Archive for benjamin millepied
November 28, 2007 at 2:29 pm · Filed under ballet, dance, tour, travel, architecture, projects, DAVID, american ballet theater, Repertory, cities, architects, opera houses, david hallberg, traveling, companies, process, san francsico, benjamin millepied, giselle, american balet theatre
As the City Center season winded down and ABT went on a week tour to Berkeley, CA, bringing some of the rep. that we did in NYC, the dancers then embarked on a four week lay off. My travels brought me all over the country, and then to Europe for a week of preparations for an upcoming debut.
The week in Berkeley was filled not only with performing repetoire that I enjoy very much, Ballo Della Regina and Benjamin Millepied’s From Here on Out, but also all the advantages that Northern California can bring. I had a wonderful meal at Chez Panisse, hailed as one of the best restaurants in the country, and soaked up some great art, the photography especially interesting, at San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA).
Outside my house, Camelback Mountain
With the tour finished and with the reason that I don’t get home to Phoenix as often as I would like, I spent a quick 48 hours being pampered by the ‘rents’ as only ‘rents’ could do. But most importantly, seeing my BEAUTIFUL GOLDENS, as I have shared with you in past enteries.
On to Minneapolis, where I spent another 48 hours gawking at the architecturally stunning Walker Art Center, newly redone by Herzog and De Meuron, the same architects that completed the refurbishment of the De Young Museum in San Fran, as Sloan pointed out on a recent visit. I had a much anticipated meeting with a very well respected artist that might possibly turn into a future project. We shall see…
The Opera House in Amsterdam
I only stopped over in New York, to do a little laundry and re pack my bags, to go onto Amsterdam for a week. Guillaume Graffin, a former Paris Opera trained and 17 year principal/ballet master with ABT, moved to Amsterdam 2 years ago and joined the Dutch National Ballet as ballet master. When he was working over at ABT, we formed a certain bond in the studio… he having coached me in my first full length ballet with the company, Swan Lake. I have always wanted to go over there and work with him, continuing my desire to learn from him as an artist, and I finally had the free time to do so. I am going to debut Giselle in the spring, with none other than Stella Abrera, GORGEOUS dancer with the company, dancing the lead. One of Guillaume’s great roles was Albrecht in Giselle, and I found the opportunity of him passing on his expertise to a fresh Albrecht something that I couldn’t pass up.
Guillaume in Giselle
The week was an intense one, mainly just talking about the character of Albrecht, and dissecting what to portray through out the story. Guillaume is such an intuitive artist, that I can only try and absorb what he tells me ‘he did’ or chose ‘not to do’ when he was dancing the role. It will take much more preparation for the actual debut but it was really nice to break the ice with someone I respect so much.
And that leads me here… back home, working on more preparations for the Met Season, and at my computer, finally with internet service and The WInger.
Recent Posts by david hallberg
October 26, 2007 at 9:46 pm · Filed under dance, rehearsals, studio, dancers, 890 broadway, photography, city center, american ballet theatre, benjamin millepied, MATTHEW
It’s not much of an assumption to state that one of the most anticipated moments of the fall dance season is the world premiere of Benjamin Millipied’s new ballet “From Here On Out,” it’s just fact. Millipied has been a strong choreographic presence over the past few years, in addition to his phenomenal career as a principal at NYCB, but this marks the first time he has choreographed on ABT.
I was fortunate to take a peek at some of his rehearsals and got EXTREMELY snap happy with my camera. I took tons of pictures, but I’d like to share the first round of the full ballet (after yesterday’s sneak peek at Pik and Blaine’s duet) because tonight is the premiere! Don’t worry though, if you miss it tonight, there’s still several chances to catch it this season. Pick up your tickets today!
(Benjamin takes a minute to discuss music before the run gets under way.)
(Isabella Boylston takes a moment to search through her bag of secrets before rehearsal.)
(Hee Seo rocks some dancer fashion.)
(Before she takes off the sweater and gets down to business.)
(Benjamin gives some notes after a run through.)
(The cast prepares for the opening moments of the ballet.)
(A flying entrance.)
(Maria Ricetto demonstrates her flexibility.)
(Simone Messmer and Thom Forster demonstrating some flexibility.)
