The Winger » Performance Log- Le Corsaire

Performance Log- Le Corsaire

May 22, 2008 at 1:27 pm · Filed under dance, DAVID, david hallberg

DAVID HALLBERG
American Ballet Theatre
New York, NY USA
BIO | POSTS

Welcome to a new series, a little like ‘On my way to work’, but more Met performance based called ‘Performance Log’. Its going to deal with my performances during our ongoing Met season.

The first being Le Corsaire.

I have danced this ballet many times but never with the stunning Julie Kent. This was our only performance together this season and we made the best of it. A good show all around, something that I was proud of, which doesn’t seem to happen very often, given the critical view dancers take on themselves on a regular basis.

A good warm up/start of the season to come!

Cast:

Conrad: David Hallberg
Medora: Julie Kent
Ali, the slave: Ethan Steifel
Gulnare: Misty Copeland
Lankadem: Sascha Radetsky
Birbanto: Craig Salstein

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jolene said,

May 22, 2008 @ 3:57 pm

Julie Kent *is* stunning -

I totally recognized the same makeup remover I use. Shu uemura rocks (I have the big bottle though).

Sophie B. said,

May 22, 2008 @ 6:09 pm

Hi David,

I’m a super right now for Corsaire (servant girl) and I’ve been having such a fantastic time being able to experience the backstage atmosphere at abt.

My cover went on at the matinee yesterday but I watched from backstage - you were fantastic, as was the rest of the cast! You and Julie Kent danced so beautifully together and Craig Salstein and Misty Copeland made fantastic debuts!

Bennyroyce Royon said,

May 22, 2008 @ 6:29 pm

David,

Fun. We have the same phone. lol

Benny

Merde with your shows…

jennifer said,

May 22, 2008 @ 6:57 pm

le corsaire is such a circus of a ballet! love it, the audience goes nuts!

but ethan steifel’s mustache has *got* to go…

Philip said,

May 22, 2008 @ 11:05 pm

This was my first CORSAIRE…everyone danced really well and you & Julie are great together. It was good seeing you & Craig afterwards. Have a great season!

SanderO said,

May 22, 2008 @ 11:20 pm

David,

I wonder if you would care to comment on the challenges to partnering with different dancers. How much time would you typically prepare with a new partner such as Julie Kent when both of you have performed the role many times before? I would think that you would perform a bit differently with different partners and they the same. When ABT partners dancers, what are the criteria (aside from height)? Do principal dancers have any say over the roles they perform in a season? Or is it David you do X, Y Z on the following dates with A, B and C? I hope you don’t mind these probing questions.

QQ said,

May 23, 2008 @ 1:02 am

I wanna SEE !!!!

Btw, is that your apartment? or your makeup room at Met? looks neat

Alexandra said,

May 23, 2008 @ 12:32 pm

I can’t wait for more installments! And especially, I can’t wait to see more photos

matthew said,

May 23, 2008 @ 12:34 pm

It’s his dressing room at the Met. All of the dressing rooms at the Met are pretty fantastic. Even for the corps we always have a lot of space to ourselves and plenty of room to burrow for the eight week season. Of course, the principals have more “plush” dressing rooms: more counter space, their own bathroom, a lounge chair, etc. But what makes it all amazing to me is walking through it and literally feeling the history of all the performers from the past who have walked the same hallways.

QQ said,

May 23, 2008 @ 11:33 pm

i see. like the high trailers on a tv/movie set, except high trailers are all temporary-rented & mobile, there’s still history/past to walk through and feel it just no track of whose history/past and whose dust now sitting there… kinda sucks

thaaanks Matthew for taking the time to explain, for an outsider

QQ said,

May 23, 2008 @ 11:40 pm

how come i posted a comment later than Matthew’s, but my time stamp is one hour earlier than his? does thewinger’s cyber clock needs a little fix or a new battery? haha, joke

Janie Gray's Mom said,

May 24, 2008 @ 6:21 am

Looking forward to following your “Performance Log”. I f I can’t be there for the 8 weeks, I guess this is the next best thing! Oh well, at least I was able to watch you on Opening NIght!!! Take care David, Have a great Met Season- Hopefully I will make it back before its over!
Love- Janie

Elisa said,

May 24, 2008 @ 2:47 pm

wow! i really LOVE you and julie kent! i think you’re wonderful together.. can you post some pics of you two together if you had them?
good luck for the season.. love elisa