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JAN 2005
in this issue
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interviews
 Thomas
Lund: Making a DVD of Bournonville Classes
by Kate Snedeker
It is a documentation of our generation:
how did we interpret Bournonville? How did we dance Bournonville?
read
more...
 Tim Matiakis: Through Three Royal Houses
by Kate Snedeker
I believe I'm still at an age where
I have a chance to see what happens, and my opinion is not that one should
dance because it's comfortable. I am much more of the opinion, for
myself - everybody's different - that I dance as long as I think it's
fun, and where I think it is fun to dance.
read
more...
Bruce Caldwell of Ballet West: 44 Years of 'Nutcracker' and Counting ...
by Dean Speer & Francis Timlin
I come from a Mormon background
and I think my father thought I was never going to start a family. My
brothers have been rather prolific.
read
more...
Dennis Nahat, Artistic Director, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley: Knowing Nahat's 'Nutcracker'
by Dean Speer & Francis Timlin
The individual steps to me are not all that important. What is important is what looks good on the dancers,
so I do have them in mind when choreographing.
read more...
company focus
 
Image Gallery
in our forums
| Coming up...
· Pennsylvania Ballet's
season
· Resolution! in London
· San Francisco Ballet reviews
· More reviews
· More interviews
· More features |
|
|
|
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
 John Jasperse - 'California': Fault Lines
by Holly Messitt
December 7, 2004
One of the main reasons
I enjoy seeing a John Jasperse productions is the way he uses
metaphors.
read
more...
 Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch - 'Fur die Kinder von Gestern, Heute und Morgen'
by Cecly Placenti
November 16, 2004
...a series of non-linear
vignettes ranging from funny, to bizarre, to beautiful, and
created an overall feeling rather than making a didactic statement.
read
more...
 Ballet Preljocaj - 'Near Life Experience': At the Edge of Existence
by Holly Messitt
November 3, 2004
Despite the listless
mood, however, there were surprising and lovely moments in the
piece, including one dancer who strapped goblets over the periphery
of her arms, knees, ankles, and back.
read
more...
 Ralph Lemon - 'Come Home Charlie
Patton': Dancing Around the Color Line
by Holly
Messitt
October 26, 2004 -- Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New
York
Near the beginning of Ralph Lemon's "Come Home
Charlie Patton," the third part of Lemon's Geography Trilogy,
this time evoking images of lynchings and the civil rights
movement, Lemon appears in a documentary film focused on him
wading through a southern swamp.
read
more...
 Bangarra Dance Theatre - 'Bush': Language of the Heart
by Preeti Vasudevan
October 19, 2004
The unfortunate dichotomy
of living in our modern lives, divorced from a deep rooted connectivity
with nature, was highlighted by a powerful performance.
read
more...
|
|
 'The
Four Temperaments', 'La Valse', 'Ballet Imperial': Slow Start,
Triumphant Finish
by Cassandra
December 22, 2004 - Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden Germany
"La Valse" followed
and was graced by the presence of Yuliana Lopatkina in the leading
role. Lopatkina's appearances are now few and far between and
there was a tangible feeling of collective excitement on this
night when the Kirov's prima was billed to dance.
read
more...
 'Le
Corsaire'
by Catherine Pawlick
December 19, 2004 -- Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
Ali, his sidekick-support
buddy, was danced freshly by Dmitri Semionov. A relatively new
face on the Kirov stage, his dancing was strong, if a bit on
the shy side compared to others, such as Ruzimatov, who have
claimed roles like this as their own.
read
more...
 'Apollo',
divertissements, 'Etudes': Essays in Movement Mastery
by Catherine Pawlick
December 18, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Daria Pavlenko graced
the audience as Terpsichore with her wide-eyed smiles and pristine
lines. Whispers of Suzanne Farrell, dare one say, seemed to
escape her performance here and there.
read
more...
