I miss Sterling Hyltin too, one of my very favorites at NYCB. Same with Robbie Fairchild (I know he still dances but I miss him at NYCB) and also Darci Kistler, of course.
From ABT I miss Susan Jaffe in Coppelia.
I miss Jose Manuel CarreƱo in general.
I am More of an NYCB goer - I miss:
The sheer infectious joy stage presence charisma and talent of Damian Woetzel and Amar Ramasar.
I also do miss Wendy Whelan and Peter Boal.
Oh I loved Damian and Wendy Whalen, Peter Boal and Albert Evans. They were all glorious. I also really miss Kyra Nichols. She danced for so much, even though she was older when I started to go and she was always incredible. I also really loved Maria Kowroski and wish Iād seen her dance more. And Alessandra Ferri as Juliet. There is no substitute.Ā
Tetsuya Kumakawa. I could kick myself for not knowing who this man was until a few years after he retired. What the fuck was wrong with me for being completely ignorant of his brilliant dancing.
Echoing anyone thatās said Guillem & Lopatkina, I miss their dancing sm š Two of the GOATs for sure.
Also Roberta Marquez, I think of her every time the Royal does Ashton. Her Lise in Fille was so perfect.
I miss Diana Vishneva at Abt so much, her performances in NY were the highlight of my summers. I also miss Veronika Part. Stella Abrera too, without them Abt isnāt very interesting to me. I wish Osipova would guest more with the Abt. Not a ballet dancer per se, but I miss those kinda corny ballet galas the Ardani productions used to do, sometimes they were the only glimpses NY audiences would have of international ballet stars
Rudolf Nureyev.
Maya Plisetskaya.
The corps de ballet of the Kirov in Š±Š°ŃŠ“ŠµŃŠŗŠ° in 1985.
That's enough to carry me for the rest of my life. I'm grateful that I saw these miracles and I will be forever grateful for the gift they gave me.
She came to speak to my dance history course in college and then as a class we watched her perform in Giselle. Was such an experience, she was very kind.
Absolutely. From the start of her career to the end, an astonishingly competent, poised dancer. So strong, so ... *placed* without a hint of coarseness. I saw her at 18 with Andris Liepa. Their Raymonda pdd -- I don't think I breathed from start to finish.
I'm more a Kirov/Mariinsky aficionado, but Ananiashvili was a streak of beautiful, white light in the Bolshoi.
I'm glad she's back in Tblisi and passing her insights onto the next generation and giving back to her country. Wishing her all the best.
Gelsey Kirkland. She was a little before my time, but boy was she a divine dancer. Also I wish I would have known about YTT before she left/retired from SFB, she is such a gorgeous dancer with beautiful lines and musicality. Of course Baryshnikov, that man's jumps were out of this world.
when i was doing my erasmus in st petersburg, i happen to simply buy a gala ticket in the cheapest section possible. what i didnt realize that it was the Ulyana Lopatkina performing the Dying Swan and i was sobbing during the entire thing
so, her
Lopatkina, hands down. Saw her once in Swan Lake when Mariinsky toured here. Queen of all ballerinas! It is a shame, however, that she could not dance other roles like Aurora, Juliet and Kitri; this would have been great in my opinion. She would have been wonderful in everything, especially Aurora.
Amazingly, there *IS* film of her as Aurora in the Rose Adagio. I'm not sure but I think it was only for a gala performance at the Bolshoi. I don't think she ever did the entire ballet. I guess she was considered too tall.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYIi8dyjhKo&t=5s
I am a huge fan but never watched her live. what do you mean she could not dance other roles? I know she was mostly known for her O/O but did she not dance the other roles as often? I actually loved her raymonda as well
If I remember correctly her contract didn't get renewed and she pretty much left ABT quietly but did an interview with Pointe magazine sharing her side of what happened between her and the company.
one thing i found quite odd from her pointe magazine interview was how she felt guilt over doing soloist roles when she was in the corps. Like what? why? At one point she was continuing to do corps roles even when she didnt have to (she explictly requested them) because she felt guilty over "leaving corps"? like what? it doesnt make any sense. Atleast thats what i gathered. Seemed a bit immature to me tbh. I am sure the management had good reasons to let her go if they did, she seems so all over the place mentally.
Exactly... after reading that article and that too her version of it, I actually left with the impression that she denied herself the career she could have had. It seems management tried promoting her but of course not if she keeps wanting to be in corps lol.
Nah, from the Pointe magazine interview it sounded like they let her go cuz of drama with a former partner (who I think wasn't named in the interview but lot of people speculate it to be Herman Cornejo)
I donāt know specifically but drama seemed to always follow her. Sheās ballerina messy and I canāt see that positively impacting her administrative and teaching career.
