Sabine0308

Sleeping Beauty (by M. Haydee) at Staatsballett Berlin. Hopefully this year😀

It's so heartwarming to browse through the almost 800 comments regarding his injury. Such lovely messages of support and understanding and sending healing vibes. If it is just for this support, he will heal well and be back onstage wiser and with even more passion. Wishing him only the best.❤

So so sorry for McRae. What a nightmare. Wishing him all the best for the recovery.

@Don Q Fan Iana Salenko's story is documented by a writer, most chapters are in German but the recent stories are in English too; https://uwemuellererzaehlt.de/2019/09/11/the-little-william-is-there-2/ We have tickets for her Giselle in October.💐

I saw Bayadere yesterday again. Mostly to support Iana Salenko as Nikia who returned 4 months after giving birth to her second son. Which turned out to be dangerous for her and she had to fight for her life. So she is my absolute Super Mom and hero right now. It was also her role debut. Also, Daniil Simkin as Solor and a fabulous Evelina Godunova as Gamzatti were a delight to watch, as is the entire production. If you can endure the mimics 😆. I would highly recommend Bayadere. It's just one of the most precious traditional ballets; you gotta love it. From the soloists to the corps to the little students from Berlin Ballet School, the audience gave them lots of applause.

Hehe thanks @LinMM but I think reading/writing is easier for me at times.😉

Yesterday, Staatsballett Berlin began its new season with presenting the modern piece "Plateau Effect" by Jefta van Dinther. They performed at "Komische Oper" Berlin, an opera house which used to be home for a so-called "Tantztheater" for many years, long time ago, supported by the founder and first intendant/General manager Walter Felsenstein. So presenting the piece here, which was rather theatre than dancing imo, was somehow a nod to this legacy, but I am not sure if it was intended. If it was, then certainly a nod with a twist. When I left, I was upset, a bit angry, and clueless, so I didn't stay for the premiere party although the audience was invited. This piece is mostly about fighting between 10 dancers and a huge piece of textile and ropes. In the beginning, the textile/curtain hangs behind the dancers, one of them singing (who? The cast sheet didn't say that. Or was it coming from the off, and he was just moving his mouth?). I think it was in English, but I am not sure. Maybe because he sang with an accent, or because my English is bad. The dancers then began to pull/move into/partially disappear in the textile more and more, until they all had been swallowed by it and the "curtain" is going up and now the chaotic fight begins. The textile was for me a symbol for life. It can absorb you, swallow you, spit you out, but also inspire you to build a home and get along with other people/society. A symbol for the need to work together, and for failure when we don't pull on the same/correct rope. When we don't work together, the tent/home cannot be finished. It falls apart. The textile also seemed to be a living being for me, at one point, it was breathing and crawling slowly across the stage (moved by an invisible dancer of course). The people (dancers) desperately tried to tame it, but failed because they didn't communicate or work together. They ran wildly across the stage and created rather chaos than logical purpose. They finally managed to wrestle/pull it down, and wrapped it tightly with the ropes, then it was pulled towards the ceiling and looked again like a (dead) being, e.g. the long neck and small head of a dinosaur. Or an umbilical cord, or a giant snake. Yes I had some weird associations, watching this. 😨 So actually, it was an interesting concept, because the best art always makes you think, contemplate, reflect. What put me off though were a) the stroboscopic effects (I had to close my eyes several times) and b) the "waste" of dancer material for about 45 minutes of the 1 hour piece. Sorry but I think it doesn't take dancers to run across the stage like mad, fummeling wildly with the props (pulling ropes and textile like bloody beginner cadets on a ship who have no idea what they are supposed to do). So, if art has the duty to make you think, I am okay with that. However, it shouldn't take 45 minutes to point that out without actual dance onstage, when dancers are onstage. Less stressful running and pulling, and more dance I say. I am all for dance theatre, as long as the dancers dance. Hats off to the dancers who gave everything they had. I felt they were misused. Last season, Staatsballett danced "Half life" by Sharon Eyal. It was also a contemporary piece, with many monotone movements over a long time, so not easy to "swallow" but it really sucked me in EMOTIONALLY. Compared to "Plateau effect" I would say Half Life touched me deeply, whereas Plateau Effect left me empty. Heart vs Brain?

Thank you so much, Fiona. As I have said before, the balcony scene has touched me deeply. It is the only clip I've seen so far and will check out more. I hope to see this live some day. It sounds wonderful.

The balcony scene PDD is BEAUTIFUL. Totally convinced me re the actual story, 13 years old Julia's fears, doubts, desire and finally total commitment to the person she fell in love with. What a beautiful choreography!!!

Okay she apologized. I believe she has learned a lesson. Sadly, pretty late in her life, fortunately, not too late.

Yes of course! Maria Khoreva was one of them.❤

Many well-known dancers have made great statements, like James B. Whiteside, M. Baryshnikov, St. McRae, just to name a view. Also, Gene Kelly's wife, Debbie Allen and many many more. I love that these days, this community sticks together, and defends their colleagues and friends and speaks up for future male dancers and against bullying in any kind!!! Yes this backfired!!💪💪💪💪

Her lame "apology" is another insult. It doesn't come from the heart. And she deleted all comments/turned the comments off. How low is that!! I agree that she should apologize on TV, just where her mocking happened! Takes courage of course.

Ah to see Hallberg...at least once...another beautiful review, thanks Mandy.

Wonderful review, so glad you had such a great evening ❤

Ohhh good news!

From her fundraiser story: "..... I have a kidney stone which was NOT removed or blasted because of that lack of insurance. A stent was placed to save my life because thats all they would do, but no followup ordered for me. I was told to head back to the UK, only given limited medication, and this was all over 2 weeks ago. I can not yet fly... too much pain and the stent not removed. I need the stone checked to see if its still there, removed if it is, and then the stent removed. The hospital is refusing to finish the work they started without money upfront, I can't get the medications necessary..." In my book, follow-up care is a key part of treatment and safety. And if the hospital refuses to provide her with that follow-up, they follow rules that can put her life in danger.

It's such a shame. Makes the US a third world country in my opinion. 👹 Donated.

I would like to add the following: Bejart - Kabuki, Bolero Forsythe - In the middle somewhat elecated Neumeier - Kameliendame And very close to my heart, hopefully not lost already: Tom Schilling's work for Komische Oper Ballet in Berlin, especially his "Romeo&Juliet". Sadly, the maestro refuses to this day to release his work for other companies. I wish him a long life (he is 91 years now), but I do wish to see his wonderful choreographed again.

He didn’t say. He will say it if he wants to.😀 Patience😉

That is so beautiful to watch.❤

Thank you so much Mandy, for taking the time. It is a very interesting read. I'd rather read some opinions here than speculation about his future plans.

And I want to thank @Mandy Kent for proofreading!❤ couldn't edit my previous post, so sorry for quoting myself.🙄

My review is finally up also in English, the German Ballet platform "Tanznetz" was waiting for official pictures from the Mariinsky. https://www.tanznetz.de/blog/29422/sensational-debut

This crazy ranking system gives me a headache.