July's Ballerina: Wendy Whelan

Fact #1- She was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 12.
Fact #2- In September 2005 she married photographer David Michalek.

Wendy Whelan and Philip Neal (NYCB)


Wendy Whelan (photo by Paul Kolnik)


Here she is rehearsing Fandango, the new ballet by Alexei Ratmansky. (photo by Caitlin Kakigi)




Tyler Angle and Wendy Whelan (photo by Erin Baiano)

Quote of the Week

" Striving for connection with the audience is essential

because you are in the moment;

it is a give and take relationship.

Catching someone's eye during a performance

makes it more special.

~ Aubrey Lynch

Ballet Wishlist

I need to work on my pirouettes, and I think this would help me!

http://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/style_TB1.html?pid=3517&Shop=Style&SID=364191017

This leotard is so gorgeous!

http://gaynorminden.com/store/leotards.php

This Degas poster is very pretty. I already have a tapestry of one of Degas's pieces.

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Ballerina-Posters_i1214530_.htm

July's Ballerina: Wendy Whelan

Fact #1- Her repertoire includes over fifty ballets.
Fact #2- Wendy only ever met George Balanchine once, for he died a year after she arrived at SAB.




Wendy Whelan and Pete Lay rehearsing The Rite of Spring


David Michalek and Wendy Whelan





Wendy Whelan with Albert Evans Herman Schmerman pas de deux (photo by Paul Kolnik)

Quote of the Week

"I don't want dancers who want to dance, I want dancers who need to dance."

~ George Balanchine

Alice in Wonderland (the ballet)

I just wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures from the ballet Alice in Wonderland! At the end of this post there will be a really cool video!

Jillian Vanstone and Zdenek Konvalina from The National Ballet of Canada.


Maki Onuki in The Washington Ballet's ALICE (in wonderland) (photo by Brianne Bland)

 
Christopher Wheeldon's Alice in Wonderland

Just a Video

July's Ballerina: Wendy Whelan

Fact #1- Her first dance teacher was Virginia Wooton.
Fact #2- She joined as a full-time student at the School of American Ballet in 1982.

Wendy Whelan in Balanchine's Mozartiana (photo by Paul Kolnik)





Wendy Whelan and Philip Neal in George Balanchine's Chaconne


Ms. Whelan (far right) teaching the class (photo by Matt Murphy)


Benjamin Millepied in rehearsal with Wendy Whelan and Sebastien Marcovici (photo by Paul Kolnik)

Quote of the Week

"At the ballet, you really feel like you're in the presence of

something outside the rest of your life.

Higher than the rest of your life."

~ Robert Caro

Ballet Wishlist

I've been wanting to try these pointe shoes for quite some time now.

http://www.grishko.com/fouette_proflex.cfm

Sorry this picture is so blurry! I really want to get a Yumiko leotard. They are so cool!

http://store.yumiko-online.com/tamara-en.html

Doesn't this look so great? This is definitely on my wishlist!

http://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/style_KUD4490.html?pid=7301&Shop=Style&SID=360554132

July's Ballerina: Wendy Whelan

Fact #1- She started her training when she was three years old.
Fact #2- She's a guest artist with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company.

Albert Evans and Wendy Whelan in Bugaku


Wendy Whelan and Craig Hall in After the Rain from Morphoses





David Michalek and Wendy Whelan at the 2009 New York City Ballet Spring Gala

Quote of the Week

"Ballet is not technique

but a way of expression that comes more closely

to the inner language of man than any other."

~George Borodin

Happy 4th of July!!!

I know that the fourth of July was yesterday, but I was very busy then, and therefore could not do a post. So today I am going to do a short post with lots of Stars and Stripes!

Ashley Bouder and Joaquin De Luz in the Stars and Stripes pas de deux


San Francisco Ballet students in George Balanchine's Stars and Stripes


Ballet West performing Stars and Stripes


Paloma Herrera in Stars and Stripes

Quote of the Week

"What's so wonderful about ballet

is that it's mind-driven physicality.

It's almost a Greek ideal of body, mind, and form."

~ Edward Villella

Just a Video

July's Ballerina: Wendy Whelan

Fact #1- Wendy was born on May 7, 1967.
Fact #2- She is a princial dancer with the New York City Ballet.




Jack Soto and Wendy Whelan in George Balanchine's Symphony in Three Movements


Wendy Whelan and Nikolaj Hubbe in Liebeslieder Waltzes