Well It has been a long time since I posted, years in fact. However, I think it is time to catch up with what has happened, and a lot has happened!
Grandiva has gone through a huge transition. In fact, I left the company as director in 2009, because there were a lot of things in my life that were not making me happy, and I felt that I needed to step back and re evaluate. That being said, the company made an effort to reinvent itself and had a terrible time of it. For that I am truly sorry.
I had moved to West Palm Beach, Fl. and was working with dance at a private college. However, I found that I missed the hustle and bustle and started on a new journey with a new company that I called Les Ballets Eloelle, (LOL). A funny thing happened at this point. I was asked to somehow become involved again with Grandiva. So I have gone from being an assistant to a Dean of Dance at PBA University to directing two companies at the same time or so it appears.
2012 should be a very interesting year!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Laguna Beach Dance Festival
ON Friday September 28 (7th?) I got up to catch my flight
to the CADANCE Festival in Laguna Beach, California. I
had not planned on calling a car because I figured I
wasn't travelling with too much so it would be easy to
catch a cab. Unfortunately, the weather was not so
cooperative. When I walked outside it was raining
heavily and the wind was really blowing strongly. Just
getting to the corner of my street to hail a cab left me
soaked. When I got to the airport, George was not there
yet and the lines were long. George called me on his
cell and he and his friend showed up about 5 minutes
later. We made our way through the line and George and I checked
in, the baggage rules have changed for domestic travel
and even after planning we had to pay a large fee to get
the Spartacus tent and costumes on the flgiht. The three
of us got on the flight to Dallas and then George and I
caught a connecting flight to Laguna Beach.
to the CADANCE Festival in Laguna Beach, California. I
had not planned on calling a car because I figured I
wasn't travelling with too much so it would be easy to
catch a cab. Unfortunately, the weather was not so
cooperative. When I walked outside it was raining
heavily and the wind was really blowing strongly. Just
getting to the corner of my street to hail a cab left me
soaked. When I got to the airport, George was not there
yet and the lines were long. George called me on his
cell and he and his friend showed up about 5 minutes
later. We made our way through the line and George and I checked
in, the baggage rules have changed for domestic travel
and even after planning we had to pay a large fee to get
the Spartacus tent and costumes on the flgiht. The three
of us got on the flight to Dallas and then George and I
caught a connecting flight to Laguna Beach.
When the plane flew over Laguna I was struck by the
incredible beauty of the area. It has clear blue skies,
impressive mountains and its by the Ocean. We were
picked up at the airport by one of the volunteers for the
Festival. As we waited for our bags the guy walked right
up to me and said you must be the dancer I am looking
for. He said George and I stood out which is why he
approached us. I don't know if thats a good thing.
incredible beauty of the area. It has clear blue skies,
impressive mountains and its by the Ocean. We were
picked up at the airport by one of the volunteers for the
Festival. As we waited for our bags the guy walked right
up to me and said you must be the dancer I am looking
for. He said George and I stood out which is why he
approached us. I don't know if thats a good thing.
He drove us to a vacation cottage by the beach, our homefor the next few days. The cottage was really charming
with two bedrooms
and a living room
and completely
decorated in americana; quilts, antique dolls, antique
furniture, it was very confortable and inviting.
We had the first night free so we just releaxed.
The next morning we got up early for class and a dress rehearsal.
The class though had been cancelled and so we were left
to explore for an hour before we had our dress rehearsal.
We walked around the city and watched a master class
being given to students by one of Trey McIntyre's dancers
before returning to meet with the very talented stage
manager and lighting designer. They made our rehearsals
really quick and easy. After we returned back to rest at
the cottage. We went back to the theater and we were
running late so we hurried on to the stage where all the
dancers from the other companies were already gathered.
I could see curiousity cross the faces of several of the
dancers as we entered since we didn't really know most of
them.
manager and lighting designer. They made our rehearsals
really quick and easy. After we returned back to rest at
the cottage. We went back to the theater and we were
running late so we hurried on to the stage where all the
dancers from the other companies were already gathered.
I could see curiousity cross the faces of several of the
dancers as we entered since we didn't really know most of
them.
I recognized Marcello Gomez from open classes inNew York and he was very nice inviting me to stand near
him.
