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LAUREN STEWART |
Valerie Robin and ensemble in the 1st song.
Joffrey is currently performing a trio of ballets by Anthony Tudor at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago; celebrating the centennial of Tudor’s birth. Our winter season opened February 20th and runs through March 2nd. The middle ballet on the program is Dark Elegies, a personal favorite of mine. Set to Gustav Mahler’s ‘’Kindertotenlieder'’ ('’Songs on the Death of Children'’), which are sung by Stephen Salters, the ballet depicts a community in mourning. Yet the nature of the disaster that has struck remains unspecified and one is free to speculate and imagine all sorts of catastrophes. The texts of the songs concern the deaths of children, cradling gestures recur and the dancers resemble devastated parents. It is such a powerful piece with so many opportunities to interpret and reflect upon one’s own life experiences. It is such a joy to watch my fellow peers bring an equal amount of skill and emotion to their dancing. As a dancer, it’s also an amazing experience to have live accompaniment on stage - whether it be vocal or instrumental.
1st song.
Stephen Salters and dancer Heather Aagard kneeling.
Victoria Jaini and Michel Levine in the 2nd song.
Erica Lynette Edwards in the 4th song.
Victoria Jaini and Michel Levine in 2nd song.
