You can help Save the New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs.

A very productive planning meeting of Save the New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs was held at the home of Louise Goldstein last night. The group will be giving a big push to educate all businesses about the loss of money to Saratoga Springs with the ballet being reduced to one week by spac for july 2013. In addition, petitions will be available to sign supporting the nyc ballet summer residency in Saratoga. We want to educate and raise awareness of politicians, residents, visitors, shop, hotel and restaurant owners as to what this loss would mean to the special and unique culture and brand of Saratoga Springs.

The NYC Ballet is the foremost ballet company in the world and is unique in US artistic history. Solely responsible for training its own artists and creating its own works, the New York City Ballet was the first ballet institution in the world with two permanent homes, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.

If you want to help please email, call, sign the petition or come to the next meeting.

Daily Gazette review of a thrilling October NYCBallet performance and world premiere at Skidmore.

Regional DANCE REVIEW : NYC Ballet, city share the love at Skidmore BY WENDY LIBERATORE For The Daily Gazette SARATOGA SPRINGS — One could say Saturday’s “Saratoga Dances II” was an exercise in mutual admiration. New York City Ballet dancer and resident choreographer Justin Peck offered his homage to Saratoga Springs in two ballets, one of which was a world premiere. And Saratoga audiences, which have a deep and abiding love for the New York City Ballet, demonstrated their affection by packing the Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College for this rare glimpse of New York City Ballet dancers outside of the summer months. And the dancers, and choreographers, satisfied the off-season craving with a varied program: George Balanchine’s “Apollo,” with Ask La Cour as the young god, was followed in the second half by the two Peck tributes to Saratoga Springs. The evening also featured a divine work by the chairwoman of Skidmore College’s dance department, Debra Fernandez. Finally, live music was finely played by the Hyperion String Quartet for both Fernandez’ “Swan Song” and Peck’s ballet from “Saratoga Dances I,” “The Enormous Room.” But first and foremost, there was the world premiere — Peck’s “Yaddo Shadow.” This work, as in Peck’s “Enormous Room,” refl ected upon the life of an artist — in this case, in the studio. This duet, with Daniel Applebaum and Ashley Isaacs, has the two appearing in rehearsal — Applebaum, the choreographer who winds up Isaacs, and Isaacs, the dutiful dancer. To Nico Muhly’s “Quiet Music,” Isaacs was putty in the hands of Applebaum, but their relationship was oddly cool. She was his instrument — but hardly his muse. As he stood back and watched her dance his steps, he looks bemused but not impassioned. Of course, it was unclear if this was Peck’s intention. If so, this was an unfl attering portrait of a dance maker. The work was brief, however, and if felt like Peck could delve deeper into the theme of artist and his medium. Likely, he will. Certainly, he polished his “Enormous Room,” to music by Mendelssohn. Danced by the wonderful La Cour with Applebaum and Teresa Reichlen, the dance clearly juxtaposed the wild abandon with constraint. Peck said it points to his sentiments about Saratoga Springs, where he feels free, and New York City, where he does not. Fernandez’s “Swan Song” was a beauty. Featuring the New York City Ballet’s Abi Stafford and Andrew Scordata, along with Skidmore student dancers Alison DeFranco and Victoria Stroker, the dance brought into play the large windows at the back of the stage to a marvelous and mysterious effect. Stafford sat and looked out onto the trees, where Scordata lurked and eventually drew her out. To music by Richard Danielpour, “Swan Song” was both surprising and magical. Finally, the evening opened with Balanchine’s iconic “Apollo.” LaCour, who does not dance the role for the New York City Ballet, took on the god of the muses with a romantic artistry not seen before. The women were terrifi c.

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next meeting to save the new york city ballet at spac, 10/25.

 

The next meeting to save the new york city ballet at spac will be Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 7PM.

 

Location is 55 Railroad Place, apartment 414 in the

new Price Chopper building. Ring #414 and press the green bell symbol and take the elevator to the 4th floor.  Building entrance is at corner of Railroad Place and Division St.   One week of the greatest ballet company in the world is not enough.  Bring your good ideas for ways to raise lots of money.
for more information: email: vicpool@aol.com
                                    call:   518-683-8476

oh, how we miss the morning light at Victoria Pool already.

"gone with the wind" sunset on Railroad Place" Saratoga.

