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Jean Lenihan: dance and other movements

Ratmansky’s “Firebird” for ABT Debuts Tonight in Costa Mesa

March 29, 2012 by Jean Lenihan

I can’t wait to see what Alexei Ratmansky does with Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” premiering tonight during ABT’s national tour. I keep thinking of  the way Dumbledore’s blood-red phoenix bursts into flames — how fantastic is the mixture of avian hauteur with exploding flame. I’m also thinking of an amazing recreation of “Firebird”‘s intensity at the Diaghilev show at the V&A Museum in London in 2010. The exhibition snaked along, a display of photos, paper artifacts and ornate costumes hanging heavily, worn boots set alongside. In the way back recesses of the room, one turned a corner to be violently immersed in the Fokine/Ballet Russe’s version of “The Firebird.” The two-story Goncharova city backdrop — thick with spires and domes — filled the space, Stravinsky blared at top volume, scarlet lights burned down. There may have been a small B&W film of the ballet, or some photos being projected on the wall — I can’t remember, I was so floored by the music and lights and the setting. It’s such an enveloping score, how it builds and thrashes and soars. The dance is built right in.

Filed Under: ballet, choreography Tagged With: "Firebird", Alexandre Hammoudi, Alexei Ratmansky, American Ballet Theatre, Herman Cornejo, Igor Stravinsky, Isabella Boylston, Marcelo Gomes, Misty Copeland, Natalia Osipova

About Jean Lenihan

Formerly the staff dance critic for the Seattle Times, Jean Lenihan now lives in Los Angeles where she's written for the … [Read More...]

About Fresh Pencil

This blog began as an aggregation of published freelance pieces on a wide range of dance-makers and touring troupes, from Miss Prissy to ABT premieres to  Benjamin Millepied to Ryan Heffington. Nowadays I often review and write straight into this blog.

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