**** Highly Recommended American Icons is a demonstration of all that makes the Joffrey such a leader in contemporary ballet. Opening night was totally awesome! The Joffrey’s classically trained, incredibly talented dancers execute the most complicated choreography with flawless technique and timing – and they make it look easy! 4 BIG Spotlights
Works by four American Icons – true trailblazers in choreography – are highlighted in this program: Gerald Arpino’s Kettentanz which the Joffrey premiered in 1971; Martha Graham’s 1962 Secular Games, a Joffrey premiere; Robert Joffrey’s Postcards which premiered in 1980; and Glen Tetley’s 1973 Voluntaries, another Joffrey premiere. By the way, Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey are Joffrey while Glen Tetley is an alum of the company. American Icons is performed to gorgeous live music, provided by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.
Kettantanz: Natali Taht and Zachary Manske. Photo by Cheryl Mann
The first piece, Kettentanz, choreographed by Gerald Arpino to music by Johann Strauss Sr. and Johann Mayer, was a lovely lilting classical ballet. I thought the huge tree in the background represented the Vienna wood. At any rate, the waltz music is delightful, the dance equally so. My friend Crista thought it resembled Serbian folk dances, while I thought of whirling waltzes at Viennese balls. The 9-movement piece begins with all twelve dancers moving in complicated patterns, followed by ever changing combinations of dancers – solo, pas de deux and pas de trois.
Kettentanz: The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Kettentanz dancers: Lucia Connolly, Gayeon Jung, Yumi Kanazawa, Jeraldine Mendoza, Natali That, Ao Wang, Evan Boersma, José Pablo Castro Cuevas, Hyuma Kiwosawa, Zachary Manske, Davide Oldano, Wictor Hugo Pedroso
Secular Games: The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. Photo by Cheryl Mann
The second piece, Secular Games, choreographed by Martha Graham to music by Robert Starer, is very different. Crista didn’t like the music which she thought was discordant. I kind of liked it, thinking it reflected the angularity of movement in the dance. Six barefoot male dancers in leotards pose on various pieces of equipment while striking angular poses. One at a time, they stretch, leap, and pass a ball around as they try to impress each other. The posing and preening continued as they were joined by the women, also barefoot and wearing leotards.
Secular Games: The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Secular Games – Women: Coco Alvarez-Mena, Lucia Connolly, Olivia Duryea, Nae Kojima, Lindy Mesmer, Natali That. Men: Evan Boersma, Fernando Duarte, Guillem Cabrera Espinach, Reed Henry, Zachary Manske, Davide Oldano.
Postcards, choreographed by Robert Joffrey, to music by Eric Satie, featured vocals by Mezzo-soprano Camille Robles in a gorgeous blend of opera and dance. The pas de deux danced by Anais Bueno and Stefan Gonҫalvez on opening night was just simply breathtaking!
Postcards: Anais Bueno & Stefan Gonҫalvez. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Voluntaries, choreographed by Glen Tetley © Glen Tetley Legacy to music by Francis Poulenc, was filled with soaring movements while the music went from loud, crashing and discordant to more modulated and back again. The background was a humongous orb which changed colors from yellow to orange to blue (maybe the sun and moon), seemingly coordinated to the music. The dancers all wore white as they celebrated human spirit.
Voluntaries: Victoria Jaiani & Dylan Gutierrez. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Voluntaries cast: Pas de Deux – Victoria Jaiani, Dylan Gutierrez; Pas de Trois – Amanda Assucena, José Pablo Castro Cuevas, Hyuma Kiyosawa. Couples – Ao Wang, Zachary Manske; Nae Kojima, Wictor Hugo Pedroso; Lauren Quinn, Davide Oldano; Natali Taht, Jonathan Dole; Julia Rust, Derek Drilon; Olivia Duryea, Evan Boersma
Voluntaries: Amanda Assucena, José Pablo Castro Cuevas, Hyuma Kiyosawa. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Please note that the dancers I’ve mentioned in this review might be different in the performance you attend.
For my northwest Indiana readers, Kelly Boersma, principal of Munster’s Frank H. Hammond Elementary School is beaming with pride because her son, Evan Boersma, a member of the company, was featured recently on WGN-TV’s Chicago’s Own and he dances a pas de deux in Kettentanz:
Voluntaries: The Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. Photo by Cheryl Mann
The Joffrey Ballet’s American Icons is performed through March 1st at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Closest parking option is the Poetry Garage, 201 W. Madison, Reduced rate available at https://joffrey.org/performances-and-tickets/plan-your-visit/directions-...
Running time is just about two hours with two intermissions. Remaining performances are Thursday, February 26th at 7:30 pm; Friday, February 27th at 7:30 pm; Saturday, February 28th at 2:00 and 7:30 pm; and Sunday, March 1st at 2:00 pm. Single tickets start at $46. FYI (312) 386-8905 or www.joffrey.org.