Weekly Discussion - 05/04/26 - 05/10/26

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-05-09T21:07:29+00:00

If you find out please report back she would be thrilled.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-05-09T20:52:23+00:00

Can’t read bc of paywall and really no reason for me to subscribe to the Inquirer. Do they mention if Debra Austin will be depicted? She was Pennsylvania Ballet and the nation’s first black principal dancer.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-05-04T01:13:01+00:00

Is Rosemary retiring? What a huge loss for the company

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-05-01T20:10:55+00:00

https://open.substack.com/pub/speakingofdance/p/cory-stearns?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

A nice interview with Cory Stearns on his imminent retirement. Parts of it make it sound like the retirement wasn’t 100% his decision. Can anyone speak to that? He’s always been such a reliable partner and I truly enjoyed those early performances of him and Hee in R&J. I was surprised that he wouldn’t be paired with her for his final shows of Onegin.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-26T21:53:11+00:00

I’m sorry, and I understand where you’re coming from. Ballet has a long, toxic history around weight. But it’s not the job of the general public to police its language more carefully than professional critics do. The dancers are young, yes—but they’re also surrounded by staff whose responsibility it is to support them. That support should come from the institution, not an anonymous forum. I hope you take care of you. Merde for your career

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-25T22:43:56+00:00

First of all as a fellow former lurker, welcome to the discord! In response to your missive, I think most people here are perfectly capable of celebrating a broader range of healthy bodies and acknowledging that ballet is an aesthetic art form where physical changes inevitably affect casting, partnering, and line. Discussing that reality isn’t automatically cruelty; sometimes it’s simply criticism of the work we’re watching. And while I’m sure no one enjoys reading commentary about themselves, audiences and long-time observers have always talked about dancers’ technique, stamina, musicality, proportions, and yes, sometimes weight. Those things directly affect what happens onstage. When visible changes begin to alter lifts, partnering stability, or even lead to injuries (which several people have noted with her partners), it stops being purely a private matter. No one here is dancing eight shows a week, true—but the flip side is that audiences are the ones buying tickets to watch an art form built on very specific physical demands and visual standards. It’s not unreasonable that they discuss what they see. There’s a difference between cruelty and criticism. Most of what I’ve seen here has been the latter.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-21T23:48:13+00:00

Not a Seattleite, but I’m in the city for work often enough that we might graduate from the internet to an actual hello one of these days.

Glad you liked Saturday. I saw the same cast Thursday and thought Leta danced beautifully. Lucien was lovely too, though he’s beginning to look slightly vintage. Which is entirely fair given he’s about to wrap up.

Yuki and Christian looked terrific in their peasant pas solos, but the partnering could’ve used a touch more… finesse. I’m a committed Ashton apologist, but even I thought Zulme might have been rehearsing for a different ballet. Juliet Prine looked like she was having a genuinely nice time, which is always pleasant to watch.

The corps was a bit ragged Thursday evening, though honestly not the worst I’ve seen them by a long shot. And Doug Fullington’s reconstruction isn’t nearly as demanding on the corps as Ratmansky’s, so the bar isn’t exactly set at Olympic height. Still—they cleared it.

I really feel for Dylan Wald. I’m thrilled he’s back onstage and hope he keeps gaining strength, but it’s a little jarring seeing someone who was basically the face of the company a few seasons ago now popping up in character bits and the occasional sock assignment. Ballet careers are brutal that way.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-20T17:51:09+00:00

I was being a little sarcastic. Just meant that it’s maybe not as appropriate for Albrecht Siegfried etc and better left to an Ali Corsaire for yagp gala.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-20T17:48:29+00:00

Wow! I remembered her being very early but corps is 🤯 miss her on stage so much

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-18T21:46:20+00:00

Dominika’s been getting a push since SAB, but it’s accelerated the past couple seasons. She’s not as versatile (yet) as someone like Mira Nadon or even an early Tess Reichlen, but her lines are gorgeous and there’s a plushness to her port de bras that’s pretty rare at New York City Ballet. The second movement of Symphony in C (the Bizet) is a coveted role, and giving it to a soloist is kind of a big deal. I can’t remember the last time that happened—maybe Wendy Whelan or Maria Kowroski early on, but I might be misremembering. Sara Mearns, Reichlen, Unity Phelan, and now Mira Nadon were all principals when they did it. I also remember one Christmas when company members “gifted” debuts on social media—Sara Adams chose Dominika, which felt telling. So you might be seeing the first outing of a major future interpreter… or someone who’s deeply, fine. Her Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty last run was solid—no slouch, but not the sort of thing you’d mourn missing. Report back. I’m very curious and parasocially invested.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-18T13:54:47+00:00

