- home
- forum
- magazine
- features
- reviews
- interviews
- events
- links
- gallery
- whoweare
- search
Subscribe to the magazine for
free!
PAST ISSUES
APR 04
MAR 04
FEB 04
JAN 04
DEC 03
NOV 03
OCT 03
SEP 03
AUG 03
JUL 03
|
![]() |
MAY 2004
in this
issue
______
|
interviews
Monica Mason, Director of the Royal Ballet
by Jurate Terleckaite
I never really wanted to be anywhere
else except the Royal Ballet because I felt that I was with the best people
in the world.
read more...
 Saul
Marziali of the Royal Swedish Ballet
by Kate Snedeker
Marziali has enjoyed his first year with company,
mentioning the friendly and positive atmosphere and the willingness of
dancers to help each other.
read more...
company focus
Image Gallery
in our forums
|
Coming up...
· Stars of the 21st Century
· More on Balanchine's 100th
· Pennsylvania Ballet's new 'Swan Lake'
· Smuin Ballet's turns 10
· From Here to Maturity
· More reviews
· More interviews
· More features
|
|
|
features
Bay Area Dance Awards 2004
by Mary Ellen Hunt
April 26, 2004 - Yerba Buena Center Forum, San Francisco
...There were so many
pillars of the local dance scene honored that that the progression of
standing ovations and sitting down and standing ovations and sitting
down felt like a Catholic mass at times...
read more...
 Words
on Dance - 'Celebrating Mr. B': Panel Discussion
by Francis Timlin
April 19, 2004 - Herbst
Theatre, San Francisco
Allegra Kent spoke about "The
Unanswered Question" from "Ivesiana" and the creation
of her solo as a woman who was often out of reach and somehow in another
realm.
read
more...
George Balanchine: Ballet Master, A Centennial Exhibition
by Jeff Kuo
April 16, 2004 - San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum,
Veterans Building, San Francisco
...Sometimes I wonder
if Balanchine's timelessness makes it too easy, especially for those
of us who missed the Balanchine era, to forget that his ballets were
in fact resolutely tied to period and circumstance. The current exhibition
on Balanchine at the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum
can help us remember...
read more...
De Keersmaeker, Adorno, and the Laban Cube: Improvisation and the
Ballet
by Maria Technosux
Improvisation is probably
also an expression or even a direct reflection of the dominant economic
system that has been spreading over the globe, a system characterized
by its aggressive fluidity/flexibility and appropriative adaptivity.
Improvisation repeats the dominant ideal behind this system and says:
I want it all and I want it now...
read more...
Violence in Ballet - Scapino Ballet Rotterdam - 'Kathleen'; Rotterdam Dance Academy - 'Mt. Bulla'
by Maria Technosux
... The violence level
was near tangible and I loved it. This ballet was a homage to urban
violence and aggression and male bloodlust. People who love the movie
"Fight Club" really ought to see this ballet...
read more...
|
The Royal Danish Ballet
A Day in the Life of a Royal Danish Ballet Dancer
by Kate Snedeker
For many people
the life of a ballet dancer remains somewhat of a mystery; a distant
world of rehearsal studios and classes. Though so little understood
by most ballet-goers, this offstage existence makes up most of a dancer’s
life...
read more...
The Royal Danish Theatre Ballet School
by Kate
Snedeker
Founded more than
two hundred years ago, the Ballet School of the Royal Danish Theatre
is one of the oldest ballet schools in Europe, and it remains a unique
and inspiring institution ...
read
more...
 Niels
Balle, Deputy Director, Royal Danish Ballet School
by Kate Snedeker
"...it is very tough
to start teaching because you usually start while you are still
dancing and it's very hard to combine. But, if you have the lust
for it, I think you make time for it..."
read more...
 Thomas
Lund, Principal Dancer and Coach
by Kate Snedeker
Still six months shy of his
thirtieth birthday, Royal Danish Ballet principal Thomas Lund
has already made a lasting impact not only as a dancer, but also
as a coach, teacher and conservator of the Bournonville legacy.
read
more...
Tina Højlund, Soloist
by Kate Snedeker
Acclaimed for her performances
in both traditional Bournonville ballets and modern works, Tina Højlund
is one of the Royal Danish Ballet’s most experienced soloists.
read more...
Kristoffer Sakurai, Corps member 
by Kate Snedeker
Kristoffer Sakurai has already
emerged as one of the top young talents, drawing particular praise
for his interpretations of Bournonville roles.
read
more...
|
Los Angeles
·
City Ballet of San Diego - Tribute to Balanchine: Stairway to Paradise
and Beyond
May 14-16, 2004 - Spreckels Theater, San Diego, California
Marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of George Balanchine, City
Ballet closes the season with a tribute to this great choreographer
of the 20th century.
