Maa: A Ballet by Kaija Saariaho
Miller Theatre, Columbia University, New York
September 22, 2010
by Tom Phillips
Copyright 2010 by Tom Phillips
Ballet dancers rarely go barefoot, but they often wear socks in class, especially at the barre, as the lack of resistance from a shoe makes sliding and pointing the foot easier. But I never saw socks on stage until the world premiere of "Maa", a new ballet choreographed by Luca Veggetti to music by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. I mention it at the outset because the dancers’ sliding moves, and the extraordinary pointed feet of one, were among the few interesting things to see in this portentous, pretentious, overhyped production.