Onstage This Week: Jerome Robbins, Women's History Month and More
From celebrations of Jerome Robbins’ centennial to exciting premieres to old classics, this week is jam packed with ballet. We rounded up highlights from eight companies to give you a sense of what’s happening onstage this week.
The Washington Ballet
On March 14, The Washington Ballet will present a triptych of new works. Gemma Bond’s premiere ties-in to Women’s History Month, and she discusses the connection in this video. Also on the bill are creations by celebrated dancers Clifton Brown and Marcelo Gomes. For video teasers of their works, click here.
Celebrating Jerome Robbins
This year is packed with works by Jerome Robbins, as companies celebrate the late choreographer’s centennial. March 15–18, Cincinnati Ballet’s Director’s Cut: Musical Masters program is featuring Robbins’ Fancy Free alongside works by George Balanchine and Garrett Smith.
New York Theatre Ballet also celebrates Robbins with a run at the 2018 Harkness Dance Festival at the 92nd Street Y, March 16–17. The troupe will present three rarely seen Robbins works: Rondo (1980), Septet (1982) and Concertino (1982).
Ballet Idaho
March 15–18, Ballet Idaho presents their biannual contemporary studio series titled NewDance, featuring works by company dancers and local choreographers. This year’s program includes pieces by Phyllis Rothwell Affrunti, Daniel Ojeda, Nathan Powell, Ethan Schweitzer-Gaslin and special guest Monique Meunier, a former New York City Ballet principal.
Boston Ballet
If you missed one of the many productions of Romeo and Juliet that sprung up around Valentine’s Day, don’t worry: Boston Ballet is presenting John Cranko’s version of the tragic tale March 15–April 8. Catch a sneak peek of the drama in this video featuring company stars Misa Kuranaga and Paulo Arrais.
Atlanta Ballet
March 16–18 Atlanta Ballet presents Black Swan, featuring Petipa’s Swan Lake Act III and a world premiere by emerging choreographer Craig Davidson. Before you go, get into the mode with this stunning slow-motion video of Jessica Assef transforming into the Black Swan.
Pacific Northwest Ballet
March 16–25 marks the company’s annual Director’s Choice program. Artistic director Peter Boal chose Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels, William Forsythe’s Singerland Duet and One Flat Thing, reproduced, and the world premiere Ezra Thomson’s The Perpetual State. When One Flat Thing, reproduced premiered at PNB in 2008 it caused quite a controversy, with audiences calling into question whether the piece could be defined as ballet, or even dance. Hearing PNB dancer Miles Pertl’s perspective in the below video might help you to decide for yourself.
Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet
The Boulder, Colorado–based contemporary ballet company presents two works by co-founder Robert Scher-Machherndl in a one-night-only performance on March 17 at the Dairy Arts Center. Although one of the pieces, Vertical Migration Experiment, is a duet, the other is much larger: The Slow Flight is a premiere with a cast of 22 dancers from the Colorado Ballet Training Program.
