REVIEW: Director’s Choice at the Pacific Northwest Ballet
Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Carrie Imlerand Casey Herd in Paul Gibson’s Sense of Doubt.
These four selections for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Director’s Choice are not your classical ballet pieces. Director’s Choice comes with a heavy infusion with modern and contemporary elements. It also helps that the lineup of beautiful men and women at PNB never disappoints.
The first up is Sense of Doubt by Paul Gibson. The piece opens with duo Carrie Imler and Casey Herd in a interesting use of bright lighting and complete darkness. The minimalist piece erupts into a trio, then a quartet, followed by a solo routine and finally the entire cast which accomplishes the director’s intent of suggesting suspense and intrigue.
Next is Edwaard Liang’s Für Alina. In this pas de deux the two figures find strength through each other. Unfortunately, Karel Cruz towers over Louise Nadeau making their moves look strenuous, as the dancers flow in and out of different shapes, making it fall short of the director’s desire of being a delicate and unforced piece. Nonetheless, the beauty of the symbolism in two figures combining into a single entity does come through.
Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers MirandaWeese and Batkhurel Bold in Edwaard Liang’s Für Alina.
In Ulysses Dove’s Vespers the piece seems to get started but feels like it never really arrives. Most will be quite inspired by the infusion of contemporary progression and the symmetry of their synchronized movement. This is a very unique “ballet” piece with its tribal beat that made me think of Stomp, but without that excruciating physical percussion, but more closely resembles a modern dance performance from Spectrum Dance Theater. This piece appeared to be the crowd favorite of the night.
Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancersin the PNB premiere of Ulysses Dove’s Vespers.
The last piece, William Forsythe’s One Flat Thing, Reproduced, starts with a bang as twenty tables are flung onto the stage. Fourteen dancers traverse the ensuing maze of chaos to the rhythm of noisy clatter. The piece is modern and avant-garde for sure, but as for being ballet, I am not so sure. However, it is visually captivating and hypnotic.
Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers in the PNBpremiere of William Forsythe’s One Flat Thing, reproduced.
For those, like myself, that typically have tired eyes in the evening there is a refreshing two intermissions and a pause between the four pieces.
DIRECTOR’S CHOICE runs March 13-22 at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer Street. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. March 13-15 and March 20-22, with matinees on March 15 & 16. Tickets range in price from $20 to $150 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at (206) 441-2424, in person at the PNB Box Office or online at www.pnb.org