 'The
Sleeping Beauty': Late Nights in St. Petersburg
by Catherine Pawlick
December 15, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Daria Pavlenko graced
the audience as Terpsichore with her wide-eyed smiles and pristine
lines. Whispers of Suzanne Farrell, dare one say, seemed to
escape her performance here and there.
read
more...
 'The
Four Temperaments', 'La Valse', 'Ballet Imperial': Balanchine
with Nowhere to Hide
by Catherine Pawlick
December 12, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
There
is something charming about Balanchine a la Kirov, when even
a hip thrust forward looks well-placed. Balanchine devotees
would perhaps gasp in horror, but this isn't New York City Ballet,
and they're doing their best.
read
more...
 'La
Sylphide': A Buoyant 'La Sylphide'
by Catherine Pawlick
November 29, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Sheglov
was visibly bewildered by the beauty and elusive quality of
this spirit of the air, his earthy petit allegro in contrast
to her light pointework.
read more...
 'Romeo
and Juliet': Cool Weather in Verona
by Catherine Pawlick
November 18, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Leonid Sarafanov again
danced exquisitely as the fun-loving Mercutio. Once more one
wonders why he isn't cast as Romeo.
read
more...
 'Manon'
by Catherine Pawlick
November 7, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Yana Serebryakova was
Lescaut's lover, energetic, confident, exuding French chic at
every glance.
read
more...
 'Don
Quixote': Lighthearted Humor
by Catherine Pawlick
November 5, 2004 --Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
If
one act ballets are appetizers, the four act "Don Quixote"
is always a full meal.
read
more...
|
editors'
picks
Los
Angeles
·
International
Association of Blacks in Dance Conference Showcase
January 28-29, 2005 - Luckman
Fine Arts Complex, CSU Los Angeles, Los Angeles
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre hosts the Official Showcase of the
17th Annual International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference,
bringing together leading African-American dance companies, choreographers,
students, dancers, and educators.
·
Random
Dance - 'Nemesis'
January 28-29, 2005 - Royce Hall, UCLA
With a score performed live by Scanner, Random performs the US premiere
of Wayne McGregor' s new collaborative work which includes costumes
and extensions by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, digital video design by
Ravi Deepres, and lighting by Lucy Carter.
Chicago
·
Instruments
of Movement - 'Ruff Side of the Smoothness'
January 28-29, 2005 - Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Chicago
·
River
North Dance Company
February 11-13, 2005 - Joan
W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music & Dance, Chicago
New
York
·
Subtle
Changes Dance Company - 'The Statement-7th Draft'
February 18-19, 2005 - BRIC Studio, Brooklyn
Inspired by the music and words of celebrated poet and performer Gil
Scot Heron, an evening length work of twelve vignettes laced with quotes
and music from Heron, with additions from Dick Gregory, Ryuchi Sakamoto,
Donny Hathaway, and D'Bi Young.
·
LaLaLa
Human Steps - 'Amelia'
February 1, 3, 5, 2005 - Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn
Abstract work on pointe created by Édouard Lock highlights the
speed of the dancers who perform to a score commissioned from Bang on
a Can's David Lang, as well as Lou Reed songs created for the Velvet
Underground.
San Francisco Bay Area
·
Ailey
II
January 21, 2005, Stanford Lively Arts, Stanford University, Palo Alto
Imagine the energy of youth with the skill and grace of Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theatre, performing classic works of the repertoire as
well as new works.
·
San
Francisco Ballet - Repertory Programs 1 & 2
February 1-13, 2005, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
SFB kicks off Helgi Tomasson's 10th season with the company with classics
like "Theme and Variations" and old favorites like Mark Morris's
"Maelstrom."
Philadelphia
·
Pennsylvania
Ballet - 'Nine Sinatra Songs'
February 2-6, 2005 - Merriam Theater, Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania Ballet premiere of Tharp's tribute to Sinatra along
with Peter Martins' 'The Waltz Project' and a world premiere by
Matthew Neenan to a score by Rufus Wainwright.
