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January 4, 2007
Latest Dance Articles - Catching Up Edition
Catching up on both recent articles and some pieces from when I went on hiatus:
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo - Make 'em Laugh:
In the Trock’s version of “Les Sylphides”, Olga Supphozova (Robert Carter) grinned maniacally as she thundered across the stage in the Mazurka. She posed at the front wing to secure our undying affection (or else) and then literally jogged offstage for the sprint to the back wing to barrel out for another bout of leaps. My companion, a woman who had danced the same role professionally and had to make that same breathless dash, leaned over and whispered. “It feels exactly like that.” It’s funny either way but if you know the role, it’s hilarious.
Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch - Bausch's Baedeker
A woman in a cocktail dress was staring at the audience. A man in a suit walked up to her. “What are you doing?” He asked. “I’m smiling. Without a reason. It’s difficult, try it.” He did. And it was. “Keep smiling.” She offered helpfully, as they backed off the stage. “Without a reason. It’s difficult.”Limón Dance Company - After Limón
It’s interesting to compare “Dances for Isadora”, rather than to MacMillan’s bioballet, to Frederick Ashton’s “Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan”.
Roseanne Spradlin Dance - Mosaic of Survival
At the most dryly theatrical moment in the first half, all four performers brought out stuffed black ravens to dance a quadrille. Each held his or her raven differently; [Walter] Dundervill looked fabulous with one perched on his head.
Apart from the Trocks, I chose things other than ballet to review. The ABT season was already covered by other writers; NYCB only has one or two press nights for Nutcracker (and I've covered it several times). I chose the three above to round out my viewing. It's much harder to write without depth of viewing; the hardest was the Limón piece. I'm indebted to the kindness of the publicist (Audrey Ross) who offered me a ticket to the program I was not reviewing as well the one that I was. It made a difference getting to see the company twice. It didn't change my impressions; it helped to confirm them. I needed that; I felt uncomfortable reviewing Limón and Humphrey having seen so little of both.
Posted by Leigh Witchel at January 4, 2007 10:34 PM
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