I left class a bit early, I was worried about not
being ready in time. I was out of practice getting my
make-up on and preparing myself for the stage so I
decided it was best to be cautious and take an extra bit
of time. I took a few minutes to go back in and rehearse
the last lift in Spartacus with George before returning
to getting ready. The theater was an intimate space with
few dressing rooms so all the male dancers were set up
outside in a tent to get ready. I made the mistake of
thinking that California would be hot and in fact it was
very cool outside and I had not brought any warm dance
clothes with me because of the weight restrictions on the
flight. My legs and back tightened up as I got ready. Its
always a bit odd when you are applying your make-up and
changing into your alter ego and are surrounded by
dancers who have never seen a male ballerina get ready.
I noticed several people eyeing me as I applied my eye
shadow and lipstick. They tried to politely steal
glances my way. I'm sure they thought I was odd.
being ready in time. I was out of practice getting my
make-up on and preparing myself for the stage so I
decided it was best to be cautious and take an extra bit
of time. I took a few minutes to go back in and rehearse
the last lift in Spartacus with George before returning
to getting ready. The theater was an intimate space with
few dressing rooms so all the male dancers were set up
outside in a tent to get ready. I made the mistake of
thinking that California would be hot and in fact it was
very cool outside and I had not brought any warm dance
clothes with me because of the weight restrictions on the
flight. My legs and back tightened up as I got ready. Its
always a bit odd when you are applying your make-up and
changing into your alter ego and are surrounded by
dancers who have never seen a male ballerina get ready.
I noticed several people eyeing me as I applied my eye
shadow and lipstick. They tried to politely steal
glances my way. I'm sure they thought I was odd.
I made a second mistake which was wearing very soft pointe shoes.
Spartacus went fairly well the first night
but both my legs cramped from the cold and the soft
shoes. It was not one of my best performances. I was
smart enough to change my pointe shoes for the Dying Swan
and was able to do a better job with that. Because of the
feathers falling, I had to add a whole bit where I swept
the stage of feathers after the bows which was very fun
and seemed to be taken well by the audience. Alot of
the dancers were in the wings for both pieces we did,
they were really supportive and once they saw us perform
we had made many new friends. After the performance a sit
down dinner and fundraising event was held by the
festival. It was held outdoors with live music under the
stars. George and I were almost the last to leave. The
second days performance went much better for us. A
chiropracter was backstage and he fixed me so that I felt
100 percent for the performance. The audience the second
night also seemed to know what to expect and we recieved
a huge ovation.
but both my legs cramped from the cold and the soft
shoes. It was not one of my best performances. I was
smart enough to change my pointe shoes for the Dying Swan
and was able to do a better job with that. Because of the
feathers falling, I had to add a whole bit where I swept
the stage of feathers after the bows which was very fun
and seemed to be taken well by the audience. Alot of
the dancers were in the wings for both pieces we did,
they were really supportive and once they saw us perform
we had made many new friends. After the performance a sit
down dinner and fundraising event was held by the
festival. It was held outdoors with live music under the
stars. George and I were almost the last to leave. The
second days performance went much better for us. A
chiropracter was backstage and he fixed me so that I felt
100 percent for the performance. The audience the second
night also seemed to know what to expect and we recieved
a huge ovation.
After the second show we had another
great party with the dancers and with Jodie Gates the
director of the festival to celebrate
great party with the dancers and with Jodie Gates the
director of the festival to celebrate
(This is a terrrrible picture of me at the party with Jodie, by the way Ari is named after Jodie Gates and Pearl Lang)
George and I spent an extra day in Laguna walking on the beach and
meeting with Lars, a friend of Paul (Boos). Lars had
visited us in Japan and travelled with the company for a
few weeks.
meeting with Lars, a friend of Paul (Boos). Lars had
visited us in Japan and travelled with the company for a
few weeks.
That evening we were invited to dinner with
one of the board members who treated us to a home made
dinner. The return home was not quite as pleasant. It began with
our flight being cancelled. George was planning on
reconnecting with his friend in Dallas and flying to JFK
but the only flight they could put us on was through San
Francisco and to Laguardia. We explained that George was
planning on being picked up at JFK by family and that
arrangements had already been made. The airline said
they couldn't do anything for us but they would upgrade
us. We discovered that meant that they upgraded our
boarding priority only. Needless to say, George was not
happy. It was not a great note to end such a great trip
but we did make it home safely.
one of the board members who treated us to a home made
dinner. The return home was not quite as pleasant. It began with
our flight being cancelled. George was planning on
reconnecting with his friend in Dallas and flying to JFK
but the only flight they could put us on was through San
Francisco and to Laguardia. We explained that George was
planning on being picked up at JFK by family and that
arrangements had already been made. The airline said
they couldn't do anything for us but they would upgrade
us. We discovered that meant that they upgraded our
boarding priority only. Needless to say, George was not
happy. It was not a great note to end such a great trip
but we did make it home safely.
