Onstage This Week: Neumeier's "Anna Karenina" at the Bolshoi, World Premieres in Richmond and Phoenix, and More
What’s going on in ballet this week? We’ve pulled together some highlights.
The Bolshoi Premiere of John Neumeier’s
Anna Karenina
Last July Hamburg Ballet presented the world premiere of John Neumeier’s Anna Karenina, a modern adaptation on Leo Tolstoy’s famous novel. Hamburg Ballet coproduced the full-length ballet with the National Ballet of Canada and the Bolshoi, the latter of which will premiere the work March 23 (NBoC will have its premiere in November). The production will feature Bolshoi star Svetlana Zakharova in the title role. This is especially fitting as Neumeier’s initial inspiration for the ballet came from Zakharova while they were working together on his Lady of the Camellias. The following video delves into what makes this production stand out.
World Premieres at Richmond Ballet and Ballet Arizona
Richmond Ballet’s New Works Festival March 20-25 features pieces by four choreographers who have never worked with Richmond Ballet before: Francesca Harper, Tom Mattingly, Mariana Oliveira and Bradley Shelver. But there’s a twist: each choreographer had only 25 hours with the dancers to create a 10-15 minute ballet.
Meanwhile the Phoenix-based company’s spring season opens with Today’s Masters 2018, March 22-25. The program includes a company premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo and world premieres by Nayon Iovino and artistic director Ib Andersen. Andersen’s Pelvis features dance moves and costumes from the 1950s and references to Elvis Presley (pElvis, anyone?)
San Francisco Ballet Honors Robbins
Mysterious; romantic; witty; electrifying. That’s how SFB describes their upcoming tribute to Jerome Robbins, March 20-25. The company is one of dozens of others honoring Robbins this year; last week we covered Cincinnati Ballet and New York Theatre Ballet. SFB is presenting four works celebrating the famed choreographer’s career in ballet and Broadway: Fancy Free, Opus 19/The Dreamer, The Cage and Other Dances.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5LDq08x-Nkw
Reid and Harriet Designs at the Guggenheim
March 25-27, costume design duo Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung take the stage as part of Guggenheim Works & Process. The partnership is known for creatively intersecting design and dance; last summer they created a swimwear line based on Justin Peck costumes, and in November they presented their design-driven Nutcracker. For this week’s show they collaborated with a long list of choreographers including Lar Lubovitch and Pam Tanowitz to create short works featuring their costumes. A number of dancers including New York City Ballet principal Russell Janzen will be acting as moving models.
