Perhaps you’ve thought about the ballet or may be you even enjoy a show once or twice. What’s holding you back?  How much do you know about our ballet and the dancers?

There are so many ways to get involved with the Cincinnati Ballet!

I’ve already told you about Ballet and Beer (I think the spots fill up as soon as registration opens), and you can easily find the dates for the upcoming production by visiting this site or cballet.org. And yet there’s more!

When the upcoming season is starting, be sure to purchase that season’s subscription. Or, show your support by  donating* to the Cincinnati Ballet allowing not only the beautiful art of ballet to continue but the educational outreach programs that are run enriching this great city even more.                   (*See site for donation amounts and benefits)

After each evening’s performance the Cincinnati ballet holds a party just for subscribers. Except for  New Works, after party’s will be held at the Aronoff. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar while mingling the dancers and getting to know them personally.

The new 2010/2011 season will be announced on March 14th. One great new addition to the season, which was announced first by Victoria Morgan during opening night for Cinderella, is a performance of Sleeping Beauty danced with the Cincinnati Symphony at Music Hall October 22-24!

Don’t miss out on your subscription and all it’s benefits!

Tonight I had the pleasure of seeing the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of Cinderella, made that much more intense by the privilege of having the live orchestra thanks to patron’s support.

The rich velvet curtain opened to a scene of Cinderella scrubbing the floor, the step-mother and the father working at a spinning wheel while the wicked step-sisters, danced gloriously by two of the ballet’s male dancers, embroidering a silk scarf. A comedic fight breaks loose over the scarf that is eventually torn in half by the step-mother to make both girls happy.

Tonight, the lead role of Cinderella was danced by Janessa Touchet. Throughout the entire ballet performance, I was memorized by Ms. Touchet’s hand and arms. While this may sound strange to some, the entire body is used expressively in dance and the arms in ballet most definitely. Janessa played a most exquisites role with her perfected art that has blossomed and embrassed over the years. An amazing confidence as a dancer, a special treat for the rest of us.

The quirky step-mother danced by another favorite, Kelly Yankle, was perfectly cast and held a wonderful balance of protective mother and producer of laughs. Speaking of laughs, the step-sisters, danced by Stephen Jacobson and Selahattin Erkan could have easily stolen the show. What fun they had in these parts! On more than one occasion the audience laughed with glee at the antics these two conspired usually against each other.

The father, danced by Devon Carney, Associate Artistic Director for the Cincinnati Ballet, is the part that I mentioned before I have never had the privilege of seeing. In this version, based off of Charles Perrault’s 19th century tale and using the beautiful music of Sergei Prokofiev, I enjoyed watching the attempts of the father to rescue his daughter from the step-family even though he is too weak in nerve to stand up to this woman he married and her own selfish wicked daughters.

The tale goes on by showing Cinderella’s own good natured heart as she offers to feed what she believes is a beggar, who turns out to be her fairy godmother, danced by the ever so lovely Sarah Hairston.

One of my most favorite parts in any ballet, which was performed in the third act tonight, is when the male role, the Price danced ever so powerfully and convincing by Olgucan Borova, lifts the female through the air with such grace and ease it looks like no work at all. Involving years of practice and technical genius if you ask me, I never fail to have chills run across my arms and the breath escape my lungs.

If you have not made plans to see the ballet this weekend, you must check it out and enjoy this lovely story for yourself.

I just checked out the blog of an acquaintance and was so pleased to see her post about the Cincinnati Ballet’s upcoming performance of Cinderella. Yeah!

I am so excited, I cannot wait until Friday!

Thanks Kate and please check out Kate’s Random Musings for well put words.

This weeks Ballet & Beer introducing the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of Cinderella appeared to be the most crowded event I have had the pleasure of attending at the ballet’s rehearsal building. Young and young at heart alike joined together to delight in the magic that is the fabled children’s story where good overcomes wicked and happiness prevails.

Since I have never seen the ballet’s rendition of Cinderella, I was honestly a bit confused by the male part acted out by Devon, the Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic director.

