Hi!
NYCB has sent out the 2003-04 brochure, which included the company roster for the coming year. Dancers who are departing include Aesha Ash (soloist at Bejart Ballet), Martine Ciccone, Lauren Fadeley, Andrew Robertson and Laura Paulus.

Austin Laurent has received his corps contract, and that makes the company 87 strong for the 2003-04 seasons as of now.

Kate

Hi!
Some news on a former NYCB dancer...

Stuart Capps who left the company after the Spring 2002 season has just joined the cast of "Movin Out". He danced with Twyla Tharp's regular company in the just ended NYC season, and must have just started in the musical.
He danced tonight and was just wonderful. It's great to see that he's found another stage to showcase his talents!

Kate

Casting for Copenhagen....
Of note, the NYCB debut of Joaquin DeLuz in the 3rd Movement of "Symphony in C" and the debut of Robert Tewsley in 'Herman Schmerman'.

Program and Casting Subject to Change
*First time in role
+Guest Artist
# SAB Student
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: SEPTEMBER 2-7, 2003

TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 2 AT 7:30PM
Serenade: KISTLER, BORREE, KÖRBES, NEAL, FAYETTE
Intermission
Agon: WHELAN, SOTO, BOAL, TINSLEY, HANSON, SOMOGYI, HANNA, FOWLER
Pause
Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux: WEESE, WOETZEL
Intermission
Symphony in C:
1st Mov.: RINGER, MARTINS
2nd Mov.: KOWROSKI, ASKEGARD
3rd Mov.: TAYLOR, MILLEPIED
4th Mov.: van KIPNIS, EVANS

WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 3 AT 7:30PM
Jeu de Cartes: TAYLOR, TEWSLEY, MILLEPIED, MARTINS
Intermission
Carousel (A Dance): ANSANELLI, WOETZEL, RUTHERFORD, van KIPNIS, HIGGINS, ORZA
Pause
Sonatas and Interludes: KOWROSKI, SOTO [Chelton]
Intermission
Glass Pieces: TINSLEY, RUTHERFORD, A. STAFFORD, WHELAN, HIGGINS, FOWLER, HANNA, MARCOVICI

THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 4 at 7:30PM
Square Dance: BORREE, HÜBBE
Intermission
Piano Pieces: MILLEPIED, SOMOGYI, ANGLE, ANSANELLI, MARCOVICI, KOWROSKI, HANNA [Grant]
Intermission
The Infernal Machine: TAYLOR, RAMASAR
Pause
Symphony in Three Movements: WHELAN, TINSLEY, A. STAFFORD, SOTO, GOLD, ANGLE

FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 5 AT 7:30PM [Quinn]
Carousel (A Dance): ANSANELLI, WOETZEL, RUTHERFORD, van KIPNIS, HIGGINS, ORZA
Pause
Herman Shmerman: WHELAN, EVANS
Intermission
Guide to Strange Places: KISTLER, WEESE, SOMOGYI, ANSANELLI, TAYLOR, SOTO, NEAL, MARTINS, MILLEPIED, MARCOVICI
Intermission
Serenade: RINGER, BORREE, KOWROSKI, ASKEGARD, FAYETTE

SATURDAY MATINEE, SEPTEMBER 6 AT 3:00PM [Moredock]
Square Dance: BORREE, HÜBBE
Intermission
Sonatas and Interludes: KOWROSKI, SOTO [Chelton]
Pause
Herman Shmerman: WHELAN, *TEWSLEY
Pause
The Infernal Machine: TAYLOR, RAMASAR
Intermission
Glass Pieces: TINSLEY, RUTHERFORD, A. STAFFORD, WHELAN, HIGGINS, FOWLER, HANNA, MARCOVICI

SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6 AT 7:30PM [Quinn]
Agon: KOWROSKI, EVANS, MARCOVICI, McBREARTY, HANSON, SOMOGYI, HANNA, FOWLER
Intermission
Jeu de Cartes: TAYLOR, TEWSLEY, MILLEPIED, MARTINS
Intermission
Symphony in Three Movements: WHELAN, TINSLEY, A. STAFFORD, SOTO, GOLD, ANGLE

SUNDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 7 AT 7:30PM
Guide to Strange Places: KISTLER, WEESE, SOMOGYI, ANSANELLI, TAYLOR, SOTO, NEAL, MARTINS, MILLEPIED, MARCOVICI
Intermission
Piano Pieces: CARMENA, SOMOGYI, ANGLE, ANSANELLI, MARCOVICI, KOWROSKI, HANNA [Grant]
Intermission
Symphony in C:
1st Mov.: RINGER, TEWSLEY
2nd Mov.: WHELAN, ASKEGARD
3rd Mov.: BOUDER, *De LUZ
4th Mov.: van KIPNIS, ANGLE

<small>[ 28 August 2003, 07:49 AM: Message edited by: ksneds ]</small>

Hi!
Noticed in today's NY Times....

PJ Verhoest, the red-headed SAB student who played the boy (Oliver) in Chris Wheeldon's "Carnival of the Animals" is in the cast of "The Boy From Oz". The musical, which is about the life of Peter Allen, is led Hugh Jackman and opens in October (previews start this month).

Congrats to PJ!

Another SAB alum, Manuel Herrera, is in the cast of "Wicked".

Kate

New York City Ballet/ Balanchine Copenhagen
By Clement Crisp for The Financial Times


The new and swift-approaching ballet season is inevitably dominated by the centenary of the birth of George Balanchine in January 1904. Celebrations are planned, very properly, wherever ballet is known and loved: no company worth its salt but owns Balanchine choreographies, and will pay tribute to this dominant genius of dance in our time. His own ensemble, New York City Ballet, is already embarked upon celebrations which will feature two massive retrospective seasons at New York's State Theatre (unique in that it was designed for Balanchine's troupe). As prelude to these festivities, the company visits two cities having an especial resonance for Balanchine's creativity.

click for more

Greetings!

Based upon reviews and posts on other boards, it sounds like NYCB is one tired company. The only break the dancers have had since last October is month (or less, depending on rehearsals) in March/April between the winter and spring seasons.
The long year seems to be taking it's toll on the dancers- Benjamin Millepied is out with an injury (apparently-it would not be a surprise since Millepied has been scratched from casting off and on dating back to winter season) and other dancers apparently were not dancing at the level seen earlier in the year.

Amar Ramasar replaced Millepied in "A Guide To Strange Places" and Antonio Carmena, who has done the role very well before, was apparently very uneven replacing Millepied in "Piano Pieces".

I'm puzzled as to why Crisp finds the the name "Carousel (A Dance)" so curious-it's a ballet to music from the ballet "Carousel". Simple as that.

And I thought the ballet was wonderful when it was danceed in NY-and even more so each time it was performed. It's not often that a choreographer has the chance to fiddle with a ballet over a period of months- one of the great benefits of having Wheeldon as a resident choreographer. But, to each his (or her!) own-the world would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything!

Best wishes for a very restful rest of the month to the NYCB dancers!
Kate

I found quite worrying Clement Crisp's observations in the second paragraph.

"The initial and all Balanchine programme on Tuesday was not quite the joyous thing I had hoped for. The company seemed slightly at odds with the stage and with the ballets: neither Serenade nor Symphony in C showed that sense of utter rightness on the bodies, that authority which one expects..."

Even if it's a different unfamiliar stage, surely the company should know these Balanchine masterpieces well enough to be able to adjust. It confirms my impression of the gradual decline of the company in the Balanchine repertory under Peter Martins' directorship.

Jenifer Ringer will be dancing with David Parsons' company at the opening of the new Skirball Center:

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PARSONS DANCE COMPANY TO INAUGURATE NYU'S NEW JACK H. SKIRBALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Angel Corella, ABT Superstar, Performs David Parsons' Famous Masterwork Caught;
Jenifer Ringer, NYCB Star Ballerina, To Dance Romantic Adagio with Mr. Parsons

For Immediate Release:
Please contact: 212-869-9275

A One-Night Only Performance: Thursday, October 2, 2003 at NYU's Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts On Washington Square

New York, September 15--The Parsons Dance Company presents the inaugural performance of NYU's new Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday evening, October 2, 2003. The Center is located at 566 LaGuardia Place, just South of Washington Square South. The performance begins at 7:30pm and is followed by a reception in the Rosenthal Pavilion on the 10th floor at 8:45pm, with a spectacular view of Washington Square Park. All monies from the tickets sold by the Parsons Dance Company will benefit the Company. Parsons Company ticket prices range from $40 for the performance only to $10,000 for prime seating at the performance and a table of 10 at the reception. Reservations may be made by calling (212) 869-9275.

