The above photos were liberated courtesy of http://www.gretahodgkinson.com/ from her debut as Giselle years ago. Why is it the National Ballet of Canada is so stingy with photos on their website? I know they take hundreds of photos for every ballet!

John Coulbourn actually gave the National Ballet of Canada a bad review! And I thought he loved absolutely everything. What makes this so shocking is that he absolutely adored ‘the contract’ but did not like the Stravinsky Violin Concerto/Giselle program – which every other critic including myself loved! Below is the review entitled: ‘Sum less than parts GISELLE PAIRED WITH STRAVINSKY ADDS UP TO A MERELY ADEQUATE EVENING.’

Unfortunately, the Toronto Sun doesn’t believe in the web being free. For a mere $10 you can get the entire story! $10!! Are they nuts? I can go down to my local library and get it for free. Anybody who would pay $10 to read a John Coulbourn review has too much money.

John Coulbourn Pans Giselle!

Dear Danseur:

Greta Hodgkinson tours from time to time all year round besides dancing for the National Ballet of Canada. Hence, I think she wanted to save her toes for the re-opening of the restored La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy.

Click below for details!

Gala of Stars

I’m on vacation for 2 weeks and hence had time to finish off my Giselle review and also had time to do some ballet googling! I found a lovely penned essay by James Neufeld, author of Power to Rise, The Story of the National Ballet of Canada. In it he discusses how James Kudelka has shifted the National away from the Petipa style to the Kudelka style. And yes, Kimberly Glasco is touched upon! It should be noted that Michael Goldbarth whipped up prose about the above years ago right here on CriticalDance! Not that I need it, but it is comforting to know an important dance historian agrees with me.

I wish I could write great minds think alike, but James Neufeld enjoyed ‘the contract.’

<img src="http://national.ballet.ca/Media/PressReleases/images/4-54.jpg" alt="" />

Oh well. By the way, I can appreciate the Kudelka style, the Balanchine style, the Petipa style, and many others as long as they entertain and provide an interesting visual spectacle. The Contract just didn’t do it for me. It bored me. It was tedious. It cost too much to make.

Click below for more:

Kudelka versus Petipa

We know, we know, we know..a thousand times, we know!

Well, at least I am willing to post a view opposite of mine! :p

Enough of ‘the contact!’ Below is some Nutcracker NEWS!

If the ballet is not enough to see the National’s Nutcracker, there are other perks! The Canon Dolls will be played once again by local celebs. One is none other than funnyman Rick Mercer!

Canon Doll Casting

Also, 45 minutes before every Nutcracker, there will be an interactive reading of the Nutcracker story. For the December 21st performance, Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, starring in Ross Petty’s Aladdin, will read. Please don’t ask him to put you in his famed ‘sharpshooter.’ He’s retired as a wrestler!

<img src="http://www.national.ballet.ca/images/performances/specialEvents/img-nutStoryTime.JPG" alt="" />

The NBoC’s Nutcracker is a great way to introduce a child to the wonders of ballet.

To whet your appetite for the Nutcracker even more, below is an article about Jean-Sebastien Colau, formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet, who will star as Peter.

Toronto Star

<small>[ 09 December 2004, 07:25 AM: Message edited by: Michael Goldbarth ]</small>

Dear Lovenboc:

I know of one arts organization that does indeed announce attendance and fully disclose their financials: The Stratford Festival. They made a tidy profit of $37,000-which is better than losing money.

Stratford Festival in the Black

A gentle reminder to please post all Nutcracker items in the Holiday Performances Forum. I have opened a thread for National Ballet of Canada: Nutcracker 2004 there. Thank you!

No ‘Heir Apparent?’

Now I am willing to keep an open mind and assume that perchance the National had admired Silvius’ dancing all along but realistically they must have hired her to keep our Uncrowned Prince happy. You see our dining duo became romantically involved when Côté was a guest artist at SABT as part of a talent exchange program. Meow! The feline’s out of the bag! Now if that is not proof of a ‘Heir Apparent’ I don’t know what is! I still hold Michael Crabb in high regard despite his entire story being 100% certified tongue-in-cheek flapdoodle! A year from now Crabb will be writing an article extolling the many virtues of Crown Prince Côté! He’s probably at home composing the piece as you read this. I haven’t seen enough of Ms Silvius’ dancing to render an opinion but I’m sure she will more than justify the National jetting her in all the way from South Africa.
<img src="http://www.saballettheatre.co.za/images/gallery/carmen2002_2.jpg" alt="" />
Back to my culinary delights at the Marché… Guess what? No heads turned when our lovely ballet couple appeared. They walked in totally anonymous! I personally would not want to be bothered during dinner by adoring fans. FYI: Nobody approached me for an autograph despite being a well known contributor to CriticalDance! But what does this say about ballet in Toronto? When arguably your top male dancer can walk into a very busy chic restaurant hand in hand with his Juliet and not even be recognized? Okay, I recognized them but believe me there was no one else. At least not for the dozen minutes I casually observed them and other patrons whiles I finished off my salmon dinner. In lieu of a decadent dessert of Swiss Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake, I chose the visual delights provided by a delectable calorie-free dish (Burnise Silvius).
<img src="http://www.ryerson.ca/ua/photo/people/2003/20031201_ballet.jpg" alt="" />
I’m not suggesting the NBoC promote one dancer to the exclusion of others. They seriously have to sit down the next time they have a board (bored) meeting and think about what they can do to promote their top dancers, company, and ballet. Imagine if the great Rudolf Nureyev somehow returned from the National Ballet of Heaven. Would there be a place for him in Kudelka’s company? Would the National’s PR Department know what to do? Toronto will always be a hockey town but it used to be a ballet town too-not that very long ago. Of course, the National Ballet of Toronto used to be the National Ballet of Canada. Perhaps it’s time to drop the Canada? The National no longer tours enough to justify the Canada.