For those of you were wondering,
I had already made plans to be a part of this festival before I
announced my retirement in Japan. I have not totally decided whether
I will perform in special performaces but I do want to
thank everyone for supporting me throughout my career.
I enjoyed my retirement performance in Japan and will
treasure it but I will also treasure this performance as
I shared the stage with fellow dancers from a variety of
important dance companies and reconnected with a
community of dancers one last time.
I will perform in special performaces but I do want to
thank everyone for supporting me throughout my career.
I enjoyed my retirement performance in Japan and will
treasure it but I will also treasure this performance as
I shared the stage with fellow dancers from a variety of
important dance companies and reconnected with a
community of dancers one last time.
Maria Ricetto (Soloist from ABT, originally from Uruguay and me after the second show) one of the many new friends I made.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A new Beggining the end of 2008 and start of 2009
Hey everybody,
The last two years have been incredibly busy and I have lost track my diary/blog. The 200 performances in basically a year and a half in over 100 cities was in a word "Exhausting".
Some of the big news is that I decided to officially retire. What this means is that I will not be dancing at the same level as I did, especially in Japan. I might perform for a special show here and there but it is sadly time to put that part of my life behind me. I had two extraordinary events to share with you.
My final Gala Performance in Japan and a guest performance in California at a festival.
The final Gala was set for the Last Day of the Japan "Recipe for Laughter tour 2008". I've seen many retirements and tried to base mine on what I have seen. I have seen some done with great videos and retrospectives and with many dancers performing all the special roles associated with the person retireing and I have also seen versions where basically the retiring ballerina dances everything and people wonder if there is an ambulance waiting for her at the end of the show. I like the second because you really get to see the ballerina slowly deteriorate over the evenings performance and it is an apt comment on a dancer's career.
I opened the evening with a role that I have dancing for 18 years, Odette in Swan Lake Act ll. Although this was not what I consider my first major role, that was Medora in Corsaire, It was a role that was the most important in the Male Comedy Ballet repetoire. It is a role I never tired of and always had challenges for me. I will miss Odette, she was a fun character to play because there was so much room for interpretation and so many technical challenges. For the curtain call I was surprised by Paul Boos, my friend and the ballet master presenting me with a dozen roses on stage. I actually choked up because it was completely unexpected.
The second act opened with Pas De Quatre. It is a ballet that was set with the 4 greatest ballerinas of the time. I thought it was fitting to cast the 4 dancers in Grandiva who have the most seniority. Allen, Oswaldo, Me and Bart. This was Bart's first performance in pas de quatre and the role he performed was also performed by the youngest star of the time. Bart was the youngest of the four of us and his inclusion infused excitement into the ballet for the audience and the cast.
I continued with Spartacus pas with George. This is probably the last duet that my career has been associated with. It was fitting to include this ballet because it represents a huge departure from what Male Comedy Ballet was like 20 years ago. It is a ballet that uniquely represents Grandiva and me personally. This ballet is deceptively difficult. Actually George and I have attempted to teach this ballet to other casts but have not been successful. I have hope that we will be able to pass this ballet to another generation because as a choreographer I think this is one of my best duets.
I closed the second act with The Dying Swan. When I first performed this ballet it was based on the idea that sometimes this short solo is done in its entirety for a curtain call. I first added one extra run of the ballet with a different ballerina and then decided too extend that to two extra ballerinas. When I thought of this idea I thought listening and watching the same rendition 3 times would be too much for the audience so I decided to make the third version, my version, really a slapstick version with a special recording. Just between you and me, I also thought the other dancers doing the role were much more elegant physically and so I thought it would be better for me to concentrate on comedy. From a comedic standpoint I think Dying Swan is probably one of the funniest things in my rep and so I felt I needed to include it.
