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42 Thoughts I Had While Watching Boston Ballet’s Mirrors

May 17, 2016 by Emily 3 Comments

Growing up dancing, you hear a lot of poppycock about ballet. It’s boring. It’s not a sport. It’s drab classical music. Men in tights {followed by snickers, and I don’t mean the candy}.

I don’t think I’ve seen a ballet that better disputes these claims than Boston Ballet’s Mirrors, which premiered earlier this month. Ho-ly wow was this a dramatic show. And it gave me a funny sense of pride, as a nearing-former dancer.

I’ll take ya back to opening night…

Lia Cirio of Boston Ballet in José Martinez’s Resonance; photo by Gene Schiavone, courtesy Boston Ballet

1. I love that we clap for the conductor and pianist’s entrance. But really how does one clap with a glass of champagne?
2. Just remembered that I spent $13 on this glass of champagne.
3. OMG THEY’RE #emojisinreallife
4. DUSTY. Didn’t even look at the cast list! The Button is back!
5. These girls’ legs are the equivalent of Katie-Couric-Arms and I want that.
6. LOVE this #girlpower female cast so far.
7. Oooh in a different costume! She must be the Black Swa–
8. Wrong show {But Swan Lake is running at the Opera House until May 26th!}.
9. There. is. a. pianist. on. stage.
10. Is that called staging? Can Boston Ballet even GET better at staging?
11. The men are all whipping out these grand solos and getting 18 feet in the air and the women are NOT even glancing at them that #girlpower though.
12. This is like the balletic version of The Bachelorette.
13. Hey how do you think JoJo is doing so far anyway?
14. But I really don’t understand the men-in-tights scoffing because these guys could whip Kevin Durant’s a$$ in a dunk contest.
15. Remember that time in high school I applied for an internship at Dance Spirit Magazine and answered the “what dancer would you most love to interview?” question with “Dusty Button” and at the time she mayyyy have been less than a household name but LOOK AT ME HER NOW.
16. Wait when did the piano stop playing?
17. Wowowow dancers doubling as stage crew this must be #symbolic.
18. Lurve a good lift scene.
19. These dresses are growing on me and tempting me like a 40% off sale email from J.Crew.
20. They’ve all paired up WHERE DO I LOOK it’s like trying to people watch at a restaurant frequently used for first dates and breakups.
21. I’m still waiting for the mirrors to appear but that was a stunning first quarter.
22. Oh waaaiiit they were mirroring each other and ok…
23. Intermission and I’m so underdressed.
24. Look at that lady’s purse!
25. *checks phone* “Turn around!” who?
26. MOLLY’S HERE #whatacreep
27. {Mad rush of everyone returning to their seats as the light dims for the second act! and} OH gosh are you ok are you–MAN DOWN MAN DOWN {hand grabs my shoulder, man spills entire glass of said $13 champagne and falls into row(?) behind me} and ok guess he’s up and ok glad you’re fine and I’ll send you my drycleaning bill?

Boston Ballet in Yury Yanowsky’s Smoke and Mirrors; photo by Gene Schiavone, courtesy Boston Ballet

28. And we’re back. This is like watching a PG13-rated romance novel.
29. SENSUAL.
30. And now the Hunger Games.
31. They’re all in gold there’s no way this wasn’t inspired by a certain Suzanne Collins novel.
32. Everyone who has ever thought ballet is just classical music and men in tights needs to see this show like yesterday.
33. Is he holding her by her leotard?!
34. There is something resembling hip hop going on right now. Boston Ballet is doing hip hop.
35. THE BOSTON BALLET IS DOING HIP HOP.

Boston Ballet in Karole Armitage’s Bitches Brew; photo by Gene Schiavone, courtesy Boston Ballet

36. So many people just thought that second intermission signaled the end of the show and I am so sad for them.
37. This quarter is called Bitches Brew so we’re already off to a great start.
38. So this is probably the strangest thing Boston Ballet has ever done and I think I kind of love it.
39. I imagine this is what being on drugs as a jazz concert looks like.
40. These curtains are very Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix #RIPsirius
41. Are those pointe shoes painted neon orange or…?
42. How is she still going?

