It's hard to believe that the NYCB season at SPAC has already ended. It went so fast! I did manage to catch two different afternoon rehersals and also saw two performances. The dancing was superb. Too bad the audience was so small, but what do you  expect with the economy? Lots of people missed out on some excellent dancing.



In addition to watching the NYCB, I also got to take dance classes with four different company members - Philip Neal, Jon Stafford, Jenifer Ringer, and Andrew Cordato. You'd think that these talented dancers would lack patience with the group of students, but that was not the case. Each one was very patient and more than willing to share a story about the company and its performance. I'm sorry to see all of them go....

Watching the New York City Ballet rehearse is such a treat -- even when some of the dancers just mark the steps. I can't blame them, since it was very hot and humid on Wednesday. They danced for several hours and also had to perform that evening.

I got to see them work on four pieces that I have never seen before: Four Bagatelles (by Jerome Robbins), La Sonnambula (by Balanchine), Grazioso (by Peter Martins), and River of Light (by Peter Martins).  I always enjoy Jerome Robbins' pieces, but my favorite piece of the afternoon was Grazioso. It's a new work by Martins and has three male dancers and one female dancer. It showed off the men, yet they also supported the female ballerina. I don't know if I'll get to see it performed this year, but will mark it down for the future.

New York City Ballet launced their own YouTube channel! There are interviews of the dancers and former dancers, rehearsals, and performance footage.

The only problem is that I found it hard to leave the site. I kept viewing more and more videos. They're fun to watch and very informative.

To check it out, go to www.YouTube.com/nycballet

Have fun!!

Last week I had the opportunity to see two wonderful dance performances - - one right here in the Capital District and one in New York City.

"Movin' Out"  was at Proctors in Schenectady. I saw this two other times, one of which was on Broadway, but I still enjoyed the dancing and music the third time around. There isn't much to the story, so you have to just sit back and watch the movement. It's definitely signature Twyla Tharp.  The only thing that I didn't remember was how much stronger the second act is than the first.

The other show was "Double Feature", performed by New York City Ballet (NYCB) at Lincoln Center. Not only was the choreography amazing (and to think that a Broadway choreographer created this piece for NYCB), but the whole trip was lots of fun. It was a bus trip sponsored by Saratoga Performing Arts  Center and included a SPAC at Lincoln Center celebration before the show. It was a treat to see NYCB at Lincoln Center. We are fortunate to have them at SPAC every summer, but there is a more intimate atmosphere at Lincoln Center.

Lots of dance, but I haven't had my fill. We're approaching summer and there is a variety of dance performances scheduled for this area. YIPPEE!!!!