The opening celebration's program will feature signature works of internationally acclaimed choreographer David Parsons. The Parsons Dance Company will be joined by American Ballet Theatre's principal dancer, Angel Corella, in his debut in the masterwork, Caught, and New York City Ballet's principal dancer, Jenifer Ringer, performing a romantic adagio, On A Clear Night, with Mr. Parsons.

This will be a unique opportunity to experience the first performance by a dance company in the City's newest state-of-the-art performing arts center. New York University's Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is downtown Manhattan's newest performance space. Designed by architect Kevin Roche and theater designer Artec Consultants, Inc., this beautiful and intimate 865-seat theater offers first-rate capabilities for dance, music and new media performance. The Skirball Center is not only a space for NYU productions and events, but also for performing arts events from around the world that can bring unique value to the University, Greenwich Village and the city.

Skirball Center Executive Director, Wiley Hausam expressed his gratitude to David Parsons and the company for participating in the opening of the new theater: "The Parsons Dance Company is one of the most delightful. We're so pleased that they are bringing together these classic pieces and these beautiful guest artists Angel Corella and Jenifer to Ringer. We know it will be a very special evening."

In a recent interview David Parsons expressed his gratitude to be invited as a featured artist: "I am honored and delighted to be part of the official opening celebration of the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, a stimulating addition to New York's rich cultural environment. The dancers of The Parsons Dance Company are also very excited about this opportunity, and I am personally gratified to have the international superstar Angel Corella dance Caught and the elegant, beautiful ballerina, Jenifer Ringer, perform the duet On A Clear Night with me."

Hi!
Some NYCB news...

Congratulations to former apprentices Allen Peiffer, Georgina Pazcoguin and Stephanie Zungre, who all received their corps contracts recently. The company is now 90 strong, plus 6 or 7 apprentices.

Also, farewell and good luck to Eva Natanya who has departed. I will post more information about her future plans when they are confirmed.

Cheers
Kate

The NYTimes reports that Movado has withdrawn its sponsorship from ABT and has given it to NYCB (see article in ABT topic). The sponsorship apparently brought in about $400,000 a year for ABT, so it's a huge gain for NYCB.

Kate

Casting for the gala and first week of "The Nutcracker" have been released. Interesting tidbits include Joaquin DeLuz's NYCB NYS Theater debut as Tea and Adrian Danchig-Waring taking on the role of "Mother Ginger". And what a treat to see Albert Evans cast in "Symphony in C"!!

Several names are missing including Woetzel & Marcovici, but often dancers are off guesting during the Nutcracker season.

Casting
Program and Casting Subject to Change
*First time in role
+Guest Artist
# SAB Student

OPENING NIGHT GALA
Tuesday, November 25, 2003, at 7:00pm

Serenade
NICHOLS, BORREE, KOWROSKI, NEAL, FAYETTE

Intermission

Bugaku
KISTLER, SOTO

Intermission

Symphony in C
1st Mov.: SOMOGYI, TEWSLEY
2nd Mov.: WHELAN, ASKEGARD
3rd Mov.: TAYLOR, MILLEPIED
4th Mov.: van KIPNIS, EVANS

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™
November 28 - November 30, 2003
FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 28, 8:00 PM [Quinn]
Sugarplum: KOWROSKI
Cavalier: ASKEGARD
Dewdrop: SOMOGYI
Marzipan: RIGGINS
Hot Chocolate: RUTHERFORD, HIGGINS
Coffee: HANSON
Tea: ULBRICHT
Candy Cane: GOLD
Mother Ginger: J. STAFFORD
Flower, S.R.: van KIPNIS
Flower, S.L.: TINSLEY
Doll (Girl): DRONOVA
Doll (Boy): LABEAN
Soldier: CARMENA
Mouse King: SETH
Drosselmeier: La FOSSE
Hostess: ABERGEL
Host: *HANNA

