Category: DANCE

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L.A. Dance Project

Another great program with L.A. Dance Project at the Joyce Theater this afternoon.

“Hearts and Arrows” is so much fun to watch!! In fact, it’s so dynamic and joyful that I want to join the dancers on stage. I could totally see myself doing movements (assuming I have enough technique) and loving the sensations.

Gaga’s “YAG” is intensely emotional. I’ve never felt the theater so still and so silent. Everyone held their breath, either out of respect or due to psychological shock, as each cast pronounced the death of their family members. As the onstage grief built up, actions as simple as Lilja Rúriksdóttir mechanically and repetitively doing a dozen push-ups triggered a sense of sorrow in me. Wow!

I like symbolism of the wife taking on the husband’s identify. I also like some of the unexpected artistic choices, such as the nude scene at the end and dancers crushing the line of fortune cookies. A couple things went a little too far and felt strange, like actually eating the fortune cookie. Over all though, I love the piece!

Saw “Orpheus Highway” again today, sitting dead center in the theater instead of house left. The small change in angle made a big difference. While the beginning felt chaotic seen from house left, the layers of film and live dancing felt coherent today. Janie Taylor stepped in for Rachelle Rafailedes today, which meant the film is not an exact replica of the dancers, but everything felt right in place.

Great job L.A. Dance Project! Merde and enjoy your second week in New York!

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Alvin Ailey: Global Voices

Second night and a new program, Global Voices, with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Lincoln Center tonight.

The enduring qualities of “Revelations” finally came out as I watch the piece a second time. I grew up and am still irreligious, and so gospel is a foreign concept to me. I do like the colors, the movements, and stage construction in the water/river scene, as well as the dynamism throughout the final “Move Members, Move” section.

“Walking Mad” is a strange juxtaposition with a comedy beginning, a fascinating site-specific dance set to marching music in the middle, and a tense duet at the end. The middle section involves a wall that doubles as a dance floor (when tilted), as a room (when folded into two walls to form a confined space), and as secret passage ways (when dancers go through the hidden wall openings). I like the first two sections individually but as a whole the work felt incoherent. Then again, I just saw Merce Cunningham last night, and so I should be open to experimentation.

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L.A. Dance Project

Fun times with L.A. Dance Project at the Joyce Theater yesterday.

Justin Peck’s “Murder Ballades” starts out with child-like plays, blossoming relationships, and ends with dynamic spirited solos by each of the six dancers. Shoutout to David Adrian Freeland Jr for his turns! Wow! I also enjoy the choice of having male dancers do the more grounded movements and the female dancers leap into the air in the solos.

Benjamin Milllepied’s “Orpheus Highway” is the composite of a dance film, live dancing, and live music. It’s one of the few dance/video hybrid works that actually makes sense! I find the beginning a little distracting, but everything comes together nicely in the chase scene, the parking lot scene, through the railway track finale.

During the post-show curtain chat, we learnt that layers of dancers/musicians are supposed to mirror the original music which is composed for three string quartets. I’m mot sure if the motive came through, but it’s certain an interesting piece of work. Look forward to seeing LA Dance Project’s other program tomorrow!

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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Beautiful performance by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Lincoln Center tonight.

My first time seeing Alvin Ailey live. Could you believe that after all the classes at the Alvin Ailey Extension?

My favorite of the night goes to “Mass”. Am awed by the way the dancers gracefully glide across the dance floor. Their fluid motions and elasticity. Not just in individual dancer’s movements, but the whole group respond together and to each other so beautifully. Finally, when the drum kicks in (there’s a live band on stage), everything goes into high gear. Gracefulness turns into precision and energy. Just incredible!

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Swan Lake: Misty Copeland

Second night of Swan Lake with American Ballet Theatre. We all fell in love and died with Misty Copeland and Herman Cornejo.

Absolutely love Misty especially her as the black swan. The sharp dramatic releases as she pushes away from Prince Siegfried. The gaze of her eyes, constantly scanning the room and hunting for her prey. Odile is pure evilness. Wow!

Tonight was ballet theatre at its finest. I could feel the entire theater falling in love with Misty and Herman by the Lakeside, and crying audibly as they drown themselves. I had tears in my eyes as the lovers re-unite in life after death.