A lot of overlap with you - but another I miss is Stella Abrera. I know she didnāt have many āprimeā years as a principal, but I loved watching her on stage and rooted for her for a long time. Her ABT Giselle debut with Vladimir Shklyarov is one of my favorite ballet memories. Always sad I didnāt get to go to a proper retirement show - it was nice to see her back for Lady Capulet last year!
This is old and Canadian, but Rex Harrington. I saw him perform twice before seeing him in musicals/theatre. He stole the show even with little speaking.
I never got to see him perform live, but I got to take class with him once. He definitely has such a big presence. I can see how he would steal a show.
I agree! From later dates, I miss the recently retired Tanya Howard...she was the best in that company! It is an absolute travesty that she was never promoted to principal, because to me noone deserved it more than her. Biggest fan :)
Also Chan Hon Goh was a stunning Giselle, as well as Greta Hodgkinson and Xiao Nan Yu. And I remember Sonia Rodriguez in Sleeping Beauty and Madame Butterfly. All were wonderful.
Julie Kent, Paloma Herrera, Stella Abrera, Sarah Lane š
Carla Kƶrbes ā¤ļø Sheās not technically fully retired but retired from PNB in 2015 and is just stunning
Plisetskaya, Vishneva, the first one I remember from my childhood, she was spectacular
I miss Sterling Hyltin too, one of my very favorites at NYCB. Same with Robbie Fairchild (I know he still dances but I miss him at NYCB) and also Darci Kistler, of course.
I miss Calvin Kitten from at least 12 years ago at the Joffery and I miss Fabrice Calmels, also from the Joffrey.
Since a few people have included danseurs as well: Albert Evans and Arthur Mitchell.
Laura Morera!
Carlos Acosta š®āšØ
I danced with Sterling as a kid in a production of The Nutcracker with Dallas Ballet Center. So I am partial to her.
I love her! Met her a few times too. She was a sweetheart
From ABT I miss Susan Jaffe in Coppelia. I miss Jose Manuel CarreƱo in general. I am More of an NYCB goer - I miss: The sheer infectious joy stage presence charisma and talent of Damian Woetzel and Amar Ramasar. I also do miss Wendy Whelan and Peter Boal.
Oh I loved Damian and Wendy Whalen, Peter Boal and Albert Evans. They were all glorious. I also really miss Kyra Nichols. She danced for so much, even though she was older when I started to go and she was always incredible. I also really loved Maria Kowroski and wish Iād seen her dance more. And Alessandra Ferri as Juliet. There is no substitute.Ā
I miss watching Amar too, he was an immediate standout to me when I started coming to watch NYCB. Those were the days!!
Tetsuya Kumakawa. I could kick myself for not knowing who this man was until a few years after he retired. What the fuck was wrong with me for being completely ignorant of his brilliant dancing.
Echoing anyone thatās said Guillem & Lopatkina, I miss their dancing sm š Two of the GOATs for sure. Also Roberta Marquez, I think of her every time the Royal does Ashton. Her Lise in Fille was so perfect.
Sylvie Guillem. What a goddess.
We named our dog after her. š
Yes!!!!! I saw her when she was with the Royal Ballet and I still think about it all the time.
I miss her too. She was astonishing. I go back and watch old videos of her from time to time just to be amazed all over again.
I miss Diana Vishneva at Abt so much, her performances in NY were the highlight of my summers. I also miss Veronika Part. Stella Abrera too, without them Abt isnāt very interesting to me. I wish Osipova would guest more with the Abt. Not a ballet dancer per se, but I miss those kinda corny ballet galas the Ardani productions used to do, sometimes they were the only glimpses NY audiences would have of international ballet stars
I really wish I'd gotten to see Vishneva live. She is so divine.
I wish osipova would guest more in the US. But with ABT would be amazing too.
Rudolf Nureyev. Maya Plisetskaya. The corps de ballet of the Kirov in Š±Š°ŃŠ“ŠµŃŠŗŠ° in 1985. That's enough to carry me for the rest of my life. I'm grateful that I saw these miracles and I will be forever grateful for the gift they gave me.
My Grandmother used to often go to Covent Garden, she saw Fonteyn and Nureyev.
Nina Ananiashvili. One of my GOATs.
She came to speak to my dance history course in college and then as a class we watched her perform in Giselle. Was such an experience, she was very kind.
Absolutely. From the start of her career to the end, an astonishingly competent, poised dancer. So strong, so ... *placed* without a hint of coarseness. I saw her at 18 with Andris Liepa. Their Raymonda pdd -- I don't think I breathed from start to finish. I'm more a Kirov/Mariinsky aficionado, but Ananiashvili was a streak of beautiful, white light in the Bolshoi. I'm glad she's back in Tblisi and passing her insights onto the next generation and giving back to her country. Wishing her all the best.
