"Valse-Fantaisie", Kammermusik No. 2", "Union Jack"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
October 1, 2019
by Mary Cargill
copyright © 2019 by Mary Cargill
This Balanchine triple bill showed a breathtaking variety of styles, as well as an impressive number of fearless, accomplished debuts, especially in the exacting "Union Jack" with its phalanxes of precision marchers. There was no marching in "Valse-Fantaisie", Balanchine's 1967 spun sugar valentine set to Glinka's lilting, sweeping melodies. This extended pas de deux, augmented by four elegant sprites (the dancers do have to breathe) is an exercise in delicate allegro, full of little jumps and changes of direction.
New York City Ballet in "Union Jack" photo © Paul Kolnik.