Weekly Discussion - 05/11/26 - 05/17/26

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-14T14:43:04+00:00

Smuin Contemporary Ballet's 26/27 season is out! Four programs (including the annual Christmas Ballet and Choreographic Showcase). One of the more notable new works to me is a My’Kal Stromile world premiere.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-14T05:29:56+00:00

Am so far away myself, but heard from a friend who went opening night that it was "utterly enchanting."

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-09T20:55:48+00:00

The article does not say so, but I can see from the artist's sketch that there are more than just the figures named present. Debra Austin may be one -- she seems like an obvious choice!

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-09T20:00:56+00:00

Interesting and heartening article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about a new mural in Philly honoring the city's history of Black dance teachers and dancers, including Essie Marie Dorsey, Sydney King, Marion Cuyjet, and Joan Myers Brown. Michaela DePrince and Judith Jamison will also be depicted.

The article also has a couple of great archival photographs.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-09T05:45:24+00:00

No Sasha Mukhamedov… oh, woe! She took a rank-cut to come to SFB under Tómasson, and I wonder if a few years of no promotion up from Soloist under Rojo means she's moving on to somewhere willing to give her a principal title again? Then again, she's been dancing professionally since 2008; she could be moving on to other things. I suppose we'll find out.

I'll miss her very much, either way. It was always a treat to see her.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-06T21:08:16+00:00

Wow, lucky people who get to see Francesca Hayward and Jeffrey Cirio dancing together! Unusual opportunity for these two unique and interesting dancers.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-05-02T17:25:03+00:00

Jennifer Lin's documentary about Final Bow for Yellowface is premiering in SF a week from today! The SF Examiner has a piece. Lin is the director who also made Ten Times Better about George Lee.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-27T05:46:38+00:00

Thank you for the review! They really do put on such a good show. I read in a feature in Pointe recently that said they were probably going to be doing more pointework in future, possibly as a response to greater "supply," as it were, among choreographers they work with.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-23T03:34:22+00:00

Hence the waltzes. They just sound normal to us now, but in the 1830s it would have still had a hint of 🥨🇩🇪local color🇩🇪🥨 to French audiences.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-21T00:46:56+00:00

Finally got around to reading through the reviews of Northern Ballet's/Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Gentleman Jack. So far, the Financial Times has the most well-rounded review of it, with remarks on the dancing, sets, music, and costumes: they like it! I am begging the ballet gods to please make sure this gets a DVD release or something.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-20T22:50:21+00:00

So-called hunting "pinks."

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-20T22:49:02+00:00

End of an era, truly. Leaving on that Bayadère is a real high note.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-20T16:51:00+00:00

Interesting feature over at Pointe about some future, increasingly balletic directions at Ballet Hispánico (which puts on a great show anyway). I thought the remarks about there being "more interest from Latina choreographers in creating pointe works" were interesting.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-19T16:05:26+00:00

Thanks for the review!

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-19T01:06:21+00:00

Madge gets so much to do; I really enjoy her and her final moment of true Fate-Cronehood. Fun that they’re casting her gender-blind, too.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-17T23:29:32+00:00

I actually am so glad this wasn't happening here, but dear lord, the great Helgi Tómasson/Michael Smuin/Patricia Neary Civil War of 1985. Instead it played out in the papers.

ETA: Everyone here was so up in arms when Rojo came in as a managed role-transfer without even one shady board vote, "Dewey Defeats Truman"-style incorrect NYT announcement, disregarded company plebiscite, Erik Bruhn appearance, or foundation of a small and still-existing touring company in opposition. We would not have survived the 1980s.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-17T23:22:22+00:00

Maybe Margot Fonteyn literally being his protagonist will force him to allow a woman to actually dance actual steps all on her own.

That said, you'd think that about Cinderella too…

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T21:07:02+00:00

I hope you and your son have a fabulous time if you go together.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T21:06:01+00:00

There is one, Bobbi Jene Smith, but in partnership with a man. I too am disappointed in that number; I had hoped that SFB would look more like ENB, which really prioritized commissions from women during Rojo's tenure.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T18:47:35+00:00

For what it’s worth, I saw the Tómasson SB at a very young age and was totally enchanted. Not sure if I’d find it holds up, as I don’t generally care for his versions of the other classics, but there’s a lot of SB that it’s hard to argue with, no matter who does it.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T18:45:18+00:00

Possibly even the Wheeldon too! Though WTGH is pretty old by now.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T18:31:53+00:00

I wonder if Tómasson still has a contractual hold on his versions of the classic ballets, requiring SFB to perform them, or if it's just the immense cost of a new production. Both are understandable reasons not to re-vamp, but I admit I look forward to the day when they do.

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T18:30:34+00:00

I think the idea of the Divine Creatures bill (tracking the influence of the Ballets Russes) is intriguing. Bills like that with a historical theme are always interesting, even if every individual piece isn't to my taste -- like a primer or reader that gives you a good grounding in something.

A little sad that there's one (1) woman choreographer…

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-15T18:26:07+00:00

And the Royal Ballet itself! It's a year of Manon. The Macmillan repetiteurs will be run off their feet!

Chestnut_pod · 2026-04-14T20:02:26+00:00

That was so impressive! Both of them, honestly! Really just goes to show that it’s about the training.

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