Friday, April 1

[dirac]

A review of American Ballet Theatre in 'Don Quixote' by George Jackson for danceviewtimes.

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The music by Ludwig Minkus hasn't the nuance of Tchaikovsky's ballet scores but propels the story. Compared to this century's "whim" choreographies, the old "Don Q" provides satisfaction.   

Sarah L. Kaufman's review of ABT in The Washington Post.

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Boylston, as a playful but commanding Kitri, and Simkin, as Basilio, her equally assertive beau, led an effervescent cast Thursday in a production geared to excite. (Performances continue through Sunday, with cast changes.) Throughout its three acts, the technical demands and bravura effects rose steadily higher as Kitri evaded her father’s matchmaking, escaped with Basilio and finally got her wedding, as any 19th-century heroine of a comic ballet is due.

 

[dirac]

An interview with Ethan Stiefel and Gillian Murphy.

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Though the production is family-friendly, it’s too sophisticated to be just a kids show. The source of some of that sophistication: Luminous ABT principal Gillian Murphy, who is married to Stiefel, and who will dance the role of Oberon in several performances. Yes, Oberon, King of the Fairies, a role typically played by male virtuosos from Edward Villella to Stiefel himself. In Stiefel’s version, a more vulnerable but no less virtuosic Oberon is a woman, and is instead the leader of the elves. I spoke to Stiefel and Murphy about adapting the character to be a woman, the ballet’s unique score, and their vision for ARB.

 

[dirac]

Houston Ballet creates a scholarship in the name of Lauren Anderson.

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And what dreams came true for native Houstonian Anderson, who burst onto the national stage in 1990 when she was appointed principal Houston Ballet dancer. She would go on to dance leading roles in all of the classical ballets and perform across the globe, an inspiration to generations of dance hopefuls.