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"Herrera has not been one of my top favorites either, and last night reminded me once again why... Sigh. \nBut I'd still go to see her over some other principals... depending what ballet.  Sylvia is definitely Murphy's.   \nHerrera is a great technician, but not as big in line or big in the style as Sylvia requires. Ashton makes lots of tiny, fussy steps inbetween huge leaps, etc. -- and they disappear and/or look terribly uncomfortable with Herrera.  With Murphy, I think there is no limit technically as to what she can make look enormous. \nHerrera seemed to be holding back in act 1....  and there was little joy in her entrance dancing.   \nNo, last night, Herrera was not at her best especially in act 1, but I wonder how many readers here actually understand how awkward and uncomfortable the choreorgraphy is, for the main ballerina, to execute.  My heart goes out to anybody who attempts it.  Ashton's choreography for men is much more at ease and flowing.  The female parts are full of hiccups and steps that don't blend well together... well, that's from this Balanchine girl's eye... \nHowever, Herrera's lovely musicality in the 3rd act's solo was so \"on\" that the audience couldn't stop themselves from applauding - three times! - once when the solo had just begun.  Herrera was definitely at her best then and throughout the 3rd act.  I thought her 2nd act was sexy enough, and actually sexier than I had expected.   \nI too thought Sarah Lane nearly stole the show, dancing better and bigger than ever, and with so much flare and personality.  Actually a few corps dancers also kept taking my eye away from the main leads.  I imagine those corps dancers were happy to be dancing something challenging again, compared to a long season of ballets requiring very little dancing for them besides acting, costumed scenery.  \nKept thinking that for the leads this season, this has been a primarily one-shot-per-ballet experience for the principals, with the exception of Cinderella.  That's a ton of hard preparation work each week for each principal.  Did we need to see seven different swan queens in one week?  That idea may have looked good on paper, but I thought this season did not work that well for anyone performing. I would like to have seen Part given two opportunities of Swan Lake... I thought, except for Part and Murphy, that the principal females looked a bit tired at each new ballet's one-shot performance.   I wonder how well the house sold... "
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