Monday, June 3

[dirac]

A review of Pacific Northwest Ballet by Rich Smith in The Stranger.

Quote

Yeah, okay, sure, on one level, George Balanchine's Coppélia, which runs at McCaw Hall through June 9, is ultimately one of those goofy 19th-century fairy tale ballets with gorgeous sets, coquette aesthetics, an insane plot, and long stretches of time when the whole town engages in an elaborate dance-off. With the exception of a few ad-libbed contemporary gestures, Pacific Northwest Ballet's production holds true to Balanchine's revision of the old story.

 

[dirac]

A review of New York City Ballet by Leigh Witchel for dancelog.nyc.

Quote

In the final Rondo alla Zingarese, Sara Mearns’ issues are never one of scale. She threw herself around in a decadent in-it-for-herself showing. She didn’t sweat any of the details as she walked around the stage flat-footed. It felt about 30% Balanchine, with more interest from her in delivering a performance than dancing this specific ballet. Andrew Veyette fared better. He threw himself into risky turns, and his brand of bro swagger worked here.

 

[dirac]

A review of the Hong Kong Ballet in "Swan Lake" by Natasha Rogin for The South China Morning Post.

Quote

Hong Kong Ballet’s new Swan Lake was lifted on the first night by a magnificent performance from Ye Feifei as Odette/Odile, partnered superbly by guest artist Matthew Ball of The Royal Ballet.

With their classical dancing and fine acting, the pair showed why Swan Lake has stood the test of time. Whether the ballet’s enduring appeal was brought out by the rest of the production is another question.

 

[dirac]

An interview with Lincoln Jones.

Quote

It is provocative to aspire to slip into the mind of one of ballet’s great masters, but Jones, director of American Contemporary Ballet, sees it as a progression in his long devotion to Balanchine’s art. Jones, who rides a BMW motorcycle, aims for a degree of risk in his work. He once had his ballerinas — dressed elegantly as if on the set of “Mad Men” — saunter onto the stage and gather around a pie before falling to their knees like resplendent crows and devouring it.