· Kanata
Native Dance Theater, Geri Keames
May 15, 2004 - Music Center Education Division, W.M. Keck Foundation
Children's Amphitheatre, Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Presented by the Music Center Education Division, award-winning Kanata
Native Dance Theatre specializes in exhilarating performances of Plains
and Woodland tribes, as well as the mesmerizing Hoop Dance of the Hopi.
Free event.
New
York
·
American Ballet Theatre - MET Season
May 10-July 3, Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
ABT performs "La Bayadère," "Raymonda," "Don Quixote," "Swan Lake,"
"Coppélia," "Romeo and Juliet," and mixed rep programs with works by
Balanchine, Kylian, Tudor and others.
·
DanceAfrica 2004 - A Dancer's Path: Ancient Traditions, Modern Trends
May 28-30, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, Brooklyn, NY
DanceAfrica, America’s largest and most vibrant annual celebration of
African and African-American music, dance, and culture-and BAM’s longest-running
performance series, returns on Memorial Day weekend for its 27th season.
San
Francisco Bay Area
· Galumpha
May 7-30, 2004, Project Artaud Theater, San Francisco. Making their
first appearance in the Bay Area.
· Ballett Frankfurt- 'The Room as It Was,' 'Duo,' '(N.N.N.N.)'
'One Flat Thing Reproduced'
June 3-5, 2004, Cal
Performances, Berkeley
William Forsythe's famous contemporary company makes one last tour around
the US before disbanding.
Philadelphia
· Pennsylvania
Ballet - 'Swan Lake'
June 4-12, 2004, Academy of Music, Philadelphia
The world premiere of the classic ballet by New York City Ballet Resident
Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.
· Alvin
Ailey American Dance Theater
May 13-15, 2004, Academy of Music, Philadelphia
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs three different programs
in three days at the Academy, under the artistic direction of Philly
native Judith Jamison.
London
·
Rambert Dance Company - 'Reflection,' 'Linear Remains,' 'Five Brahms
Waltzes,' 'A Tragedy of Fashion'
May 25-29, 2004, Sadler's Wells Theatre
Rambert come to London wih a varied programme.
·
The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs - 'Flesh and Blood' and
'Double Take'
20th May 2004, Royal Festival Hall (and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell
Room)
A celebration of 20 years innovative work from the wonderful Lea Anderson.
·
Royal Ballet - 'Onegin' (Cranko)
May 26-June 30, 2004, Royal Opera House
A ballet full of wonderful pdds. One of the best features from Ross
Stretton's brief tenure.
Marseille
· Ballet National
de Marseille : Soirée de Ballets Balanchine/Forsythe/Saarinen
les 22 et 23 mai 2004, Marseille
Après la crise de février dernier et le départ de sa directrice Marie-Claude
Pietragalla, le Ballet National de Marseille présentera une création
mondiale The Captain de Tero Saarinen.
Paris
· Opéra
de Paris - 'Giselle' de Mats Ek
du 18 mai au 1er juin 2004, Palais Garnier, Paris
Après la Giselle traditionnelle présentée en Février dernier, l’Opéra
nous propose la relecture décapante qu’en a faite Mats Ek, avec notre
nouvelle danseuse étoile Marie-Agnès Gillot.
· Anne
Teresa De Keersmaeker, Jolente De Keersmaeker et Rosas - 'Kassandra,
speaking in twelve voices'
du 11 au 15 mai 2004 et Once, solo – du 18 au 22 mai 2004, Théâtre de
la Ville, Paris
Deuxième et troisième programmes présentés cette saison au théâtre de
la Ville..
Rome
·
Roma Opera Ballet – 'Mary Stuart, the last night'
May 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, Teatro Nazionale, Rome
Carla Fracci and guest artist Ilze Liepa share the stage in the new
ballet by Alberto Mendez on Schumann’s music.
Milan
·
La Scala Ballet – 'Swan Lake'
May 5, 7, 9, Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan
Old Bourmeister production of Petipa-Ivanov’s masterpiece.
·
La Scala Ballet – Stravinsky evening ('Le Sacre du Printemps,' 'Rubies,'
'The Cage')
May 18-23, Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan
Chorographies by Bejart, Balanchine, Robbins.
Letter from the Editors
The May edition of Ballet-Dance Magazine brings you reviews, features, and interviews from all over the world including essays from Amsterdam touching upon ballet’s moral dimensions, its ideological strategies, and images of violence. Ballet-Dance also reviews works of an explicitly political character from Robert Hylton Urban Classicism, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the National Ballet of Canada’s choreographic workshop, works which urge us to find the relevance that connects the art that inspired Balanchine and Ashton with our modern world.