The evening ended with a special version of Minkus Gala. I wanted to do something different with this ballet since we do it so regularly and we changed all the solos in the middle to give dancers an opportunity to dance either a role that was new to them or one that was associated with them. I also wanted to be able to dance with all my male partners, Tetsushi, Momchil, Oswaldo and George. I did miss dancing with Baris :(, but I couldn't fit anything else in without exhausting myself to the point of injury. I did dance Carmen with Baris on the last regular performance of the season so....for those of you who travelled to see that one thank you. Momchil and I danced Sleeping Beauty, and Oswaldo and I danced Star Spangled Ballerina a ballet that was created for me.
The final curtain calls were a show all by themselves. It was overwhelming for me. The huge numbers of bouquets of flowers and all the tears from the fans (at a comedy show!) were touching and a bit hard to handle for me. The dancers presented me with a diamond ring to remember them and the evening by. I will cherish it and all the years I have danced professionally starting at Ballet Florida in 1983 to my last official performance with Grandiva in 2008
The last two years have been incredibly busy and I have lost track my diary/blog. The 200 performances in basically a year and a half in over 100 cities was in a word "Exhausting".
Some of the big news is that I decided to officially retire. What this means is that I will not be dancing at the same level as I did, especially in Japan. I might perform for a special show here and there but it is sadly time to put that part of my life behind me. I had two extraordinary events to share with you.
My final Gala Performance in Japan and a guest performance in California at a festival.
The final Gala was set for the Last Day of the Japan "Recipe for Laughter tour 2008". I've seen many retirements and tried to base mine on what I have seen. I have seen some done with great videos and retrospectives and with many dancers performing all the special roles associated with the person retireing and I have also seen versions where basically the retiring ballerina dances everything and people wonder if there is an ambulance waiting for her at the end of the show. I like the second because you really get to see the ballerina slowly deteriorate over the evenings performance and it is an apt comment on a dancer's career.
I opened the evening with a role that I have dancing for 18 years, Odette in Swan Lake Act ll. Although this was not what I consider my first major role, that was Medora in Corsaire, It was a role that was the most important in the Male Comedy Ballet repetoire. It is a role I never tired of and always had challenges for me. I will miss Odette, she was a fun character to play because there was so much room for interpretation and so many technical challenges. For the curtain call I was surprised by Paul Boos, my friend and the ballet master presenting me with a dozen roses on stage. I actually choked up because it was completely unexpected.
The second act opened with Pas De Quatre. It is a ballet that was set with the 4 greatest ballerinas of the time. I thought it was fitting to cast the 4 dancers in Grandiva who have the most seniority. Allen, Oswaldo, Me and Bart. This was Bart's first performance in pas de quatre and the role he performed was also performed by the youngest star of the time. Bart was the youngest of the four of us and his inclusion infused excitement into the ballet for the audience and the cast.
I continued with Spartacus pas with George. This is probably the last duet that my career has been associated with. It was fitting to include this ballet because it represents a huge departure from what Male Comedy Ballet was like 20 years ago. It is a ballet that uniquely represents Grandiva and me personally. This ballet is deceptively difficult. Actually George and I have attempted to teach this ballet to other casts but have not been successful. I have hope that we will be able to pass this ballet to another generation because as a choreographer I think this is one of my best duets.
I closed the second act with The Dying Swan. When I first performed this ballet it was based on the idea that sometimes this short solo is done in its entirety for a curtain call. I first added one extra run of the ballet with a different ballerina and then decided too extend that to two extra ballerinas. When I thought of this idea I thought listening and watching the same rendition 3 times would be too much for the audience so I decided to make the third version, my version, really a slapstick version with a special recording. Just between you and me, I also thought the other dancers doing the role were much more elegant physically and so I thought it would be better for me to concentrate on comedy. From a comedic standpoint I think Dying Swan is probably one of the funniest things in my rep and so I felt I needed to include it.
The evening ended with a special version of Minkus Gala. I wanted to do something different with this ballet since we do it so regularly and we changed all the solos in the middle to give dancers an opportunity to dance either a role that was new to them or one that was associated with them. I also wanted to be able to dance with all my male partners, Tetsushi, Momchil, Oswaldo and George. I did miss dancing with Baris :(, but I couldn't fit anything else in without exhausting myself to the point of injury. I did dance Carmen with Baris on the last regular performance of the season so....for those of you who travelled to see that one thank you. Momchil and I danced Sleeping Beauty, and Oswaldo and I danced Star Spangled Ballerina a ballet that was created for me.
