Sabine0308

I'm shocked and sad...I was hoping to meet her here in Berlin, we were in contact last year when she planned again a travel to Germany for ballet enthusiasts. Sadly, this went south due to Corona. I also enjoyed reading her newsletters, written with so much insight and love for ballet. May she rest in peace, my condolences to her family .😢

There is a Podcast on dance called "A body's language" and in November 2020, they had David Hallberg as incoming Artistic Director speaking about his transition from a dancer to incoming director. Of course he speaks about his performances, and I loved especially the memories he had with Romeo&Juliet and Sleeping Beauty.

Available here, no registration required.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-bodys-language/id1555671551

Very happy with the results for #226 Luca (3 prizes, among them scholarship no. 2) and Winner No. 218 Casalinho, and the 2 winners for contemporary - well deserved.  I'm okay with the other prizes with one exception: the Nureyev prize went to #118 Maciano????? I'm not an expert but really...compare his dancing to Shale Wagman's performances 2018 and tell me who did deserve this "prize for exceptional artistry". 🙄

Also a bit disappointed that Gulio Diligente (Italy) didn't get a scholarship but well. 

I agree, I had Maia Rose on my list as well. But yes, I find that a lot of students are very close in their very good level, so I'm sure it was hard to pick. Also, I am pleased to see so many very good male students this year. I already mentioned Luca, also Gulio Diligente and Rui Cesar Cruz (giant leaps!) catched my eyes. Good luck to all of the finalists!

As for "no Americans among the finalists: #231 Ashley Coupal is from Canada (which is on the North American continent 😉) and she dances at the Orlando Ballet School. Maybe this is kind of comfort.🤗

OMG have you seen #226 Luca Abdel Nour? So elegant!!! 

From Tanzakademie Zurich (director Oliver Matz, former principal dancer in Berlin❤).

Well I'm sure Zelensky hired him for a reason and made a smart move, aware of his height but moreso of his amazing talent. I can't wait to see him.

I am so happy for him. Munich...you've got a gem. See you soon.❤❤

Happy New Year to all!! 2021 will bring the lights back, in real life and onstage, and I cannot wait to sit in a theatre again. Be safe!!🌹💖

Thank you so much, @Amelia !💖

Sorry if I missed info on this event, all I know is that the festival was scheduled for April,  got cancelled and re-scheduled for December 2020. The website is not very helpful and confusing, so is here someone with more insight? Thanks.

Here is the link to Staatsballett Berlin's contribution to World Ballet Day:

1. Pas de Quatre by Anton Dolin (staged by M. Kaniskin)

Portraying famous ballerinas of the past

Evelina Godunova as Lucile Grain

Aya Okumura as Carlotta Trish

Sarah Hees-Hochster as Fanny Cerrito

Yolanda Correa as Marie Taglioni

2. Grand Pas de Deux from "Le Corsaire"

Iana Salenko, Daniil Simkin

Staatsballett Berlin continues careful steps back on stage with a 4th gala in December. The beloved Nutcracker won't happen this year of course, but they're trying to show a stream online in December, since it has been filmed some time ago. For me, Christmas is only complete with Nutcracker ballet.  Sad news is that Marcia Haydee's Sleeping Beauty had to be postponed to 2022. So everything is still back and forth. Corona restrictions in Berlin are harsher than in Stuttgart for example, so SBB performances are still very limited. 

Other news: since today, Berlin's former Mayor for 13 years and also former Senator for Culture Klaus Wowereit is now CEO of SBBs friends circle. Let's hope he brings more attention for ballet into Berlin public. In general, Ballet has not a big voice/lobby in Berlin. I hope this changes a bit now.

11 hours ago, BristolBillyBob said:

For me, though, the other big winner tonight was Stina Quagebeur. Hollow was simply mesmerising. For me it felt like the stunning offspring of her own Vera and Crystal Pite's 10 Duets on a Theme of Rescue, I was transfixed. 

My thoughts as well. The piece blew me away.

Bravo to Ivana Bueno for winning the award, she was gorgeous and confident and really surprised me. I would not consider myself as an expert but to me, both her pieces were flawless and she had a good connection to her partner.