Ballet began in the palaces of Europe among kings, queens and courtiers. The current issue features four Royal Ballets: a mini-feature on the Royal Danish Ballet, interviews with artists of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Swedish Ballet, and a review of the Royal New Zealand Ballet performing in London.
The former colonies are not neglected as we have reviews from Canada, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, and Seattle. And, there are reviews of choreographic workshops at Pacific Northwest Ballet and National Ballet of Canada. Our Focus this month is on Boston Ballet with a links to past features, reviews, and a fantastic image gallery for your enjoyment.
As always, we love to hear what you think. Please post your comments in our
Magazine Feedback Discussion Topic in the CriticalDance forum. And,
if you want the magazine delivered right to your inbox, subscribe!
The Editors of
Ballet-Dance Magazine
P.S. If you're enjoying
this issue of Ballet-Dance Magazine, please forward it to a friend!
|
![]() |
reviews
Royal
New Zealand Ballet - Triple Bill - 'Saltarello', 'Milagros', 'FrENZy'
by Cassandra
April 27, 2004 -- Sadler's Wells, London
The young dancers are totally convincing
as they portray the troubled souls dancing out their anxieties to Stravinsky's
compelling rhythms and De Frutos proves yet again that he is developing
into a choreographic master...
read
more...
 Miami
City Ballet - 'The Neighborhood Ballroom': Four Ages of Man (and Epilogue)
Enough for Villella
by Carol Herron
April 24, 2004 -- Center for the Arts, George Mason University, Washington,
D.C.
Each act of the ballet just got more
and more exciting, and the fourth act "The Mambo: Mambo No. 2a.m."
was a fabulous finale.
read
more...
 Henri
Oguike Dance Company - 'Front Line,' 'White Space,' 'FPS,' 'Finale'
by Lyndsey Winship
April 21, 2004 -- Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
The dancers manage to match the score's
truculent drive and spiked edges with pacy steps and a battery of percussive
feet, stamping and slapping the floor, moving with and against the string
players' rhythms...
read
more...
 Pacific
Northwest Ballet - Choreographer's Showcase
by Francis Timlin
April 21, 2004 -- Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, Washington
There was a pervasive sense of an
urban jazz club in the atmosphere and despite big, energetic movement,
there was a prevailing sense of ennui and irony.
read more...
 Pennsylvania
Ballet 'Rhythm and Blues' - 'Fearful Symmetries,' 'The Crossed Line,'
'Blue Until June': PAB Goes Red, Blue, and Modern
by Lori Ibay
April 15 and 17, 2004 -- Merriam Theater, Phildephia
The modern-flavored program opened
with Peter Martins' "Fearful Symmetries," a plotless ballet
set to a racing score by John Adams. Sitting comfortably in my chair,
I was instantly brought to the edge of my seat by the pulsating energy
of the music...
read more...
 Pacific
Northwest Ballet - 'Serenade,' 'Carmina Burana'
by Mike Saunders
April 17, 2004 -- McCaw Hall, Seattle
Like others who have
reviewed this piece, I think I noticed my "allergies" suddenly increasing
during that last movement as I wiped my eyes more than once.
read more...
 Pacific
Northwest Ballet - 'Serenade,' 'Carmina Burana': Performance of
a Lifetime
by Dean Speer
April 15, 2004 -- McCaw Hall, Seattle
Everything about Kent Stowell's "Carmina
Burana" is big. Enormous. Huge in concept and design, this ballet to Carl
Orff's famous music and text is a "wow!" ballet and a sure-fire audience
pleaser.
read more...
 Scottish
Ballet - 'The Four Temperaments,' 'Soft Underbelly,' 'Five Rückert
Songs,' '32 Cryptograms,' 'Acrid Avid Jam'
by Kate Snedeker
April 14, 2004 -- Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland
Returning to the Festival Theatre
for the first Edinburgh performance of 2004, the Scottish Ballet showed
off it's powerful, brash, talented new persona.
read
more...
 San
Francisco Ballet - 'Monotones I and II,' 'Thaïs pas de deux,' 'Symphonic
Variations,' 'Elite Syncopations': Funky Hat Day at the Ballet
by Jeff Kuo
April 17, 2004 -- War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Despite harsh words at the time of
the War of the American Rebellion (as the American Revolution is incorrectly
called in Britain), it is generally agreed that Americans like things
British – e.g. the Beatles, the late Princess Diana, fish &
chips, etc...
read
more...