And then, we were treated to more delicious dancing: Herman’s gorgeous leaps where he floats in the air forever, ever, and ever. Misty and Herman’s incredible coda in Act III. Lovely pas de trois by Skylar Brandt, Cassie Trenary, and Jeffrey Cirio. And James Whiteside, as the flamboyant von Rothbart, commanding the Great Hall.

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Swan Lake: Isabella Boylston

Swan Lake at American Ballet Theatre tonight. What a wonderful show!!

I finally saw Isabella Boylston in a lead role for the first time, and got to meet her during the backstage tour! Though still nursing an injury, Isabella captured her roles perfectly: magnificent as Odette and playful if not mischievous as Odile. No fouette sequence tonight, but her lines and extensions are just gorgeous. Wishing you a speedy full recovery, Isabella.

Not to be outdone, Alban Lendorf was impeccable as Prince Siegfried. I love their duets but also Alban’s solos at the Great Hall: so powerful yet so musical. As if two-and-half hours of ballet wasn’t exhausting enough, Alban made a grand exit at the very end. Jetting across the stage and taking one of the highest and biggest leap, following Odette, to his death. Wow. Talk about partnering and chemistry. 😉

Bravos to Skylar Brandt for going all out in the pas de trois at the Birthday Party. Having heard wonderful things about her debut as Medora in Le Corsaire, I was excited to see her tonight. And what gorgeous leaps and turns! I will definitely be looking out for Skylar in the future.

p.s. Read more about Isabella and Alban’s partnering in New York Times this week.

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Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

Wow!!! An incredible documentary about ballerina extraordinaire, Wendy Whelan, as she approaches her 30th year with the New York City Ballet.

First and foremost, it’s a story about the extraordinary strength and the unimaginable perseverance of dancers. The film opens with Wendy undergoing a gruesome surgery, as we discover that Wendy has been dancing for nearly a year despite a completely torn cartilage in her hip joint. Wendy recovers, rebuilds, and drives herself right back to the dance floor. Dancers are some of the world’s strongest athletes. If anyone ever has any doubt, ask them to watch this opening sequence.

Second, it’s a story about love. Not just the love of ballet but the love of chasing after a life-long dream: To be always dancing. To want to dance more than to live. And to give 200% of what you have, in order to live that dream.

Finally, it’s about the friendship, kinship among dancers. Cultivating in one touching beautiful final performance on the stage of Lincoln Center.

Wendy Whelan took on one of the most demanding jobs in the world, both physically and emotionally. She’s doing it. Living it. Loving it. And she continues to learn and reinvent herself even after 30 years. Go see the film. You will be inspired!

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Le Corsaire

My favorite ballet so far this season at American Ballet Theatre!

Such a dynamic, high-energy, non-stop show from beginning to end. So many incredible moments tonight.

Jeffrey Cirio as Lankendem draws applause from the audience two seconds into his solo for the most amazing and powerful split leap. Cassie Trenary, Catherine Hurlin, and Katherine Williams are absolutely gorgeous as the odalisques. Love the musicality, energy, and playfulness of Craig Salstein and Zhong-Jing Fang‘s duet as Birbanto and the Lead Pirate Woman.

Male dancers have so many fun leap-and-turn combos in this ballet. Love James Whiteside as Conrad and Joo Won Ahn as Ali. Both the theatrical and technical sides of Misty Copeland Misty Copeland shine through as Gulnare. She’s “dramatically” shy tonight unlike Queen of Shemakhan, but oh my look at those turns and lifts!!! Of course, the leading ballerina Hee Seo as Medora is so lovely too. No wonder a whole kingdom plus some more pirates all fall for her.

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The Golden Cockerel

Vibrant colors and dazzling costumes in The Golden Cockerel by American Ballet Theatre.

A rather distinctive experience at the ballet tonight. Everything about the Golden Cockerel is different. The bold vibrant colors. The dazzling and elaborate costumes. A backdrop that makes the theater feel more like a painting than a stage. Altogether, the dancers look as if they were well-crafted puppets and lovely dolls moving through a painting.

The ballet, a comedy, showcases more dramatic moments, comical interactions, and playful seduction than technically-demanding moves. Misty Copeland is the perfect femme fatale as Queen of Shemakhan. Skylar Brandt is amazing as the Golden Cockerel, who has the most challenging and exhausting choreography. Also, love Craig Salstein as the hilarious melodramatic General Polkan.