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TAYLOR GORDON |
As I’ve mentioned before, recently I’ve been dancing as an apprentice/understudy with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, a small contemporary company here in NYC. Their performances are this weekend at the Gerald Lynch Theater at John Jay College, so if you’re in the city try to swing by and see them! I’m not performing, but it’s sure to be a great program.
I wrote a full preview article for ExploreDance.com that should be up soon, but here’s a taste of what to expect from the thematic ballets…
(Therese Wendler in “Adirondack Elemental”)
“I always have much to say about what is on my mind that generates the energy for creation,” says choreographer Rebecca Kelly, whose 27-year old contemporary ballet company will present its theme driven spring performances April 24-26. “But my words are usually directed to the dancers to encourage them to go deep to understand the motivation behind the piece, to find something that rings true to them, or to find what they have to bring to the idea.” Rebecca Kelly Ballet distinguishes itself with a force of culturally significant issues behind the dancing. “Or just to help them be courageous,” she adds, “because it takes great courage to be a dancer.”
This courage is explored in the first ballet on the program, the premiere of “Writing in Water.” A metaphor for the ephemeral nature of dance, the work features 5 dancers intertwining in various combinations and phrases to music from Beethoven’s “Grosse Fugue.” The concept motivating the piece is that a performance is a moment in time you can never get back. Like trying to write in water, it is fleeting, transient, and gone almost quicker than it came. That feeling when you surface into the spotlight, out of the shadows of the darkness drowning you and into a state where no thought occurs but being alive – it can never be felt the same again. And if someone missed seeing you dance, that moment can never be returned. You are back in the endless stream of dancers in New York City wading desperately through to reach your dreams, resisting the tide of failure and rarely coming up for air.
This is the piece I have been understudying, and from my (admittedly biased) point of view it is amazing. The process was fascinating to be a part of, observing the development of relationships amongst the dancers onstage and their reactions to space and movement within context. If you’re a dancer you’d definitely be able to appreciate its message.
(”Long Time Passing” photo by Adrian Buckmaster)
Passionate about issues outside the world of dance, Rebecca will also present a heart rending work relating to the Iraq War, called “Long Time Passing.” Exhibiting particular cultural and emotional depth today, it is based on a series of letters received from Iraq from First Lieutenant Nolan Albarelli, brother of company dancer Kate Albarelli. “It was his words and his eyes, his bravery and despair, and his humanity that he was able to share with me that caused this dance to come into being,” says Rebecca, “back here, safely in the U.S.”
(”Tear of the Clouds” photo by Todd Bissonette)
The ideas behind her choreography are what she stresses most, and it is quite obvious from her extensive repertoire that environmental concerns are also at the top of her agenda. Timed for the celebration of Earth Week, the season’s program includes two ballets reflecting earthly themes. “Adirondack Elemental” is a ballet in three sections: Water, Earth (see excerpt here), and Air. Together the segments, through meaningful movement, bring awareness to nature’s beauty. “Tear of the Clouds,” her first environmental ballet choreographed in 1989 returns to complete the 2008 program, depicting the slow death of a forest from acid rain.
The program is ambitious in its tackling of such a range of hot topics, but Rebecca’s enthusiasm and the great dancers should make for an evening of deep thought within dance, an effective medium for expression of such important themes.
I’ve learned so much from understudying and working with them, and I’m looking forward to seeing the final result of all the work in rehearsals this weekend.
The details: The Gerald Lynch Theater of John Jay College (899 10th Avenue at 58th St, NYC.) April 24-26 Thursday at 7:30pm, & Friday and Saturday, at 8pm. For tickets call Ticket Central: 212-279-4200. (416 W 42nd St., 12-8pm) or click here. Student and Senior discounts are available, and student rush tickets - so take the time to go!
More Winger updates from my crazy life coming soon…
For now you can see some recent reviews I’ve written for ExploreDance here (Ballet Tech’s Mandance) and here (Stephen Petronio).
