Above: Joshua Beamish and Wendy Whelan rehearsing for RESTLESS CREATURE; photo by Christopher Duggan. Click on the image to enlarge.
Tuesday July 1st, 2014 - RESTLESS CREATURE, Wendy Whelan's programme of four duets danced by the ballerina with four prominent choreographers as her partners, prepares for its London launch (on July 22nd, 2014). Details here. The production travels to the Vail International Dance Festival (August 6th, 2014); further details of the American tour will be forthcoming.
This evening at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, I had my first sampling of RESTLESS CREATURE (aside from some lovely video clips) as Wendy and Josh Beamish worked in the studio on the duet that Josh has created for them. They are in the detailing phase of the process, and they have a perfect rapport. Another Josh - Josh D Green of Stephen Petronio's troupe - was also in the studio today, shadowing Mr. Beamish and trying out some of the partnering with Wendy.
A well-crafted musical collage accompanies the dancing. The choreography has the trademark Josh Beamish qualities - a persuasive mixture of stylization and lyrisicm - in which the vocabulary of classical ballet is spoken with a contemporary accent. Stately, intimate, witty and tender by turns, the duet - with solo passages for each dancer woven in - ends with an elegant waltz.
As everyone who reads my blog knows, Wendy Whelan is at the epicenter of my dance world; her dancing inspires and delights me. And if I am feeling blue, just thinking of her performances or of some of the funny and lovely little encounters we have had over the past several seasons makes me smile. I feel so fortunate that her career and my time following dance have intersected so perfectly. Watching her today, I felt my heart skip a beat...yet again.
Before heading to London for RESTLESS CREATURE Wendy Whelan is scheduled to appear with New York City Ballet during their season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (July 8th - 12th, 2014) dancing Robbins' GLASS PIECES and two Christopher Wheeldon duets: AFTER THE RAIN and THIS BITTER EARTH.