as will this post.
Was noodling around in the wee hours and checked in to ABT’s casting for their fall season.
Had to laugh when I saw that Veronika Part is down for Balanchine’s Siren with ABT in October.
Not that she isn’t right for the role–it’s how right she is, and how long it’s taken her to do it.
So I started to post, got sleepy, pressed Publish instead of Save Draft.
Rescinded that this am.
Anyway, here’s the drill:
Flashback to the fall of 2000. ABT was reviving Prodigal Son after a long respite.
Tchernichova and I had seen the Kirov in the first of their two London seasons that summer. I reviewed it for Ballet Review. There was a lot of fabulous dancing on Covent Garden’s glorious, storied stage.
While she was there, Tchernichova discussed with then-Kirov director Makhar Vasiev how salutary to all concerned would be guest appearances by some of the company’s rising, reigning crop of “girls”–the names of Lopatkina, Part, and Vishneva were mentioned in parley.
Distinctly remember speculating with Tchernichova on how all three “girls” would be wonderful for the Siren.
When she got back to New York, Tchernichova phoned Peter Martins and Kevin McKenzie, who of course never got back to her.
Irony of ironies, Part of course has been a full time member of ABT since 2002.
Irony of further ironies, Vishneva since 2005 has been one of ABT’s many guest, permanent guest, part-time members of the company– or whatever they’re called–stars.