BALLET
BC
The Rite of Spring
Dates 21-23 April 2005, 8pm Venue Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Reviewer: Ross Michael Pink
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Donald Sales and Simone Orlando |
An eclectic and varied program of ballet was featured at the Queen Elizabeth theatre by Ballet British Columbia.
Like You, choreographed by Nicolo Fonte, is a bold, frenetic piece of modern dance. Costumed in red outfits, the dancers move about to a beat that seems to blend an African sound with industrial music.
Fonte has expressed a wish to reveal hidden identities in this work. The movement is dramatic raw, thus expressing the openness that classical ballet, in its refined way, cannot. Fonte is from Brooklyn, New York, and has danced works by the great Balanchine as well as James Kudelka and Anthony Tudor. Kudelka is the recipient of the Choo San Goh award for his collaboration with the Pacific NorthWest ballet of Seattle in "Almost Tango."
The second piece of the evening was 15 Heterosexual Duets, choreographed by James Kudelka. This is a work that has previously been presented by Ballet BC. It is a refreshing piece characterized by beautiful movement and originality.
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The highlight is the wonderful variation in style between the various partners who are featured. Standouts includedSimone Orlando with Sylvain Senez; Makaila Wallace with Chengxin Wei and Acacia Schachte with Donald Sales, a rising and powerful dancer with Ballet BC.
Partnering is an art in dance, whether classical or modern and Kudelka has created a magnificent work that will surely endure. He is currently the artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada.
The final work of the evening was The Rite of Spring, a world premiere choreographed by John Alleyne, artistic director of Ballet BC. The work has a musical score by Igor Stravinsky, with the talented Jane Coop providing the piano accompaniment.
Donald Sales and Simone Orlando were outstanding in the work which is an expression of pagan sacrifice. The work has dark tones and drama, perhaps not for all dance fans, yet Alleyne does justice to a complex theme.
© 2005 Ross Michael Pink