Only Karen Kain would try to steal the media spotlight from Old Man Winter! Toronto transformed into a winter wonderland but that did not deter Mrs. K from bourréeing her way through the snowdrifts surrounding the Walter Carsen Centre! Rumor has it Mrs. K is an ardent reader of Critical Dance and thus felt it her moral duty to respond to my January 30th post speculating what the 2006/2007 season will bring! I suffer in anticipation no more! My crystal ball was a little cloudy correctly forecasting only 3 ballets: The Sleeping Beauty, Mr. B’s Don Q, and of course, the Four Seasons!

2006/07 Season Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

The Sleeping Beauty

November 9 - 19, 2006

Wisely Mrs. K will present this as a ‘refurb’ Sleeping Beauty! We will be treated to new costumes! All hail Karen Kain! Yes that was a shameless suck up! I need good seats for the new ballet palace! Me thinks she read my Swan Lake review with the refurb comment.

Song of the Earth & Symphony in C

November 22 - 26, 2006

I hope they promote the above well! They are very difficult ballets to perform with the potential of a spectacular night at the ballet. Symphony in C will involve 50 plus dancers.

The Nutcracker

December 9 - 30, 2006

The Seventh International Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize

March 3, 2007

The Taming of the Shrew

March 10 - 18, 2007

The Shrew is always well received by audiences and the National certainly has an array of beautiful shrew ballerinas to choose from!

A Footstep of Air & Opus 19/The Dreamer & Voluntaries

March 21 - 25, 2007

Fans will get a lot of ballet for the money for the above mixed program. It is fitting that Voluntaries be shown in the same season as Shrew – as it is a tribute to the late John Cranko who tragically died in his sleep from swallowing his own vomit aboard a plane returning from the U.S.A. to Germany. Not a crowd pleaser but it will be very meaningful for the company to perform.

Balanchine’s Don Quixote

June 1 - 10, 2007

I have no doubt Mr. B’s Don will attract many curious fans but I doubt they will come back for a 2nd viewing for a future date. From the reviews I’ve read it is a love letter to Mr. B and not something that translates well for a modern audience accustomed to the fun Don Q with ‘Kitri’ castanets.

The Four Seasons & Polyphonia & World Premiere by Matjash Mrozewski

June 16 - 23, 2007

It is fitting the NBoC would end their season in the new Four Seasons with the Four Seasons!

Interestingly there will be no February ballet and the usual April/May ballets have been pushed back to June. Sadly, the NBoC has to take 2nd seat to the Canadian Opera Company.

Casting has been released for Jewels. This is a must see if you love ballet! Guess who my favorite jewel is?

Click HERE for my review. Or read the unedited version below!

Jewel of a Ballerina!

Of all the glittering jewels gracing the stage for Thursday’s afternoon delight one sparkled more than any emerald, ruby, or even diamond could ever hope to sparkle. Call me another (happy) victim of ballerina magnetism but this precious gem boasts the glowing face and beaming body of which National Ballet of Canada dreams are made on! Mere prose cannot do justice to the delicious images she created on stage. This is one ballerina who knows how to shine and isn’t afraid to face the music and dance: Every step was imbued with spontaneity; every moment on stage was danced as if it was her last; every eye in the house was glued to her as the come-hither ruby in Jewels. She danced en pointe as if Sir Isaac Newton’s silly theories of gravity applied to her-NOT!

Unlike Tristan and Isolde, Jewels lives up to the National Ballet of Canada’s cheeky tagline, ‘Come to the Ballet!’ Those fortunate enough to be retired, playing hooky from work or school were treated to undulating hips, dizzying pirouettes, bedroom eyes glancing skywards, sassy high kicks, flirtatious skipping with imaginary rope, and jazzy moves galore. These goo-goo eyes were glued from seat A 28. Sneaking a close up glance with opera glasses is one of my many, many guilty pleasures. What my mind’s eye witnessed was poetry in motion, a ballerina siren putting it all together: theatrical persona, dance technique, plus musicality. Triple wow!!! This ruby absolutely glowed surrendering body and spirit to the choreography of Mr. B as she danced the music of Stravinsky to life! Not even Aurora Borealis could match the steps of this dancing delight! The jewel of my eye was a ballerina goddess with the very poetic name of Heather Ogden.

Of course, my opinion alone is not proof enough. I was not the only (willing) causality of Miss Ogden’s ballerina magnetism. The Thursday matinée was teeming with high school kids who had bussed in for Jewels. Many of who never heard of ballet dinosaurs like George Balanchine or Igor Stravinsky. Many of who possess the attention span of Bart Simpson. Many of who came to see a ballet for the very first time in their lives. Somehow those green imaginations, never to be stretched beyond a TV screen, were set free through the stage charisma of Heather Ogden as the new Muse for Balanchine. As further evidence of the above, many in attendance were so moved by Heather Ogden’s performance they not only clapped and cheered ‘bravo’ with double espresso-They actually whistled! Something not heard often enough at the Hummingbird Centre. Also referred to as God’s Waiting Room due to the advancing age of the NBoC’s audience! By the way, many of the aforementioned historic ballet fans were likewise stirred to show their appreciation.