After 36 years, I am even more thrilled to learn of a version of this classic tale to which I’ve never been introduced. The male figure in the evenings partial performance was Cinderella’s father, who is this version has not left her life in body yet only in will against the step mother who takes over the household along with her own selfish daughters. The story is a version taken from the original written by Charles Perrault in 1697.

The production of Cinderella performed by the Cincinnati Ballet’s amazing company opens Friday evening, February 12th at 8:00PM.  Purchase Event Tickets

I checked the Cincinnati Ballet’s website for some new goings on and found this article written by David Lyman with Cincinnati.com, and can completely understand what Ms. Touchet is feeling. In my own world of course. That of course is another story all together though.

At age 15, Janessa had already been dancing for more than a decade. How can you be sure that something you have done since you were a child is something that you really want to do and not just something that you are good at through years of practice? Quit.

What’s that saying? If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours. This is exactly what she did and now Janessa knows that she not only is great at dancing, but loves it too.

So, why doesn’t she leave the Cincinnati Ballet and run off to a bigger company perhaps in a bigger city or even a different country? Why would she when she has everything she needs and wants here.A great company, friends and the stage. As one of only two female principle dancers Ms. Touchet definitely has the stage as she plays the lead role in the Valentine’s weekend performance of Cinderella.

Don’t miss seeing the productions:

• February 12, 2010 / 8:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets
• February 13, 2010 / 2:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets
• February 13, 2010 / 8:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets
• February 14, 2010 / 2:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets

2010’s upcoming production of Cinderella is soon upon us. The anticipation! I just found out that the lead roles of the Prince and Cinderella will be danced by Olgucan (Borova) pairing with Janessa (Touchet) and Anthony (Krutzcamp) paring with Kristi (Capps).   

Jaleni with the Kansas City Collegian online was certainly charmed by Olgucan and Janessa:

A duet from “Le Corsaire” was presented next. Janessa Touchet and Ogulcan Borova delivered a vigorous, energetic display that was enhanced by the color schemes of their costumes… 

Anthony and Kristi were written highly of in the Alexandra Ballet newsletter:  

Guest artist Anthony Krutzkamp possessed the perfect combination of rascal and rogue as Franz, the fickle love interest of Swanilda, who was portrayed by the thoroughly charming Kristi Capps.

If you take the time to Google these two partners names, accolade after another speak of the same strength, grace and charm that I have seen with my own eyes. The choreographers in each situation see what they want for each production and who they feel would dance it best and this is certainly true of the upcoming Cinderella. 

Do I feel that they are the only one’s that could dance these lead rolls? Not necessarily. Each dancer has their own strengths and rank certainly plays a role in each scenario. Take  Jill Marlow and Liang Fu. Both of them played lead rolls in this past December’s Nutcracker and were ever so charming.  

I will have to wait and see how the dancer’s perform next month. Come check it out with me. I am sure that the Cincinnati Ballet will not disappoint! On that note, dancers schedules are always subject to change if needed.

A famous world know story, Cinderella is a love story and fairytale that we see from the time we are a little girl or boy. Over the last three decades, I have seen the  story of Cinderella used in many other movies and books, where the lead role is not always played by a woman character and not just for children either. One site that I was reading today states it as “individual elements of the story can be found in almost every culture of the world”.

We all know the movie version story of Cinderella however, since I have never seen it danced out in a ballet, I was really curious on what I will be watching next month.

When I looked up the plot for Cinderella danced out in a ballet, this is what I found on wikipedia:

Cinderella lives with her wicked stepsisters, until a beggar (who reveals herself to be a fairy) comes, and rewards Cinderella by giving her a coach and a new look. At the ball, Cinderella falls in love with the prince. She stays only until midnight, when the spell wears off. But, she leaves her slipper behind, which the prince uses to find her again. The ballet is based on Charles Perrault’s Cendrillon.

Other sites like balletmet in Columbus, the ballet too is the same as written in wikipedia however, offering a bit more detail. I am curious about this beggar that turns in the fairy Godmother and why are there then a total of 5 fairies? Another difference in the ballet is that the Prince himself returns to find his Princess, instead of sending out others to do it for him. Now, that’s true love! 

