Friday June 19, 2009 -This evening's programme by New Chamber Ballet at the City Center Studio opened with a work by Company dancer Lauren Toole (formerly with NYCB and Los Angeles Ballet): CASCADE, set to Paul Hindemith's Sonata for violin
and piano. The piece begins as a duet and expands to quartet as two women join the central couple.
I think this was the first time I've seen a male dancer in one of Miro's evenings; Alan Alberto (above) is tall and poised, handling the partnering well. The three women were Emily SoRelle Adams, Elizabeth Brown and Madeline Deavenport. Miranda Cuckson (violin) and Melody Fader (piano) played the Hindemith with a rich vein of lyricism: live music, sumptuously performed, is always a major source of pleasure at New Chamber Ballet's performances. Lauren Toole's choreography flows in sync to the music in this very attractive ballet.
Miro's ECHOES followed, danced by a quintet of women to Anton Webern's Four Pieces for piano and violin, op. 7. This was the only work on the programme that I had seen before. Here Miro uses the interesting device of having his dancers stand still as the brief musical movements are played; the dancers then move in silence til at the last, music and movement are joined. Emily SoRelle Adams, Amy Brandt, Elizabeth Brown, Madeline Deavenport and Lauren Toole formed an attractive ensemble, and Candice Thompson's simple costuming in grey and pale green enhanced the visual effect.
In a new solo ballet created by Miro on Ms. Toole, MOMENTS, the dancer and violinist Miranda Cuckson share the central floor. Lauren danced softly, almost spiritually around Miranda as she played Salvatore Sciarrino's ear-tingling score. First there is an ethereal, other-worldly adagio calling for incredible mastery of sound from the violinist as her tone buzzes and shimmers delicately; there follows a scherzo which is squeaky and quirky, with many slippery glissandi. Lauren's dancing matched Miranda's musicianship in a duet which seemed to keep the room entranced; the two women rightly were called out for an extra bow after this very impressive performance.
In the more extroverted KALEIDOSCOPE, Miro provided the ideas and the dancers expanded on them. Again to the music of Sciarrino, the three women (Emily SoRelle Adans, Elizabeth Brown and Madeline Deavenport) not only danced beautifully but looked especially fetching in Candice's costumes. The designer outdid herself here, with sleeveless/backless mossy green tops billowing out into sheer knee-length pantaloons in the same hue.
Curtain call photos by Kokyat. Click on them to enlarge.
New Chamber Ballet will commence their 2009-2010 season on September 11th & 12th.
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