SATURDAY MATINEE, NOVEMBER 29, 2:00 PM [Fiorato]
Sugarplum: WEESE
Cavalier: MARTINS
Dewdrop: *SYLVE
Marzipan: BOUDER
Hot Chocolate: GOLBIN, HANNA
Coffee: ABERGEL
Tea: CARMENA
Candy Cane: SUOZZI
Mother Ginger: RAMASAR
Flower, S.R.: BAR
Flower, S.L.: KROHN
Doll (Girl): FAIRCHILD
Doll (Boy): *FLYNN
Soldier: SEVERNINI
Mouse King: ORZA
Drosselmeier: FAYETTE
Hostess: BESKOW
Host: FOWLER

SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 29, 8:00 PM [Moredock]
Sugarplum: BORREE
Cavalier: BOAL
Dewdrop: ANSANELLI
Marzipan: EDGE
Hot Chocolate: BESKOW, FOWLER
Coffee: McBREARTY
Tea: *DE LUZ
Candy Cane: HENDRICKSON
Mother Ginger: *DAN-WARING
Flower, S.R.: TAYLOR
Flower, S.L.: A. STAFFORD
Doll (Girl): *HYLTIN
Doll (Boy): *PAZCOGUIN
Soldier: *SUOZZI
Mouse King: *RAMASAR
Drosselmeier: KRAMAREVSKY
Hostess: BAR
Host: *la COUR

SUNDAY MATINEE, NOVEMBER 30, 1:00 PM [Fiorato]
Sugarplum: KOWROSKI
Cavalier: ASKEGARD
Dewdrop: SOMOGYI
Marzipan: RIGGINS
Hot Chocolate: RUTHERFORD, HIGGINS
Coffee: HANSON
Tea: ULBRICHT
Candy Cane: GOLD
Mother Ginger: J. STAFFORD
Flower, S.R.: van KIPNIS
Flower, S.L.: TINSLEY
Doll (Girl): DRONOVA
Doll (Boy): LABEAN
Soldier: CARMENA
Mouse King: SETH
Drosselmeier: La FOSSE
Hostess: ABERGEL
Host: HANNA

SUNDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 30, 5:00 PM [Quinn]
Sugarplum: WEESE
Cavalier: MARTINS
Dewdrop: SYLVE
Marzipan: BOUDER
Hot Chocolate: GOLBIN, HANNA
Coffee: ABERGEL
Tea: CARMENA
Candy Cane: SUOZZI
Mother Ginger: RAMASAR
Flower, S.R.: TAYLOR
Flower, S.L.: A. STAFFORD
Doll (Girl): FAIRCHILD
Doll (Boy): FLYNN
Soldier: SEVERINI
Mouse King: ORZA
Drosselmeier: FAYETTE
Hostess: BESKOW
Host: FOWLER

<small>[ 14 November 2003, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: ksneds ]</small>

Changes to the casting for the gala and first week of Nutcracker:

GALA:
Serenade: Sofiane Sylve will replace Maria Kowroski
Symphony In C: Maria Kowroski will replace Wendy Whelan

NUTCRACKER:
Friday, November 28: Sofiane Sylve will debut as Dewdrop, replacing Jennie Somogyi.

Hi!
NYCB has set up an incredible new website for the Balachine Centennial. You can access it by clicking on the centennial logo at the right hand side of the NYCB website.
The Centennial Website contain tons of information about all the various events going on at NYCB & acroos the world as well as pictures and streaming audio of music from various Balanchine ballets.

Among the tidbits revealed:
*There will be a documentary produced about the NYCB's recent visit to St. Petersburg, tieing the trip into Balanchine's own history. Date and channel to be announced.

*Tom Gold, Janie Taylor & SAB kids will be in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade doing an excerpt from Harlequinade.

Cheers!
Kate