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More than a bit of "Class" from Tulsa Ballet
Published: 10/30/2010 4:15 PM
Last Modified: 10/30/2010 4:15 PM

The full review of Tulsa Ballet's "Classical Relativity," which concludes with performances at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Tulsa PAC, will appear in Monday's Tulsa World.

But if you're thinking about attending either tonight or tomorrow, here is a bit of information and opinion about this mixed bill.....


"The true wonder of the evening was Kudelka’s “There, Below,” the first ballet by this Canadian artist that Tulsa Ballet has performed. And if this piece is emblematic of the rest of his work, then we need to see more of this.
In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of “There, Below” ... It’s a piece that is fascinating to watch, that doesn’t yield up its secrets easily. You know there is a purpose to the movement, that a statement is being made, yet the key to understanding it remains tantalizingly out of reach ... It is one of those rare ballets that washes over and captivates you, and it was danced with great passion by its 10 dancers...

"Choreographer Massimiliano Volponi has reworked ("Amade") in some small ways. These changes have only emphasized the qualities of lightness and playfulness that made this ballet so appealing the first time we saw it...Even the costumes, created for a performance of this ballet by the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, added a playful note, with the cage-like tutus most of the women wore.
Volponi also turned a centerpiece of the classical style — the pas de deux — on its head, with Alfonso Martin as the figure in charge, gently and playfully manipulating Soo Youn Cho around the stage. The fluid interaction between the two — the obvious trust Cho showed, and Martin’s casually confident dancing and partnering — was marvelous to watch..."

"“Theme and Variations” is something of a tribute to the classical style that (choreographer George) Balanchine knew so well. It is, in a way, a very traditional ballet ... distilled down to its essence — ensemble, pas de deux, solo, all the difficult, showy things that regularly suspend the plot of a classic story ballet for moments of pure dance.

Tulsa Ballet’s performance was gorgeous to look at, and was danced very well."

Tickets are $20-$70. Call 596-7111 or online at tulsaworld.com/mytix.



Reader Comments 1 Total
Danceman (2 years ago)
Mr. Watts, you are the greatest asset for for the arts in Tulsa. Your fairness, understanding of the full picture and support for quality arts is one of the reasons Tulsa arts scene thrives. Please keep it up!!!
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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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