So, I'm a nut. What can I say? I flew back from NYC to the SF Bay Area, came home long enough to unpack and then drove out to Oakland to catch Oakland Ballet's final program of the season before their Nutcracker, and I'm glad I went.<P>I'll try to write a "dancelogue" later but here's a first impression. My favorite work of the afternoon was Eugene Loring's "The Tender Land," done to a very American score by Aaron Copland. This work was indeed tender in scope, with the tender parting moments of a Midwest teenager leaving home after a graduation hoe-down.<P>Other works included a modern "Bolero" (Marc Wilde/Ravel) which was very stylish and acrobatic, Ronn Guidi's Selections from the Seasons (Glazunov), and Alonzo King's "Love Dogs" (Paul Crossley solo piano). All in all, I liked the program but I found the taped music somewhat muted for Seasons. In my opinion, Glazunov compositions should be played up for its grandeur and majesty.<P>And once again, Alonzo King's work is a mystery to me. It was beautiful to watch but I feel there is more to it than my limited experience can perceive.
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