Balanchine & Robbins Talk at the 92ndY Why? To Promote the Dance Performances this Weekend

Author & dance critique Nancy Goldner "Balanchine Variations" is considered a leading authority on Balanchine.  Ms. Goldner told us she was a dance critic for the Philadelphia Enquirer.  She didn't inform us she was also a dance critic for the Christian Science Monitor.  I didn't know there was a dance critic for that publication and I don't know why it wasn't mentioned.  To begin she wanted to show an excerpt from Robbins' "Fancy Free".  Unfortunately, there were technical difficulties.  During this down time a woman in the audience asked Goldner how she became a dance critic?  She said she was a long time attendee of the ballet and wrote a terse letter to the editor who invited her in for an interview "because he liked the brevity of my letter."  The video began and cut off any further discussion on her start as a prof. dance critic.  "Fancy Free" is one of Jerome Robbins' ballets made for the NYC Ballet (NYCB) with George Balanchine as its artistic director.  Balanchine & Robbins are closely associated contemporaries who created some of the most important ballets & dances of the 20th C.  Both artists choreographed for NYCB.  Goldner thought to enlighten us on the differences in the choreography between the two.  Just after viewing the short clip of "Fancy Free" Goldner said we there were two different styles of dancing in the piece.  I asked Ms. Goldner to clarify what the two styles were.  I noted one was clearly ballet but what was she referring to by the 2nd, what were we seeing?  This seemed to ruffled Ms. Goldner who asked me "Well, what does it mean when the dancer does this?" gesturing with her hands.  "I'm not sure" I said. "Is it theatrical, is it Martha Graham, how would you define it?"  Goldner was dismissive of my direct & simple question and called on someone else.  I'm disappointed she failed to answer.  I question the veracity of a critic who makes the statement of seeing 2 styles and not having them clarified.  This was a massive missed opportunity to gain an insight into how to view dance with some trained directives.  The other guest on the panel is the Dir. of the NY Ballet Theater, Diana Byer.  Ms. Byer explained how her company, which functions on a very tight budget, was able to procure the rights to perform the 3 Robbins' dances to be performed at the 92ndY this weekend:  Rondo, Concertino and Septet.  The discussion was a missive for promoting the performances today although there was no need as it was pointed out both performances are sold out.  I'm looking forward to seeing the performances but this Balanchine & Robbins talk was unsatisfying.  Unlike the editor of the Philadelphia Enquirer, I would not hire her, Nancy Goldner.