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
November 19, 2007 at 1:40 am · Filed under backstage, dance, stage, photography, photographer, PATRICIO, chile, ballet de santiago, luis ortigoza, julie kent, patricio melo, wings, giselle, guest artist
Well this is the second part, I hope you enjoy each picture.
I love this picture, she flies.
Julie, second act.
Julie and Luis, this is one of my special pictures.
Julie and Luis in front the courtein.
Julie, Luis and his teacher Mario Galizzi.
Marcia Haydée and Julie Kent.
Recent Posts by patricio
November 19, 2007 at 1:00 am · Filed under backstage, dance, rehearsal, studio, stage, photography, photographer, PATRICIO, chile, ballet de santiago, luis ortigoza, julie kent, patricio melo, wings, giselle
To me Julie Kent is beautiful as Giselle, I took these pictures the last time she danced here with Ballet de Santiago. Here are some in rehearsals, in the studio, on the stage, and also some from the first act.
This was the first rehearsal.
Julie and Luis.
This rehearsall was magic, and I couldn´t stop taking pictures.
They were very happy to see each other again. Before this Giselle they danced together in Bayadere and Sleeping Beauty.
Rehearsal on the stage.
Dress rehearsal.
The curtain is almost open.
So nice.
Her Variation.
The mad scene.
This scene was amazing.
Recent Posts by patricio
November 1, 2007 at 2:53 am · Filed under dance, joffrey ballet, frederic franklin, giselle, LAUREN
After a two week stint, the curtain closed on Sunday, October 28th, ending Joffrey’s performances of Giselle at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. However, this does not mark the end of performances this season, for we will be touring to Detroit in March 2008 and performing it there at the Detroit Opera House. Staged by Frederic Franklin and his assistant Christina Johnson(former dancer of Dance Theater of Harlem), the version staged by Mr. Franklin was based on the creole one he did for DTH. It was truly a success, and was received well by audiences and critics alike.
Currently Joffrey is on a two week layoff until we resume to rehearse Nutcracker and Tudor’s Dark Elegies on November 12th. For the female corps, it will be a much needed rest from the demanding work executed in Giselle.
Below are a few pictures from backstage:
Prop table: urn, goblets, rakes for villagers, etc.
Act II: A view of the corps from the wings.
Village Men prepare for their scene opening Act II with Hilarion’s entrance.
Willies prepare for Act II.
Recent Posts by lauren
September 23, 2007 at 7:20 pm · Filed under dance, photography, marcia haydee, swan lake, alessandra ferri, PATRICIO, ballet de santiago, luis ortigoza, julie kent, patricio melo, ivan nagy, rodrigo guzman, giselle, carmen, mother teresa
Marcia Haydée in Mother Teresa.
Marcia in Mother Teresa.
Nina.
Luis Ortigoza.
Marcia and Luis.
Alessandra and Julio.
Julie and Luis in Giselle.
Luis Ortigoza in Giselle.
Marcela Goicoechea.
Luis Ortigoza.
Luis, Lidia, Ballet de Santiago in Giselle.
Jason in 101.
Marijn in Affi.
Andreza and Luis in Romeo and Juliet, Cranko´s Version.
Julie Kent and Luis Ortigoza in Giselle.
Marcela Goicoechea in Giselle.
Luis, Marcela and Rodrigo in Carmen.
Marcia and Luis. This is a very special pic to me… it was the first one I took.
Luis Ortigoza in Giselle. Ivan Nagy´s Version.
Lidia, rest in Serenade.
Rodrigo Guzmán as Carabosee, Marcia Haydée Sleeping Beauty.
Ballet Carmen Marcia Haydée version, Marcela and Luis are great as Carmen and Don Jose.
Somebody else took this picture. Alessandra Ferri and me.
On the stage Georgette, Luis, Lidia and Agustin.
Recent Posts by patricio
