Wednesday, May 18

[dirac]

A review of Alonzo King Lines Ballet by Charles Lewis III for 48hills.

Quote

“Deep River” is a collaboration among director-choreographer King, pianist-composer Jason Moran, and vocalist Lisa Fischer (with additional music by jazz legend Pharoah Sanders, Maurice Ravel, and James Weldon Johnson). Fischer appears and disappears on the spartan stage alongside the company. We see her wielding two mics at once, which—along with sound design by Philip Perkins—gives her voice an ethereal, echo-like quality that somehow just adds to the resonating bass of her voice. Think of a cross between Mahalia Jackson and Kate Bush.

 

[dirac]

BalletMet closes its season with a mixed bill.

Quote

But as the program’s premiere neared, scheduling conflicts and the lingering coronavirus pandemic left some out-of-town stagers unable to come to Columbus to mount select dances. Consequently, several of the ballets first planned for the program were removed, which meant that [Edwaard] Liang swung into action.

 

[dirac]

A review of New York City Ballet by Ivy Lin for Bachtrack.

Quote

The only slight disappointment was the rip-roaring Fall bacchanal. This section is for virtuoso specialists. Unity Phelan and Andrew Veyette have wonderful qualities as dancers (her majestic persona and beauty, his amazing partnering skills), but neither of them excel at the huge grand jetés, multiple fouettés, barrel and corkscrew turns, and other crowd-wowing steps that is the Fall section. Daniel Ulbricht has been dancing the Faun for years and is always a marvel in this role. The springiness of his jumps just defies Father Time.

 

[dirac]

Berks Ballet Theatre presents "Forgotten Fairy Tales."

Quote

“A Ballerina’s Tale” is an original work that brings to life a scene from an Edgar Degas-inspired painting. Still dancers donning flowering tutus awaken to express the beauty of ballet through sumptuous movement and a French impressionist motif.