Monday June 10, 2013 - On this rain-drenched evening, Michele Wiles (above) very kindly invited me to a studio sampling of some new works being created for Ballet Next.
An excerpt from Tobin Eason's MEA CULPA, set to Mozart's sonata for piano in c minor K.457, was danced by Michele Wiles, Jens Weber and Tiffany Mangulabnan. Tobin, who danced with ABT for several seasons, is forging a choreographic career and this pas de trois showed an attractive musicality.
Jens and Michele
Tiffany
While Michele and Jens were changing, chanteuse Aurora Rose entertained us with a couple of songs, with Javor Bracic at the keyboard.
A new pas de deux by Brian Reeder called DIFFERENT HOMES was beautifully danced by Michele and Jens. I often wonder why choreographers don't use works of Benjamin Britten more often; for this duet, Brian turned to the composer's Cello Suite #1 Op. 72 which was composed in 1966.
Ballet Next's musical director Elad Kabilio (above) played the Briiten live for us this evening; Brian Reeder's choreography worked imginatively off the music. This is a fine addition to Ballet Next's expanding repertoire. I look forward to seeing both these new ballets costumed, staged and lit.
Some images of Michele and Jens in this new Reeder/Britten ballet:
The Company's upcoming travels include Madison, CT; Tortola (British Virgin Islands) and Santa Fe, New Mexico.