The final curtain calls were a show all by themselves. It was overwhelming for me. The huge numbers of bouquets of flowers and all the tears from the fans (at a comedy show!) were touching and a bit hard to handle for me. The dancers presented me with a diamond ring to remember them and the evening by. I will cherish it and all the years I have danced professionally starting at Ballet Florida in 1983 to my last official performance with Grandiva in 2008
Monday, September 24, 2007
one third of Australian tour is finished
I am sitting outside my hotel room now by the pool in Milura and we have now finished the first third of the tour. We still have 7 weeks of touring Australia before we move on to New Zealand for 3 weeks. The distances between cities in Australia are vast and life seems to be a long series of bus rides here. There is some beautiful country and the mostly sold out audiences have been loud and enthusiastic. I am enjoying it but it is hard. Giovanni sprained his ankle and has been out for a week but should be dancing in the next few days and Momchil left to go work with Suzanne after working with us for about a month. George just went home for 9 days to be with his daughter for her birthday and to be the best man at a wedding. Roberto arrived safely from Biarritz where he was dancing in a peformance at a festival. Baris is set to come join us for about a month to take the place of Momchil. He should be arriving in about 2 weeks from now. Peter Brandenhoff has been my roomate on tour and he and I danced Swan Lake for the first time two days ago. He is an excellent partner. I have also tried to give other people opportunities. Emanuel has danced Dying Swan and Marlon has danced one of the lead girls in Go For Barocco. We have several new dancers who are adjusting and doing very well. It has been a very nice atmosphere dispite the difficulties. We will probably end up doing somewhere between 80 and 90 shows before the tour is over and that is ALOT!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The MEN IN TUTUS TOUR in Austrlia Begins
This is the current schedule, there are several TBA's and a few TBA that I missed :)
MEN IN TUTUS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2007 - AS AT AUGUST 28, 2007
August
Monday
27
Shepparton
Eastbank Centre
8.15pm
Tuesday
28
Griffith
Regional Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
31
Tamworth
War Memorial Town Hall
8.15pm
SEPTEMBER
Saturday
1
Wollongong
Performing Arts Centre
Sunday
2
Wollongong
Performing Arts Centre
Monday
3
Albury
Performing Arts Centre
Tuesday
7
Melbourne
Her Majesty's Thaetre
Sunday
9
Darwin
Ent Centre (Playhouse)
5.00pm
Monday
10
Darwin
Ent Centre (Playhouse)
7.30pm
Wednesday
12
Perth
Burswood Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
13
Mandurah
Performing Arts Centre
8.15pm
Saturday
15
Geraldton
Queens Park Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
16
VICTOR'S BIRTHDAY (NO SHOW- Grandiva international holiday :) )
Monday
17
Kalgoorlie
Goldfields Arts Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
19
Warnambool
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Thursday
20
Hamilton
Performing Arts Centre
8.15pm
Friday
21
Frankston
Arts Centre
8.15pm
5.30pm
Saturday
22
Bendigo
Capital Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
23
Mt Gambier
Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre
5.00pm
Monday
24
Renmark
Chaffey Theatre
8.15pm
Tuesday
25
Mildura
Arts Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
26
Broken Hill
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Friday
28
Port Pirie
Keith Michell Theatre
8.15pm
5.30pm
Saturday
29
Port Lincoln
Nautilus Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
30
Whyalla
Middleback Theatre
2.00pm
OCTOBER
Monday
1
Tanunda
Brenton Langbein Theatre
5.00pm
Tuesday
2TBA
Wednesday
3
Adelaide
Festival Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
5
Warragul
West Gippsland Arts Centre
8.15pm
Saturday
6
Sale
Wellington Ent Centre
8.00pm
Sunday
7
Geelong
Performing Arts Centre
2.00pm
Monday
8
Launceston
Princess Theatre
8.15pm
Tuesday
9
Hobart
Theatre Royal
8.15pm
Wednesday
10
Hobart
Theatre Royal
Possible
Thursday
11
Travel
Friday
12
Wagga
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Saturday
13
Canberra
Theatre Centre
8.00pm
Sunday
14
TBA
Monday
15
TBA
Tuesday
16
Bathurst
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
17
TBA
Thursday
18
Sutherland
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Friday
