Word: balanchineã
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...Ballet, currently one of the top five ballet-only companies in the United States, received much support in its early existence from émigré neoclassical pioneer George Balanchine, the man responsible for popularizing this abstract and theoretical subgenre of ballet over the course of the 20th century. Balanchine??s influence on Boston Ballet’s character as a company is visible in their repertory even today...
Despite the breadth of the company’s repertoire, Nissinen’s enthusiasm for Balanchine??s intricate, highly musical and technically demanding style cannot be hidden. On Tuesday the company performed two excerpts from well-known Balanchine works, and the last commissioned dance for Boston Ballet came from choreographer Peter Martins, often considered to be Balanchine??s successor in the neoclassical style. Nissinen sums up his taste in ballets by stating, “I like pieces that are angular and sharp, especially with music that is not hummable...
...first excerpt the company presented was Balanchine??s “Divertimento No. 15,” set to music by Mozart, a composer favored by Balanchine. Dancers Larissa Ponomarenko, Carlos Molina, Kathleen Breen Combes, Tempe Ostergren, Sacha Wakelin and Rie Ichikawa brought a crisp, effervescent energy to their performance. Especially notable were Molina’s graceful, fluid transitions and jumps seeming to hover in midair...
Later, the company performed the pas de deux from the Second Movement of “Rubies,” Balanchine??s homage to his American influences. Set to Stravinsky’s “Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra,” Romi Beppu and Yury Yanowsky danced with vibrancy to match their bright scarlet costumes...
Beppu’s sinuous, smooth movements, combined with beautiful execution of the extreme leg extensions characteristic of Balanchine??s work, perfectly juxtaposed her playful, easygoing disposition. Yanowsky’s facial expressions were a bit too stern for the carefree nature of this piece, but his powerful stage presence and exacting bodily articulation more than compensated...