ExploreDance

June 18, 2004, Inside the Stage Door Entrance of the Metropolitan Opera House, about12: 30 AM, late and languid, I was joined by Marianne Stegeland, Lois Kirschenbaum, Tommy Ng, and Adam Jagusiak. (See June 18, 2004 Swan Lake Review).

REZ: Here we are again, late and hot, as usual. You all look great! Thanks so much for meeting again. We have to do this at a reasonable time over drinks, soon.

While we were talking, earlier, you mentioned Amanda McKerrow. I've seen so little of her this season.

Group: Amanda is a dancer's dancer. Her heart is in any role. After Pillar of Fire, she was emotionally drained and shaking.

REZ: Tonight's Swan Lake with Julio and Nina was incredible again.

Group: There was no traffic flow at intermission, with even standing room sold out! They bring out the best in each other. Nina never does routines. There's always a surprise. That falling back motion tonight after the Black Swan Pas de Deux was a new nuance.

REZ: Tell me about some other high points for all of you this ABT Season.

Group: Definitely Bocca and Xiomara in the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Marcelo tonight (von Rothbart). Marcelo is always one of the most supportive partners.

REZ: Latest news?

Group: Julie Kent and Victor Barbee had a son on April 9, William Spencer Kent-Barbee. He's been here (Stage Door) a number of times. Victor will be in Copélia and was in Don Quixote. Ethan Brown is retiring and getting married. He's been in the Company 23 years. Carlos Molina is joining Boston Ballet. David Hallberg was promoted after City Center, where he was Dorian.

REZ: I plan to see BOCCATANGO at the Joyce. He's Argentinean and probably a great Tango performer. There are other Argentinean ABT dancers, too.

Group: Erica Cornejo and Herman Cornejo were in Ballet Argentina. Luciana Paris (Corps) is from Argentina.

REZ: What did you think of the new ABT Raymonda?

Group: It had great costumes, sets, and music, but no glue, no drama. Raymonda Variations is better, a distilled version. It's a plotless ballet, and Julio was lost in it with a tiny role. Marcelo was great.

By the way, he comes back tomorrow as Siegfried (was von Rothbart tonight). He goes back and forth between roles.

REZ: Some dancers seem to be missing or scarce. But, now we have Frederic Franklin back; what a treat.

Group: Malakhov is busy with the Berlin Ballet. Frederic Franklin is 90 years old and restaged Copélia. He was with the Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo. Now he's Wolfgang in Swan Lake and Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet. He likes my lemon drops (Marianne). Carreño has been cautious. He hurt his ankle. So, Ferri is dancing with Angel (Corella) two times. Julio is no longer dancing Romeo and Juliet either. He retired from that role. Tommy bought the DVD from La Scala with Angel Corella and Alessandra Ferri dancing Romeo and Juliet.

REZ: Who else did we mention earlier?

Group: Gillian (Murphy) is very shy. She has great technique, but at the stage door she's casual in blue jeans. The Russian dancers come out with long scarves and jewelry. Veronica (Part, from Russia) speaks little English. Sometimes back here she just signs her last name. She danced with the Kirov.

REZ: What did you think about the dancer being fired from the Bolshoi?

Group: She was all of 103 lbs.

REZ: You know my signed ballet slipper collection is probably worth a fortune now. I can't believe what the shoes are selling for now.

Group: They just lowered the price to $250 to sell more. The money for the shoes goes to the Dancers Emergency Relief Fund, so if they're suddenly injured and can't dance, they receive assistance.

REZ: Thanks again so much. Let's not wait another year to get together again.