Monday September 26, 2011 - Thanks to the wayward MTA last Monday, I didn't make it to Emery LeCrone's rehearsal for her Elliott Carter ballet, scheduled for its premiere performances in The Guggenheim's Works & Process series on October 2nd and 3rd. Details here.
Emery graciously invited Kokyat and me back for another look at the piece in the studio before it goes into rehearsal at the museum's theater. Tonight, ABT dancer Thomas Forster (photo at the top) was on hand, along with...
...Da'Von Doane of Dance Theater of Harlem (above)...
...and New York City Ballet's Megan LeCrone and Russell Janzen (above). Ballerina Gabrielle Lamb is the fifth dancer in Emery's cast; Gabrielle's currently at The Vineyard with MORPHOSES preparing for that Company's upcoming performances at The Joyce.
Adding a vivid contemporary edge to classical ballet technique, Emery's latest creation also has an unexpectedly elegant look. The music is quirky and complex despite its surface simplicity; the dancers bring their individual passions and expressive qualities to piece. I look forward to seeing it costumed, lit and danced to 'live' music at The Guggenheim.
Here are more of Kokyat's images from this rehearsal:
Da'Von and Megan
Megan LeCrone
Emery LeCrone
Megan LeCrone
Da'Von and Megan
Thomas Forster. Thomas gave me one of my most poignant dance experiences in recent seasons when he appeared in Tudor's JARDIN AUX LILAS with ABT at City Center. Read about that performance here.
For this Works & Process presentation, choreographers Emery LeCrone and Avi Scher each create new works set to the same music by 102-year-old two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Elliott Carter. The music will be performed 'live' by clarinetist Charles Neidich, violinist Rolf Schulte and cellist Fred Sherry. New York Post dance critic Leigh Witchel will lead a discussion with the participating artists.
Rehearsal images by Kokyat. Some of my sepia photos from this evening are on Facebook.