Bella Figura

REVIEW:  Boston Ballet ‘Spring Experience’ an extraordinary awakening

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Dancers seemingly lie dormant, fires burn, a multi-limbed creation, and athletic feats from a Barre to calypso-inspired rhythms is just a portion of the imagery demonstrated in Boston Ballet’s 60th season closer, Spring Experience.   It embraces the eclectic and the unusual while ever bringing ballet to another level.

Ken Ossola’s ‘The Space Between’ photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Ballet

The Boston Ballet presents Spring Experience live and in person at the Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, May 19.  The production is approximately two hours and 15 minutes with two intermissions.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Boston Ballet in Ken Ossola’s The Space Between; photo by Rosalie O’Connor; courtesy of Boston Ballet

A suspenseful world premiere, a carefully orchestrated Barre experience fueled by James Blake’s innovative works, and a provocative fan favorite create an exceptionally curious and intense set of performances. 

Boston Ballet in Ken Ossola’s The Space Between; photo by Rosalie O’Connor; courtesy of Boston Ballet

The Space Between builds a steady anticipation through its urgent and haunting piano-infused rhythms as dancers lie dormant or may be in sleeping state.  As each dancer comes to life and two perform an elegant pas de deux, Choreographer Ken Ossola’s highlights the speed and agility of the dancers in a combination of freestyle and synchronized movements to horn-infused rhythms enclosed on a sloped and curved midnight blue landscape, part of Benjamin Phillips’s multi-color schemed set design brightened by Brandon Stirling Baker’s transformative headlights.  Women dancers appear defiant as they prowl, jostle and swing with the push and pull of being navigated by men to the electronic hissing of Mischa Santora’s electronic rhythms.  Adorned in Lisa Dezmelyk’s translucent costumes in floral and shimmering patterns, the group leaps and align together which includes María Álvarez, Lia Cirio, Chyrstyn Fentroy, Seo Hye Han, Abigail Merlis, Chisako Oga, Haley Schwan, Jeffrey Cirio, Tyson Ali Clark, Paul Craig, Daniel Durrett, John Lam, Daniel Rubin, Gearóid Solan, Schuyler Wijsen, and Patrick Yocum.  The Space Between culminates into a grand finale with a new moving creation.

Ken Ossola’s ‘The Space Between’ photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Ballet

In Blake Works III (The Barre Project), the Barre highlights this performance steeped in synthetic vocal rhythms as María Álvarez , Graham Johns, Lia Cirio, Sangmin Lee, Ji Young Chae, Gearóid Solan, and Tyson Ali Clark showcase their contact with it.  Simply staged with a black back drop and Barre, María Álvarez and Graham Johns perform a playful and lively pas de deux into lifts, twists, and tight leaps.  William Forsythe’s urgent and slinky choreography navigate the zip, zing and hip hop tempo of James Blake’s catchy tunes showcasing each dancer’s athletic prowess gripping the Barre.  A particular highlight is moving to the tender and haunting rhythms of James Blake’s romantic Lullaby for the Insomniac and 200 Press.  Dancers demonstrate tight and urgent leaps in funky rhythms and at what point, letting the arms do the walking on the Barre at fascinating angles in an edgy and eclectic display.

Ji Young Chae in William Forsythe’s Blake Works III; photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Ballet

The final piece is still one of the most unconventional performances the Sleepless Critic has ever witnessed with the Boston Ballet because after a brief intermission, the piece begins before the music starts and dancers are already in motion as the rehearsal blurs into the performance.

Jiří Kylián‘s Bella Figura Photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Ballet

 Jiří Kylián and Ken Ossola’s Bella Figura, a fan favorite, often departs from reality and the structure of how a performance would normally flow.  In many ways, it bucks tradition as the dancers float and slide between closing curtains as one dancer, topless, wraps herself in only a black stage curtain.  The curtain seems to have a mind of its own as it frames, shrinks, and chases the dancers.  Bella Figura has some captivating choreographed indignation and intensity as Ji Young Chae struggles not to be held or controlled by Paul Craig, shaking Craig away.  As fires burn, Bella Figura seems an abstract piece with haunting and mysterious elements as female dancers are manipulated in sharp, robotic movements.   It seems Bella Figura represents the vision of a perfect female specimen as women bend under the intensity and pressure to be perfect.  In gathering rich red skirts which is part of Joke Visser’s bold costume design, topless men and women looking the same glide along the stage.  It is a memorable, distinctive performance as the piece continues even as the music concludes.

