NATALIA OSIPOVA MUGGED

I really hesitate to post this in case my mom still reads my blog. She’s an avid Law and Order watcher and she’s always thinking if I go for 24 hours without calling or emailing her it must be because something’s happened to me like what happens to everyone on Law and Order, and because L&A is on every day and I live in the same city, every day, every hour in New York City people must be getting attacked and going missing and what not…

Anyway, according to the New York Times, none other than Natalia Osipova, the Bolshoi dancer guest starring with ABT this season, whom everyone and their dog – including me – is going on and on and on about being the greatest dancer extant, was mugged yesterday after watching a performance of Sleeping Beauty at ABT. The Times isn’t specific about exactly where she was attacked, but apparently it happened near the Met, as she was crossing Amsterdam Avenue, in the early morning. Two men came up behind her, hit her in the face and ran off with her bag, which contained pointe shoes and a small hammer she uses to shape them. Thankfully, she seems to be okay and will still dance Sleeping Beauty this weekend and Romeo and Juliet in two weeks.

It’s just crazy though. This is what New York used to be like in the Dinkins era, pre-Guiliani, like over 15 years ago, when I first moved here. Now we’re reverting. I guess the effects of the recession have finally hit.

Thank you to reader Roksolana for sending me the link.

Photo by Gene Schiavone.