Speaking of true love…how cool would you be if you took your

girl to the ballet on Valentine’s day!?

Ballet & Beer is unfortunately already sold out however, you are welcome to show up and hope that someone who requested a spot is unable to make it! That is on February 5th, 2010 at 5:15pm. Ballet productions are on:

February 12th 8:00pm

February 13th 2:00pm (Cinderella’s Ball @2:30)

February13th  8:00pm

February 14th 2:00pm (Cinderella’s Ball @12:30)

For those of you with your very own Prince or Princess, the Cincinnati Ballet cordially invites you to the Cinderella’s Ball 2010! On both Saturday and Sunday, February 13th and February 14th, children dressed in their finest attire (not required but preferred) with enjoy dance, crafts and fairy tale fun before the ballet at 2:00pm. A light lunch and delicate treats will also be served. The fun begins at 12:30. Don’t forget your ticket for the ball available when you purchase you ballet tickets for only $35.00.

Wow, where was I last week when I went to see the Nutcracker Ballet on opening night? I recently wrote that the “first scene was a little disappointing for me”. My memory must have let me down because the colors were not dull at all. The first curtain is interesting as the props made it seem like the dancers were inside the house. As soon as that curtain is lifted, the party was filled with splashes of color!

Last night the lead rolls were danced by Jill Marlow, as Marie, and Liang Fu, as the Nutcracker. I specifically went last night to see these two perform their first season as lead dancers in this special yearly production.

When I first visited Ms. Marlow at the Cincinnati Ballet, she had never danced the lead roll of Marie. I actually arrived on the second day of rehearsal. I thought that both Jill and Fu looked as if they had danced the roles before yet looked a little nervous. At rehearsal the next week the two were rehearsing alone with Mr. Carney and appeared even more skilled than the week before even though still very nervous. I would have never believed  that Jill was ever nervous after watching her dance last night.

She moved so eloquently with her long expressive arms during solo and partner dances and a childlike realism when playing with the others. Her expressions change as needed to portrait each scene as interpreted.

Fu danced with power and grace and gained cheers from the audience during his solo each time he launched into the air.

Each dancer was wonderful in their parts and even in sync with each better than opening night. I was sitting in the orchestra again however right in the middle this time. Of course I had my 6 year old son with me this time who did not sit as still as my Mother did! I think that he asked about 52 questions in the first 10 minutes and kept asking about the mouse. The fight between the mice and the soldiers was the only part of the ballet that he actually sat still through. Other parts of the production kept his interest in spurts like the Chinese Trainer and Mother Ginger of course.

Thank you to everyone who was involved with this years production of the Nutcracker. If you have not had the opportunity yet to take in a show, it runs until the 27th of December  and is a wonderful delight for all ages.

Last night was the opening night for The Nutcracker 2009 here in Cincinnati. I not only had the pleasure of seeing this performance for the first time live, I also had the opportunity to see it with my Mother. She has never been to the ballet so I thought it would be a wonderful Christmas present for the both of us to see it together. And, as expected, the choreography and the dancers hard work  did not disappoint.

Victoria looked beautiful and very proud to speak last night not only about the wonderful presentation of the Nutcracker that is always so well received and greatly anticipated but about some wonderful news that was announced a few days earlier. The orchestra is always a wonderful addition to each production and adds that much more without taking away from the beauty of the dancing. They have been trying to raise funds to keep their involvement with the ballet. On December 11th, it was reported that 98 year old Louis Nippert donated $85 million to the Arts, including the ballet and their orchestra. Thank you to this most gracious donor and fellow arts lover.

In last nights performance, the leads of Marie and The Nutcracker were played by Janessa Touchet and Cervilio Amador respectively. I, like my Mom have never actually seen the entire ballet and therefor honestly did not know exactly what was going on and yet the story pretty much told itself. We agreed that it was very well choreographed and that Mr. Devon Carney helped tell the story with his emotion and arm movements.

