Had to post about this. PBS is showing SF Ballet's The Little Mermaid. The preview looks awesome! Yuan Yuan Tan is so beautiful.

It looks like it'll capture my imagination and tug at my heartstrings.

www.youtube.com . . .

Here's a review:

sanfrancisco.about.com . . .

Looks amazing!!! Yuan Yuan Tan is one of my favorite dancers and San Francisco Ballet is one of my favorite companys.

Me, too.

I have my recorder set. I'm also getting a tape so I can record it a second time.

She was magic in The Nutcracker, and she really is riveting in this role. I was crying just from the preview!

I predict it's going to be a five tissue event.

I think that NYCBs Nutcracker will be on PBS, December 14th also.

I saw this on Swedish television a few weeks ago and I thought it was absolutely amazing, SO imaginative! The guy who played the Sea Witch, absolutely incredible!

BalletBlossom wrote:

I think that NYCBs Nutcracker will be on PBS, December 14th also.

Oh, thank you! I would have missed that one as well!

I saw this on Swedish television a few weeks ago and I thought it was absolutely amazing, SO imaginative! The guy who played the Sea Witch, absolutely incredible!

saaamie -

You saw this already?

I'm so glad that it's as good as it looks! Sometimes the preview is the best part, but in this case, I was hoping it extended all the way through the production.

I really really am admiring of the direction SF is headed. I think you struck the right word when you said "imaginative." I would also say they pushing "artistry." It's something I believe is sorely missing in these days of hyperextension and technical tricks. I definitely believe that pushing physical boundaries are important, but not as important as maintaining integrity.

So jealous! But anxious to see for myself!

Oh, and there's also the Battle of The Nutcrackers on Ovation I think. I love the Royal Ballet's version, and look forward to seeing some of the others. I'm sure I'll be impressed.

Ah the nutcracker it is the time of year, I saw the nycb balencine nutcracker on wed late at night, and I got to say they did a great job with the costumes, and being a par of all the nutcracker is supposed to be and the timeing a professional dancer should have moving as a group, the dancers form was often sloppy, and, the sugerplum fairy looked unadorned for the role, and while I wont say they were total machines when they danced, they did not have any character in their dance they seemed to really bring their legs up, and worried more about power and flaunt, as though they were battleing or showdancing on broadway, as opposed to being a light fairy or chinese tea.

and with origional balencine dancers still alive to teach and pass on the technique I would have expected more from the New York City Ballet, though, the behinde the scenes during intermission showed kids training with great form and dance, the rest of the ballet was to be desired, it could have had the dancers more in character.

signed Jeremy Poppergerm

My boyfriend and I were channel surfing when we stumbled across the last half hour or so of The Little Mermaid. I'm still speechless. I think I even started crying. I've never seen a performance like that. She was so perfect. Her arms were so expressive and I've never seen that much legitimate anguish onstage.

popergerm wrote:

Ah the nutcracker it is the time of year, I saw the nycb balencine nutcracker on wed late at night ...

and with origional balencine dancers still alive to teach and pass on the technique I would have expected more from the New York City Ballet, though, the behinde the scenes during intermission showed kids training with great form and dance, the rest of the ballet was to be desired, it could have had the dancers more in character.

signed Jeremy Poppergerm

Jeremy -

I didn't catch the whole thing. I actually wasn't that thrilled with the costumes, which is strange because when I saw it in person a couple of years ago, the costumes were perfect! Don't know whether they're using the same ones and the translation to TV was not successful.

In terms of the dancing, NYCB seems to be a lightning rod for opposite opinions. I thought the dancers looked amazing and were in fantastic shape. The variations were tricky, and doing any of them would have landed me on my head!

I did watch a few minutes of the other entires in The Battle of the Nutcracker. I have them taped so will watch them all the way through. The Royal Ballet's snow scene was amazing ... and The Bolshoi, well, they were as expected!

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. And what can I say? I love watching pretty much anything done by NYCB, but I'll give a more complete critique after having seen it all.

