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Kneading Drama

“Like Water for Chocolate”
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
July 16, 2024 by Marianne Adams

copyright © 2024 by Marianne Adams

American Ballet Theatre ending its five-week season at the Metropolitan Opera House with Christopher Wheeldon’s “Like Water for Chocolate” seemed like an emblematic move committed to its determined new identity – a company of story ballets, new world-class choreographies and solid, home-grown dancing talent. It is an encouraging direction for the troupe, even if the ballet itself was not the most scrumptious dish ABT had on offer.

Photo of Skylar Brandt and Luciana Paris. Photo © by Rosalie O’Connor.

Start With a Blank Page

“Woolf Works”
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
June 26, 2024

by Marianne Adams
copyright © 2024 by Marianne Adams

For its second week of the 2024 New York summer season, American Ballet Theatre stuck to the literary works theme, but with an unexpectedly modern, multi award-winning twist.  Created in 2015, Wayne McGregor’s “Woolf Works” is everything one would expect from him – highly physical, seemingly stripped-down yet loaded with meaning and detail, and pushing the boundaries of traditional ballet.  But it was also more than that – a deconstructed exploration of key themes of the underlying writings, presented in a novel way by both the choreographer and the dancers new to his movement lexicon.

Photo of Devon Teuscher and James Whiteside in Act 3 of “Woolf Works.” Photo © Marty Sohl.

All That Glitters

“Jewels”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
June 15, 2024

by Denise Sum
copyright © 2024 by Denise Sum

It has been 18 years since the National Ballet of Canada performed George Balanchine’s “Jewels”, considered the first abstract three act ballet, in its entirety (they performed “Rubies” as part of a triple bill in 2016). As such, this run introduced a new generation of dancers to this popular work. This run features many exciting (and some less successful) debuts. Indeed, of the ballet’s 9 leading roles, 8 were debuts on opening night. With its varied and complimentary moods and styles, “Jewels” is one of the most satisfying and complete ballet going experiences.

Donald Thom and Tina Pereira in "Emeralds" from "Jewels". Photo by Karolina Kuras.