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“An Untitled Love”

“An Untitled Love”
A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham
Jacob’s Pillow
Beckett, Massachusetts
July 17, 2022

by Gay Morris
copyright ©2022 by Gay Morris

Kyle Abraham’s “An Untitled Love” is dedicated, in his words, to “Black love,” as evoked through the music of R&B artist D’Angelo. Abraham has been a fan of D’Angelo’s music since his college days. He developed his choreographic response to it over the last four years, which included two residencies at Jacob’s Pillow.

Young Love

American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
July 16, 2022, matinee

by Mary Cargill
copyright © 2022 by Mary Cargill

Kenneth MacMillan's "Romeo and Juliet" is an audience magnet and the Met was pointing straight north for Cassandra Trenary's debut as the doomed heroine.  Though the work does have its dry patches--cue those frizzy haired harlots who help pad the second act (and who seem to have had a fresh perm for the occasion)--it is a true tear-jerker, as effective as any Puccini opera in getting the audience to cry on cue.  Trenary certainly got those tears going; with her fresh, youthful face and elegant dancing, she was a natural and gave an extremely accomplished and detailed performance.  She toned down the opening hijinks with that silly doll and made her Juliet youthful but shyly eager to grow up.  She was intrigued and a bit flattered by Paris and very happy to be at the ball.  This made her quietly passionate reaction to Romeo (Calvin Royal III) seem a natural development, and she seemed to dance the role in complete sentences, seamlessly merging the steps and the acting.

Cassandra Trenary and Calvin Royal III in "Romeo and Juliet" photo © Rosalie O'Connor.

Thanks for the Memories

American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
June 22, 2022, matinee

by Mary Cargill
copyright © 2022 by Mary Cargill

This performance of ABT's only triple bill this season, subtitled (a bit hopefully) "American Splendor", was dedicated to Kevin McKenzie,  after 30 years as Director of ABT.  The evening opened with brief remarks by Gillian Murphy and Herman Cornejo introduced a short film summarizing Mr. McKenzie's career (including adorable pictures of him as a very young, dedicated ballet student) interspersed with interviews of Mr. McKenzie and a few of the dancers he had worked with, some of whom were in the audience.  The intermissions were trips down memory lane, spotting dancers who brought back so many happy memories.  Then, no more speeches, on with the show, until the confetti exploded in the curtain calls.

Devon Teuscher and ABT dancers in "Theme and Variations" photo © Rosalie O'Connor