There have been many gorgeous muses in George Balanchine’s life: Tamara Geva, Alexandra Danilova, Vera Zorina, Maria Tallchief, and Tanaquil LeClercq. And then there was the elusive muse, Suzanne Farrell, in charge of overseeing the production of Jewels. Thank you Suzanne Farrell for keeping the genius of George Balanchine (Artistic Director for the National Ballet of Heaven) alive through a new muse…in his afterlife. I hesitate to mention any ballerina in the same sentence with Suzanne Farrell but Heather Ogden has loads of potential! Miss Ogden boasts stellar technical skills, (as mentioned) ballerina magnetism, the stuff to surprise on stage, and tops it all off with the fresh beauty of screen sirens Tippi Hendren and Grace Kelly!

This purely abstract 3-act ballet premiered April 13, 1967; yet, 5 decades later it still possesses the dance power to turn the Bart Simpson generation on to ballet! Another muse of musical note was a stunning redhead by the name of Julie Hay who danced the music of Gabriel Fauré to life in Emeralds. Yet one more emerald who caught my eye was Rebekah Rimsay. As close to the stage as I was, not once could I hear her pointe shoes thump through a long stroll en pointe. Miss Rimsay must share her silent dancing secrets with her fellow emeralds for future performances. Perhaps she bashed her pointe shoes against the brick wall of the Walter Carsen Centre to soften them up?

The last Jewel to top Balanchine’s masterpiece was Diamonds-danced beautifully and most seriously by Jennifer Fournier as guest artist in residence for the NBoC. Miss Fournier, a former principal of the National, danced for the Suzanne Farrell Dance Company after taking time off to have a baby. The Elusive Muse’s training obviously rubbed off on this diamond as her arabesque, back dips and piqué turns were exactly what Mr. B had in mind. Though Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 calls for cool classicism, this reviewer thought Miss Fournier was a little too cool. A little passion and fire here and there wouldn’t rub any shine off that diamond.

If you’re looking for a romantic escape to Paris (Emeralds), New York (Rubies), and St. Petersburg (Diamonds): Trip the light fantastic to the Hummingbird Centre for Jewels! Your orbs will be treated to new costumes and, unlike the over-hyped Tristan and Isolde, Jewels actually gives you a reason to ‘Come to the Ballet!’ Jewels might even inspire you enough to come twice!! I know I will to see Heather Ogden dance May 13th. If you need more incentive tickets are on sale for only $25 and $45!

Performance of Dancers: 22/25. Choreography: 24/25. Costumes, Sets, and Lighting: 17/20. Ballet Magic: 19/20. Music: 10/10. Rating: 92/100.

The Stork delivered a baby boy for Chan Hon Goh! Read more HERE.

Below are the highlights of Susan Walker’s Article about the NBoC’s 2006/2007 season:



It’s obvious Karen Kain is cost conscious deciding to simply ‘refurbish’ the costumes & sets, in lieu of also redoing the choreography, as Kudelka would have done! She obviously reads Critical Dance as I have discussed this issue at length. Why redo a ballet when all you really need is new costumes/sets? Smart move. Shrew will also be refurbed.

Look for Mrs. K to speed up Sleeping Beauty a little. There are way too many pauses for applause. When appropriate the dancers will take their bows but otherwise, look for them to rush off the stage or stay in character. Rudolf Nureyev’s ego is too large for a modern day audience.



Hence, the higher costs of tickets.



I thought top tickets would be pushing $200 per seat. This does not represent that much of a savings for subscribers. If I choose Orchestra 1, this represents a savings of $20 meaning I will be paying $150 per performance. I assume the Grand Ring will not be available for single seat purchases as the top seats there go for $185. Perhaps Grand Ring 2 will be available?


Below are the highlights of Paula Citron’s story on the new season:



If marketed properly, the mixed program of Song of the Earth and Symphony in C could also fill the house. Ballet fans will be very much looking forward to this program. See below:



* Will next season be Mr. K’s final season with the NBoC I can’t see the National keeping him on the payroll just to ensure the Nutcracker runs smoothly. This will be 2 years with no new ballets created.

I am devastated!

The Toronto Sun reported on the National’s debut season in the Four Seasons as well. Not so, for the National Post. A shame considering they employ the writing talents of Michael Crabb.

I received a surprise in the mail today: The NBoC 2006/2007 Brochure. There were several surprises inside the large envelope.

# 1. No glossy paper for the brochure! I was disappointed they decided to save money there.

# 2. No more $39 Subscriber Rush seats. Instead, subscribers get 50% off any seat in the house.

# 3. No feature photo of my favorite ballerina: Heather Ogden.

# 4. No improved simulated view of seating.

# 5. No invite to preview the Four Seasons before purchasing seats.

As usual the National created beautiful prose to promote their ballets. Too bad they may lose some fans with their increased ticket prices along with a 4 month subscription ballet gap from November to March.

