Royal New Zealand Ballet and Hamburg Ballet

Two recent performances (it's been a busy few weeks for dance in LA) were by first time visitor Royal New Zealand doing a new version of Giselle, and Hamburg ballet with Lilliom, based on the novel that was the source for the musical Carousel.

The  RNZB Giselle was a streamlined and pared down version adapted by Ethan Steifel and Johan Kobborg, and featured ABT star Gillian Murphy I her first performance in the title role. The first act was less compelling with a rushed mad scene, but the second act brought the jumping fireworkers, with an amazing display of entrechat sixes by the male lead, and beautiful, crisp clean petit allegro by Gillian. With a small company the wilis were maybe less intimidating as a gang than other versions, but this was a crowd pleaser.

Hamburg Ballet is a supremely talented company but Lilliom was overly complicated and confusing, and I found it a little too intellectual. There were beautiful dance scenes and some lovely music, but ultimately I wasn't moved the way the best ballets can affect me. My read of the audience was that most people felt the same way I did.

dineLA for winter 2014

I thought this session of dineLA was going to be a slower one but ended up going to 6 places, although several were repeats. New places included The Wallace in Culver City, which had great food, particularly the vegetables (I know, from me!) but the system clearly had broken down because the food came out very slowly and erratically despite the best efforts of the staff. Upper West was not  strictly new, but last time I went was only at the bar. I was more impressed with the food this time, although the room was way too loud. I also finally tried AMMO after years of wanting to try it out. We went at the last minute and got a great meal.
Repeats included Paiche, still an amazing and unique flavour, Piccolo Venice, so good but expensive making dineLA a very good value, Waterloo & City, a neighborhood gastropub that I can walk to.