BALLET WEST, "A GALA CELEBRATION OF 20TH-CENTURY MASTERWORKS," Saturday, Feb. 23, Capitol Theatre; one performance.
As with an Olympic torch flame, Ballet West's performance of "A Gala Celebration of 20th-Century Masterworks" was filled with vibrant energy, bright flashes of brilliance and subtle abstract art.
The centerpiece was the Utah premiere of Jerome Robbins' "Afternoon of a Faun." This wonderfully subtle work takes place in a dreamy dance studio on a summer day. Much like the Nijinsky work that spawned this version, undertones of the attraction between two dancers (Seth Olsen and Jessica Harston) held the audience until the very end. Tender, lucid lifts, sideway glances and gentle caresses gave the work its texture as Claude Debussy's entrancing score was captivating.
Richard Philip, editor-at-large for Dance Magazine, introduced the work with a brief historical essay.
Setting the tone for the evening, however, was George Balanchine's stunning "Themes and Variations." The classically inspired piece, complete with the majestic music of Tchaikovsky, gave the audience a good dose of grand ballet.
One of the most exciting of Saturday night's selections was Hans van Manen's "Solo."
Three men — Christopher Ruud, Jeffrey Rogers and Jeff F. Herbig — fluidly moved with strength, charisma and power as they raced, leaped, pointed, contorted and pirouetted across the stage to the busy composition "Partitas" and to the delight of the audience.
Another van Manen piece was "Polish Pieces," a post-modern abstract work that pushed the dancers and audience members to a new level of appreciation. Ballet isn't only about tutus and classical storytelling, as the dancers demonstrated.
Balanchine's "Who Cares," with music by George Gershwin, brought the dynamic evening to a close. This 12-segment Broadway-styled epic tipped its hat to the Big Apple as chorus lines, romantic walks through Central Park and glamorous nights on the town were some of the visual inspirations that unfolded on the stage.
Like the Olympic torch, Ballet West lit up the stage. And like the torch after the Games come to a close, the imagery of Friday night's performance will burn long after with inspiration in the minds of those who were in attendance.
E-MAIL: scott@desnews.com
