Mary Cargill

Greeks Bearing Gifts

New York City Ballet

Greeks Bearing Gifts

"Apollo", "Orpheus", "Agon"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
January 22, 2019


The whims of the calendar decreed that New York City Ballet's winter season opened on Balanchine's birthday and the company honored him by dancing three of his most significant works, the so-called Greek trilogy.  "Apollo" is the oldest of his ballets currently being performed, the theatrical "Orpheus" is the ballet that inspired Morton Baum to invite the young company
By Mary Cargill
Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

"Les Patineurs", "Enigma Variations", "Diamonds"
The Sarasota Ballet
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, Florida
December 14, 2018, December 15, 2018 matinee and evening

A triple bill is a complicated balancing act, needing an inviting opener, a solid middle, and a bravura finish. The art of putting them together seems to have been lost in a number of companies, but Iain Webb, the director of the Sarasota Ballet, created a magical combination for his "Victorian Winters" program.  The opening
By Mary Cargill
A Final Olé

New York City Ballet

A Final Olé

"Theme and Variations", "Concerto Barocco", "A Suite of Dances", "Todo Buenos Aires"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
October 14, 2018


The final program of New York City Ballet's fall season celebrated Joaquin De Luz's retirement, though it was certainly a bitter sweet celebration as the ageless charmer proved he could still thrill an audience.  Indeed, the opening work, Balanchine's "Theme and Variations", has one of the most challenging of male
By Mary Cargill
Statuesque

Statuesque

"Apparatus Hominus"
Tom Gold Dance
Florence Gould Hall
New York, New York
November 9, 2018


Tom Gold, the former New York City Ballet soloist who now has a small company of semi-regular dancers, many of whom also work for other companies, presented what was billed as his inaugural fall season with an hour-long work originally choreographed for the TurnPark Art Space, an outdoor sculpture garden in the Berkshires.  The printed program included pictures of some of the artwork which
By Mary Cargill
The Celebration Continues

The Celebration Continues


"The Four Temperaments", "Pas de Trois (Glinka)", "Pas de Deux from Agon", "Divertimento No. 15"
The Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet
Balanchine: The City Center Years
New York City Center
New York, New York
November 3, 2018, matinee


The City Center's brief Balanchine celebration made the wide appeal of Balanchine's choreography clear on this Saturday matinee as the varied program had no performances by Balanchine's own company.  These performances had different accents, some
By Mary Cargill
At the Beginning

At the Beginning

"Serenade", "Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux", "Tarantella", "Symphony in C"
Miami City Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet
Balanchine: The City Center Years
New York City Center
New York, New York
October 31, 2018


When Mayor Fiorello La Guardia established the New York City Center 75 years ago, the current president Arlene Shuler's gracious opening speech reminded the audience it was New York's first performing arts center.  Several years later, in 1948, it became the
By Mary Cargill
Passing it On

Passing it On

The Balanchine Woman
Studio 5
New York City Center
New York, New York
October 25, 2018


The New York City Center is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and to salute the Center's crucial role in the development of the New York City Ballet has arranged an impressive array of Balanchine ballets to be performed by several companies, a glorious mini-festival celebrating the choreographer.  The intimate, innovative Studio 5 series started the party with a presentation by the former
By Mary Cargill
Fashionistas

New York City Ballet

Fashionistas

"The Exchange", "Judah", "The Runaway"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, NY
September 27, 2018


New York City Ballet's 2018 fall gala followed a familiar pattern: three new ballets with costumes by three fashion designers preceded by a brief film focusing on some of the issues these designers had working with ballet dancers for the first time.  There was one difference; the evening opened with the entire company on the stage listening while
By Mary Cargill
Polished Jewels

New York City Ballet

Polished Jewels

"Jewels"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
September 19, 2018


The second night of New York City Ballet's fall season featured several debuts in the ever-popular "Jewels", as well as luminous performances by the established gems, Tiler Peck, Sterling Hyltin, and Sara Mearns.  Though not credited, Mimi Paul, Patricia McBride, and Edward Villella  provided some extra coaching, and presumably they deserve some of the credit for the delicate detail and
By Mary Cargill
Bundles from Britain

Bundles from Britain

"There Where She Loved", "Monotones I & II", "La Chatte", "Les Patineurs" (pas de trois), "Méditation from Thaïs", "The Two Pigeons" (final pas de deux)
Sarasota Ballet
Joyce Theater
New York, New York
August 18, 2018 matinee


Sarasota Ballet's Saturday program honored Sir Frederick Ashton on the thirtieth anniversary of his death with an all-British program, beginning with Christopher Wheeldon's "There Where She Loved", and continuing with Ashton's astounding "Monotones I & II", followed by four shorter works illustrating Ashton's
By Mary Cargill
Choices, Choices

Choices, Choices

"Monotones I & II", "Symphony of Sorrows", "There Where She Loved"
Sarasota Ballet
Joyce Theater
New York, New York
August 14, 2018


The Sarasota Ballet, a small company run by the British dancer Iain Webb, has a rich and varied repertoire and is especially known for its commitment to the works of Sir Frederick Ashton, which they dance with admirable style and elegance.  But a company cannot exist solely on a historical legacy, and Webb has the same issues
By Mary Cargill
Fresh Cream

American Ballet Theatre

Fresh Cream

"Whipped Cream"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
July 5, 2018

by Mary Cargill
copyright © 2018 by Mary Cargill

ABT's spring season may be winding down, but the company is still showing off its dancers and in the final week, devoted to Alexei Ratmansky's "Whipped Cream", Arron Scott danced his first Boy and Calvin Royal III made his New York debut at Prince Coffee.  Both dancers gave their parts a distinctive slant
By Mary Cargill
See all