·
Moiseyev
Dance Company
February 8-9, 2005 - Irvine Auditorium, Philadelphia
PENN Presents Russia's famed
ethnic dance company.
London
·
Flamenco
Festival London
January 17-30, 2005, Sadler's
Wells
Sara Baras, Rocío Molina, Eva Yerbabuena and a host of other
names in nine different programmes.
·
The
Royal Ballet - 'La fille mal gardée'
January 19-April 2, 2005, The Royal Opera House
Hérold's tuneful score gave Ashton the perfect match for his
affectionate characterizations and witty cameos - a real treat.
·
Resolution!
January 17 - mid-February, 2005, The Place
Europe's largest festival for new choreography - 100 companies at 3
per night.
Rome
·
Rome
Opera Ballet - Gala Balanchine: "Le Chatte," "Le Bal,"
" Apollon Musagete,"
January 13-16, 2005, Teatro Costanzi
A triple bill marking the 100th anniversary of the great choreographer's
birth.
·
Rome
Opera Ballet - 'Giselle'
January 20-23, 2005, Teatro Costanzi
Carla Fracci's production of the evergreen romantic masterpeace is back
again on Rome stage.
·
Complexions
- 'White,' 'Solo,' '3 for 6,' 'Red'
January 19-23, 2005, Teatro
Olimpico
The hot contemporary dance company makes its Roman debut.
Milan
·
Teatro
all Scala Ballet - 'A Midsummer Night's Dream
January 9-23, 2005, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Balanchine's choreography from Shakespeare's work is back again for
more performances.
Denmark
·
'Three
Companies, Three Works!'
January 16-22, 2005 - Det
Kongelige Teater, Copenhagen
The first dance program in the
brand new Opera House, includes performances by the Stephen Petronio
Company, the New Dance Dance Theatre and the world premiere of a new piece by Tim Rushton for the Royal Danish Ballet.
·
Royal
Danish Ballet - Mixed Repertory January
16-22 - Det Kongelige Teater, Copenhagen
Mixed Repertory including 'Abdallah', 'Etudes',' Fancy Free', 'In
the Night', 'Vers un Pays Sage' and 'Far From Denmark'.
·
Peter
Schaufuss Balleten - 'Nøddeknækkeren'
January 21-22, 2005 - Agder Teater, Kristianssand.
.
|
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reviews
The
Scottish Ballet - 'The Nutcracker': Festive If Underpowered
by Kate Snedeker
January 6, 2005 -- Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Ashley Page's production, which
debuted last holiday season, owes more to the dark and moody original
story by E.T.A. Hoffman than the sugary sweet versions that invade most
stages in December.
read
more...
 Forever
Tango: An Extravanganza of Pasión
by Mary Ellen Hunt
December 29, 2004 -- Post Street Theatre, San Francisco
...highly entertaining and quite
enough to make you reach for your program to fan yourself.
read
more...
 Royal
Danish Ballet - 'Vers un Pays Sage', 'Etudes', 'Fancy Free' and 'La Sylphide'
by Kate Snedeker
December 27-28, 2004 -- The Royal Theatre, Copenhagen
On Monday afternoon, two of the
company's premier Bournonville dancers, Thomas Lund and Gudrun Bojesen,
were powerful and poignant in Nikolaj Hübbe's production of Bournonville's
"La Sylphide".
read
more...
 Matthew Bourne's 'Nutcracker!': Earth to Planet Nutcracker
by Jeff Kuo
December 21, 2004 -- Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles
Instead of the cozy Victorian home, Bourne gives us a veritable Dickensian Third Reich where the ballet's only family embodies not holiday charity but avarice and exploitation.
read more...
San Francisco Ballet - 'Nutcracker': Tomasson's Workshop of Life
by Toba Singer
December 21, 2004 -- War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Rooted in the Willam Christensen
version, Tomasson's concept, staging, and choreography carve a niche out
of early 20th century San Francisco's Victorian/Edwardian architecture,
"Painted Ladies," shipyards, merchant marines, urban Goldrushers,
and trolley cars down Market Street.
read more...