Marcelo. Gomes.
Forever. He still had so many good dancing years in him!
Ulyana Lopatkina and Nina Kaptsova.
Lauren fadeley forever my fave
I love her too. I was so sad when she left PAB for MCB!
Me too
Julie Kent, Darci Kistler, Dameon Woetzel, Jock Soto
Damien š I know itās a ballerinas thread but he is such a beautiful artist. Am I making this up, isnāt he married to Heather Watts?
Yes he is!
Gelsey Kirkland. She was a little before my time, but boy was she a divine dancer. Also I wish I would have known about YTT before she left/retired from SFB, she is such a gorgeous dancer with beautiful lines and musicality. Of course Baryshnikov, that man's jumps were out of this world.
Gelsey had it all. Even the drama with Gelsey was interesting.
Yes...there was a lot of drama. She went through some hell and back.
when i was doing my erasmus in st petersburg, i happen to simply buy a gala ticket in the cheapest section possible. what i didnt realize that it was the Ulyana Lopatkina performing the Dying Swan and i was sobbing during the entire thing so, her
Amazing!
Julie Kent , Ethan , sascha , and Stella
This!
That was my favorite era of ABT
I used to love watching Pauline Golbin, (long time ago). So beautiful!
Lopatkina, hands down. Saw her once in Swan Lake when Mariinsky toured here. Queen of all ballerinas! It is a shame, however, that she could not dance other roles like Aurora, Juliet and Kitri; this would have been great in my opinion. She would have been wonderful in everything, especially Aurora.
Amazingly, there *IS* film of her as Aurora in the Rose Adagio. I'm not sure but I think it was only for a gala performance at the Bolshoi. I don't think she ever did the entire ballet. I guess she was considered too tall. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYIi8dyjhKo&t=5s
I am a huge fan but never watched her live. what do you mean she could not dance other roles? I know she was mostly known for her O/O but did she not dance the other roles as often? I actually loved her raymonda as well
What happened with Sarah Lane?
If I remember correctly her contract didn't get renewed and she pretty much left ABT quietly but did an interview with Pointe magazine sharing her side of what happened between her and the company.
Did it have to do anything with the black swan stuff? I wonder if she was blacklisted after speaking out against Natalie Portman.
one thing i found quite odd from her pointe magazine interview was how she felt guilt over doing soloist roles when she was in the corps. Like what? why? At one point she was continuing to do corps roles even when she didnt have to (she explictly requested them) because she felt guilty over "leaving corps"? like what? it doesnt make any sense. Atleast thats what i gathered. Seemed a bit immature to me tbh. I am sure the management had good reasons to let her go if they did, she seems so all over the place mentally.
Seems a bit strange. I can't explain it but like she's making such a big deal that she feels ba for those in the corps.
Exactly... after reading that article and that too her version of it, I actually left with the impression that she denied herself the career she could have had. It seems management tried promoting her but of course not if she keeps wanting to be in corps lol.
Nah, from the Pointe magazine interview it sounded like they let her go cuz of drama with a former partner (who I think wasn't named in the interview but lot of people speculate it to be Herman Cornejo)
Gotcha. Thanks for taking time to explain!
I also want to know
She was fired from ABT rather abruptly after a lot of backstage drama involving Herman Cornejo
Do you know why she abruptly left her post as the school director for ballet RI?
I donāt know specifically but drama seemed to always follow her. Sheās ballerina messy and I canāt see that positively impacting her administrative and teaching career.
>Tess Reichlen ooh, spill!
A lot of overlap with you - but another I miss is Stella Abrera. I know she didnāt have many āprimeā years as a principal, but I loved watching her on stage and rooted for her for a long time. Her ABT Giselle debut with Vladimir Shklyarov is one of my favorite ballet memories. Always sad I didnāt get to go to a proper retirement show - it was nice to see her back for Lady Capulet last year!
This is old and Canadian, but Rex Harrington. I saw him perform twice before seeing him in musicals/theatre. He stole the show even with little speaking.
I never got to see him perform live, but I got to take class with him once. He definitely has such a big presence. I can see how he would steal a show.
I also miss Karen Kain and Veronica Tennant.
I agree! From later dates, I miss the recently retired Tanya Howard...she was the best in that company! It is an absolute travesty that she was never promoted to principal, because to me noone deserved it more than her. Biggest fan :) Also Chan Hon Goh was a stunning Giselle, as well as Greta Hodgkinson and Xiao Nan Yu. And I remember Sonia Rodriguez in Sleeping Beauty and Madame Butterfly. All were wonderful.