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Perplexity

"Wall"

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company

Courtyard of the National Portrait Gallery

Washington, DC

Thursday 19 May 2022 at 6 PM

 

by George Jackson

copyright 2022 by George Jackson  

 

There was no printed program for this dance premiere. Yet some credit information could be had from the Internet announcement for the event, Burgess had based his choreography on a magical realist novel by Mexican author Octavio Paz (1914 - 1999). Nevertheless, it wasn't the story or an aspect of plot that captured my attention first and foremost but the scenery: several large, square tablets arranged wall-like at the rear of the courtyard's dance space. The space between tablets could be opened up to let dancers penetrate and pass through the wall. 

Similarities

ICONS Choreographic Institute Thesis Dance Concert 2022
Dance Loft on 14
Washington DC
Sunday 15 May 2022 at 2 PM

by George Jackson
copyright 2022 by George Jackson

It is not surprising that there were resemblances among the dance works shown on this program. Vladimir Angelov was, after all, the teacher of all the choreographers and performers who were being presented. Angelov's pupils seem to think that dance is an unfolding of the human body - as if were a piece of clothing that had been wrapped up and needed to be unrolled before being worn. Some of the unfoldings on this bill were emotional, others were mechanical.

The most fascinating unfolding was a solo - Mimi Hoorami's "Richard" as danced by former child prodigy and later teen terror Rasta Thomas. "Richard" is this dance soliloquy's title and it is based on Shakespeare;s drama of King Richard. Thomas shows the king as royal, refined, thoughtful, capable of being evil and of noble actions. What a great performance!

 Other choreographers iwere Elizabeth Watson, Millicent Parker and William L. Miller Jr. but it was easy to confuse the dances, especially those in which the unravelling motions tended to become routine. One fine new dance per program, though, is a true gift! Thank you, Mr. Thomas and Ms, Noorami !

Old & Young

“Don Quixote”
Royal Danish Ballet
Copenhagen, Denmark
5 March 2022

by Eva Kistrup
copyright 2022 by Eva Kistrup

According to the handout program, onopening night May 2022, Nikolaj Hübbe claimed that Marius Petipa´s “Don Quixote” is one the greatest Russian Classics.  I myself will not go that far. However, I will support that “The Don” provides both classical and comical dancing and acting. 

“Don Quixote” arrived at The Royal Danish Ballet in 1983 and became a great hit, as well as having a significant number of runs in the following years. It proved to be a great match with the Royal Danish ballet´s owns stars in acting as well as comedy - all going back to the Bournonville lessons that have remained until this time. “Don Quixote” had since remained a standing member of the RDB.  However, some changes have hit “The Don” and made it somewhat more difficult to keep the performances on a high level.