(Once he got off the floor, it was time for him to let the ladies do the work.)
(Sascha and Jackie prepare in the “wings.”)
(Simone and Pik strike it fierce.)
(Marcelo wants to know if you’ll be coming to the premiere tonight?!)
Recent Posts by matthew
October 19, 2007 at 1:52 pm · Filed under dance, DAVID, david hallberg, city center, american ballet theatre, benjamin millepied, nico mhuly
There is one week left for the opening of American Ballet Theatre’s season at City Center. As I thought I would give you an over view of the ballets I will be dancing in the up coming two weeks. It has been a grueling rehearsal period, like always, but an interesting one including learning new ballets (Benjamin Millepied) to refreshing old ones that I danced some three years ago.
From Here on Out
If you haven’t heard or seen press about this ballet yet then… where have you been! There was a featured article in New York magazine this week on Nico Mhuly, the composer, and then an article about Benjamin Millepied, the choreographer, in Time Out.. It should prove to be a filled evening of anticipation due to this collaboration, so be sure to check it out.
Fancy Free
I touched on this ballet four years ago and performed it at the Kennedy Center but then put it back in the archives for other ballets I was to dance. It is a gem and Jerome Robbin’s first ballet, choreographed for ABT. The three sailors are so much fun to portray, including playing around with the girls in the bar scenes. Its interesting revisiting a ballet that you have put away for so long, old thoughts come into your memory but also making room for new interpretations.
These are just a couple ballets danced by me during the season. Hope you can make it!
Recent Posts by david hallberg
July 26, 2007 at 5:47 pm · Filed under dance, student, CATHY, brazil, choreography, sao paolo, baryshinkov, hells kitchen dance, aszure barton, benjamin millepied
I had never imagined that someday I would see Mikhail Baryshnikov dancing. Actually, I had no idea he still danced.
And to my surprise, he came to Brazil with his new company, Hell’s Kitchen Dance to tour. They opened the Festival de Dança de Joinville - a dance event/competition here that is HUGE, in the south of the country that started last week. I still haven’t had the opportunity to attend it, though.
Yesterday and on the 24th he was here in São Paulo. I had gotten my tickets weeks ago. They were sold out in two days! Something that I didn’t expect because, afterall, ballet is not something very popular around here.
I was pretty anxious and excited during these weeks.
Parts of the Teatro Municipal stage and lights.
So yesterday I headed to the Teatro Municipal (there’s a picture of the building in one of my old posts) - it’s always a delight to go there - in order to see the performance.
The stairs that take you to your seats in the theater
The piece started with Baryshinkov in a solo - “Years Later”, by Benjamin Millepied. I absolutely loved the idea: there was a screen showing a movie of himself when he was very young. He’d do multiple pirouettes, amazing and high cabrioles, entrechats and so on. The older Baryshnikov would stare at it and try to do what was being shown on the screen, with no success. But he managed to dance in a beautiful and captivating way with the music by Philip Glass. His presence is something amazing. It was quite a touching piece.
Then there were two solos - which I don’t have information about as there was a change in the program.
The first was a woman in some sort of 50’s outfit, she started singing (or lip syncing, I don’t really know) and then did her short solo. I honestly didn’t like it very much, first because I couldn’t understand the point of the choreography, it was a huge question mark for me, and second because the choreography itself was somehow poor.
After her, a man did another short solo, however this one was pretty good. He was a great dancer, very musical and he surprised the audience.
The evening ended with a piece by Aszure Barton called “Come in”.
The whole company danced this piece - and so did Misha.
It was a much longer piece and the choreography was excellent. The male dancers showed themselves much more mature and prepared than the girls, their technique was better as was their presence on the stage. The girls lacked many things; I guess because the company is still new and such. So there’s some work to be done yet, I guess.
Although in general the performance was short, it was worth it. It was a unique opportunity to see Misha dancing and it’s something I’m sure I’ll never forget.
The company has potential and I hope they come back here!
My vacations are almost at an end - next week classes are back (ballet and last months ever of school!) and there’s a lot of work to be done: RAD exam coming up and also exam to enter University.
I’ll keep you guys updated! See you!
Cathy
Recent Posts by cathy godeghesi