San Francisco Ballet - Program 7:  'Monotones
I and II,' 'Thaïs pas de deux,' 'Symphonic Variations,' 'Elite Syncopations'
by Mary Ellen Hunt
April 13, 2004 -- War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
If I were to describe Ashton, I would say
he is what Americans stereotypically think of when they imagine Brits.
Often reserved, given to vast understatement at times, but then also capable
of biting, quick wit and clever, very clever.
read more...
James
Thierree - 'La Veillee des Abysses'
by Julia Skene-Wenzel
April 9, 2004 -- Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Remember the magic of an attic filled
with old furniture and books, the smell of dust and the air of lives gone
by? A world that offers endless possibilities for play and transformation?
James Thierree invites us to join his.
read
more...
 Robert
Hylton Urban Classicism - 'Two Sugars with My Hip Hop Please', 'Innocence',
'Urban Voodoo', 'Landscape': When Does Hip-Hop Become Classical?
by Thea Nerissa Barnes
April 2004 -- Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, London
By attributing 'classical' to urban
dance expressions one acknowledges a legacy of exploration that has continued
since the jook halls
read
more...
 LINES Contemporary Ballet - 'The Patience of Aridity, Waiting for Petrichor,' 'Coleman Hawkins,' 'Baker Fix,' 'The Rite of Spring'
by Mary Ellen Hunt
April 9, 2004 -- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Spring is here, and with it comes certain rites,
among them, the annual company seasons.
read more...
Boston
Ballet - 'Lady of the Camellias': The Singular Capacity to Seduce
by S.E. Arnold
April 3, 2004 -- Wang Center, Boston, Massachusetts
However, within
the world of "Lady of the Camellias" Caniparoli channels virtuosity
and its attendant frivolity into the service of his narrative.
read
more...
National
Ballet of Canada - Choreographic Workshop: Choreography of Their Own
by Denise Sum
April 3, 2004 -- Premiere Dance Theatre, Toronto, Canada
Aside from cultivating choreographic
creativity, the workshop is also a venue that showcases the talents of
some lesser-known dancers.
read
more...
The Bang Group - 'Critical Mass', 'Pop', 'Slapstuck', Show Business',
'The Boogie Shoes Project'
by Marshall Huntenberger
March 31, 2004 -- Winter Garden, World Financial Center, New York
I've come to expect David Parker's wit and brilliance so
I have a high standard for Bang Group performances. I wasn't at all
disappointed on this occasion.
read more...
Dance
Theatre of Harlem - 'Serenade,' 'Thaïs pas de Deux,'
'A Song for Dead Warriors'
by Danzcryz
March 31, 2004 -- Sadler's Wells,
London
”Serenade,” choreographed
by Balanchine for his ballet students in 1934, typically exudes the unattainable,
aloofness of his neoclassical aesthetic. Too often, the desire for purity
overrides personality, and the joy of dancing to Tchaikovsky's more
vivacious movements is often lost. Not so with Dance Theatre of Harlem...
read more...
 Scottish
Dance Theatre - 'Moment,' 'Broken,' 'Track'
by Katherine
Phillips
March 30, 2004 -- The Place, London
Along with genres such
as physical theatre and live art, some say that dance should be used to
challenge, subvert and provoke. Others argue that viewing a dance performance
should not be like figuring out a brainteaser, but rather enjoyed for
its surface value and visual quality...
read more...
Paris
Opera Ballet POB - 'Signes'
by
Marie-Laure Ferreyra
March 27, 2004 -- Opéra
Bastille, Paris
Carlson handles parody successfully
in the Chinese tableau where the girls mimic love in cartoon-like fashion,
their hands amplifying the beating of their hearts...
read
more...
 Ballet San Jose - 'Out of Africa'
by Dean Speer
March 26, 2004 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
This kind of
virtual, literal story-telling ballet is even now a rarity in the ballet
world and certainly even more rare are new creations in this genre.
read
more...
Royal
Swedish Ballet - 'En Midsommarnattsdröm' ('A Midsummer's Night Dream')
by
Kate Snedeker
March 17-18, 2004 -- Kungliga Operan, Stockholm
From the antics of Bottom’s friends to the deliberate, coolly smooth gyrations
of the dream-beings, to the frenetic fights of the human lovers, the choreography
teems with details in both technique and characterization. ...
read
more...
Pacific Northwest Ballet - The Romantics: Without Boundaries
by Dean Speer
March 18, 2004 -- McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
Turns, jumps, and balances are the means of interplay
between the supremely talented Noelani Pantastico and Jonathan Porretta, who radiate
such joy when they perform, it’s infectious and uplifting.
read more...
|
|
