The first day of the ABT Summer Ballet Intensive seemed a bit anticlimactic after last year. Julian walked very fast to get there; our walk is about five minutes longer this year (20 minutes). He was the third one in line…still the early bird arriving at about 7:30 a.m. when the kids are not allowed in until 8:30 a.m.
Julian greeted many old friends from last year. He was happy to socialize and to have his friends from home there with him as well as his former ABT friends as well. He was sorry that some of his old friends did not come back, in particular one boy who has stopped dancing altogether.
He had a good day, though. He said his placement class went well, although he was unhappy that it was held late in the day rather than in the morning when he was fresh. Tomorrow he finds out in what level he will be placed. He’s hoping to skip a full level—something that doesn’t often happen. We’ll see…
I didn’t get much done work wise…and I got a little lost on the way back to ABT. My directions are totally off here in the West Village. I walked one whole long block in the wrong direction. I was very bummed and got there 10 minutes late.
I’m dealing with a very bad flying ant situation in our apartment. Although we are below street level, which makes the apartment rather dark, we do have a little garden/patio area. The landlady is very nice and sent someone over to deal with the ants and to fix the dishwasher, which wouldn’t open. I’ve had to do a little cleaning, but overall the apartment is comfortable and spacious as far as NYC apartments go. The kitchen is well outfitted and easy to use. That’s a huge plus, as well as the free washer and drier downstairs.
I’ve been staying up too late, so I’m going to bed. Another early day tomorrow. Lot’s of excitement and anticipation as the kids wait to find out what level they end up in…Then they are given a schedule and the dancing truly begins.
I happened upon your blog last week and have enjoyed reading through your archives. I have a daughter, not a son at ABT New York now (Violet), but even so I have found your articles to be interesting and useful. I am looking forward to hearing more from you.
Glad to hear that! Hope she is having fun and staying cool. Julian hoped to be in violet. He is in green.
Our 14-year-old Emily (our granddaughter) received a full scholarship to attend this year’s Summer Intensive (her first). She is in the blue level. Since I will not be able to join her until the last week of the Intensive, and I don’t get to talk to her much because she seems too busy living her dream and enjoying the city, I don’t know the order of the levels. Can someone enlighten me?
She is staying at the Styvesant with a chaperone.
I will do so tomorrow after I confirm with Julian! I know blue is the level Julian was in last year. He is green this year. Yellow is below that….So Yellow, Blue, Green…Then I think it’s Violet, Aqua…But let me double check!
Text arrived before class from Julian…since I forgot to ask in our hurry this morning. Here are the ABT summer intensive levels: red, yellow, blue, green, violet, aqua, indigo. Kids are supposed to be placed by technical skill level but placement also does tend to be somewhat age related. That said, a few rogue kids that are younger end up at the higher levels. Also, the attendees who show up and are much older but not necessarily as technically skilled get put at the top level because that is where the oldest kids are always placed.
I was wondering if Julian ever got to meet an ABT II dancer named Sterling Baca. Saw him dance a selection from Nutcracker at the Greenville SC Peace Center’s ‘Holiday at Peace.’ His partner is a Greenville native, iirc, and that’s how he came to be here. Very impressive snow prince/princess. He really made his partner float!
Also, still waiting to hear if we will see pix of Julian in his performances.
Thanks.
Yes, Julian is friends with Sterling. He was at ABT with him both years, although Sterling was in a higher level. Sterling is a very clean dancer, a great performer and an all-around nice guy. I’ve met him as well. He’s also a very hard worker. He did a great job in a contemporary number in the ABT summer intensive show.
Up until now I haven’t posted any photos or videos of Julian for his safety. That said, we can’t seem to figure out how to get the videos taken during the Nutcracker copied so we can post them. I’m not sure we’ll have much more luck with the ones take during YAGP. At these events you can’t take your own videos. If we can figure it out, I’ll post them. Thanks for your interest.
I happened onto a site with pix from ABT 2010 summer intensive in TX.
There’s a few with some boys grouped around something like an old barber chair. Is Julian there? Also many, many performance pix.
Maybe he’s in them–or did he attend ABT-SI in another location?
Here’s the URL if you want to check it out.
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/13173656_cESPU#969442082_kkkpg