Disqus - Latest Comments for jolene123

Re: NEW YORK CITY BALLET OPENING NIGHT GALA: NAMOUNA AND WHY AM I NOT WHERE YOU ARE

jolene123 — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:15:52 -0000

Hi Tonya - greetings from the West Coast!

You know, I had that thought too - maybe I'd seen too much ballet, and everything just seems derivative of each other. But reading through other review (incl NY Times), it sounds like you're not the only one who thought so. I think the problem is with the choreography - the creative stuff still really gets me (Maillot's Romeo and Juliet comes to mind as the last thing that *really* thrilled me, and Wheeldon's Rhapsodie Espagnole). I just think our standards are getting higher!

Re: Dancing Across Borders: Ballet Talent Found in Cambodia

jolene123 — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:00:27 -0000

Wow, he's such a gorgeous dancer. It's obvious that he has something special, and it's nice to hear Peter Boal say such great things about him. But still, a little bit of me is really sad when I see him in a bit part as that Russian doll in the Nutcracker.

Re: MARCELO DANCING MANON PDD WITH TERESHKINA

jolene123 — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:39:28 -0000

Gorgeous! She has this womanly quality about her that's really lovely. Thanks for posting!

Re: I’M A BLANK SLATE WHEN IT COMES TO KATE GOSSELIN, I CAN’T HELP IT!

jolene123 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:48:43 -0000

That's so awesome, Tonya! :)

Re: BALLET INSPIRED BRIDAL FASHION FROM MARTHA STEWART

jolene123 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:50:30 -0000

Can someone ID the dancers? I don't recognize any of them! Thanks. :)

Re: JEWELS

jolene123 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:40:11 -0000

"Emeralds" is my favorite, particularly for the reasons you mentioned. It's so heart-tugging somehow, even (and probably because) of its subtlety. I love love love it. A Bay area blogger called Emeralds "Mark Morris"-like - I thought that was an interesting description (not sure if I even completely agree, but I get what he's trying to say). Too bad "Emeralds" is the movement that's least performed, especially on its own.

I've found that "Rubies" is a lot of people's favorites especially when they first see it. I think it was mine at the very beginning when I first saw it, for its flash and jazziness. Janie Taylor looks like an amazing Rubies soloist. I'm curious about Sarah Mearns in Diamonds as well!

Re: PASHMINA LIFTS AND LITTLE DOGS WHO STEAL SHOWS: ALEXEY MIROSHNICHENKO’S “THE LADY WITH THE LITTLE DOG”

jolene123 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:16:59 -0000

Interesting...! Here's another review I found that I liked: http://www.ballet.co.uk/mag...

Re: PASHMINA LIFTS AND LITTLE DOGS WHO STEAL SHOWS: ALEXEY MIROSHNICHENKO’S “THE LADY WITH THE LITTLE DOG”

jolene123 — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:06:30 -0000

It sounds fascinating, but, just from reading your review, it looks a lot like there are a ton of gimmicks in "The Lady". The dog, and the gray men are an interesting idea, an unseen force of fate/destiny, but not sure how that would translate in real life. It's almost like these elements overshadow the choreography (which sounds amazing, btw).

I'm curious about the boos. Why? I'm not sure I understand. People didn't like the choreography? It was too abstract/angular? That would be odd, since Agon followed. Too literary? Too dramatic?

The ambiguous endings (and the inability to figure out what's going on) bothers me too. Just a pet peeve. Wonderful writeup though!! Intriguing.

Re: TIX TO THARP’S COME FLY WITH ME NOW ON SALE

jolene123 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:54:59 -0000

Hi Tonya - I was a bit disappointed when I heard about this. Is this not a re-hashing of her two previous successes - the Sinatra Suite and her Broadway success of "Movin' Out"? (Let's try to forget Tharp's "The Times They Are A-Changin'"). I feel like in this recession, art is being recycled to its tried and true formulas and conservative programming, and it feels like it'll be a new Sinatra Suite, on Broadway.

Re: Interview with Alex Ko, Broadway’s Billy Elliot

jolene123 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:34:10 -0000

Great interview! Alex, you're adorable and so well spoken. Who's dancing in the video clip around :37?

I love that the directors focused on ethnic-blind casting, but I can't help but to wonder if it takes away from the believability of the show, esp having a dad like Greg Jbara (is he still in the show?) and a brother who looks very different from Billy. I'm not saying it shouldn't be enough to stop colorblind casting which I fully support. In fact, I loved Lea Salonga as Fantine in Les Miserables, another example of color blind casting. Just some random thoughts.