19
Sydney
TBA
Saturday
20
Sydney
State Theatre
8.00pm
2.00pm
Sunday
21
Castle Hills
Hills Centre
2.00pm
Tuesday
23
TBA
Wednesday
24
Penrith
Evan Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
25
Newcastle
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
26
Port Macquarie
Panthers
8.15pm
Saturday
27
Lismore
Northern Rivers PAC
8.00pm
Sunday
28
Gold Coast
Arts Centre
4.00pm
Monday
29
TBA
Tuesday
30
Brisbane
Lyric Theatre
8.15pm
Wednesday
31
TBA
NOVEMBER
Thursday
1
Travel
Friday
2
Toowoomba
Empire Theatre
8.15pm
Saturday
3
Caloundra
Cultural Centre
8.00pm
Sunday
4
Maryborough
Brolga Theatre
2.00pm
Monday
Tuesday
6
Bundaberg
Moncrieff Theatre
8.15pm
Wednesday
7
Rockhampton
Pilbeam Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
8
Mackay
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Friday
9
TBA
Saturday
10
Townsville
Civic Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
11
Cairns
Convention Centre
4.00pm
Monday
12
Travel TO NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday
13
Wellington
St James Theatre
8.15pm
Wednesday
14
TBA
Thursday
15
Wanganui
Royal Opera House
8.15pm
Friday
16
New Plymouth
TSB Showplace
8.15pm
Saturday
17
Auckland
ASB Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
18
TBA
Monday
19
Travel
Tuesday
20
Taupo
Great Lake Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
21
Hamilton
Founders Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
22
Rotorua
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
23
TBA
Saturday
24
Tauranga
Baycourt Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
25
Napier
Municipal Theatre
2.00pm
Monday
26
Palmerston Nth
Regent on Broadway
8.15pm
Tuesday
27
Travel
Wednesday
28
Invercargill
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
29
Dunedin
Regent Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
30
Christchurch
TBA
DECEMBER
Saturday
1
Christchurch
Isaac Theatre Royal
8.00pm
Sunday
2
Timaru
Theatre Royal
2.00pm
MEN IN TUTUS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2007 - AS AT AUGUST 28, 2007
August
Monday
27
Shepparton
Eastbank Centre
8.15pm
Tuesday
28
Griffith
Regional Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
31
Tamworth
War Memorial Town Hall
8.15pm
SEPTEMBER
Saturday
1
Wollongong
Performing Arts Centre
Sunday
2
Wollongong
Performing Arts Centre
Monday
3
Albury
Performing Arts Centre
Tuesday
7
Melbourne
Her Majesty's Thaetre
Sunday
9
Darwin
Ent Centre (Playhouse)
5.00pm
Monday
10
Darwin
Ent Centre (Playhouse)
7.30pm
Wednesday
12
Perth
Burswood Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
13
Mandurah
Performing Arts Centre
8.15pm
Saturday
15
Geraldton
Queens Park Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
16
VICTOR'S BIRTHDAY (NO SHOW- Grandiva international holiday :) )
Monday
17
Kalgoorlie
Goldfields Arts Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
19
Warnambool
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Thursday
20
Hamilton
Performing Arts Centre
8.15pm
Friday
21
Frankston
Arts Centre
8.15pm
5.30pm
Saturday
22
Bendigo
Capital Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
23
Mt Gambier
Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre
5.00pm
Monday
24
Renmark
Chaffey Theatre
8.15pm
Tuesday
25
Mildura
Arts Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
26
Broken Hill
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Friday
28
Port Pirie
Keith Michell Theatre
8.15pm
5.30pm
Saturday
29
Port Lincoln
Nautilus Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
30
Whyalla
Middleback Theatre
2.00pm
OCTOBER
Monday
1
Tanunda
Brenton Langbein Theatre
5.00pm
Tuesday
2TBA
Wednesday
3
Adelaide
Festival Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
5
Warragul
West Gippsland Arts Centre
8.15pm
Saturday
6
Sale
Wellington Ent Centre
8.00pm
Sunday
7
Geelong
Performing Arts Centre
2.00pm
Monday
8
Launceston
Princess Theatre
8.15pm
Tuesday
9
Hobart
Theatre Royal
8.15pm
Wednesday
10
Hobart
Theatre Royal
Possible
Thursday
11
Travel
Friday
12
Wagga
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Saturday
13
Canberra
Theatre Centre
8.00pm
Sunday
14
TBA
Monday
15
TBA
Tuesday
16
Bathurst
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
17
TBA
Thursday
18
Sutherland
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Friday
19
Sydney
TBA
Saturday
20
Sydney
State Theatre
8.00pm
2.00pm
Sunday
21
Castle Hills
Hills Centre
2.00pm
Tuesday
23
TBA
Wednesday
24
Penrith
Evan Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
