TWSB Nutcracker Rehearsal Schedule

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Houston is a much bigger and higher profile company than the Washington Ballet.

Deeper donor pockets and budget in Houston.

and much better ballet company

Well if TWB didn’t get rid of Brooklyn Mack at the start of her tenure….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Houston is a much bigger and higher profile company than the Washington Ballet.

Deeper donor pockets and budget in Houston.

Yeah, it’s like a $40 million dollar budget plus $90 million endowment.

[Anonymous]

I wonder who’ll be her successor. I don’t understand why the Washington Ballet has hovered below its potential for so long. This is a big metro area, but for some reason the ballet company doesn’t punch with the same weight. Same with TWSB: It’s far below any of the schools in other large metro areas, to the extent that you’d have to leave the area if you want to pursue serious training after the age of 14/15. This situation has been made worse with the closure of Kirov. Now there are some very small schools that train at a very high level, but they’re further out and not well known.

[Anonymous]

The Washington Ballet was long ago pushed to the side as a small chamber group when Frederic Franklin left to establish the now defunct National Ballet.

When the Kennedy Center opened the National Ballet was made the official company, the goal was to have them be like New York City Ballet in their relationship with the theatre. There was also a school. The company and school last only a few years.

The Washington Ballet was never supposed to be what Kent was trying to turn it into, a mini ABT. Mary Day brought in new and innovative choreographers. She often reworked sections of her Nutcracker as late as the 90s. Mary Day was about fostering the art of dance, through choreography and training. The school was also about fostering local talent at a very high level. So sad to see no locals as part of the company now.

On another note, the loss of Brooklyn Mack was disappointing.

And as a person who is no longer in the area please tell me what happened to the school?

Why is Pat Berrend gone? Why did Lorraine leave? Why are Elvi Moore’s deep pockets backing City Dance? Seriously, what happened?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder who’ll be her successor. I don’t understand why the Washington Ballet has hovered below its potential for so long. This is a big metro area, but for some reason the ballet company doesn’t punch with the same weight. Same with TWSB: It’s far below any of the schools in other large metro areas, to the extent that you’d have to leave the area if you want to pursue serious training after the age of 14/15. This situation has been made worse with the closure of Kirov. Now there are some very small schools that train at a very high level, but they’re further out and not well known.

Which schools are you thinking of? My cousin is moving to MD and her pre-pro daughter is looking at TWSB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder who’ll be her successor. I don’t understand why the Washington Ballet has hovered below its potential for so long. This is a big metro area, but for some reason the ballet company doesn’t punch with the same weight. Same with TWSB: It’s far below any of the schools in other large metro areas, to the extent that you’d have to leave the area if you want to pursue serious training after the age of 14/15. This situation has been made worse with the closure of Kirov. Now there are some very small schools that train at a very high level, but they’re further out and not well known.

Which schools are you thinking of? My cousin is moving to MD and her pre-pro daughter is looking at TWSB.

DP. Maybe Akhmedova Ballet Academy in Silver Spring. Julie Kent went to Maryland Youth Ballet. There is also Kintz-Mejia Ballet in Tysons Corner.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if Xiomara Reyes will be going with Julie Kent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder who’ll be her successor. I don’t understand why the Washington Ballet has hovered below its potential for so long. This is a big metro area, but for some reason the ballet company doesn’t punch with the same weight. Same with TWSB: It’s far below any of the schools in other large metro areas, to the extent that you’d have to leave the area if you want to pursue serious training after the age of 14/15. This situation has been made worse with the closure of Kirov. Now there are some very small schools that train at a very high level, but they’re further out and not well known.

Which schools are you thinking of? My cousin is moving to MD and her pre-pro daughter is looking at TWSB.

DP. Maybe Akhmedova Ballet Academy in Silver Spring. Julie Kent went to Maryland Youth Ballet. There is also Kintz-Mejia Ballet in Tysons Corner.

Metropolitan school of the arts in Alexandria actually surprised me with how rigorous nits program is. They offer a full school option beginning in 7th, too. My dd is not doing the school option but we’re impressed with the quality and where alums have ended up.

[Anonymous]

I wonder how TWB is doing financially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Xiomara Reyes will be going with Julie Kent?

I hope so. They really need to pull up the school, and her tenure has been a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I wonder if Xiomara Reyes will be going with Julie Kent?


I hope so. They really need to pull up the school, and her tenure has been a mess.

Not sure Julie is going to be able to take her entourage to Houston, but I doubt the new AD would keep the old guard around. He/She would likely bring in new school leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I wonder if Xiomara Reyes will be going with Julie Kent?


I hope so. They really need to pull up the school, and her tenure has been a mess.

Not sure Julie is going to be able to take her entourage to Houston, but I doubt the new AD would keep the old guard around. He/She would likely bring in new school leadership.

I think its a good thing, I wouldn't mind a shake up!

[Anonymous]

She only brought Xiomara and her husband with her. There has been no school leadership for a few years. There’s actually no Head of School position at TWSB right now. It got eliminated when Xiomara got demoted to Head of PTP a few years ago. There’s a relatively new administrative head overseeing both the company and TWSB, who came over from Maryland Youth Ballet and who seems quite good, but they really need a strong person who can pull up the school. Before that, they need to clarify though what TWSB’s mission, other than subsidizing the company actually is. Elite institution training the next generation, or more rec level but drawing on the company’s name. I fear financial consideration will push it further down the latter route. You only need to look at some of the mid-level classes to see where this is headed. The freak-out of some of the more demanding teachers at recent Nutcracker rehearsals is a symptom of this. It’s difficult to put a high-quality performance together if the fundamentals aren’t there.

[Anonymous]

he only brought Xiomara and her husband with her.

Julie, Julie's husband, Xiomara and Xiomara's husband. I doubt the latter two will stay.

[Anonymous]

Anyone on here still in touch with Septime? I remember someone posted a while ago that TWB allegedly didn’t pay him royalties for Nutcracker. Allegedly.