Saratoga one of the "super cool" cities......with the best pool anywhere.

e talking about, or will be Saratoga one of `super cool’ cities: site September 26, 2012 at 10:58 am by Mark McGuire Comments(8) | E-mail | Print Broadway and Washington Street in Saratoga Springs. (Times Union Archives) Saratoga Springs is pretty cool. The track, Broadway, SPAC in the summer, the Victorian homes. Yeah, pretty cool. But “super cool”? A new website dedicated to highlight communities as ideal to travel or move to named five dozen “super cool” cities around the world. Making the list: Saratoga Springs. “Saratoga Springs is a natural to be on any list of the world’s super cool communities,” said Andy Brack of Charleston, S.C., founder of TravelorMove.com. “With its sporting culture, cozy village atmosphere and outstanding quality of life, it’s no wonder Saratoga Springs ranked high on our list.” “Travel & Leisure magazine says Saratoga Springs is one of America’s greatest Main Streets: ‘Historic Broadway Avenue looks like a Main Street on steroids, with grand buildings of Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival styles. It feels almost heroic in scale, but when crowds fill the streets to browse and nosh, it takes on a more accessible feel.’” Using the definition you deem best, what is the most “cool” community within an hour or so of Albany? Saratoga Springs (66%, 146 Votes) Other (14%, 30 Votes) Woodstock (9%, 20 Votes) Albany (6%, 13 Votes) Great Barrington, Mass. (5%, 11 Votes) Total Voters: 220 Loading ... Comments(8) | E-mail | Print Posted in General | 8 Comments We Recommend You might like: Adirondack cafe owner dies after motorcycle crash (Times Union News) State IT workers are being consolidated (Capitol Confidential) Woman found unconscious under NY overpass dies (Times Union News) And the band played on: Drummer dies mid-song (this site) San Diego dog walker kills attacking pit bull (Times Union) Fitness: Working out with your spouse can be healthy for your… (this site) From Around the Web Selected for you by our sponsor: 'Bigfoot' Killed by Car in Montana Baffles Even Police (CafeMom) Six Essential Black-and-White Watches (Departures.com) Photography: Creepy Places (Away.com) Tiny Houses: Living Large in a Small Space (DIY Network) The 10 Innovations That Changed Architecture Forever (Condé Nast Traveler) [Sponsored links] steelwheels says: September 26, 2012 at 12:43 pm Saratoga feels like it tries very hard to cultivate exactly the image reflected in this ranking. If you have to try to be cool, you’re not. I spent a weekend in Rhinebeck a couple of years ago and remembered thinking, “This is what Saratoga thinks it is.” It was graceful, laid-back, welcoming and interesting, and not a chain store to be found. In other words, it was authentically cool. Hal Jordan says: September 26, 2012 at 1:03 pm If other cities want to get on this cool list they better take up smoking. Virginia Fields says: September 26, 2012 at 3:05 pm Saratoga is a beautiful town and does not even have to try to be cool. It already is and has been. Walking the streets of Saratoga Springs is one of my favorite all time things to do. Chad9976 says: September 26, 2012 at 3:21 pm How could Cooperstown not make the list?! Baseball Hall of Fame AND Ommegang brewery! Mark McGuire says: September 26, 2012 at 3:25 pm @Chad: Atop my personal cool places list. Kathy says: September 26, 2012 at 9:51 pm I love Rhinebeck and agree with #1. Love Terrapin and the other cool restaurants. Saratoga may be cool to visit but it gets a “meh” for living here. Same old same old and Broadway gets sleepier every year. RJ, the One & Only says: September 27, 2012 at 6:31 am Saranac Lake is very cool. Seriously, you need a sweater. KGB says: September 27, 2012 at 3:56 pm I’m a huge Saratoga fan so it gets my vote, but I would add Hudson NY as a strong “Other” candidate. RSS feed for comments on this post. Post a Comment Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Note: All comments are read and approved before they display. Comments with profanity or personal attacks will be rejected. CD Rates That Don't Stink Click to see which bank takes 1st place for 1, 2, 3 & 5 yr CD Rates. RateFinder.org/Top-CD-Rates Albany Medical College Advance Your Career with Medical College Degree. Financial Aid OK! AcceleratedDegree.com/College Albany Medical College Get your degree online faster than you think. Financial Aid Available. University-College.com/Medical Ads by Yahoo!

