Interludes

2013’s Best in Dance

• By drediman
• January 10, 2014
• No Comments

New York continues to be a dance lover’s paradise, with two important companies (New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater) at the forefront.

(Note: the list below is in alphabetical order)

1. Black & White

George Balanchine’s “black and white” ballets are masterpieces of 20^th century choreography, and no one dances them better than NYCB.  This program included the following classic dances: “The Four Temperaments”, “Episodes”, “Duo Concertant”, and “Stravinsky Violin Concerto”.  Each dance was performed impeccably by the NYCB dancers, bringing out the mystery and soulfulness blueprinted in Balanchine’s choreography.  These are dances are treasures.

2. L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato

I never miss a chance to see Mark Morris’s “L’Allegro” when it is in town. The performance I attended last year marked my third visit to this living work of art (it was part of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival), and it continues to inspire and enrich.  Set to an Handel oratorio, the ballet is an ecstatic ode to the pastoral, depicting a series of utopian scenarios and tableaus. As before, the Mark Morris Dance Group performed the piece lovingly and with infectious exuberance.  I’ve said it before: Heaven must be like the world conjured up in this choreographic gift.

3. The Nutracker(s)

NYCB’s evergreen, sugarcoated staging of George Balanchine’s “Nutcraker”, when danced to perfection, is a soul-stirring experience. At the NYCB performance I attended, Ashley Bouder was a revelation as Dewdrop.  Although I’ve long admired Ms. Bouder’s technical prowess as a dancer for a number of years now, her performance here exuded an effortless combination of power, lightness, and joy I’ve not seen from her before. Thrilling.  Down in Brooklyn at BAM, I also had the opportunity to revisit Alexei Ratmansky’s touching, whimsical “Nutcracker” for ABT. The performance I attended featured the majestic pair of Marcelo Gomes and Veronika Part as the Nutcracker Prince and Clara Princess, respectively.  What made their performance so breathtaking was they way they conveyed a heightened sense of drama in every step they took, individually and, especially, together.

4. Shostakovich Trilogy

Last year, Alexei Ratmansky ambitiously set a trio of Shostakovich symphonies to dance:  Ninth Symphony, Piano Concerto No. 1, and Chamber Symphony for Strings in C minor.  Instead of this program being a case in diminishing returns, each dance was wonderfully individual and complimented the others. Cumulatively, the program was an intriguing homage to the Russian spirit, and the ABT dancers, particularly the men, performed with much character and authority.

5. Sylvia

Another ABT dancer I’ve grown to really admire is Gillian Murphy.  Her technique has always been rock solid, but over the last few years, she’s developed into a striking artist (if not for her eye-catching ruby red hair!).  Her portrayal of Odette/Odile a few years ago in “Swan Lake” was heart-stopping, and she was equally splendid in last year’s revival of Sir Frederick Ashton’s “Sylvia” for the ABT. Ms. Murphy danced with commanding elegance and was supported wonderfully by the ABT dancers. This production is one of the gems in ABT’s repertoire, and the performance I attended at the Metropolitan Opera House did not disappoint.