On 26/08/2020 at 20:05, Don Q Fan said:

I am so envious you will see his final show....please give an extra round of applause for me 🙏 I will really miss Mikhail.  Enjoy the show👍

Will do!! I was at the dress rehearsal yesterday (tonight is premiere for the 1st gala programme) and we saw them in "Kazimir's colours", it was brilliant. As was the entire programme. Such a diversity, and superb dancers. Everybody was happy to be back onstage and in the auditorium!!  Looking forward to Saturday and following performances.

21 hours ago, FionaE said:

yes Iana Salenko’s white Swan was my favourite too.  She is sublime.  Worth watching for this alone.  
 

Lucky you with audience participation re-starting.  Enjoy!

Thank you! Can't wait.

On 19/08/2020 at 18:11, Don Q Fan said:

I see Mikhail Kaniskin is leaving SS Berlin shortly.  I will be sad not to see him dance again, I liked him in Onegin especially.

He and his wife Elisa in Onegin...they were brilliant. They will perform a Pas de Deux from this ballet as part of the farewell gala for him, can't wait o see this again on Aug 29.

17 hours ago, FionaE said:

I really enjoyed this End of Season collection.   Many super performances 👏

I am happy that you enjoyed it. My favorite was Iana Salenko's Swan❤. I also got word today that we can watch rehearsals again. The usual precautions of course but what a treat. Next week roll on❤

I was a bit anxious but I did get my tickets for Staatsballett Berlin for late August and September yesterday. Distance is of course a matter in the auditorium, contact data will be collected, bring your ID to the performance is obligatory, resale of tickets is not allowed. At Deutsche Oper, only 415 out of 1859 seats are being sold. Oywey....but I am sooo looking forward to go to a theatre again.💖

Here is the link to "From Berlin with love 1" which is still accessible on youtube:

@Irmgard Thank you for shining light to the date of filming, I was confused about the lack of enthusiasm from the audience, I heard only bits of applause and there was no "curtain call"/final bows. Now I understand. I didn't like this Cinderella version and sometimes didn't know what was going on compared to the actual fairytale. I agree, the final Cinderella-Prince PDD was beautiful. Overall, from the main cast I especially enjoyed Jeff Cirio's dancing, much more than Hernandez. Alina was beautiful. But choreo for both main characters was not very touching, imo. Also, I was happy to see whirlwind Shale Wagman as lead autumn who danced this role also in opening night. 

Happy that Staatsballett Berlin is back, as good as possible. Just ordered my tickets for "From Berlin with love" 1 (With the "Goodbye" performance for M. Kaniskin) and 2, and Lab Work COVID 19. Cannot wait.❤❤❤

Dancers of Staatsballett Berlin returned to the studio this week, according to Instagram stories by Evelina Godunova and Daniil Simkin. 😍

Sasha Waltz recently said in an interview with BZ , that SBB expects to work again at the end of August but has 3 different scenarios, depending on a beginning in September, October or November. 😨 They are determined to save at least 2 premieres, Marcia Haydee's "Sleeping Beauty" and S. Waltz' "Sym-Phonie 2020". Let's hope the Sleeping Beauty gets a chance... 

She also mentioned that Alan Lucien Øyen's World Premiere for SBB and the premieres with pieces by David Dawson, Wayne McGregor and Mats Ek are cancelled for the upcoming season. 

I was looking forward to Ek and McGregor and I hope it will happen soon after next season.

I know that Raimondo Rebeck recently worked in Astana, he helped stage a Beethoven ballet. Would that be available online too? The clips I saw on insta were stunning!

Ah ok thanks!

I already miss going to concerts. Fortunately, some opera houses or single artists generously share their talent online during the Corona crisis. Maybe we can share some links to these wonderful opportunities, they shine a light of hope into these times of turmoil.

I highly recommend the piano concerts by Igor Levit. He usually plays around 7pm from his home in Berlin, check his Twitter or instagram account, all concerts are still accessible. Tonite, he graced us with Beethoven's Moonlight sonata. The sound wasn't the best, but still made my day. 

Twitter: @igorpianist

Instagram: igorpianist