"How hard the beds were at the hotel - that shocked me," said the Estonian Helimets during a Monday reception for the San Francisco Ballet at the U.S. Embassy at the conclusion of the troupe's first visit to China. "I know some dancers who took big leaps onto their beds and they were very sorry."

Said the all-business Tan, who grew up in Shanghai and was the obvious focus of Chinese attention during the tour: "The floors are much harder in China. The dancers had to have very strong wills. They were very professional."

Walsh has re-created and revised The Afternoon of a Faun and The Dying Swan along with The Firebird, which he's choreographed anew especially for Paris Opera Ballet superstar Marie-Agnes Gillot and DWDT company member Domenico Luciano.

I’m totally new to ABT; what would you recommend to newbies like me?

For first-time ballet watchers, I would recommend the pirate tale of Le Corsaire. It is an easy to follow story about a pirate who falls in love with a beautiful slave girl. The production has strong pirates, gunshots, beautiful women in gorgeous costumes, and great scenery. If you prefer something less Hollywood-esque, go for our all-Balanchine evening.

Shaw plaintively bleats about the lack of a live orchestra, noting that the ballet made the decision to forgo the accompaniment for financial reasons and referencing pickets outside the hall from the musicians union. Shaw spent much ink with his lament about the music, but made no attempt to point out to readers that the situation he deplores is entirely within the hands of the readers and Shaw himself to remedy.