Mike Gunther

Hi Alexandra, is it only you and I who go to these things? I saw the Saturday performance (Brianne Bland / Jared Nelson) and was delighted - it may be a "stretch" into this repertoire, but the company seems to be "stepping up" to the challenge. And those beautiful costumes simply blew me away - worth every penny of the reported $200,000 - a brilliant setting that let the dancers shine. Septime's choreography can be facile, but he also delivers the goods, as in the Jester's variation (admirably nailed by Jonathan Jordan), the Seasons dances, and especially Cinderella's climactic pas de deux with the Prince. Bland and Nelson danced so beautifully together, with such accomplishment and feeling, that for me it was truly, well, magical. It was also a thrill, with this company, just to see so many dancers onstage at the same time! I loved the way they brought in dancers from the school and DanceDC and blended them so smoothly into the performance. A big, ambitious, dazzling show!

Sarah Kaufmann wrote a very negative review of their Tue. May 20 program -> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2003May21.html Her main point seemed to be that it is a great company that is dancing well, but their program (Stabat Mater, Wingborne, Prodigal Son, Firebird) was old and tired. She attributed this to financial problems. I did not see the May 20 performance, but I did see the alternate program May 23 (Viraa, Wingborne, Passion of the Blood, Return). These dances, except for Wingborne, are more recent (created 1999-2001) - that is why I picked that night - but to tell you the truth, I would probably write a similar review to Sarah's because even though the dances are (relatively) new, to me they seemed designed to please the crowd rather than to break new ground. When even the "new" program seems old and tired, that has to be a wake-up call!

I was delighted with the Saturday eve. performance (same cast as Thursday). All three works "played well" together, visually and stylistically - a gorgeous program. The dancers were really "on", a thrilling energy level (wonder if they put something in the water ) with star turns from Bland, Nelson, and our other wonderful principals. Just some non-technical impressions from a long-time WB fan... (and thanks, Alexandra, for getting the ball rolling!) Mike