PROGRAM:
New York City Ballet - Duo Concertant by George Balanchine
An animated dance for a neoclassical couple, the dancers periodically stop and listen to the onstage musicians before ending with a poignant scene in a pool of light on a dark stage. Stravinsky dedicated Duo Concertant to Samuel Dushkin, a violinist he met in 1931 and with whom he premiered the work in 1932. Balanchine first heard the piece performed soon after it was composed, but not until years later, when he was planning the 1972 Stravinsky Festival, did he decide to choreograph it.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater - Solo by Hans Van Manen
Hans van Manen divides his dynamic Solo among three dancers in a tour de force that challenges the Ailey men's daring agility and grace. This explosive display of virtuosity and wit launches the performers into an exhilarating whirlwind of movement and musicality. Featuring “Partita for Solo Violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 – Double: Presto” and “Partita for Solo Violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 – Double: Corrente” performed by Sigiswald Kuijken and composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Ballet Hispánico - Sombrerísimo by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Inspired by the surrealist world of Belgian painter René Magritte, famous for his paintings of men in bowler hats, Sombrerísimo references the iconic sombreros (hats) found throughout the world that help to represent culture. Originally choreographed for an all-male cast, Sombrerísimo has evolved into a work that can also be performed by an all-female or mixed-gender cast.
American Ballet Theatre - Night Falls by Brady Farrar
Night Falls is a pas de deux that reflects an atmosphere of intimacy, inspired by the tranquil light at dusk, set to Chopin's Nocturne No. 19 in E Minor No. 1.
Dance Theatre of Harlem - Blake Works IV (The Barre Project) by William Forsythe
Renowned choreographer William Forsythe’s love for the music of British composer, James Blake, achieves its fourth iteration in dance with Blake Works 4 (The Barre Project), created specifically for Dance Theatre of Harlem. Blake Works 4 is the latest in a continuously evolving series, The Barre Project, which originated digitally during the height of the pandemic when live performances were not possible. A “love letter to dancers, to technique, to the possibilities of the ballet barre,” (Fjord Review), this new version highlights the diverse and formidable talents of the company.