"And Now The Company Jumps..."

ABT opens their City Center season tonight with a gala rogramme (curtain time 6:30) which features a bunch of favorite dancers: Paloma Herrera, Gillian Murphy, Julie Kent, Xiomara Reyes, Michele Wiles, Maria Riccetto, Misty Copeland, Marcelo Gomes, David Hallberg, Jose Manuel Carreno, Herman Cornejo and Craig Salstein.

Craig plays double-duty since he is both dancing and offering a choreographic gift: TIME, a solo for Michele Wiles (photo above) set to Schumann.

Closing the evening will be the ABT premiere of Paul Taylor's COMPANY B, a masterpiece one might not think 'appropriate' for a classically-rooted ballet Company. But I'm betting they'll pull it off in fine style. I've seen Taylor's Company do it and I'll tell you, the Andrews Sisters RULE! Here's the lyrics...trust me, you'll be singing along. I've been singing it (if you can call this singing!) for a week. Best to leave it to the Sisters.

"He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way.
He had a boogie style that no one else could play.
He was the top man at his craft,
But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft.
He's in the army now...he's blowin' reveille.
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.

They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam.
It really brought him down because he could not jam.
The captain seemed to understand,
Because next day the cap'n went out and he drafted a band.
And now the Company jumps when he plays reveille.
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.

A root, a toot, a toodlie-a-da-toot.
He blows it eight to the bar in boogie rhythm.
He can't blow a note unless a bass and guitar
Is playin' with him.
And the Company jumps when he plays reveille.
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.

He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every night,
And wakes 'em up the same way in the early bright.
They clap their hands and stamp their feet,
'cause they know how it goes when someone gives him a beat.
 He really wakes 'em up when he plays reveille.
The boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.

A root, a toot, a toodli-a-da toot...
He's blowin' eight to the bar.
Yeah, he can't blow a note if a bass and guitar
Isn't with him.
And the Company jumps when he plays reveille.
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B."

Comments

[jolene]

SF Ballet has performed Company B before, and it's especially timely for war time. I remember a particularly lovely duet that ends on a sad note.

Have a great time!

[Philip]

Yes, I remember that COMPANY B is not all fun and games; and it certainly is 'current'!

[jose]

Can't wait for your review.

[Philip]

Hi Jose, it's good to see your name here again. Tonight will be my first trip to ABT as a member of the press. Next week I will go two more times but I already bought those tickets. If my luck holds with the press dept. I will be able to do MUCH more reporting on ABT during their Met season.

[jose]

Congratulation!!That's the best move of ABT since acquiring Ratmansky and Osipova.