Mary Cargill

"Serenade", "Hallelujah Junction", "Duo Concertant", "Western Symphony"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
May 19, 2016

NYCB's Marketing Department presumably came up with the title "Classic NYCB II" for this program, more aspirational than descriptive, perhaps, but "Serenade" is certainly timeless.  There were two debuts, Rebecca Krohn as the Waltz Girl and Russell Janzen as her partner.  Krohn's willowy tendrils curved around the choreography, but she seemed a bit bland, giving

"Dances at a Gathering", "West Side Story Suite"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
May 13, 2016

The all-Robbins program consisted of the fragile "Dances at a Gathering" and the robust "West Side Story Suite", two very different approaches to youthful relationships, which, seen together, have some striking similarities, one of which was committed and well-rehearsed dancers. "Dances at a Gathering" is a difficult work to perform, since it needs both a cohesive group

"Sylvia"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
May 11, 2016, matinee

by Mary Cargill 
copyright © 2016 by Mary Cargill

After the veritable flood of guest stars appearing the last few seasons, ABT's focus on its own dancers is a welcome change. There is only one official guest star (Alessandra Ferri) and two "exchange artists" (though what is being exchanged is not clear). One, Xander Parish, appeared in "Sylvia" with Isabella Boylston (a debut). Parish,

"Sylvia"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, NY
May 9, 2016

"Sylvia", with its luscious Delibes music, gloriously traditional sets and delicate and inventive Ashton choreography, is a perfect spring-time gift, a calm visit to a world where love conquers all and even villains are rational. (Orion is not a dangerous force of nature, inexplicably out to destroy, à la Rothbart; he just wants a beautiful girl but has a rather rustic way of courting her.)  ABT's

"Ballo Della Regina", "Kammermusik No. 2", "Vienna Waltzes"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
May 8, 2016

The all-Balachine program opened with the pearl-hunting expedition of "Ballo Della Regina", continued with the male-dominated "Kammermusik No. 2" and concluded with "Vienna Waltzes", an extravaganza performed almost exclusively in character shoes.  The stylistic range, which New Yorkers can take for granted, is astounding.

Tiler Peck is someone New York doesn't take for granted, judging by

"Knightlife", "Third Wheels", "Libera!", "Danse Baroque", "Murmuration"
American Ballet Theatre Studio Company 
Joyce Theater
New York, NY
April 15, 2016

The 16-member Studio Company, augmented with students from ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, opened its brief New York season with several New York and one world premiere; the works varied in quality but the dancing was uniformly strong, gracious, and engaging. Two of the works, "Knightlife" and "Danse Baroque", used dancers from Level 7 of the JKO School,

"Equinox", "Diversion of Angels", "Promethean Fire"
Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance
New York, New York
April 3, 2016, matinee

The final performance of the season was a demon- stration of Taylor's musicality, craft, and daring, and a salute to his dancers. The program opened with "Equinox" (choreographed in 1983) set to Brahms' First String Quartet, not exactly a score that brings to mind frisky youths.  But Taylor heard his own rhythms, and the deceptively simple work is

"Ride the Culture Loop", "We Remember", "Steps of Silence", "Kurt Weill"
Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble
The Theater at the 14th Street Y
New York, NY
March 9, 2016

"Theater" is listed first in the title of the company founded by the late Anna Sokolow and the dancers all lived up to the billing, giving dramatically incisive and committed performances; there were no too cool for school vacant stares that so many modern choreographers ask for in the compelling

"Episodes", "Agon", "The Four Temperaments"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
February 26, 2016

The current tread of programming similar ballet together has its uses. "If you like one you will like them all", the marketing department seems to promise subscribers, but it does dilute the effect that contrast can offer and it is a shame that the idea of a program as a substantial meal has been lost. But the current "Balanchine Black

"Square Dance", "Prodigal Son", "Stravinsky Violin Concerto"
Pacific Northwest Ballet
New York City Center
New York, NY
February 25, 2016

The Pacific Northwest Ballet returned to City Center with an all-Balanchine program, a vote of confidence, perhaps, by their director, Peter Boal, who obviously believes that his dancers can stand up to comparisons with the home company. This confidence was certainly justified and the company looked well-rehearsed, at ease and dynamic. Boal has inculcated a remarkable style, devoid of mannerisms

"La Sylphide", "Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No 2"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, NY
February 13, 2016, evening

New York City Ballet paired its Romantic Bournonville classic "La Sylphide", new last year but based on the nine- teenth century Danish version, with Balanchine's "Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2", one of his streamlined homages to Petipa, a relationship made clear in its original title "Ballet Imperial".  This was an imaginative juxtaposition, the older work plot-heavy

"Ballo della Regina", "Kammermusik No. 2", "Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, NY
February 6, 2016, matinee

NYCB's all Balanchine program opened with a bang (Tiler Peck's debut in "Ballo della Regina") and closed with a flourish, ending with "Theme and Variations", where Balanchine appears to have made a bet that he could to "The Sleeping Beauty" in 20 minutes, a bet which he won.  "Ballo della Regina" is