And then I took a breath for the first time in 27 minutes. An incredible and wildly different performance from anything I’ve seen before.

Boston Ballet’s Mirrors is playing at the Boston Opera House until May 28 and you can get your tickets–which start at just $35–right here!

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Full disclosure:: I was provided with two complimentary tickets to Mirrors
for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

40 Thoughts I Had While Watching Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker

December 4, 2015 by Emily 4 Comments

Since you all seemed to have a good laugh [or eye roll] at my starred “review” of their production of Mahler’s Third earlier this fall, I’m back to share my thoughts on Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker 2015. My favorite of all Christmas-in-Boston traditions [though the Santa Speedo Run isn’t far behind.]

1. This Clara casting is on POINT(E).*
2. My dream is to one day be one of these Christmas Eve party guests.
3. Not, like, as a dancer. Like as an actual guest.
4. It’s a strange year if my family wears anything other than pajamas as we sit around on Christmas Eve.
5. May these boys please never realize that they are too cool for ballet.
6. Hey! Rachel Cossar!
7. Can you imagine a more dreamy job that half professional ballet dancer/half food blogger?

8. Whoever said the character Clara doesn’t dance much was seriously disturbed.
9. She is nailing those doubles and then some.
10. This bear can dance better than I will ever be able to. Wearing a costume that probably weighs as much as he does.
11. And that bear did not receive the standing ovation it should have.
12. Has anyone ever thought about how a nutcracker is sort of a random gift for a child?
13. I mean yes, it is a BEAUTIFUL doll too.
14. But when I was a kid if my dolls had special features it was like they could actually wet their diapers or spit stickers out of their stomach, not crack nut shells.
15. There is probably some 1800s German cultural history behind this that I should look up for context.
16. Sometimes I trip while dancing after drinking too, nanny.

17. But HOW do they make that tree grow like that?!
18. Two decades of watching Nutcracker performances and I still don’t get it.
19. I hate when ten-year-olds’ grand jetes are better than mine.
20. The rats are hands down the funniest characters in this ballet.
21. Like, rivaling Mother Ginger funny.
22. Who do you think is cuter– the baby rats, reindeer, or Gingerbread Man?
23. Ugh definitely those reindeer and their shuffling.
24. Why doesn’t it snow glitter when I emerge from my apartment each day?
25. I think my mom is crying.
26. Just realized I’ve been holding my breath through the entire snow scene.

27. Ok, I take that back, the little guards are now the cutest.
28. Can we get an encore on the Chinese performance?!?
29. Too short!
30. But ok, here comes my favorite part.

31. Those Russians though.
32. Not sore on the eyes either.
33. Is breakdancing customary in Russian dance?
34. I TAKE IT BACK AGAIN THE BABY SHEEP TRUMP ALL IN CUTENESS.
35. NO, THE BABY BLACK SHEEP!!!

36. The Waltz of the Flowers is so dreamy.
37. But I can’t help but stress thinking about that scene in The Little Rascals.
38. I never want this to end.
39. The Nutcracker ending is as sad as taking the Christmas tree down.
[trips out of seat while standing to applaud]
40. What a way to end an evening all about the grace of the human body.

All photos courtesy of The Boston Ballet

The Nutcracker features the full company, plus 11 Boston Ballet II members and 217 students! It runs now through December 31st. and tickets start at just $35. A purchase you won’t regret. MJF took me to Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker for our first Christmas together, and you can bet that sealed the deal.

*This performance featured Delia Wada-Gill as Clara!

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Full disclosure:: I was provided with two complimentary tickets to The Nutcracker
for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have
attended Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker in many years past, unsponsored.

A Day at the Ballet

December 8, 2014 by Emily Leave a Comment

Maybe my favorite of ALL Christmas traditions? Blame it on the dancer in me, but it’s one hundred percent going to see The Nutcracker in Boston. An indulgence that’s a bit difficult to do every year, which makes it even more of a treat when it does happen.