Hi theo,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I was originally asking about the Ballet Theater of Maryland performance, which you responded to so well on another thread (and I agree!), but your response on this thread also brings out a similar point - the importance of good, honest acting in dance. This is something I've noticed in my limited experience, that I most enjoy performances that evoke emotion, or a memory, or a better understanding of relationships, and those that lack that, while they can be great technically, are not that memorable to me. It's the honest emotion that makes dance relevant and fresh. And it took me a while to understand why so many companies were called "Ballet Theater" until I realized that the "theater" part was an essential feature!
Thanks for helping me put it all into perspective.