Boston Ballet in Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura; photo by Rosalie O’Connor; courtesy of Boston Ballet

 The Boston Ballet presents Spring Experience live and in person at the Boston Opera House in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, May 19.  The production is approximately two hours and 15 minutes with two intermissions.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Boston Ballet’s elegant and edgy ‘DREAMstate’ a fascinating departure from reality

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

From classically fanciful to electrifying to distinctive, unconventional artistry, the Boston Ballet’s DREAMstate is an astute exploration of the delicate nature of dreams and a fascinating escape from reality.  Aside from Boston Ballet’s traditional Nutcracker in December, Mikko Nissinen’s DREAMstate is the first live and in person return to Boston Ballet’s regular season since the pandemic.  Excitement was in the air and the Boston Opera House was full.

Boston Ballet in George Balanchine’s Chaconne © The George Balanchine Trust; photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Balle

Boston Ballet’s DREAMstate continues through Sunday, March 27 at live and in person at the Citizen’s Bank Opera House in Boston, MA.  The show is approximately two hours with two intermissions and the final piece contains partial nudity.  Click here for more information and tickets.

Rolling Stones tribute DEVIL’s/eye Photo credit to Boston Ballet

Though all three Boston Ballet pieces had its highlights, the stellar world premiere of Boston Ballet’s tribute to the Rolling Stones, DEVIL’S/eye was the most uniquely compelling.  Weaving in live concert elements and classic hits such as Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, Paint it Black and much more, dancers take the stage in shadow bathed in purple, red, yellow, pink, and blue glimmering from an incredible, multi-functional sound system lit by Brandon Stirling Baker.  With exhilarating choreography and edgy and exotic costume design both by Stephen Galloway, lively dancers in silk, sequins, fishnets and windswept hair complete the full glamour of a rock and roll concert showing off thrilling, contemporary freestyle moves.  The entire performance is an electrifying spectacle as dancers let loose to the Stones concert footage with epic alicicone spins, but a brief pause in the guitar-tinged, horn-infused rhythms showing off each dancer’s glowing silhouette cannot be properly conveyed here and those sensational moments are best witnessed in person.

George Balanchine’s Chaconne brings to life a regal and fanciful daydream to the heavenly sounds of the Christoph Willibald von Gluck opera, Orfeo ed Euridice.  Elegantly adorned in a flowing and ethereal skirt and crown by Barbara Karinska in front of tranquil green blue backdrop, the always fresh-faced and charming Viktorina Kapitonova performed a beautiful and romantic pas de deux with Lasha Khozashvili, dressed in white.  Khozashvili lifts and leads Kapitonova delicately as they sporadically intertwine.  The piece is primarily playful as dancers bow and sway in gleaming, royal costumes as they float along this lighthearted daydream, the flutter of slippers sweeping across the stage.

Misa Kuranaga and Patrick Yocum in George Balanchine’s Chaconne © The George Balanchine Trust; photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Ballet

The final piece is probably one of the most unconventional performances the Sleepless Critic has ever witnessed with the Boston Ballet because after a brief intermission, the piece begins before the music starts and dancers are already in motion as the rehearsal blurs into the performance.

Altan Dugaraa, Sarah Wroth, Yury Yanowsky in Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura; photo by Gene Schiavone, courtesy of Boston Ballet

 Jiri Kylian’s Bella Figura, a fan favorite, often departs from reality and the structure of how a performance would normally flow.  In many ways, it bucks tradition as the dancers float and slide between closing curtains as Seo Hye Han, topless, wraps herself in only a black stage curtain.  Bella Figura has some captivating choreographed indignation and intensity as Ji Young Chae struggles not to be held or controlled by Paul Craig, shaking Craig away.  Bella Figura seems an abstract piece with haunting and mysterious elements as female dancers are manipulated in sharp, robotic movements.   It seems Bella Figura represents the vision of a perfect female specimen as women bend under the intensity and pressure to be perfect.  In gathering rich red skirts, men and women, all topless and all looking the same, glide along the stage.  It is a memorable, distinctive performance as the piece continues even as the music concludes.

