Gretchen Smith News

To judge by Sunday's matinee on April 24, 2016, the New York City Ballet is in good dancing hands-shall I say excellent hands. If two of the three ballets that afternoon did not always meet the demands of the choreographic high level set forward by Balanchine, the dancing most certainly did. It was, to be understated, superb.

On Sunday, June 31, 2015, New York City Ballet offered the sweet, the mundane, and the historical. If I were a lyricist I could write a song about this, but since my iambic pentameter is almost non-existent, and my Stephen Sondheim thesaurus nowhere to be found, I guess I'll have to push forward in everyday prose.

So how far does an afternoon of Bournonville go? I would love to say a long way, yet in the performance on Sunday, May 24 at the Koch Theater, the dancers of the New York City Ballet proved that, while soaring high octane is definitely in their blood, the softer sounds and characterizations of Bournonville may be beyond their considerable and powerful techniques.

On the first ever World Ballet Day, October 1st 2014, I postponed watching the video stream of five top ballet companies in favor of attending what turned out to be a mesmerizing mixed bill featuring Balanchine ballets to the music of Stravinsky at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. YouTube can wait for me to catch up on the video stream later, but being in the audience at a live performance is always a one-time experience never to be recaptured except in the mind's eye.

Cole Haan, the iconic American lifestyle footwear and accessories brand and retailer, announced its multiyear partnership with three ballerinas of New York City Ballet. A unique opportunity to combine dance-inspired design with Cole Haan's legendary craftsmanship, the Cole Haan Avery Ballet Studio Collection re-materializes the classic Avery Ballet Flat. The collaboration features product inspired and co-created by Principal Dancers, Sara Mearns and Megan Fairchild, as well as Gretchen Smith of the Corps de Ballet.

AOL On Originals, AOL's premium video platform, launched its newest documentary series, city.ballet, today, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day lives of the elite roster of artists who perform with the New York City Ballet.

Tom Gold Dance will present two evenings of dance with a program that will feature the World Premiere of La Plage with music by John Zorn, also included on the program will be Faure Fantasy with music by Gabrielle Faure; Gershwin Preludes, music by George Gershwin; and Mad about the Boy with music by Ivor Novello and Noel Coward, all with choreography by Tom Gold.

Tom Gold Dance will present two evenings of dance with a program that will feature the World Premiere of La Plage with music by John Zorn, also included on the program will be Faure Fantasy with music by Gabrielle Faure; Gershwin Preludes, music by George Gershwin; and Mad about the Boy with music by Ivor Novello and Noel Coward, all with choreography by Tom Gold.

Tom Gold Dance has been invited to be a part of the International Ballet Festival of Havana in Cuba. They will present two performances, Wednesday, October 31 at 5:00 PM and Thursday, November 1 at 5:00 PM at The Mella Theatre of Havana, Cuba.