My boyfriend and I were channel surfing when we stumbled across the last half hour or so of The Little Mermaid. I'm still speechless. I think I even started crying. I've never seen a performance like that. She was so perfect. Her arms were so expressive and I've never seen that much legitimate anguish onstage.

dance56SEHvun8 -

I couldn't agree more!

I was stupefied by Yuan Yuan Tan's performance. She is exquisite! Beyond what I could have dreamed someone could do with that part. It's what I would give as an example of an artist as opposed to someone that can proficiently dance well.

The scene where she is landbound and coming to grips at being introduced to her new legs is amazing and mindboggling. She was so perfect that anyone turning on would have immediately known what she was going through the pantomime alone. As delightful as she was underwater (and where she flips the fin over her head and is hidden by it, and then exposed when someone lifts it is a favorite!), the excruciating scenes on land were heartwrenching. I hated when she first meets that love interest and he inspects her. Doesn't she sit on her legs to hide them? Man, could I read into that passage!

I'm not sure how she captured the role so magnificently. I often think character dance is behind it all. That dancers who are well-versed in every single movement telling a story successfully do this. They seem to be immersed in the entire personnification instead just wondering where their feet go. Hence the facial expressions and acting.

The poet was phenomenal, as was the Sea Witch. What a role! And that love interest, I would have liked to kick in the pants! He followed the same ditzy, doofus pattern set by male characters in ballet. Like Albrecht and Siegfried, could those guys be any dumber? And this one ... he falls in love with a rather lackluster girl in a grey dress attending a religious academy when he could have a mermaid? A beautiful one at that?

Anyway, it's taped, and I'm going to watch it again. I think most parts were obliterated by my crying. I started when I saw the credits rolling.

I also have to give kudos to the choreographer who began the ballet at that perfect spot where the poet's love interest gets married. I love the history of this and why he chosen that point to begin.

All-in-all, I think that there should be some type of award given out for ballet performances. No, I don't think dance should be a competition, but it should be recognized. There are too many awards shows already, but I mean, really! I'd watch especially if they had dancers recreating variations or filmed sequences of why the artist was nominated.

Thanks and I totally, completely agree with what you had to say.

nycsylph I agree with everything you said. Everyone was just amazing!! Yuan Yuan Tan took my breath away, theres no way to describe her performance. The Poet, Sea Witch, love interest, and Sarah Van Patten (the girl who ends up marrying the love interest) were amazing!!! I think I may have spotted a certain Dance.net member dancing as well.

I Tivoed The Little Mermaid and just watched it tonight. It was a great performance and I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to duplicate it from my Tivo to a disc (probably illegal and not possible).

One minor thing kept bothering me, though maybe it shouldn't have. Those mermaid costume "tails" which dragged on the floor! They looked great and obviously worked quite well because everybody danced just fine without falling or even hesitating. But how? They were stepping on the fabric! If it were me, I know one of two things would have happened. A. I would have tripped and fallen or B. Having stepped on the fabric, when I moved forward the costume would have ripped completely off me. Or probably both! And it wasn't held on by that much, either! I just kept waiting for a disaster.

On the plus side, I hadn't known anything about Hans Christian Andersen, the fact that he was bi-sexual, and the fact that he had all those un-reciprocated love interests of both sexes, poor, tortured soul! (You'd think that being bi- would be a blessing and increase one's chances but not so in our society.)

Anyway, I really loved the addition of Anderson, himself, as the "poet" in the ballet, who was inextricably linked with the character he created and, sadly, unable to manage a happy ending for either her or himself.

And of course all the dancers were not only great but their characters were expressed extremely well. Especially Prince Charming who was, well, charming, but dense as a brick.

Too late to edit. I meant "thick as a brick" of course.

Double post. Sorry.

BalletBlossom wrote:

nycsylph I agree with everything you said. Everyone was just amazing!! Yuan Yuan Tan took my breath away, theres no way to describe her performance. The Poet, Sea Witch, love interest, and Sarah Van Patten (the girl who ends up marrying the love interest) were amazing!!! I think I may have spotted a certain Dance.net member dancing as well.

Balletblossom -


So glad you enjoyed it. And is it too much to ask to have these sorts of programs aired on a regular basis?