 Boston Ballet’s DREAMstate continues through Sunday, March 27 at live and in person at the Citizen’s Bank Boston Opera House.  Click here for more information and tickets.

REVIEW: Boston Ballet’s immersive and uplifting ‘BB@yourhome: Look Back Focus Forward’ offers rare performances and more

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

The Boston Ballet launched their first virtual production of the year with an optimistic look at 2021 featuring a selection of rarely performed past performances, an exclusive look back at the Boston Ballet on tour, and where they go from here with a sneak peek into a new project scheduled for April 2021.

Boston Ballet’s virtual program, BB@yourhome: Look Back Focus Forward continues through Sunday, January 31.  Click here for more information and how to access this lighthearted and immersive program.

Derek Dunn in Leonid Yakobson’s Vestris Photo by Rachel Neville Photography; courtesy of Boston Ballet

Opening the program is Derek Dunn, who has a history of wonderful performances including The Nutcracker, Helen Pickett’s Petal and Genius at Play.   After an insightful introduction from Boston Ballet’s Artistic Director Mikko Nissenen and Executive Director Max Hodges, He took on a monumental solo dance demonstrating humor, tension, and a wide range of emotions as Auguste in Leonid Yakobson’s rarely performed Vestris.  In a powered wig and meticulously-detailed Founders garment by Robert Perdziola, Dunn is madcap and witty to a rousing applause, taking on a dance that Mikhail Baryshnikov immortalized.  A particular highlight was a moment of subtle humor as Dunn leans forward and hesitates like a novice dancer, just learning his steps. 

Leonid Yakobson’s Pas de Quatre takes on a lighthearted and fanciful tone as Ji Young Chae, Ekaterine Chubinidze, Maria Baranova, and Nina Matiashvili unite as one in a circular dance adorned in flower crowns and flowing, pristine and romantic tutus.  This is another rarely performed piece that demonstrates a sisterhood between this quartet.  To a poignant score featuring selections from Norma and picturesque staging by Vera Solovyeva and Nikolay Levitsky, the dancers each showcase their own unique talents and much of it is lively, elegant, and charming. 

Corina Gill and Issac Akiba in Leonid Yakobson’s Rodin; photo by Rachel Neville Photography; courtesy of Boston Ballet

Love takes many shapes in Leonid Yakobson’s Rodin in three parts.  It explores each stage of love from first glimpse to passion and it is captivating to see each part come to life.  Sun Woo Lee and Abigail Merlis have playful chemistry as they lean into each other and Abigail smiles as he attempts a kiss.  To Debussy’s classic score, Clair de Lune, Maria Alvarez and Alec Roberts depict the sweet joy and rapture of love as they move in unison in shyness and jubilance. Another highlight was Emily Entingh as she leans back into Michael Ryan and he lifts her up in admiration.

Look Back Focus Forward also reveals exclusive touring footage and Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissenen and principal dancer Lia Cirio share in depth the Boston Ballet’s most exciting and extraordinary experiences on tour and the significance in touring once again.  One of their favorite experiences was premiering Jiri Kylian’s controversial Bella Figura at Lincoln Center in New York City for the Boston Ballet’s 50th anniversary.  Bella Figura is best witnessed to fully take in its daring, haunting, and mysterious subtlety.

Rie Ichikawa in Jiri Kylian’s Bella Figura; photo by Gene Schiavone; courtesy of Boston Ballet

The Boston Ballet also offers a sneak peek into an entirely new and innovative virtual production helmed by renowned international choreographer Ken Ossola that will soon premiere in April 15-25 2021.

BB@yourhome’s Look Back Focus Forward continues streaming through Sunday, January 31.  Click here for more information and tickets.  The Boston Ballet celebrates the work of Jorma Elo in February.  Click here to see the BB@yourhome’s entire virtual schedule.