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The Georgia
Ballet's mix of old and new dance forms struck a home run at
the company's season opener, "Ballet - Plain and Fancy."
Considering
the competition across town - from the World Series at Atlanta-Fulton
County Stadium - an impressively large and enthusiastic crowd
turned out Saturday night at the Cobb Civic Center. And the audience
got its money's worth.
The performance succesfully
combined centuries-old balllet with modern dance and street/pop
dance, all within two hours. It was good to see the audience
accept and even embrace modern dance.
While "Aria",
one of the top-billed pieces, was a good multi-disciplinary effort,
modern-dance choreographer Janet Rowthorne's "Criterium"
shone brightest.
Inspired by a
long-distance bicycle race, "Criterium" was colorful,
witty and full of movement. The dancers showed versatility by
achieving the low center of gravity required by modern dance.
"Criterium's" performers, outfitted
in tight unitards bearing flashy geometric shapes, tied those
in artistic director Iris Hensley's "One Alone" for
best costume of the evening. The "One Alone" costumes
by Anne Hildreth were long, flowing gowns in tasteful blues,
plums and mauves.
The piece was performed to the
music of Bartok - not an easy composer to coreograph or dance
to. The meaning of the dance, as it had been explained to the
audience, was not entirely apparent by the movement.
The
Georgia Ballet has no shortage of strong male dancers. In Lydia
Abarca Mitchell's "Jazz Suite", Travis LaValle stole the show.
The most popular
piece among the many high school students in the audience, "Jazz
Suite" offered several styles of jazz and street dancing.
However, the three women in the piece were a little too cool,
stiff and sedate compared to the spunky LaValle.
"Aria" was an impressive
effort, combining ballet and opera. Atlanta's unbilled Capital
City Opera Company singers sang with clear, crisp voices.
Guest performer Ken Nickel presented "Moments
in Time" to the familiar holiday piece "Greensleeves".
This dance offered the most intricate - and dangerous - partnering
of the evening. Showing no fear, Nickel lifted, turned and spun
Elaine Wadsworth. The piece was originally performed in Toronto
with a former National Ballet of Canada dancer.
The grand finale, "Five
Guys Named Moe", once again showcased the company's male
talent. Inspired by the Broadway show of the same name, Ms. Hensley
put together a foot-stomping whirlwind. All of the performers
danced their hearts out in this piece, especially LaValle, Alex Pelham and Barbara Hancock Madden.
LaValle and Pelham would be at home on the Broadway stage,
but let's be thankful The Georgia Ballet has use of their talents
- at least for now. |
