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Post by dawnomite on Dec 28, 2007 20:23:21 GMT -5
Oh, no, I just checked the program. The Mouse King is played by a boy, and so are all the party boys, at least this year. And I know in the past it has been played by boys, one year I knew the guy. Of course, I haven't been in a while due to living in a different city, so I can't say for ure that it's "always" played bya boy or girl. I guess it doesn't matter. Mother Ginger was played by a guy with a go-tee in my viewing this year. I don't think the GRB is doing so well financially, every year the Nutcracker seems to get worse. I remember it being this big magical thing when I was little, and now it's more like... a dance recital. Of course, my Grandmother used to take me Chicago to see it too, which was always WAY bigger and more special. But I remember GRs being much ... more engaging. *shrug* Or maybe it's because I'm bigger? Kids still seem to like it. :-) Thanks for checking I didn't get to see it this year . That's cool that they have enough boys to play the party boys this year, when I took class there way back when it seems like there were like, 2 or 3 boys [accept for the professionals] I liked the Nutcracker a lot more when I was a little kid too. I've seen it SO many times, I think I'm just sick of it (plus being in a performance of the Nutcracker few years ago makes it less "magical" for me too). It might have to do with the fact that there are more opportunities for serious ballet students in west michigan than JUST GRB, and many of the more talented dancers are going elsewhere? Or it could be a financial thing too...interesting. I like it because of tradition and familiarity, but it's definitely not one of the best ballets ever in general (I remember learning in dance history in college that it wasn't well received when it premiered.)
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Dec 28, 2007 20:50:30 GMT -5
Well, I went there specifically to see this kid I babysat for play a party boy. And I remember (from my jr high stalking) of boys playing most of the boy parts. I'm sure there were a few girls slipped in there too, now that I think about it.
I think for me, it might be that I've seen it a billion times. Plus, I just really remember GRB being much "bigger" if that makes sense. Like i remember the tree getting bigger and dancing around and the music being louder and the dancing being faster and more intense and everything being much more magical. I guess it could have been the seats, too. Or I could just be remembering things from Chicago Ballet and projecting them onto GRB.
But -- I know for a fact that the choreographer was new. I heard other people complaining on the way out too. And is it normal for the Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy to be the same person, without a costume change? Because I never noticed that before.
Oh, I had no idea it wasn't received well. I guess I can see that, I think there are better ballets. Nutcracker is, as you said, tradition.
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 6, 2008 17:13:26 GMT -5
This isn't actually about one of Jessi's performances but I really liked it in NY NY how she went to the ballet alone and met Quint. I always thought it was sweet that they shared dance as an interest and enjoyed reading about them watching the performance together when it was something they obviously both liked so much.
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Post by booboobrewer on Feb 6, 2008 17:51:33 GMT -5
^Agreed. I always liked how they met.
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Post by ringdings on Feb 8, 2008 11:12:27 GMT -5
I have a question. Do they ever mention Jessi dancing in a ballet for more than one night? I'm not talking about the recitals her school does, but the professional productions. I mean, for instance, in my city, the Nutcracker runs for almost a month (and the principal dancers alternate nights). Other ballets run for at least a week. I didn't read Jessi saying something like, "It was great, I can't wait for tomorrow's performance and do it again." It just seems like they do opening night and that's it. It's over.
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Post by greer on Feb 8, 2008 16:15:00 GMT -5
i think it runs for like three nights, like a play.
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 8, 2008 16:18:24 GMT -5
^ I never remember more than one performance, either, but I assume we usually just heard about opening night. I would be scared to do more than one performance, especially if the first one went well. ;D
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Feb 8, 2008 17:02:47 GMT -5
In the book where she gets the ambrosia, she mentions having to keep in shape for the next performances. Plus I figured if they had opening night, there would be more then one performance.
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Post by ringdings on Feb 10, 2008 20:58:13 GMT -5
^^I forgot about that. Yeah, I assumed they'd have more than one performance, but the never mentioned it--and another thing I just thought of--did Kristy ever make a big deal about rehearsal times and performances?
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Post by virgoscorpio on Apr 11, 2013 2:15:25 GMT -5
Jessi reminds me a lot of '80s figure skated Debi Thomas.
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wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Apr 14, 2013 13:55:23 GMT -5
I'm going to see Swan Lake next week, so I'll be sure to pay close attention to the corps and think about how ridiculous it would be if there were an eleven-year-old among them.
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