the letter below has been posted on: savethenycballet.wordpress.com

Sep25

Save the New York City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center!
Marcia White and the Hon. Susan Read need to go from SPAC immediately!
Saratoga Springs and the Capital District want the New York City Ballet at its Summer Home at SPAC for 3 weeks, NOT 5 Days which is the current plan of SPAC.
SPAC was conceived and built as the permanent summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
******************************************************
Marcia White, President(for life) of SPAC and the Honorable Susan Read, President of the SPAC Board(who cannot fundraise because she is a judge) are dumping the New York City Ballet. Fundraising is the main job of any board of directors.
Saratoga Springs, New York prides itself on being the most fabulous city between Manhattan and Montreal. It has top notch culture, history, horses, architecture, springs, restaurants, shops, hotels, education, parks, pools and a downtown second only to Madison Ave., 180 miles to the South in New York City.
The unique and successful flavor of Saratoga Springs is a result having the very best of everything. The New York City Ballet is simply the best ballet company in the world. It is the only ballet company in the USA with a permanent summer home since 1966 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Mr. George Balanchine, the greatest choreographer of all time, who founded the New York City Ballet was the reason SPAC was built. The New York City Ballet has a world class orchestra. There is no other ballet company in the world that can compare, and Saratoga Springs is the richer in every way to have been chosen as its summer home. A whole ballet industry has grown up in Saratoga and the Capital District because of this company.
Except for a much appreciated Resolution from the Saratoga Springs City Council supporting the NYC Ballet several week residency at SPAC, Saratogians have mostly been silent? Where is the outrage of the business community, the Chamber of Commerce, the Real Estate moguls and Bankers, and the huge dance industry that has sprung up because the NYC Ballet has always been in residence?
If Saratoga’s racetrack shut down the screaming would be deafening and the money to keep it going would instantly start pouring in like an avalanche from the state.
If the dancers, musicians and choreographers leave Saratoga, we will all be the poorer-in mind, body and spirit. The loss to businesses, real estate and many other financial endeavors would be incalculable.
Wake up Saratoga! Save the New York City Ballet or you WILL regret it.

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Missing our pool on the first day of fall.

times union editorial by Bray to save SPAC.

Bray: SPAC needs new advocatesPAUL BRAY Published 9:06 p.m., Thursday, September 13, 2012
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Larger SmallerPrintable VersionEmail This Georgia (default) Verdana Times New Roman ArialFontPage 1 of 1The Saratoga Performing Arts Center was created to be a world-class facility for the classical arts. Duane LaFleche, an editor of Albany's former Knickerbocker News, was a visionary who helped establish SPAC in the 1960s. He said it would be our region's Tanglewood, only better.That meant having the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra for four-week summer residencies. SPAC itself was to have a sloping lawn that provided better visual sight lines to the stage than the Tanglewood lawn.Tanglewood emerged from a soggy farm in the Berkshires to go after visions like those of Serge Koussevitzky, former conductor of the Boston Symphony. His Tanglewood vision was to have "radiation of the beams of high culture over a nation and the whole world," according to a New Yorker magazine article last month.***SPAC made its home in the beautiful Saratoga State Park, but it has not radiated visions of high culture. The New York City Opera only lasted at SPAC from 1986 to 1997.The Philadelphia Orchestra's season is now three weeks. The New York City Ballet is swan diving from its original four-week residency to just a modest five-day visit next year.When the ballet was here for four weeks, company members made their home in Saratoga Springs. Dancers could be seen at places in the community.The current situation brings back memories of 2005, when former SPAC president Herb Chesbrough tried to end the ballet's residency. That was a step too far for Saratoga and the region, and Chesbrough was let go. Thankfully, a grass-roots group, Save Our SPAC, has formed again to save the ballet. (Http://savethenycballet.wordpress.com).There are steps to be taken to realize Duane LaFleche's vision and save the classical arts at SPAC.First, any entity dedicated to the classical arts needs an artistic director with charisma, imagination and organizational flair to highlight and excite people from near and far about the superb ballet and orchestra. SPAC, alas, has no artistic director.SPAC's current leader, Marcia White, previously was a nurse and a legislative employee. Her predecessor as president was a comptroller. Neither was close to being an artistic director.***The recent appointment of Judge Susan Phillips Read of the state Court of Appeals as chair of the SPAC board is another mistake. Judge Read got the OK to take that position on the condition she would not do any fundraising. Yet that's the primary responsibility of boards of nonprofit arts organizations. To have a chair who must recuse herself from fundraising activity, as personally committed to SPAC as she may be, makes no sense.While SPAC may be the "summer place to be" and relatively close to New York City, Boston and Montreal, its leadership has done a woefully poor job of attracting audience and wealthy patrons from these areas.Creating a world-class, high-tech economy depends on being home to all kinds of excellence like a residency of the New York City Ballet. Yet, local funding is not adequate for excellence.Times Union editor Rex Smith quoted White as saying, "How much more can you ask people to give?"Leaders of successful artistic and education institutions don't think like White. They never hold back from asking donors or potential donors for more.Finally, SPAC should move beyond its reliance on Live Nation, which besieges SPAC with live rock concerts. It needs to connect the classical arts with assets of Saratoga Springs — like the racetrack, which according to a recent New York Times article, makes Saratoga Springs give Manhattan "chase as a city that never sleeps."The article pointed out "the magnetism of the track is what brings all these people here, whether they go to play the horses or just experience the atmosphere."Why can't SPAC take advantage of that magnetism?We need another advocate like Duane LaFleche, who got me and many others — including then-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller — excited about having the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra perform in Saratoga.Paul M. Bray was the founding president of the Albany Roundtable civic lunch forum. His e-mail is Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Bray-SPAC-needs-new-advocates-3864097.php#ixzz26RoExVDY

Missing the wonderful Victoria Pool already.