As for that last little bit, you don't mean ... our little "TD" do you? If so, I can't believe she didn't post everywhere about it. I would have. Including stopping people on the street, buses, and in the grocery store!

I'll have to look for her! Yet, another good reason to watch again.

One minor thing kept bothering me, though maybe it shouldn't have. Those mermaid costume "tails" which dragged on the floor! They looked great and obviously worked quite well because everybody danced just fine without falling or even hesitating. But how? They were stepping on the fabric! If it were me, I know one of two things would have happened. A. I would have tripped and fallen or B. Having stepped on the fabric, when I moved forward the costume would have ripped completely off me. Or probably both! And it wasn't held on by that much, either! I just kept waiting for a disaster.

Toroandbruin -

Yeah, well, there you go! I guess it could be considered a "prop" and props are notoriously hard to work with. Like dancers working with a chair. Often skids off into the sunset, tips over and does all sorts of things not noted in rehearsal!

Not only did Yuan Yuan wear the costume, but she mastered it. As I mentioned above, I love when she just flipped that fin over her face with just a flick of her foot. I would have had to do that oh, about 15 or 16 times! It would have slowed the whole production down!

I loved the effect that costume gave though. As much trouble as it probably caused all the dancers in getting used to it, it was extremely effective in creating the illusion that she was a mermaid and underwater.

On the plus side, I hadn't known anything about Hans Christian Andersen, the fact that he was bi-sexual, and the fact that he had all those un-reciprocated love interests of both sexes, poor, tortured soul! (You'd think that being bi- would be a blessing and increase one's chances but not so in our society.)

You seem to see the glass as half full. It also could mean a chance to be doubly turned down! It's at that point one should visit the local shelter and bring home a little four-legged friend. They'll love you no matter what!

I also read a lot into this story given this piece of information. I agree that it was crucial to really understanding the production and what the story was really about. At least, that's from my perspective. I mean, here is this amazing little mermaid basically in her own world/paradise, and she's willing to throw it all away so she can wear a pretty ugly, boring grey dress? Doesn't that sound like having problems with conforming artistic drives and creating for a nine to five job for instance? To be normal and be accepted by societal norms does sound all so wonderful, but you give so much up when you give up that other life to be solidly accepted by someone that's not going to get you no matter what you do! She lost so much.

I often think sacrifice is a very noble attribute, but it really becomes tarnished when someone sacrifices themselves for something other than a greater purpose. It demeans all when that happens, even the whole meaning and purpose behind it all.

Anyway, I really loved the addition of Anderson, himself, as the "poet" in the ballet, who was inextricably linked with the character he created and, sadly, unable to manage a happy ending for either her or himself.

Agree. And that poet was so good! There were these comic touches running throughout. It only added to the train wreck about to happen.

And of course all the dancers were not only great but their characters were expressed extremely well. Especially Prince Charming who was, well, charming, but dense as a brick.

Oh, he was so clueless! Just like some other very famous male roles! The character was getting on my nerves so badly! Wanted to throttle him. Of course, the dancer was amazing as he captured this guy's idiocy brilliantly.

I actually went to see this live back in the Spring. The day I attended was one of the days they did the taping. Yuan Yuan Tan is so ethereal and wonderful in it, but IMO the ballet itself was longer than it needed to be. I was there for at least 4 hours including intermissions.

Tchaikovskychick wrote:

I actually went to see this live back in the Spring. The day I attended was one of the days they did the taping. Yuan Yuan Tan is so ethereal and wonderful in it, but IMO the ballet itself was longer than it needed to be. I was there for at least 4 hours including intermissions.

Lucky you!

And you got to see the taping, too? Doubly blessed!

Yeah, well, four hours is pushing it. Three is alright. I've seen those full-length ballets and I can stay alert, but four?

Was it the taping that stretched it out? Most likely.

I definitely have it on my list of things to do to see her in person one day. I'm a huge admirer of the direction this company is headed in. And since they have such a depth in terms of dancers/quality of dancing I can only imagine them getting better and better and producing more stunning works.