by Gigi | Jan 2, 2023 | Dance
On the West Coast in fall, 2022, Pacific Northwest Ballet premiered a moving work by world renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky—Wartime Elegy. It is his first ballet since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Critics call it not so much a political ballet, as a tribute...
by Gigi | Nov 10, 2022 | Dance
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Seasons’ Canon opens with Dwight Roden’s atmospheric Catching Feelings. With gorgeous lighting (Joey Walls) and costumes (Christine Darch), and cleverly cast dancers in shaded light, this is a breathtaking piece. Exciting...
by Gigi | Oct 8, 2022 | Dance
Pacific Northwest Ballet launched its 50th Anniversary Season with George Balanchine’s enduring Allegro Brillante, an Alexei Ratmansky world premiere, Wartime Elegy, and founding artistic director Kent Stowell’s Carmina Burana. One of the most memorable pairings...
by Gigi | Jul 20, 2022 | Dance
The New York City Ballet, with its superb orchestra directed by Andrew Litton, returned to Saratoga Springs for a short week. Whereas declining arts audiences in Covid has been a concern, Saratoga Springs’ Performing Arts Center prevails, as does the New York City...
by Gigi | Apr 25, 2022 | Dance
April 15-24, McCaw Hall, Seattle The romantic ballet Swan Lake belongs to the ballerina—Lesley Rausch—and choreographer Kent Stowell. Rausch is in control not only of her positions and movements, her balance, her expressive arms, but also of the emotions behind each...
by Gigi | Mar 31, 2022 | Dance
I’ve seen Plot Points a number of times, I adore it. What’s not to like? A plot, mystery, performance almost cinematographic. Terrific dance. Drama. Melodrama. (More on this later.) But the PNB premiere of Robyn Mineko Williams’ gorgeous Before I Was proved to be...