New York City Ballet

"Haieff Divertimento", "Concertino", "Episodes", "Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
February 6, 2020

New York City Ballet's February 6 performance was a look back, featuring two revivals (Balanchine's "Haieff Divertimento" from 1947 and Robbins' "Concertino" from 1982), a rarely performed solo from "Episodes" which was choreographed by Balanchine for Paul Taylor, then a member of the Martha Graham Company.  (The first episode by Martha Graham

"Valse-Fantaisie", Kammermusik No. 2", "Union Jack"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
October 1, 2019

This Balanchine triple bill showed a breathtaking variety of styles, as well as an impressive number of fearless, accomplished debuts, especially in the exacting "Union Jack" with its phalanxes of precision marchers.  There was no marching in "Valse-Fantaisie", Balanchine's 1967 spun sugar valentine set to Glinka's lilting, sweeping melodies.  This extended

"The Sleeping Beauty"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
July 3, 2019, evening

Unlike Aurora, Alexei Ratmansky's 2015 production of Petipa's "The Sleeping Beauty" doesn't believe in long naps, and Ratmansky has added and subtracted elements over its brief life.  This scrupulous attention to detail seems to keep the company awake and fresh, and the dancing, highlighted by Hee Seo's lyrical Aurora and Aran Bell's noble prince, was

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
May 30, 2019

As is semi-traditional, the New York City Ballet is ending its Spring season with a flourish of Balanchine, Shakespeare, and Mendelssohn with refreshed costumes, looking much brighter (though in an odd oversight, some of the men's bloomers in the second act divertissement were missing their red ribbons). The end of the season also saw a number

"Scotch Symphony", "Duo Concertant", "Sonatine", "Stravinsky Violin Concerto"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
April 30, 2019

The most recent work on the all-Balanchine program was the 1975 "Sonatine" but all the dancers looked fresh and vibrant.  Even "Scotch Symphony", that charming but illogical wish-mash of Romantic themes with kilted men switching effortlessly from menacing barriers to bouncy villagers and an illusive sylph morphing into a triumphant ballerina, shimmered.

"Prodigal Son", "Liebeslieder Walzer"
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
February 28, 2019

The typical image of a Balanchine ballet features an austere backdrop illuminating the dancers (in leotards or pastel shifts) and their glorious formations, but the February 28th performance showcased two Balanchine ballets whose sets and costumes created distinctive atmospheres.  Georges Rouault's stained glass glow helps give "Prodigal Son" the rooted, ritualistic feel of an ancient parable and

"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

"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

“Allegro Brillante,” “Easy,” “Carousel (A Dance),” “La Sylphide”
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
September 29, 2018

To say that Saturday evening’s New York City Ballet program was varied would be an under- statement. It ranged from “La Sylphide,” a nineteenth century romantic tragedy, to Justin Peck’s “Easy,” a rambunctious contemporary dance party. As it turned out, the new tended to overshadow the old.

“Easy,” which was premiered last spring as part

"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

“Concerto Barocco,” “Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux,” “Stravinsky Violin Concerto,” “Symphony in C”
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
September 21, 2018

The first Friday night of the Fall season at New York City Ballet felt like a breath of fresh air. Not that everything was perfect – far from it, the principal dancing in particular alternated tours de force in some ballets with slack efforts or curious interpretations in others. But taken as a whole

“Jewels”
New York City Ballet
David Koch Theater
New York, New York
September 23, 2018

New York City Ballet presented performances of George Balanchine’s “Jewels” over the past week, with a young cast taking major roles in the “Emeralds” section on Sunday. Each of the three ballets that makes up “Jewels” shows a different aspect of Balanchine’s major stylistic interests. “Diamonds” looks to his Russian heritage, “Rubies” to his American experience, and “Emeralds” to a neo-romantic mode