I agree with the NBoC’s decision to refurb the sets and costumes for Sleeping Beauty rather than Kudelkaize Sleeping Beauty.



I wrote the above and the below:



I do wonder if they realize the negative connotations the word ‘refurb’ has. The word has gained a more negative meaning over the years now often used to describe computers that have been restored to proper working order after having new parts installed or a flaw repaired. I think we can all agree the National should do its best to distance itself from anything flawed. Perhaps rejuvenated, renovation, renewed, refreshed, or face-lift would be better words to employ.

Once again, it will be very interesting to see how season ticket sales progress with prices goosed about 50% across the board. I wish the NBoC would address this issue. Obviously, they have chosen to ignore it and so has the media for the exception of a few words. Look for the National to offer discounted packages to fill the rest of the seats through some sort of a promotion via a major newspaper or department store-Hardly fair to subscribers who have paid full price half a year in advance of the season.

Speaking of Odette, the February edition of Dance Magazine has a wonderful article discussing the dual role of Odette/Odile. One of the famous swans interviewed was the one and only Karen Kain:

Hey, Michael. Check THIS Out

You want me to switch to the opera? No way. I’m a diehard ballet fan all the way. Opera gives me a headache. I enjoy The Barber of Seville and a few others but not enough to consider subscribing.

The Canadian Opera Company is a 1st class organization and taking an ownership role in the Four Seasons. The NBoC is renting and hence will obviously receive 2nd choice of dates.

There will be an opportunity to preview your seat June 24th and 25th – after ballet fans must finalize their seating selection and make their 1st payment (April 17th). Why not have ballet fans pay up front and then give them an opportunity of selecting seats at a later date? Given the season does not start until November 9th this seems fair.

Sarah Hampson interviewed Karen Kain in the Globe & Mail today: ‘Sweeping beauty.’ If you read in between the lines, you will see someone leaving the NBoC after next season.



Karen Kain is still beautiful. She looks amazingly young for a woman who danced 28 years for the NBoC-Though she appears to have undergone some refurbing. Not $700,000 worth like her upcoming Sleeping Beauty, just a little help to erase the lines of Father Time.



Perhaps the above is why the National decided to hike subscription prices 50% across the board?



Interesting…



Even more interesting...



It appears next season may be the end of the Kudelka era at the National Ballet of Canada. They can’t afford to keep him on the payroll if he’s not creating a ballet every year.

Not convinced? Karen Kain went on to describe Greta Hodgkinson in tears during the 2nd intermission of Swan Lake in Washington. She was exhausted with this being her third performance. Mrs. K inspired her to finish the ballet. The below quote says it all:

Michael Goldbarth has been a critic of James Kudelka since his appointment as AD in 1996. My criticisms escalated when he fired Kimberly Glasco. Despite my displeasure with some of his decisions as AD, I like to think I kept my objectivity giving him rave reviews for his Nutcracker, Cinderella, and the Four Seasons. As Kain discussed in the article, there were not enough hits to make up for the flops.

This was a classic case of someone biting off more than he could chew. James Kudelka is a choreographer. He never tried to be an Artistic Director. It was all about creating ballet: No interviews, No promoting the ballet, No smoozing to raise funds, No attempt to keep everybody in the company happy. He may have a done a little of the above but hardly enough to mention.

Mr. K orchestrated his own ending after giving the pink slip to Kimberly Glasco. This alienated many patrons, fans, and some dancers who were too afraid to speak up.

There’s a new sheriff in town and he’s a SHE! And guess what? She’s tougher than James Kudelka! I see a 10 year run for Mrs. K. Retirement age is 65.

Click HERE to dance with the National Ballet of Canada at the Illuminata Ball June 22. I have a hunch the price will be high. I always know something is beyond my bank account when there is no price tag!

Click HERE to meet one of the few redheads in ballet: the lovely Julie Hay.

Click HERE to experience a day in the life of Jennifer Fournier. FYI: Arts Alive is a wonderful website to learn about dance. Check it out.

To whet your appetite for Jewels, veteran dance writer Susan Walker explores the Balanchine style and how Mr. B’s brilliance impacted his muses.









Only a creative genius could inspire prose like the above! The article is a must read and you can read it all for free! The Toronto Star doesn’t charge yet to read their web newspaper.

Casting has been released for the Balanchine mixed program of The Four Temperaments, Apollo, along with Theme and Variations.

Whoever writes promotional pieces for the Globe & Mail’s entertainment section shares my same taste in ballet. The below headline accompanied the lovely Heather Ogden on pointe in today’s Globe. Unfortunately, it is only available via paper – not the web.

I wonder who could inspire the above? Click HERE to read more.

Niccolò Marras interviews Prima Ballerina Greta Hodgkinson about life, cuisine, and of course, ballet.



Perhaps Primo Ballerino Roberto Bolle will make the trip overseas to play Prince Désiré with Princess Aurora Hodgkinson? I’m sure his machismo will inject new impulse with members of the fairer sex in Toronto!

Funny how the position of Prima Ballerina is no where to be found in the NBoC’s seasonal program and ballet officials have denied existence of the position.