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RB Summer Season Casting


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But there is surely an argument to be made as to how worthwhile it is to have dancers guest simply to perform for what, a maximum of 15 minutes in a standalone number?  (And I'm not having a go at Salenko: I said the same thing when they brought in Cory Stearns "merely" to dance the Sugar Plum's cavalier/prince, or whatever his title is).  

 

Wasn't Cory Stearns part of a RB/ABT swap with (McRae?) or am I mixing this up with something else?

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Wasn't Cory Stearns part of a RB/ABT swap with (McRae?) or am I mixing this up with something else?

 

Yes, in a short-lived exchange program that had seemed to puzzle people more than anything else, thanks to the casting. 

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Yes, in a short-lived exchange program that had seemed to puzzle people more than anything else, thanks to the casting. 

 

Although not continued with the Royal Ballet, this talent exchange incentive noted above has been a successful on-going one for ABT with the Royal Danish Ballet and may account - or may not - for the fact that Alban Lendorf (who is perhaps locally best known for having guested with our wonderful ENB company) is now an ABT principal whilst still remaining one with his native company much as Roberto Bolle (soon to guest again with the RB) - is a joint principal with ABT and La Scala and Vishneva (soon to retire as an ABT principal after 21 years) has shared simultaneous joint principal status with ABT, the Mariinsky and La Scala.  This is perhaps not so surprising as the key 'in seasonal residence' NYC ballet companies (NYCB, ABT) have always had a very close association with the Danes, historically much closer, say, than with the British.  It also was perhaps for this reason that historically the Joffrey Ballet was the original key repository for so much of the glorious Ashton repertory in the USA.  That said - under KMcK's leadership - ABT has had relatively recent NYC seasons where they danced more Ashton than, say, the RB did and, of course, the Sarasota Ballet in FL now has perhaps the largest currently on-going Ashton rep in the world.  Our world it seems is ever changing and happily that makes things exciting ... and well worth the travel.  :)

Edited by Bruce Wall
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Although not continued with the Royal Ballet, this talent exchange incentive noted above has been a successful on-going one for ABT with the Royal Danish Ballet and may account - or may not - for the fact that Alban Lendorf (who is perhaps locally best known for having guested with our wonderful ENB company) is now an ABT principal whilst still remaining one with his native company much as Roberto Bolle (soon to guest again with the RB) - is a joint principal with ABT and La Scala and Vishneva (soon to retire as an ABT principal after 21 years) has shared simultaneous joint principal status with ABT, the Mariinsky and La Scala.  This is perhaps not so surprising as the key 'in seasonal residence' NYC ballet companies (NYCB, ABT) have always had a very close association with the Danes, historically much closer, say, than with the British.  It also was perhaps for this reason that historically the Joffrey Ballet was the original key repository for so much of the glorious Ashton repertory in the USA.  That said - under KMcK's leadership - ABT has had relatively recent NYC seasons where they danced more Ashton than, say, the RB did and, of course, the Sarasota Ballet in FL now has perhaps the largest currently on-going Ashton rep in the world.  Our world it seems is ever changing and happily that makes things exciting ... and well worth the travel.  :)

A very helpful and useful comment. Thank you. I for one welcome cross-fertilisation between companies. It benefits both the individual dancers and the companies involved.

Edited by David
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My understanding of prima ballerina is that it refers to the top or main female principle in any given company. The term assoluta refers to a prima of exceptional quality such as Margot Fonteyn.

The RB has several female principles but as far as I know, they are currently considered equal in stature.

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Could anybody kindly explain what prima ballerina means in modern parlance?

 

It means a dancer at the top rank of their company, whether it be principal dancer or First Soloist etc. Therefore there is more than one prima ballerina in each company.

 

It is very often by ballet companies in this way, for example used by the Bolshoi to describe each of their principal dancers, not just Zakharova. 

 

Also most La Scala principals call themselves either prima ballerina or primo ballerino in their social media accounts. I don't think it is the case any more that it is a term given to the 'best' dancer in a company. Whether that 'best dancer' is a ballerina (rather than modern specialist), let alone a prima ballerina is a different matter entirely.

Edited by SwissBalletFan
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As far as I know Osipova isn't a prima ballerina - I wasn't aware that the company had any prima ballerinas at present?

So sorry, lol, maybe I'm not using the term correctly? But in most interviews and PR of Ms. Osipova it usually describes her as the prima of the royal ballet?

But she does seem to be their big star, so that's why I was asking if she had a say in her partners?

Edited by Daisypop84
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It means a dancer at the top rank of their company, whether it be principal dancer or First Soloist etc. Therefore there is more than one prima ballerina in each company.

 

It is very often by ballet companies in this way, for example used by the Bolshoi to describe each of their principal dancers, not just Zakharova. 

 

Also most La Scala principals call themselves either prima ballerina or primo ballerino in their social media accounts. I don't think it is the case any more that it is a term given to the 'best' dancer in a company. Whether that 'best dancer' is a ballerina (rather than modern specialist), let alone a prima ballerina is a different matter entirely.

 

That's now how it's used in the UK, SwissBalletFan. In fact as far as I'm aware it's not used at all here nowadays (except that Fonteyn is described as Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Royal Ballet, effectively prima ballerina in perpetuity). The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet have Principals (some of whom may be guests) and ENB has Principals and Lead Principals. Northern Ballet has a couple of Premier Dancers. The press may refer to leading ballerinas as 'prima' ballerinas but that's not their official rank. Osipova is a principal like all the others at the RB, though she is obviously a big star. How much say she has in her partners is between her and the RB - in practice I would think most principals have a certain amount of say as to whom they dance with, and perhaps she more than most! But she's not in any official sense their prima ballerina, and would not be described as such by the company.

Edited by bridiem
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Ulyana Lopatkina is described, rather quaintly by Wikipedia, as "currently employed" by the Mariinsky as prima ballerina. Sits vac - prima ballerina required, must have experience and be able to start immediately.

 

You've just reminded me that many years ago in a former job one of my colleagues gave all of us/his workmates nicknames, and because my love of ballet was known my nickname was Prima! So I already have the credentials (though not a single one of the requirements...).

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Just to be clear, that Prima Ballerina is not usually an official (contractual) rank in any company, but will be a term that they are described by in media or by a doting director /chroreographer, or by the artist themselves.

 

Prima Ballerina Assoluta IS an official term that has been given as an honour to some ballerinas that have been exceptional in their generation, not only their company.

Edited by SwissBalletFan
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Maybe it has to do with his recent comments about their relationship and his tattoo removal. Still there are role models of professionalism for him to follow, esp. at the RB there is Thiago and Marianela...

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I'm assuming that some members here will probably know more than they feel able to reveal but generally speaking, before we all jump to conclusions, I think we should wait until more information emerges.

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