Review: 15th Fall for Dance Festival – Harvest of Talent

BWW Review: 15thFall for Dance Festival - Harvest of Talent

New York City Center

15th Fall for Dance Festival 2018

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Rhapsody [excerpts]

Choreography by Frederick Ashton

Music by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Dancers : Alina Cojocaru

Herman Cornejo

Musicians : Kurt Crowley (piano)

Attacca Quartet (strings)

Rhapsody [excerpts]began with a musical interlude on stage by Kurt Crowley and the Attacca Quartet. Herman Cornejo leaped onto the stage and regaled the audience with the "star" quality in the World of Dance for which he is known. His effortless double tours and barrel turns contained double leg revolutions that are not normally seen. It was a brilliant part of the choreography. Frederick Ashton originally created this piece on Mikhail Baryshnikov. Herman Cornejo certainly did Ashton's composition proud with his Danseur Noble countenance, skill, and pride. Cornejo's partnering and lifts with Alina Cojocaru clearly demonstrated his artistic prowess.

AsRhapsody [excerpts]continued, Alina Cojocaru was introduced to us. Within her solos, Cojocaru gave to the piece a light-footed Prima Ballerina. As she pirouetted across the stage it appeared that the musicality needed to complete the choreography was not connected as anticipated. During the pas de deux it seemed as if two separate dancers performed rather than one flowing combination of bodies connected by dancers' chemistry. Cornejo, despite his best efforts to create the all-important partner chemistry, did not find himself with a cooperative partner. "It is not just about dancing correctly. It is about dancing with the heart."

The musicians gave a performance filled with all the skill and passion intended by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Canto Ostinato

Choreography by Lucinda Childs

Music by Simeon Ten Holt

Dancers: Verine Bouwman Salvatore Castelli

Kim Van Der Put Pascal Schut

Canto Ostinatoutilized four dancers - two male and two female. The focus was stylistic and easy to follow. The women were equally skilled. Visually their body types, feet, and legs were quite similar, the only real difference being the color of their hair. This choreography might be considered "organic" ballet in that it utilizes repetitive steps together with hypnotizing music and a visual background of vertical lines that multiplied and diminish throughout. The female dancers were dynamic to watch. However, there were no stunning dance moves present. It might have given it more of a dynamic variety.

Petrushka

Choreography by Jennifer Weber

Music by Igor Stravinsky

Dancers: Tiler Peck LIL Buck Brooklyn Mack

Petrushka opens with a dance trio. Each is given their own spotlight. All three captured the attention of the audience with unique abilities. The clown mime [LIL Buck] created a mesmerizing ripple which traveled through his entire body. The audience gave a collective gasp of approval and delight. All three dancers showed us their skills at combining break dancing with ballet. Peck, Buck, and Mack revealed their collective hunger to dance that was prominent throughout. You don't always see this in every performance today. The polished partnering skills exhibited a unique twist. Tiler Peck did an acrobatic hand stand that created an inverse female partner for this pas de trois. As the piece continued, the facial expressions drew us into the tandem energy that brought life to these marionettes. The musicality was superbly demonstrated by all three dancers. Mac lunged and bounded onto the stage. He regaled the audience with his supple and limber movements. Peck enters next with twirls and contortions. Spontaneous and boisterous applause with bravos rewarded these very creative, energetic, and talented dancers.

Rennie Harris Funkedified [excerpt]

Choreography by Rennie Harris

Music and Sound design by Darrin Ross

American Dance Theater Artists and Musicians

Rennie Harris Funkedified began with electrifying energy and dynamics. The artists are diverse and each brings an important element of hip hop style to this program. Both male and female dancers equally demonstrate the freedom that this style of dance offers. The music and the choreography energizes both the performers and the audience, which becomes a part of the performance. The sound track is reminiscent of Soul Trainand James Brown both of which has captured generations of fans. Rennie Harris has brought his version of this dance form to a new audience. The thunderous applause shows how much the audience appreciates and understands the importance of what these talented artists and musicians have shown us.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Berger

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