This year, New York Theatre Ballet, one of the most influential dance companies nationwide, is commemorating its 35th anniversary with the Legends and Visionaries series at Florence Gould Hall. NYTB’s mission is to provide audiences with quality dance at affordable prices, as well as to bring performances to areas where dance is underrepresented.
Last weekend, the Visionaries portion was presented, featuring pieces by both classic choreographers, like Richard Alston’s Light Flooding into Darkened Rooms, and newer ones, such as Pam Tanowitz’s Short Memory, a 2013 commission by the company. The show unfortunately began on a low note, with an announcement that NYTB’s home would soon be torn down in order to make room for yet another midtown high-rise, but things picked up quickly with Dan Siretta’s multifaceted Three Shades of Blue.
The production’s costumes, designed primarily by the Metropolitan Opera’s Sylvia Nolan, are not at all the poofy concoctions associated with ballet but rather streamlined and modern, often dressing the dancers in different colors in order to distinguish between them and to create a pleasing aesthetic on the stage; in the case of one pas de deux, the costuming is so minimal as to make the performers appear nude, an intelligent decision that detracts attention from appearance and places it on movement. One of the evening’s most enjoyable moments is David Vaughan’s reading of Remy Charlop’s humorous Ten Imaginary Dances following the intermission. If you missed Visionaries, fear not: Legends, a night of ballets by Antony Tudor, will take place on May 9th and 10th.
Twisted Talk: Did you get the chance to check out Visionaries? What did you think? What’s your favorite ballet? Answer in the comments below!