* I could not find Performance Magazine on the web. It appears it is available exclusively via the old fashioned way (newspaper). I’m curious as to why Michael Crabb, who writes regularly for the National Post, is writing for an Art’s Magazine inside the Globe & Mail?

<small>[ 13 December 2004, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: Michael Goldbarth ]</small>

For any of those who had the privilege of seeing Heather Ogden's Sugar Plum on Thursday (16th) will be able to back me up when I quote, She has had almost a sudden transformation to an incredibly warm, delightful and charismatic performer. Perhaps an extra push from the artistic staff? I think it really was the natural growth and emergence of the artist within her! You could tell she really loved every second of it out there. One of Canada's finest ballet dancers can now also be named one of Canada's favourite performers! Congratulations Ms. Ogden! <img src="http://www.national.ballet.ca/images/insideTheCompany/artistsAndDirectors/bios/img-bs-heather_ogden.JPG" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.national.ballet.ca/images/education/programs/img-openHouse2.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.national.ballet.ca/images/education/photoGallery/thumbs/backstage-7.jpg" alt="" />

I could not agree more. You may be interested in the below post from the archives of CriticalDance. I was pleased with Heather Ogden’s performance on the 16th and will post my review later. There is not that much emotional depth needed for the role of ‘the Sugar Plum Fairy.’ Hence, I don’t know what Paula Citron was writing about.

Critics go toe-to-toe over Sugar Plum Fairy!

In my years of reading Nutcracker reviews, never have I read a more contrasting opinion over the performance of the Sugar Plum Fairy! I guess some reviewers will agree to disagree.

Paula Citron of www.globeandmail.ca

Shena Wilson of www.nationalpost.com

The above quotes were from the December 14th debut of the National Ballet of Canada’s 2002 Nutcracker. I was quite surprised at the stinging criticism levied by veteran ballet critic, Paul Citron. Soulless really needs no explanation. The dictionary definition of cipher is a person of no value or importance. Ouch! I myself did not see the opening Nutcracker so I can offer no opinion. Did anyone from our Critical Dance readers see this performance?

Below is a snippet of my opinion of Heather Ogden’s dancing prowess from a year ago.

Michael Goldbarth of www.criticaldance.com

James Kudelka must be happy with Miss Ogden, as she was promoted to Second Soloist in 2002, her 4th year with the NBoC. One would think a seasoned journalist like Paula Citron could have found a more sympathetic way to convey her opinion of Miss Ogden’s performance. If she found it wooden, perhaps a comparison to the Nutcracker would have been more apropos than “soulless” and “cipher.”

<small>[ 20 December 2004, 09:42 PM: Message edited by: Michael Goldbarth ]</small>

Click below for an interesting article about Guillaume Côté and the love of his life, Burnise Silvius. Côté’s phone bill rang up to the tune of $1,100 after one month away from his sweetheart! Egad!! Now that is true luv!!! I think I hear wedding bells in the distance.

Lovebirds

The Ghosts of Nutcrackers Past, Present, and Future visited a certain Scrooge critic of Kudelka during a dream on the night before he was to see his Nutcracker (December 16th). After reading the link to the below review, you may believe in the Sugar Plum Fairy, dreams coming true, and maybe even, good old Saint Nick!

Kudelka’s Nutcracker ‘The Tops!’

Here’s your chance to practice ($20) with the National Ballet of Canada and tour (FREE) the Walter Carsen Centre!

Workout and Tour

Kevin Pugh, former principal with the NBoC, also offers ballet classes on a regular basis ($14).

Dance Teq

<small>[ 03 January 2005, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Michael Goldbarth ]</small>

I'm suprised that an enthusiastic ballet fan such as yourself has not yet joined one of these classes!