Labor Day 2012

Labor Day brought great farewell weather for our annual luncheon.

Last call for Victoria Pool bring-a-dish Labor Day Lunch.

Monday, Labor Day, September 3, 2012. Come one come all.

The real Victoria Pool appears.

yes, folks, yesterday this beautiful little girl whose name is Victoria Pool came to our pool and was totally suprised they have the same name. Victoria hails from Massachusetts and is 9 mos. old and a true beauty like her pool.

Lion's roaring full steam ahead at victoria pool.

Bring a dish for lunch labor day.
monday, september 3, 2012 to close out a spectacular season.
RAIN OR SHINE!

Labor Day Lunch only 10 days away.

Run don't walk to line up for the waning last days of the beautiful Victoria Pool. Bring a dish to the Annual Labor Day Lunch on Monday, September 3, 2012.

thank you staff of saratoga spa state park for such a quick response at Victoria Pool.

the lawns at Victoria Pool are once again breathtakingly beautiful thanks to the quick response of the staff at saratoga spa state park. we are most grateful.

Victoria Pool is more popular than ever this summer and is in urgent need of maintenance.

The lawns are way overgrown and full of weeds. The fountains are filthy. The lounges are dirty and the mesh on the seats is sinking so they are no longer comfortable. Chunks of the deck are broken and in urgent need of repair. Victoria Pool is extremely popular with long lines waiting to get in for hours on most hot days. It deserves better.

meeting at hall of springs with spac, 4:45-6pm,thursday, august 2, 2012.

public to meet with spac to discuss new york city ballet problems at spac. Hall of springs patio, thursday, 4:45-6pm.

3rd meeting to Save the New York City Ballet at SPAC, monday,7/30@6:30pm. Community Room, 1st floor saratoga springs public library.

If you care about the continued residency of the classical arts in saratoga and at spac come join this grass-roots effort to save the new york city ballet in saratoga. We need everyone's help and ideas. Our Saratoga City Council passed a resolution this week 5-0 supporting at least a 2wk. residency of the new york city ballet at spac.

saratoga city council resolution to support continued at least 2 week residency of new york city ballet at spac.

City Council urges SPAC to maintain at least a two-week NYC Ballet seasonPublished: Wednesday, July 18, 2012
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By LUCIAN McCARTYlmccarty@saratogian.comTwitter.com/SaratogianCDeskSARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night on a resolution expressing its love for the ballet.Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced earlier this month that next year’s New York City Ballet residency in Saratoga Springs would be cut in half, to one week. That is the second shearing of a week from the NYC Ballet’s summer schedule in three years.The council voted Tuesday on a motion urging SPAC to maintain the two-week stay of the ballet.“I have great concern that we’re in danger of losing the ballet at SPAC,” said Michele Madigan who proposed the motion. “I think it’s very important. It’s part of the culture of Saratoga; the arts of Saratoga.”The motion emphasizes the city’s support of the arts, SPAC and the NYC Ballet and endorses a “two week minimum summer residency for the New York City Ballet Company at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.”The NYC Ballet as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra have been staples in the SPAC season since 1966.“It’s certainly an issue worth fighting for,” said Public Works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. “It would really be a detriment to not have either one of those entities at SPAC.”Several members of the public also spoke on behalf of the ballet, including a former dancer with the NYC Ballet and a SPAC board member.Leslie Kettlewell said she has been working at SPAC in one capacity or another since she was a teenager. “I’m still an usher,” she said. She warned that the NYC Ballet seems to have its season whittled further and further down each year. “Soon the orchestra will be gone,” she said. “These problems are not insurmountable. I think this is a great opportunity for the community to pull together to help save the ballet.”Reached by phone Tuesday, SPAC President and CEO Marcia White said she, too, supports the NYC Ballet but said the financial structure of the organizations’ relationship is unsustainable. Continued...12See Full Story“The NYC Ballet and SPAC are in the same position and want the same thing,” she said. “The question is about the economics.”White said SPAC and the NYC Ballet will be working together to address the issue of money, which she said they both lose with the current arrangement and she hopes to bring the NYC Ballet back for two weeks in 2014. “That’s the goal,” she said.“Time are difficult,” Madigan said during the meeting, “but the arts are something that should be supported.” 12See Full Story 123See Full Story1234See Full Story