25
Newcastle
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
26
Port Macquarie
Panthers
8.15pm
Saturday
27
Lismore
Northern Rivers PAC
8.00pm
Sunday
28
Gold Coast
Arts Centre
4.00pm
Monday
29
TBA
Tuesday
30
Brisbane
Lyric Theatre
8.15pm
Wednesday
31
TBA
NOVEMBER
Thursday
1
Travel
Friday
2
Toowoomba
Empire Theatre
8.15pm
Saturday
3
Caloundra
Cultural Centre
8.00pm
Sunday
4
Maryborough
Brolga Theatre
2.00pm
Monday
Tuesday
6
Bundaberg
Moncrieff Theatre
8.15pm
Wednesday
7
Rockhampton
Pilbeam Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
8
Mackay
Entertainment Centre
8.15pm
Friday
9
TBA
Saturday
10
Townsville
Civic Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
11
Cairns
Convention Centre
4.00pm
Monday
12
Travel TO NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday
13
Wellington
St James Theatre
8.15pm
Wednesday
14
TBA
Thursday
15
Wanganui
Royal Opera House
8.15pm
Friday
16
New Plymouth
TSB Showplace
8.15pm
Saturday
17
Auckland
ASB Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
18
TBA
Monday
19
Travel
Tuesday
20
Taupo
Great Lake Centre
8.15pm
Wednesday
21
Hamilton
Founders Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
22
Rotorua
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
23
TBA
Saturday
24
Tauranga
Baycourt Theatre
8.00pm
Sunday
25
Napier
Municipal Theatre
2.00pm
Monday
26
Palmerston Nth
Regent on Broadway
8.15pm
Tuesday
27
Travel
Wednesday
28
Invercargill
Civic Theatre
8.15pm
Thursday
29
Dunedin
Regent Theatre
8.15pm
Friday
30
Christchurch
TBA
DECEMBER
Saturday
1
Christchurch
Isaac Theatre Royal
8.00pm
Sunday
2
Timaru
Theatre Royal
2.00pm
Monday, July 9, 2007
Our Tour to Italy
This is one of the really gorgeous buildings I saw in Pisa that I wanted to share with you.
This has been an incredibly busy and exciting year for Grandiva and for me. The tour to Italy was so much fun. We started in Cremona and then visited Vizenca and then went to Pisa and of course we couldn't leave without getting a picture of the famous tower.
The Theaters were beautiful old buildings but the stage floors were raked (that means that they are inclined). They use to make floors this way so the audience would get a better view of the show but it is hard for dancers to work on them; especially for dancers that are not from Europe as they are not as accustomed to working on this type of surface. It takes a few performances to get use to the difference. Performing in these older grand theaters really gives you a sense of the history that theater has and it is a great feeling to be a part of it. We also hired a photographer to take pictures of us in the theater in Pisa. They are part of this year's souvenir program book. I love the way these pictures capture the beauty of the the theater.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Friday April 27th 2007
We have finished our first three shows in Japan and it has been a very unusual time for the company. We have been plagued with many small injuries which has limited the casting of the shows. Brian Norris had an ankle injury which is now almost completely healed which I am happy about. George had a back injury in Italy which is almost healed also. Jai has had a foot injury which also now seems to just be healing and Momchil has had an elbow injury which is almost healed. Roberto remained in New York to have therapy on his calf. He is healing well and will be arriving next week in time for our Tokyo shows. Sebastian had a rib injury and three other dancers are having trouble with their feet and legs. We have never had more than 3 people hurt at the same time and usually we have had only one and occasionally two so I have been going crazy. It is so hard to move forward with plans when unexpected happens. Still, I have been blessed because the younger dancers continue to blossom and this time has given them a great opportunity to dance new roles. I think by the time we reach Tokyo everyone will be almost completely well so I am looking forward to that. It will make casting and programming the shows so much easier and more interesting for the dancers and the audience. We continue to work on the new ballets, Who Dares?!, They Who Wore White Flowers and La Sylphide all are finished and look great. Momchil and I are still putting the finishing touches on Manon. It looks like we will be having a few guest dancers this season also. I will write more about that next time.
Victor
Victor
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