Review: 3/3/13

 

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to see the Sarasota Ballet at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. It consisted of three ballets: Les Rendezvous, choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton, Lilac Garden, choreographed by Antony Tudor, and I Napoletani, choreographed by Dominic Walsh.

 

They were all wonderful. Les Rendezvous was a traditional ballet. The Principal Girl, Victoria Hulland and the Principal Boy, Ricardo Graziano,

were fabulous. And of course along with the rest of the dancers. Their poise and grace were outstanding and genuine.

 

I Napoletani was fun. It was set to Italian music and props were used. In the middle of the stage, they had old Italian films playing at times and

at one time, on both sides of the stage, there was the visualization of real brick. At one time, the dancers were able to leave the stage by fading into

the brick wall. This ballet was fun, humorous, catchy, and modern more so than the other two.

 

My favorite one out of the three, was Lilac Garden. This ballet was about a young woman going into an arranged marriage, even though she loves another. And the gentleman, with whom she will be married to,has a mistress. The mistress is upset, because she will be somewhat out of her lover’s life, just like the young man will be out of his, lover’s life. All within reason. The love and turmoil around all of the dancers, was conveyed to the audience. You could really feel the tension and love between them all.

 

 

Ashton, Tudor & Walsh
1 - 3 March 2013

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Rendezvous

Antony Tudor's Lilac Garden

Dominic Walsh's I Napoletani

 

 

 

Amanda Parrish

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The Sarasota Ballet Showcases the Diversity of Ballet

Program Five of The Sarasota Ballet’s 2012/2013 season – Ashton, Tudor, Walsh - revisits three audience favorites and offers something for everyone.

 

SARASOTA, Fla. – February, 13 2013 – Reaching into the arsenal of successful ballets performed in the past, Sarasota Ballet Director, Iain Webb, is reprising three unique and beautiful pieces for the Company’s fifth performance of the 2012/2013 season.

 

This program – Ashton, Tudor, Walsh – will offer audience members three different styles of ballet. Highlighting classical ballet through Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Rendezvous, a storytelling ballet with Antony Tudor’s Lilac Garden and a contemporary ballet via Dominic Walsh’s I Napoletani, program five is sure to have something for everyone. Presented at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts,Ashton, Tudor, Walsh will open on March 1^st and run until March 3^rd.

 

Originally performed by The Sarasota Ballet in 2010, Les Rendezvous will be the first ballet danced during program five. A light-hearted suite of dances in which young people meet, flirt and part, this classic was intended to showcase the chemistry and technical virtuosity of those who dance within the solos and pas de deux. Staged by Margaret Barbieri, Les Rendezvous is set to the interlude of a popular French opera L’Enfant Prodigue.

 

Following the cheery choreography of Les Rendezvous, will be Antony Tudor’s Lilac Garden. With astraightforward but emotionally potent plot, this ballet follows the story of a young woman who attends a lilac-scented party on the evening before her marriage of convenience. With her betrothed, her lover and a mystery woman also at the social-gathering, the quartet of crossed lovers pass among the guests in a series of brief encounters of passion and frustration that are displayed in dramatic lines and lifts. When first performed by The SarasotaBallet in October of 2008, this ballet was an audience favorite and is sure to be so again.

 

“Tudor’s works always favor a deeply felt human and psychological truth,” said Webb. “This dance is elegant and powerful and I’m pleased to be bringing it back.”

 

Concluding the diversified fifth program will be Dominic Walsh’s smash hit I Napoletani. Inspired by the vitality of Naples, this contemporary ballet is light-hearted and set to popular Neapolitan music from the late 1800s. First presented by The Sarasota Ballet in 2009, this charming display of optimistic viewpoints is uplifting and fun for all ages.

 

“Life brings an assortment of situations and emotions – flirtatious first encounters, tearful farewells – and through it all we must have an optimistic vigor for life,” said Webb. “This program, while displaying three very different ballets, is really all about remaining positive and making the best out of every situation.”

 

In addition to the traditional five performances, on March 4^th an extra performance of Walsh’s I Napoletani will be performed along with a demonstration of dance by Barbieri and the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory of Dance students. This special event will be hosted by The Sarasota Ballet in order to benefit All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. With 100 premium seats donated to All Children’s staff, the rest of the house will be sold at a discounted rate of $25 a seat and is open to the public. All proceeds from this performance will be donated to the not-for-profit hospital.

 

 

Performance Schedule and Ticket Information

Program Five

Ashton, Tudor, Walsh

 

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

5555 North Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34243

 

Friday, March 1^st at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 2^nd at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 3^rd at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Monday, March 4^th at 7:00 p.m. *A special presentation of I Napoletani and the students of the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory of Dance.

 

Tickets may be purchased online 24 hours a day, seven days a week with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. The box office can be contacted by calling (941) 359-0099 x101.

About The Sarasota Ballet

The Sarasota Ballet is the Gulf Coast of Florida’s only professional ballet company. Since 1990, the Company has been committed to enriching lives, captivating emotions and strengthening the community through the art of dance. Under the leadership of Director Iain Webb the company has grown to national and international recognition.

 

Maintaining a diverse repertoire that includes works by world-renowned 20^th century choreographers as well as some of the most sought after choreographic talents of today – The Sarasota Ballet offers audience members the unique opportunity to experience ballets that have never been seen in Florida and rarely in America. Presenting both full-length classical ballets and brand-new world-premieres, the Company receives critical acclaim from New York and European press.

 

For more information, please visit www.sarasotaballet.org or call (941) 359-0099

 

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