Re: MET MY FAVORITE TROCK, JOSHUA GRANT, LAST NIGHT

jolene123 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:04:48 -0000

ooh, I'm going to see the Trocks this year - I can't wait! I'm finally going to be able to see them in person. I love how it's not just camp, but a dose of historical accuracy and parody, which the smart audience (such as myself, of course! ;) appreciates.

Just a random thought - Mark Morris should choreograph for this group!

Re: “Chinese” reference on CBS’ The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Premiere

jolene123 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:49:43 -0000

To be honest, I was a little offended by that comment too. Although I suppose the biggest offense should have been Texans, the way that they stereotype Asians (by being stereotyped themselves, ironically...)

Re: JULIETTE BINOCHE AND AKRAM KHAN BRING IN-I TO BAM

jolene123 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:38:09 -0000

How interesting, thanks for the great write up. I thought it was interesting how your favorite part was when the dancer was dancing, and the actor was acting - "His movement and her facial expression compellingly conveyed each character’s inner turmoil." In theory, maybe it'd be fun to see crossovers of experts switching fields into a field completely unlike their own, but it wouldn't be as satisfying to see as we'd think. I wonder if we'd like it for a reason other than for its bottom-line performance value, but a more "relatable" one to the undancerly audience member, or the endearing quality of seeing an expert earnestly try a hand at something that they're obviously not very good at. It might make them more human to us, especially in the case of a celebrity such as Binoche.

I'm skeptical in general of pairings like this one since it reeks of star stunt casting for the sake of selling tickets, which is a common practice on Broadway, but it sounds like some good things came out of this collaboration.

Re: The New Billy Blliot on Broadway is Asian!

jolene123 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:34:25 -0000

I'm glad that colorblind casting is more commonplace these days, but sad that it's still considered a new and progressive idea. It also seems fitting that Billy Elliot would cast a half-Chinese boy as Billy - the storyline of dance not being a career path for a boy may resonate keenly (uncomfortably) with Asian audiences.

Re: ROBERTO BOLLE IS DANCING IN L.A. TONIGHT

jolene123 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:41:01 -0000

Ahhh - I decided not to go! Sorry - wow they were in LA pretty fast, I'm sure he had to catch a flight to LA, maybe that's why he left the stage door. I will try to catch them in Orange County in November though -

Re: DAVID HALLBERG IS WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL DANCER, BUT HE DOES NOT CAVORT WELL WITH PROSTITUTES :)

jolene123 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:38:52 -0000

Tonya, I thought this was written really well. I could picture it exactly in my head! I get what you said about Gillian - her technical perfection and lovely ethereal lines, may not be as human as some other dancers. Thanks for your lovely review!

Re: Marie Antoinette Ballet About to Premiere in Houston

jolene123 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:58:58 -0000

ooh, looks fascinating... I like Stanton Welch's witty commentary on the music through dance as well. Thanks for the links!

Re: Don’t Miss the Jerome Robbins Doc on PBS Wednesday

jolene123 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:53:19 -0000

ooh, sounds like a mustsee... thanks for the heads up. i haven't seen too much of robbins and the verdict is still out for me if I absolutely LOVE him or not. do they feature his goldberg variations at all? that's the one I'm most curious about. i'm going to the theater on wed night but will catch it as soon as I get home.

Re: Marcelo Has a New Headshot!

jolene123 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:46:08 -0000

he's so dreamy! :) I definitely could think of some SF Ballet dancers who should update their head shots - Tiit Helimets is one of them that comes to mind. He's so much better looking onstage than he is in his head shot.

Re: Superstars of Dance Finale

jolene123 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:53:35 -0000

I really had high hopes for the show when I heard that Maria Kochetkova was going to be on - I thought that they would similarly have the "Maria Kochetkovas" of the ballroom sector, Indian dance sector, modern dance sector... but alas, that didn't turn out to be true. I agree that the idea of the show was good, but like you mentioned, I would have much rather preferred a variety show rather than random judging. Is it that necessary to have the added suspense of a competition? And the judges!! Don't even get me started. Did you notice they got wordier as the competition wore on?

Re: Two Big Ballet Companies Begin Their Winter Seasons

jolene123 — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:03:24 -0000

Hi Tonya, thanks for the shoutout! Last night was HEAVENLY; I got back at 4 am. ;) Totally fun to see dancers in a totally different setting and getting down on the dance floor at the after party, esp resident choreographer Yuri Possohkov! He was hilarious. I'll review it soon when I catch up on my sleep and can think straight. ;) Last night was plagued with a lot of last minute cast changes though, I think there are a lot of injuries right now.

I absolutely LOVED Miami City Ballet, esp their In the Upper Room. Watch out for Alex Wong if he's performing in it, he is amazing to watch.