 San Francisco Ballet - 'Nutcracker': Taking the Fifth
by Dean Speer
December 17, 2004 -- War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
The festivities began with a fanfare
-- brasses trumpeting and heralding the doors' opening to the pressing
throngs milling about on the Van Ness sidewalk.
read more...
 Tanya Khabarova - 'Reflection': Eve, Evolution, and the Journey Into Life
by Rosella Simonari
December 16, 2004 -- Teatro Lauro Rossi, Macerata, Italy
"Reflection" is a poetic
and metamorphic journey into the origin of humanity and possibly of life
itself. Khabarova structures the piece according to a series of snapshots
in which she becomes a different creature each time.
read more...
 Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley - 'The Nutcracker': It's a Ball at the Ballet
by Dean Speer
December 16, 2004 -- San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Special note must be made of Karen Gabay's Marie as she was celebrating her 25th year in this part and in this production. She looks 16 and dances with a freshness that belies her experience and position as a dancer.
read more...
 Chicken
Shed Theatre Company - 'Peter Pan': Nobody Left Behind in Neverland
by Stuart Sweeney
December 15, 2004 -- Chicken Shed Theatre, Southgate, London
Inclusion is clearly a vital part of the Chicken Shed philosophy and in "Peter Pan" they have integrated sign language into the action. Rather than detached specialists on the side of the stage, cast members take turns ... so that signing is woven into the fabric of the performance and even into the dance routines.
read more...
Oregon Ballet Theatre - 'The Nutcracker': It's Not Only the Tree That Grows
by Dean Speer
December 11-12, 2004 -- Keller Theatre, Portland, Oregon
Oregon Ballet Theatre's "The Nutcracker" is a cranberry confection delight, courtesy of the artistic sensibility and choreographic mastery of George Balanchine.
read more...
Boston Ballet - 'The Nutcracker': Nissinen's New Nutcracker Dreams
by S.E. Arnold
December 11, 2004 -- The Colonial Theatre, Boston
As breathtaking as a moonlit winter evening, the Boston Ballet's new "Nutcracker," choreographed by Mikko Nissinen, yet banished winter's chill and welcomed viewers into its well lit world.
read more...
 Dances Patrelle - 'The Yorkville Nutcracker'
by Cecly Placenti
December 10, 2004 -- The Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, New York
... Dances Patrelle provides a forum by which experienced dancers can share in a mentoring relationship with young dancers to contribute to their evolution and maturing dancers can have the opportunity to expand their art through new works and roles.
read more...
 Ballet West - 'The Nutcracker': First Nutcracker Delights
by Dean Speer
December 3, 2004 -- Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Opening night casting was as near
perfection as you can get and still remain on the planet.
read more...
Akram Khan - 'ma': Directed Not Just Choreographed
by Lyndsey Winship
November 30, 2004 --Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Riccardo Nova' s music is used to dramatic effect. Deeply influenced by Indian classical music, the Italian composer creates a score that is plaintive, mournful and hectic in turns.
read more...
St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre - 'La Bayadere'
by Cassandra
November 28, 2004 -- Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, England
Dancing the pivotal role of Nikiya, Irina Kolesnikova made an excellent impression in a role that suits her to perfection. She is possessed of the "grand manner," and her only failing is she looked a little too regal to be a humble temple dancer.
read more...
Pacific Northwest Ballet - 'The Nutcracker": Catching Up with the Season
by Dean Speer
November 26, 2004 -- McGaw Hall, Seattle, Washington
So what do over 115
props, 500 light bulbs, 40 stage hands, 200 pounds of fireproof confetti
paper, 500 pairs of pointe shoes, 190 costumes, 300 rehearsal hours, a
950 pound Christmas Tree, and 90,000 people all have in common? PNB' s
"Nutcracker" of course!
read more...
