Review: Emery LeCrone Dance opened The Joyce Theater's Ballet Festival

Emery LeCrone, founder, choreographer, and artistic director of Emery LeCrone Dance, is committed to developing contemporary ballets that feature live music and costume collaborations with fashion designers. All choreographies on the program were created by LeCrone. Emery LeCrone Dance performs at the Joyce Theater July 18, 19, and 20. I saw the performance on Wednesday July 19th.

First on the program was In Memory, music of Bohuslav Martinu, Columbine Recollects, played by Vassily Primakov (piano). This is a solo piece, danced by Megan LeCrone, guest artist, who is a soloist with New York City Ballet. She wore a long, bright red gown with a layered skirt, designed by Marine Penverri. When the curtain opened, M. LeCrone stood center stage, a statuesque vision in red. When she moved, there seemed to be more passion in the music than in the choreography or the dancer. There were difficulties with the execution of the landings of some of the steps that put her behind the music, on occasion. Dance is a marriage between choreographer and dancers.

Beloved (New York premiere), to music of David Lang, just (after song of songs), performed by Melissa Hughes (soprano), Clarise Jensen(cello)Jamie Jordan (soprano), Jocelin Pan (viola), Kirsten Solek (Mezzo Soprano), Bill Soloman (percussion); and costume design: Colina Strada by Hillary Taymour is the first of three works danced by her six dancers: Sarah Atkins, Blake Krapels, Tiffany Mangulabnan, Amber Neff, Scott Schneider, and Lukasz Zieba. Of these dancers, I found Mangulabnan to have the most magnetism and spirit, throughout the three pieces. The second group piece, The Innermost Part of Something (2015-Excerpt) to a compilation of songs by Nils Frahm, Darrell Fitton, and Geir Jenssen had a more fluid feel to it and was more interesting musically than Beloved. The colorful costume design was by Victoria Bartlett. The third group piece, Radiant Field (World Premiere), the last piece on the program, was rather engaging, including duets and trios of dancers that executed smart lifts. I did not, however, understand the reason for the single horizontal and single vertical lines of fluorescent lights appearing along the back of the stage that shone in our eyes, although the name of the work is Radiant Field. This was the only work in which the female dancers performed wearing soft shoes, rather than pointe shoes.

Time Slowing, Ending, to music of Brian Crain, Time Forgotten, performed by Gina Dyches (violin) and Vassily Primakov (piano). The costume design was by E. LeCrone. Stephanie Williams, a beautiful American Ballet Theater dancer wore a strapless black leotard, with long, off-the-shoulder sleeves and ankle-length, sheer black skirt. She was partnered by ABT principal dancer, Cory Stearns, who wore light grey, simple dance attire. The two dancers looked good together, dancing this pas de deux, although I would have enjoyed seeing more consistent fluidity of movement to mirror the fluidity in the music.

This performance was certainly a good opportunity for dancers to perform contemporary ballet choreography to live music at an important dance venue.

The Joyce's 2017 Ballet Festival will continue through July 29, 2017, including performances by Claudia Schreier & Company; Cirio Collective; Gemma Bond; and Amy Seiwert's Imagery.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy

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