Comments for DanceBeat

Comment on From Tunis to Ithaca by Martha Ullman West

Martha Ullman West — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:13:43 +0000

Fascinating, thanks for taking me on this journey with you Deborah.

Comment on Then Plus Now by no fee roth ira accounts

no fee roth ira accounts — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:39:19 +0000

I constantly spent my half an hour to read this webpage’s articles or reviews everyday along with a cup of coffee.

Comment on All American by TATYANA

TATYANA — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:31:44 +0000

Dear Deborah,
Great thanks for your warm words of admiration and detailed description of NYCB Gala. It is like being there at the performance. NYCB is a great company and they deserve nice words and long ovations for their woderful work!

Comment on A Change in the Wind by andrea olsen

andrea olsen — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:29:57 +0000

beautifully written. appreciation for close viewing! AO

Comment on All American by Tugboat

Tugboat — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:19:22 +0000

How can it be All American when they take lots of NEA money paid by the entire American tax payers but never can be found performing anywhere except New York. If they want to be All American they should get out of New York, spend some of our non-New York tax money performing in Kansas City, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Spokane and Albuquerque. American west of New York does not stop at the Hudson River.

Comment on All American by Lisa Mehigan

Lisa Mehigan — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:46:54 +0000

Thank you, Deborah, for your response.

Comment on All American by Deborah Jowitt

Deborah Jowitt — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:50:34 +0000

I’m very glad that Don Drewecki and Lisa Mehigan spoke out about the New York City Ballet’s shrunken summer season and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. it seems incomprehensible that SPAC’s management wouldn’t consider that the company’s seasons brought tourists to the area and shoppers to the town center. It’s no accident that the National Museum of Dance opened there.

Comment on All American by Martha Ullman West

Martha Ullman West — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:47:34 +0000

A small correction about Samuel Barber’s Souvenirs–Todd Bolender, by his own account, heard this music and wanted to make a ballet. He was then delighted to learn that City Ballet owned the score, that Barber was not pleased by what Balanchine proposed to do with it, and Balanchine evidently shrugged and said, okay, you try. The result was Souvenirs, the first production designed for City Ballet by Reuben ter Arturian. Kansas City Ballet performed the ballet last spring when the Bolender Center there was inaugurated and I frankly think it’s a shame that City Ballet no longer has it in active rep. Nevertheless, Deborah’s description of the Wheeldon does make me want to see it with mine own eyes; I too admire his touch with pas de deux.

Comment on All American by Lisa Mehigan

Lisa Mehigan — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:58:54 +0000

I live in Saratoga Springs, New York. Saratoga has been fortunate to have been the “summer home of the New York City Ballet” for nearly 50 years. For those who may not know, The Saratoga Performing Arts Center was the combined vision of George Balanchine, Lincoln Kirstein, Eugene Ormandy, Nelson Rockefeller and local area arts enthusiasts, all of whom banded together to make the Arts Center a reality. The opening of the facility brought with it great excitement and, over the years, the audience has grown to a respectable size (generally equal to that at Koch Theather), averaging about 2,000 for each NYCB performance.

However, the Arts Center has been plagued by poor management for at least the last 35 years. Eight years ago, the Executive Director at that time made the huge gaffe of voting with the Board to drop City Ballet from any future appearances. There was a huge outcry from the community and, ultimately, amid much hubbub, the President and Board were replaced.

At that time, NYCB appeared here for three weeks each year in July. Their residency now stands at one week, with no guarantee that they will return in 2014, or still be appearing here for their 50th anniversary season in 2016. It is clear to me that this downturn is due to an artistically uninformed Board and a President who knows nothing about arts management. There are no grants sought, no Capital Fund Drives, there has never been an Endowment Fund Drive and, in general, they look no farther than the wealthiest among the local residents for fundraising.

Why am I writing this in response to the wonderful review written by Deborah Jowitt, above? Because for this entire week, I have read only rave reviews of the company”s Gala performance in newspapers and magazines. Saratoga Springs was given an historic opportunity to treasure and nurture NYCB but, apparently, we don’t care enough to put in the effort to keep this world-class, amazing, dance company here. We don’t know what we have. Michael Bloomberg and Deborah Jowitt know. Dance Magazine, Daniel Wakin and the generous donors who contribute to NYCB know. I wonder if those of you who know the value of City Ballet and its dancers and who read this column have any ideas to save the situation.

I love NYCB. I would do whatever needs to be done to make their tenure here continue so that future generations can experience what I have known, a true “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where one can transcend this ordinary life for the joyous and beautiful summer world of the New York City Ballet, dancing, surrounded by pine trees, fireflies and a sweet sunset in the woods.

Comment on All American by Don Drewecki

Don Drewecki — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:35:36 +0000

DJ concludes: “As the huge flag is pulled up to end the ballet, let us this time salute America’s contributions to music history and to the repertory of our cherished native ballet company.”

Unfortunately, the summer home of the NYCB, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, doesn’t see it that way. They’ve cut the City Ballet back to a mere one-week residency, and have blamed the company for “not getting its financial matters in order.” A real tragedy.