Too Many Ballets, Too Little Money

[Guest MasterPuppeteer]

Egads, I just looked at the Kennedy Center's ballet menu for this season and they're showing all my favorites!

• Giselle (SFB)
  
• Don Q (Maryinsky)
  
• Swan Lake (ABT)
  
• Le Corsaire (Bolshoi)
  

 

And I'm not even counting the Joffrey's Nutcracker and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet's "The Balanchine Couple!" Argh! I want to watch all these performances but if I do, I'll go bankrupt! I'm definitely watching SL, but that's about it.

 

How bout you guys, what's on your ballet-watching menu this season?

[Clara 76]

Not the Kennedy Center, unfortunately.......I'm terribly jealous!!!!!!!! I saw The Royal Ballet there a few years ago and you all have a gem in DC. How exciting that you get to see such esteemed companies!!

[Treefrog]

Had a lovely evening (mixed rep) of SFB at the Harris Theatre in Chicago last week. Will probably go see Hubbard Street in October, and River North whenever that is. We subscribe to the Joffrey, which is all mixed rep this year (aside from Nut). I'm very much looking forward to seeing them do Les Noces again next spring; last time I saw it I was spellbound.

 

We usually see ABT when they are here in March or April, but so far there has been no announcement. Truth to tell, if they bring Swan Lake again I will probably take a pass. I am also passing on the Maryinski's Giselle next week. As you say, the arts dollars only stretch so far.

 

How did you settle on your choice? That's a stunning lineup.

[ripresa]

Goodness. I'm so jealous!!!!

 

I love Austin but it tends to be missed by the big name touring companies. I'll prob watch Ballet Austin's season opener: Nine Sinatra Songs -- Twyla Tharp, Episodes -- Balanchine (partnering with the Suzanne Farrel Ballet), a new work by Stephen Mills.

 

And I think I'm going to Ballet Houston's nutcracker.

 

I've been toying with making a trip to NYC for a weekend to watch Nederlands Dans Theatre which I love and ABT and stuff.. but it costs money. So it's just in the back burner right now.

[mad4ballet]

Hello. I totally understand!! We are also in Va and we want to see every ballet. Swan Lake is a must for us - my daughter has waited forever to see that one! One option - it's a little cheaper - is to go to the Open Rehearsals. They are only 12.00. I thought of taking my daughter to 1 or 2 Open Rehearsals and then treating ourselves to see Swan Lake. You may have seen it - just look for Performance Plus under Programs. They offer an Open Rehearsal for every ballet.

[koshka]

I totally agree about the open rehearsals, though for some companies they are a full-on run through and for other companies they're not. The open rehearsals have been known to sell out, though, so I recommend getting your tickets as soon as possible. Also, seating is not assigned, so it helps to arrive early. Finally, the open rehearsals are typically on weekday afternoons, which may present a scheduling challenge to some.

 

I am fortunate to be able to just close my eyes and write a check for a ballet subscription each season, so I'll be seeing each production once or twice.

[Clara 76]

Oh Koshka!!! You MUST report back here and tell us all the savory details!!!!!

[koshka]

Oh Koshka!!! You MUST report back here and tell us all the savory details!!!!!

Alas, as all too many are willing to attest, my powers of observation and visual recollection are quite pathetic. Perhaps I should start carrying a notepad to performances. But the performances are nearly always a delight, and I feel beyond spoiled to be able to see so many so easily (the Kennedy Center is a 10 minute drive from my house).

[Hans]

I am going to try very hard to get some of my students to see as many ballets at the Kennedy Center as possible...in order to tempt them, I'm going to teach them variations from whatever happens to be playing there in repertoire class.

[Clara 76]

Great idea Hans!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[casserina]

I feel so fortunate to live about 45 minutes from the DC area and my parents have been promising me to take me to a professional ballet when one comes around I want to see. I just have no idea what to choose

[Roxie__]

Season tickets to Dance StLouis, so Dracula (BalletMet), Paul Taylor, Pilobolous, Armitage Gone!, Kansas City Ballet, and then Hubbard Street, Riverdance, and Rockettes with a slight possibility of Spring To Dance 2009, depending on my spring performance schedule. We're also seeing St Louis Ballet's Nutcracker, Ailey II, someone's Sleeping Beauty (one of the smaller "faux Russian" companies that are actually based in America) and some Broadway shows that are touring.

[Lidewij]

I have seen the Royal Ballet of Flanders' Sleeping Beauty last week, and during my Moscow trip (just got home ) I saw the Bolshoi Ballet in Don Quixote and the gala in honour of Ekaterina Maksimova and Vladimir Vasiliev. After all that I don't have a lot of money left, but I do hope to see the Royal Ballet of Flanders' Swan Lake, the Dutch National Ballet's Giselle (preferably with Larissa Lezhnina as Giselle ) and their 'Ballets Russes'-programme (Les Sylphides, Prodigal Son and something else I can't think of now..). And maybe their Nutcracker as well..

[Rory]

Don't forget that Royal Ballet is also doing Manon at the Kennedy Center in June! My birthday present was a KC gift card, so I'm planning to see as much ballet as I can there this season. I just saw SFB's Giselle last Friday

[nette593]

For my birthday my parents are taking me to see the Bolshoi!!!! In North Carolina, or south I don't remember. But I saw every thing that ABT is doing, and it is so expensive to fly up there and have a hotel then pay for the performances, I won't be able to go. I wish I lived in NYC!