2007 NUTCRACKER #2

Sunday December 2, 2007 @ 1:00 - I borrowed this Gwyneth Muller/The Winger photo of the New York City Ballet Snowflakes waiting to go onstage. Gwyneth's wonderful backstage photos deserve to be 'revived' from time to time and this one is especially atmospheric. Maestro Karoui did not seem to be in quite such a big rush today as he was last week; Arturo Delmoni's violin solo was most enjoyable.

The dusting of snow this morning put me in a more Christmasy mood today and the party had a charming atmosphere with several new faces among the guests. Apprentice Joseph Hernandez, who stood out in last season's GENTILHOMMES, looked elegant here and in Spanish (he was also a mouse). Kaitlyn Gilliland might be injured since she should be 'beyond' parents by now...Sophie Flack, also. They both looked very pretty. Dena Abergel & Henry Seth hosted and among the children, the Joo brothers (Benny and Andy) were adorable. Robert LaFosse was a livelier Drosselmeyer than last week; orchestrating the attack of the mice from his perch on the grandfather clock, Robert seemed like a mad scientist. Jenelle Manzi and Rachel Piskin were the dolls and Aaron Severeni a fleet-footed soldier. In a charming vignette, Kathryn Morgan and Anthony Huxley were the grandparents. Kathryn later emerged as the first snowflake...lovely arms and hands.

Ana Sophia Scheller (Gene Schiavone photo, left) had just made her entrance and was floating down the center line when one of the angels took a spill right in her path. The audience gasped but it really wasn't that serious; Ana Sophia kept her smile and her cool. The solo was ravishing. The Argentine beauty has a classic technique and presence; we need to see her Swanhilda and Aurora soon.   

Gonzalo Garcia (photo: Chris Hardy) was Ana Sophia's cavalier; they look wonderful together and have the same feeling for the music and the gracious manners that make the pas de deux seem quite regal. The wrist catches were a little tentative but everything else was great. Ana Sophia never shows off; she has a certain modesty of approach that is very attractive. Gonzalo's dancing in the coda won him several bursts of applause from  the somewhat lethargic audience. This pairing of Ana and Gonzalo should be explored further over the next several seasons.

Megan LeCrone was debuting today as Dewdrop. Ms. LeCrone has been dealing with injuries almost since joining the Company. Last season she finally began stepping out in the repertoire and I was really happy to see her announced as Dewdrop. She had a big success with the role; we've seen her in some of the contemporary-style rep but never in anything this classical, or this exposed.  Long-limbed and pale of complexion, LeCrone makes an immediate dramatic statement simply by appearing. The dancing takes off, and she has it all: big jump, swift and precise turns, easy balances all added to a rather offbeat glamour. She won cheers at her curtain call.

I was also seeing for the first time Giovanni Villalobos dancing Candy Cane. This Kristin Sloan photo of Giovanni with Glenn Keenan, costumed for SWAN LAKE, is a favorite of mine. If you want to find the real 'beautiful people' in NYC, head for City Ballet. Giovanni carried off the role with ease and a winning smile; he is an accomplished hoop-meister. Meanwhile Glenn was among the decorative snowflakes. You can read the Keenan smile through a blizzard. Troy Schumacher was a spirited, high-leaping Tea and Adrian Danchig-Waring again an amusing Mother Ginger though he seemed to be having a bit of trouble with the costume as he made his exit. A word for the blonde belles leading the Flowers: Ashley Laracey and Lauren King. They were delightful; and was that Savannah Lowery - dancing unannounced - among the Flowers? Saskia Beskow seems to have gone missing.

Jennifer Tinsley-Williams (far left) was back as Marzipan. It's been quite a while since I saw her dance; Wei and I always have enjoyed her performances greatly. She  looked fine today and let's hope she stays on the scene now. Posing a serious distraction, though, was Faye Arthurs among Marzipan's very pretty quartet. Sometimes I promise myself not to devote my attentions to her so exclusively but I just can't help it. Gwyneth Muller (above, right) looked especially radiant in Spanish and had a debonair new cavalier, Christian Tworzyanski. {Headshots by Paul Kolnik}.

NYCB's glamourous Georgina Pazcoguin was Coffee, a role in which she made a vivid impression last season. I think she surpassed herself today; she was really mesmerizing both in her physical allure and the nuanced beauty of her dancing. This number can be flat-out sexy, but Pazcoguin finds more to it in terms of using classic technique to express a sort of self-contained voluptuousness. She's also wonderfully mysterious...and she has mastered the tricky finger cymbals. As she did last winter, Gina tossed off the three brilliant pirouette-to-arabesque combinations in the finale with total command before taking a flying leap into the wings. Bravissima Gina!!

Comments

[M]

Thanks for the report! So happy to hear that Megan's debut was such a success. I've always known she was something special since I sat in the back of rehearsals my freshman year at NCSA. Megan was a senior, and I was fascinated with her dancing. I got the chance to partner with her for a few days when I was thrown into Bayadare, but my arms were about the size of hers at the time and I was so weak I could barely partner. Ah, the fun part of being a 14 year old ballet dancer.

Also so happy to hear about Anna. We went through Studio Company together and I've been ecstatic to see how well she has done at NYCB. I'm gonna head to my first Nutcracker in a few weeks! Perhaps I'll see you there?

[Philip]

Hello M! Craig had also told me to watch for Megan a few years ago but at the time she was not dancing due to injury. It's good that she persevered and that City Ballet kept her on the roster because now it is really paying off. Wei and I both really like her a lot.

[Laura]

I am so happy to hear that Megan's debut went well!! I am set to see her perform the role next week - casting is already announced - and I am so excited about it! Thanks for the update!

[Philip]

Hi Laura,

Yes, I noticed they have given Megan a couple more Dewdrops over the next two weeks. I think you will really enjoy her performance. When the repertory season starts, hopefully she will get some new ballets.