Mom and I  sat on the third floor balcony, where I admit that I was a bit afraid to walk down to my seat. Funny thing is that I am a flight attendant and yet terrified of heights! I found out though that it brings a whole new view that was quite exciting. The only thing that I was sad about is that I could not completely tell the faces of who was dancing that far away. What we were able to see is the formations of the dancers and the entire stage along with the orchestra, which was really nice. I enjoyed being able to see which instrument was making the more unusual sounds, which would drive me crazy more than leave something to the imagination. The other thing that I could see from that high unfortunately was the fact that it appeared that some of the dancers were not placed well. What I mean by that for example is when there were four dancer on stage, dancing in a circle , each dancer was not the same distance apart. Or, one dancer would be too far forward or back from the others and the timing was not always in synch. First of all, I wonder if I am being too overly critical, can the patrons on lower levels tell the difference and is this even something that matters. No matter where the dancers were on stage they looked amazing.

The set in the first scene was a little disappointing for me. The reason that I say this is because the colors were so muted and dull compared to last months production of Swan Lake. The curtain staged as a home in scene one with views through the windows was quite creative however, I suppose I just expected more of a pop of color like last month. Of course, speaking of a pop, the ingenious use of fireworks to show the magic used by Herr Drosselmeier certainly caught the audiences attention. With a surprised gasp, the excitement didn’t stop with just one bang yet the next was just as exciting as the first. I am still thinking about the items on stage like the bed that both flew through the air and floated effortlessly across the stage by itself.

It’s possible that some of the children  found the fight with the mice and their Mouse King to be the funniest as told by the laughter coming from the audience. It wasn’t until Act 2 when the color I was looking for danced onto the stage in the form of flowers and world dancers. Lovely shades of blue, yellow, orange and purple twirled so beautifully and enter the brilliant red rose. Yellow and black in the Spanish dancers. Sensuous elegance in the Arabian dancers. Some other things that the children loved were the Chinese Trainer and his dragon and Mother Ginger standing very tall with 8 little children all under “her” dress that come out one by one then two by two.

Overall, I am so glad that I was able to see this production and look forward to many years of working with the ballet. Don’t miss out on your chance to see this wonderful group of dancers. I for one cannot wait to go back on the 23rd to see my friend Jill dance her first season as the lead of Marie after all of her work of learning the part.

Last night was Ballet and Rootbeer for the upcoming production of The Nutcracker. I took my 6 year old son for the first time, which was his first experience with the ballet. I found it quite humorous that when we first arrived at the Cincinnati Ballet’s rehearsal building and I showed him a young male ballet dancer, he was surprised that he was dancing “with girls”. Yuck!

Unfortunately, he was not too thrilled with sitting in the theatre watching the dancers either. Possibly boring for  a little boy (unless already predisposed) and for a first timer that cannot vision the final product. These dancers are not in costume, so if you have never seen the ballet, do not know what’s going on or are not moved by the fact of what these professionals are doing, it may not be quite so compelling for some. For me, as soon as the music starts I am lost. Even with that, it is even more exciting when I am sitting in the big theatre with the roar of the live orchestra and the wonderful colors of the costumes. I feel like even after watching the rehearsals and the informal production, the whole thing comes to life with the costumes and sets. Bigger than life actually like an escape to another world filled with nothing but beauty and passion.

Once again, it was wonderful to see all of the little girls dressed up in little ballet tutu’s and whether he enjoyed the performance or not, my son had fun meeting some of the dancers and playing with the new friend he made less than 5 minutes after arriving. It just happened to be another boy that really was bored with the whole thing, except the free cookies of course.

Last night was the first time that I was able to see Jill Marlow and Liang Fu dancing since I began watching them a few weeks ago rehearsing the lead parts for the first time. Still somewhat new to the ballet behind the scenes, I thought that they looked perfect the first time that I saw them, which was only the second day they had rehearsed the parts. The second time that I saw them, I had the opportunity to see just the two of them working with Devon Carney and could see the difference between how they were executing each step and how they could interpret it more effectively. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of changing legs or the speed of the step. I realize it may not seem like a big deal however, it could mean the difference of injury or just an awkward landing.

I was pleased to see a beautiful performance danced by all of the dancers and most importantly to me, “my” beautiful new friends Jill and Fu. Great job to both of you and I cannot wait to see you in full costume on the big stage sans a 6 year old.