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Cog in a Wheel

“Cédric Andrieux”
Jérôme Bel
Joyce Theater
New York, NY
September 19, 2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

Jérôme Bel is a labor agitator masquerading as a choreographer. He has made over time a series of behind-the-scenes explorations of the life of a performer; all of them indirectly but firmly indict the system the dancers toil under.  The latest, “Cédric Andrieux,” came to the Joyce for a short run as part of the “Crossing the Line” Festival sponsored by the French Institute Alliance Française. 

Fadeout

“Sans-titre”
Raimund Hoghe with Faustin Linyekula
Dance Theater Workshop
New York, NY
September 16, 2010

by Leigh Witchel

copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

Raimund Hoghe is an artist who, like Pina Bausch, improves in memory. What I recall about his performances last year is a great deal more positive than what I wrote at the time. What mercifully faded in the interim were the doldrums – the long periods of nothing doing that make up the bulk of what Hoghe does. 

Out and About (ABT) 6/19-7/10/2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

“The Sleeping Beauty” American Ballet Theatre (Cojocaru/Carreño)
“The Sleeping Beauty” American Ballet Theatre (Osipova/Hallberg)
“Romeo and Juliet” American Ballet Theatre (Osipova/Hallberg)

Out and About (NYCB) 6/17-23/2010

by Leigh Witchel

copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

• “Donizetti Variations,” “Scotch Symphony” New York City Ballet
• “Mirage”  New York City Ballet

Out and About 5/15-23/2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

• “Balanchine’s Petipa” Pacific Northwest Ballet
• “La Bayadère” American Ballet Theatre
• Pam Tanowitz Dance
• “Agon, Morgen, Chaconne” New York City Ballet

“Balanchine’s Petipa”
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Works & Process
Peter B. Lewis Theater, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY
May 15, 2010

In a lecture-demonstration led and narrated by Doug Fullington, eight Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers came to the Guggenheim Museum to show us historical Petipa steps reconstructed from Stepanov notation (Fullington is an authority) and compare and contrast them with Balanchine’s choreography.

Philadelphia Story

“Square Dance,” “Afternoon of a Faun,” “Requiem for a Rose,” “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated”
Pennsylvania Ballet
Merriam Theater
Philadelphia, PA
May 9, 2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

Pennsylvania Ballet offered a solid, well-programmed mixed bill with some pleasant surprises.

“Square Dance” was the only long-term repertory item.  The company’s been doing it since 1982; this version was staged by Sandra Jennings.  The Merriam is the company’s secondary stage (the larger Academy of Music, a mid 19th century architectural gem next door to the Merriam, is the main theater). “Square Dance” looked cramped on the Merriam stage. Curved sections seemed flattened and linear as if moved from three to two-dimensional perspective.

Eclectica

“Reflections,” “Crossed,” “Pretty BALLET”
Joffrey Ballet
Auditorium Theater
Chicago, IL
May 1, 2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

On their end-of-season program, the Joffrey led off a thoughtful program of new ballets with an old stalwart, prompting the catch-all title of Eclectica. Gerald Arpino’s “Reflections,” to Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo Variations” for cello, originally premiered at the Auditorium 29 years ago.  The music is scored for cello and orchestra; it was performed here to cello and piano reduction (the rest of the program was to recorded music.)

Boys, Girls and Bhangra

Tongues Untied
Dance Festival 2010
Symphony Space
New York, NY
April 24, 2010

Rasa – The Essence
Dance Festival 2010
Stanley Kaplan Penthouse
Lincoln Center
New York, NY
April 25, 2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

Dance Festival 2010 was a human rights movement with a dance festival wrapped around it. More specifically, South Asian human rights and dance, so one came prepared for the full-on experience of South Asian dance – beauty at the core with chaos flying around the edges.

Mad Woman

“There is so much mad in me”
Faye Driscoll
Dance Theater Workshop
New York, NY
March 31, 2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

The last noted on my pad after watching Faye Driscoll’s “There is so much mad in me”: Do I like this or not? I still can’t answer (several weeks in hindsight, I think that I did) but it’s impressive to provoke that confused a response.

YAGP Galas

Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala
Vladimir Vasiliev: A Gala Tribute to a Dance Legend
Youth America Grand Prix
New York City Center
New York, NY
March 27-28, 2010

by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2010 by Leigh Witchel

Youth America Grand Prix came back to City Center for its annual series of back-to-back galas that test the viewing stamina of the most seasoned balletomane. Each topping three hours, a gala isn’t the best way to see great dance, and there’s chaff mixed into the wheat, but there’s still always something that makes you glad to have gone.