and Canadian companies.

Principals:
Chan Hon Goh, Aleksandar Antonijevic, Sonia Rodriguez, Geon van der Wyst, Margaret Tracey, Christina Fagundes, Ben Huys, Albert Evans, Helene Alexopoulos.
Soloists:
Jared Angle, Alexandra Ansanelli, Arch Higgins, Kathleen Tracey

There will be 2 world premieres choreographed by Ben Huys and Albert Evans, as well as pas de deux by Stanton Welch, Peter Onastis, and James Kudelka. The repertory will also include Balanchine, Petipa, and Bournonville.

That sounds interesting Kevin and it is always a treat to see Albert Evans and Helene Alexopoulos.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it is not effected by the cancellation malaise that has impacted some other Galas this year.

Stuart, the galas are definitely going ahead next week, as the dancers will be departing for Beijing this weekend. By the way, Yuan Yuan Tan held a gala featuruing San Francisco Ballet dancers in Shanghai earlier this year as well.

So that actually happened? The last I read, it had been cancelled.

Yuan Yuan Tan's gala in Hong Kong in June was cancelled, but her earlier gala in Shanghai in March (?) was OK.

<img src="http://www.danceinternational.org/images/Mozartiana_Chan_Hon_Goh.jpg" alt="" />
Chan Hon Goh in "Motzartiana"

I love watching Chan Hon Goh perform, lucky people in Beijing! She was born in Beijing too so I imagine it's a coming home of sorts.

What a lovely photo of Goh in Mozartiana. I haven't seen her in this Balanchine masterpiece, but I heard that she was coached by Suzanne Farrell in Toronto several years ago. And after the Chinese galas, Goh will dance with Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington in Oct.

Does anyone know where she trained? It's weird...I never heard of her here. Anyway, I'm definitely going to one of those galas! Does anyone have any tips on how to get autographs after the show?

Chan Hon Goh trained in Vancouver, I think. Please check her bio in the website of the National Ballet of Canada.

By the way, there is a book on Goh which is coming out for sale next month.

<small>[ 09-05-2002, 07:06: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]</small>

Chan Hon Goh trained at her parents' school in Vancouver, the Goh Ballet Academy. They have a very good professional program which intergrates RAD with Vaganova.

Fouette - if indeed you do go to one of the shows, please be sure to tell us all about it...who did what etc.

Apparently, the gala in Beijing is called "A Night Meeting with Stars". They're rehearsing at the National Ballet of China studios where I usually dance, so we're moving to the stage upstairs. I can probably sneak in a peek, perhaps even an autograph! Yes!!!!

I hope that you do get the chance to see something of the rehearsals Fouette and get the chance to tell us about it. Just a reminder that etiquette dictates that you make general remarks about rehearsals or classes without commenting on individual dancers as they may be marking, nursing a niggle or whatever.

<small>[ 09-07-2002, 04:27: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Sunday was very exciting for me! I got there early, and sure enough, they were rehearsing. All the dancers were dressed in more layers than I'm used to seeing! Tights, legwarmers, sweatpants, leotards, large sweatshirts, etc. I didn't recognize Chan Han Goh at first - she didn't look quite as I imagine. All the men were so tall! It was a really lighthearted rehearsal - all the dancers had a great sense of humor, and it was funny watching them joke around. They were rehearsing the grand finale, I think. Too bad I didn't get to see them dance full out - most of them were marking. I talked to Albert Evans and Helene Alexopoulos, and got both their autographs! I talked to Albert Evans first, and then he pointed out Helene - she looked a little different than on the NYCB video! They were both extremely nice...I had a short conversation with Helene while she was stretching, and we sat on the floor of the studio while Albert danced a pas de deux he choreographed with a Canadian dancer, who sadly to say, I don't recognize. I think her name was Katie or something...it was a beautiful pdd! I'm looking forward to seeing the performance. They continued rehearsing, but I couldn't watch since I had class upstairs...they were rehearsing in both our studios, so we had to go do barre on the stage. All in all, it was exciting, and fun to watch - the atmosphere was so lighthearted!

Sounds like you had a wonderful time Fouette. Your enthusiasm bubbles up from the page.