<BR>Mario Alonzo, who featured in Betsy Erickson's "Sfumato," one of four ballets in the season-opening program<P><BR>This thread picks up from the <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000354.html" TARGET=_blank>Oakland Ballet Season Opener Preview thread</A>.<P>Allan Ulrich had mixed feelings about this program, being especially disappointed in the anticipated premiere of "Onomatomania," a ballet by former Paul Taylor 2 director Mary Cochran. He writes in the SF Examiner:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>The promise far outweighed the achievement Friday evening at the Paramount Theater where the Oakland Ballet bounced its way into a new era. <P>At least new Artistic Director Karen Brown need not offer any kind of "mea culpa" for the motley repertoire that made this seem like one of the longest nights of the year. The programming for this 35th season opener was selected before the arrival this summer of Brown, a former member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. The company certainly looks different, however. The Oakland Ballet now includes 30 dancers, up from last year's 24, and some familiar faces, like that of former acting Artistic Director Joral Schmalle, are missing. But the newcomers seem alert and enthusiastic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><B><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/hotnews/stories/16/Soakland.dtl&type=performance" TARGET=_blank>More</A></B><p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited September 17, 2000).]

And here are a few more reviews:<P><BR>Anita Amirrezvani in the San Jose Mercury News<BR><B><A HREF="http://www.mercurycenter.com/premium/ent/docs/oakballet18.htm" TARGET=_blank>Oakland Ballet opens with medley of whimsy</A></B><P><BR>Blair Tindall in the Contra Costa Times<BR><B><A HREF="http://www.contracostatimes.com/timeout/stories_feattop/x18oakballet_20000918.htm" TARGET=_blank>Oakland opens with high energy Dance review</A></B><P><BR>Octavio Roca in the San Francisco Chronicle<BR><B><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/09/18/DD107626.DTL&type=performance" TARGET=_blank>A Promising Beginning; Subtle but evocative works open Oakland Ballet season</A></B><p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited September 18, 2000).]