BWW Reviews: David Hallberg Presents: LEGACY

David Hallberg Presents: LEGACY

On April 17, 2015, David Hallberg Presents: Legacy, was presented as the final performance of the Youth America Grand Prix. Hallberg himself served as moderator, introducing the evening's participating dancers and the companies: Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Mariinsky Ballet, Tokyo Ballet in their U.S. debut, ABT Studio Company, and the Australian Ballet. Although public speaking does not seem to come as easily to Hallberg as dancing, he entertained us with anecdotes from his experience dancing with American Ballet Theatre and abroad.

The biggest hit of the evening, judging by the applause, as well as my own reaction, was Amber Scott and Rudy Hawkes of the Australian Ballet, dancing the U.S. premiere of Unspoken Dialogues, choreographed by Stephen Baynes to music of Alfred Schnittke. This pas de deux depicted the push and pull of intimate relationships as we may experience them in life. In this relationship, the actions and reactions were driven primarily by the male partner. While the choreography and the music were decidedly contemporary in nature, the male taking the lead is becoming somewhat antiquated in this country. Never the less, Scott and Hawkes kept me riveted as they seamlessly moved through the movements and the moods.

Yekaterina Kondaurova of the Mariinsky Ballet was lovely, dancing Balanchine's Diamonds Pas De Deux, partnered by Semyon Chudin of the Bolshoi Ballet. Russian dancers put their own stamp on Balanchine works. Kondaurova is beautiful in body and spirit. She would do well to extend her lower leg beyond the knee as fully as she does with every other body part. This presentation was a certainly a success.

Chudin and Evgenia Obratsova, of the Bolshoi Ballet, exhibited Russian technique, performing a pas de deux from The Pharaoh's Daughter, choreography by Pierre Lacotte. Veronika Part, representing ABT, danced a solo choreographed by Lar Lubovitch, Scriabin Dances, to Alexander Scriabin's music. Dancing on demi pointe, Part's arms, hair and dress flowed, expressing the feeling of the piece. The Tokyo Ballet presented Bhakti III, choreographed by renowned choreographer, Maurice Bejart, to traditional Indian music. Their technique was not as refined as some of the others, but it was fun to see the U.S. premiere of this work.

The ABT Studio Company, featuring dancers 16 - 20 years old, performed an untitled world premiere of featured Swedish choreographer, Pontus Lidberg. These young dancers did a remarkable job, displaying accomplished dancing. As Hallberg pointed out, "This is the future of dance."

The Mariinsky Ballet performed Russian choreographer Anton Pimonov's Choreographic Game 3x3, to music of Johann Peter Pixis. Kondaurova was also beautiful here as was the male soloist, Alexandr Sergeev (as best I could divine from the program, which did not clearly state who performed). It is good to see contemporary ballet from this part of the world, best known for the classics.

The pot pouri of international dancers and styles, on a major stage, as is the Koch Theater, can give dancers, young and old, as well as ballet lovers an insight into the variety of directions ballet can be taken, today. Both enjoyment and inspiration can linger and evolve, bringing on the next wave of this art form.

PhotomCredit: Siggul/VAM

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