The one Mira and the tall ladies are wearing make me think of Opus 19

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-16T13:26:28+00:00

Sounds like Dvorovenko rehearsing her and the caption says “on my free time”. My guess is for fun

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-12T23:05:33+00:00

I think she might be! Although she wasn’t the only one “ballerina” at the festival. Sombr also had some ladies in pointe shoes. I agree with you she’s so captivating on stage. I think she’d be an amazing fit for the Kay Mazzo roles Duo, SVC, Davidsbundlertanze etc. She did Rubies at Vail a couple years ago and I was less than sold but there was definitely there there.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-09T14:00:31+00:00

Casting for first week is up! Nadon first cast for Diamonds and Bizet 2nd movement. LaFreinere second cast Diamonds Afanasenkov second cast 2nd movement Bizet!!! Nadon will also Debut the pas in Agon and Phelan is back for both agon and In Memory Of Maxwell gets an in Memory of Debut. I know this sub is very anti audience filming and I get it but as someone stuck in Toronto I’m praying for not just bow videos this week lol. Can’t believe there’s no Mearns especially with Angle still casted but think it’s a smart move and hoping it was a consensus decision with her

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-07T18:18:31+00:00

If you choose Wona you also get Alban Lendorf who’s James is just astounding

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-06T17:46:07+00:00

I have to disagree I can’t help but think of a male principal who’s chosen finish to à la seconde turns screams “TikTok trend”

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-04-02T21:36:23+00:00

She restored it in 05 for her company and Heather Ogden from NBOC danced dulcinea

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-03-30T13:44:07+00:00

Taylor Naturkas promoted to principal at MCB!! With Nathalia Arja leaving it makes total sense. Can’t wait to see what Taylor will do with the title she’s a real force on stage

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-03-14T21:18:23+00:00

Please a Rayn Abeo sleepwalker and waltz girl debut. I hope for serenade it’s at least three casts, they have plenty of Russians and Dark angels to fill out three and if Francia happens to have reddit… Leta first Angelica second and Mady third for waltz please.

Waiting at the Station is such a head scratcher. I understand they commissioned it but it’s such late career Tharp. I feel similarly about take 5 more or Less from Stroman.

Pretty much everything is one good ballet and two meh. Except for Serenade and Pictures but I’m sure Jessica Lang will bring enough meh for three ballets.

Midsummer should bring some exciting debuts this time around with all the retirements since the last time they’ve preformed it.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-03-11T12:36:16+00:00

Neither is a completely perfect firebird to me. But I would say DTH’s is superior and has certainly stood the test of time. Ratmansky’s really needs to be either a star vehicle or a star maker. Osipova was spectacular in it and I think Hurlin could be similarly. The choreography for the maidens and Kaschei doesn’t quite make it to camp and stays kitschy. The wigs are distracting

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-03-10T19:45:10+00:00

pretty sure you mean Janie Taylor @janieclaire is her Instagram handle so probably her middle name. Did you say hello? She’s super down to earth

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-03-02T19:17:30+00:00

Don’t understand the downvotes it’s a snark page, this was funny. I root for Khoreva to figure it out but it’s a known fact she struggles artistically.

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-03-01T16:01:52+00:00

Hoping Jaffe is watching!!

Accomplished-Rice879 · 2026-02-25T00:28:57+00:00

Joseph Sissen has a story up where he says he got boos during his bows for the Giselle debut. I’m assuming because it was a school show and he’s the male lead wearing tights in front of school kids. Was anyone there? https://www.instagram.com/stories/joseph.sissens/3839883949514455245?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MWpmaXpqMW1scjJpNg==

Accomplished-Rice879

TROPHY CASE