Royal Ballet - 'Sylvia': Embracing Ashton
by Julia Skene-Wenzel
November 24, 2004 -- Royal Opera House, London
Ashton's choreography captures every nuance of its texture and paints his vision across the stage in ever changing formations. Low arabesques lead into multiple pirouettes while the upper body breaks out of traditional ballet positions and softens into fluid patterns.
read more...
 National Ballet of Canada - 'The Nutcracker': Colorizing a Classic
by Michael Goldbarth
December 2004 -- Hummingbird Centre, Toronto
Skip dessert if you plan on seeing the National Ballet of Canada's "The Nutcracker." Its mischievous creator sprinkled sugar non-stop throughout his frosty Christmas confection, and then to top it all off, unscrewed the lid to your sugar shaker!
read more...
 National Ballet of Canada - 'Giselle': Danced to Life
by Michael Goldbarth
November 18, 21, 2004 -- Hummingbird Centre, Toronto
The future is bright for future Albrechts with the incredibly gifted Guillaume Côté and an improving Nehemiah Kish. Chan Hon Goh will no doubt dance forever and Sonia Rodriguez was a dream.
read more...
National Ballet of Canada - 'Stravinsky Violin Concerto': Flowers, Valentines, and Ballerina Beauties
by Michael Goldbarth
November 18, 21, 2004 -- Hummingbird Centre, Toronto
With all due respect and apologies
to the greatest ballet maker Past, Present, and perhaps Future, I'm going
to commit a ballet indiscretion by kissing and telling the meaning behind
Stravinsky Violin Concerto-for me.
read more...
 Pennsylvania Ballet - 'Ballo della Regina,' 'Agon,' 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue'
by Lori Ibay
November 3-7, 2004 -- Academy of Music, Philadelphia
Hench, who joined the company as a principal last spring for Wheeldon's "Swan Lake," looked princely once again opposite the regal Amy Aldridge.
read more...
 American Ballet Theatre - 'Pretty Good Year,' 'VIII,' 'Sinfonietta'
by Lori Ibay
October 30, 2004 -- City Center, New York City
The opening scene set an eerie tone, with six shadowy figures (the ghosts, Lara Bossen, Amanda Cobb, Melanie Hamrick, Jennifer Lee, Caity Seither, and Sarah Smith) hovering in the background and six couples intertwined on the foreground slowly unwinding as they rose from the ground.
read more...
 American Ballet Theatre - 'Pretty Good Year,' 'Pillar of Fire,' 'Petite Mort,' 'Sechs Tänze'
by Lori Ibay
October 23, 2004 -- City Center, New York City
Murphy has complete command of the principal role, expressing Hagar's misery and frustration with her entire being.
read more...
Johannes
Weiland - 'One': 'Parietal Region,' 'One,' 'Corrosion,' 'Tomorrow': The
Persistence of Vision
by Jenai Cutcher
October 10, 2004 -- Diane von Furstenberg Theatre, New York City
Five dancers costumed in von Furstenberg's
own maroon turtleneck creations occupied the vacuous white box theatre,
dancing in, on, and around several white cubic structures meant to represent
these particular brain spaces.
read
more...
Letter from the Editors
The end of the year brings us not just 'Nutcracker' candy cane dreams and liquorice wishes but a time to appreciate all the gifts of the world of dance. Instead of counting the days of Christmas, with this issue we'll be counting dance writing-critical assessments of innovative choreographers, interviews with artists of the Royal Danish Ballet, reports from Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival, reviews of the Kirov Ballet, and much more from around the world.
Also, there is our Company Focus and Image Gallery featuring the Birmingham Royal Ballet, editor's picks, and more. Oh, yes, that and 11 'Nutcracker' reviews.
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. Best wishes for the New Year 2005!
The
Editors of Ballet-Dance Magazine
P.S. If you're enjoying this issue of Ballet-Dance
Monthly, please forward it to a friend!
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Bawren
Tavaziva -