Wednesday, April 23, 2014

SNOW WHITE is the Fairest but the Ballet is too Bloody Long

Ballet Perljocaj's Snow White is enchanting with its magical dancing.  The narrative ballet is long in the telling,weighing down the ephemeral dancing & dazzling creativity.   The gravity defying wall choreography extravaganza by the 7 dwarfs would make Cirque de Soleil green with envy.  Unfortunately, the dwarfs clung on for far too long.  Tapped music was used in the program of  Mahler's powerful music.  I enjoyed the pas de deux performed in silence but the stentorian pounding in parts was deafening.  The highlight of the evening was the incredible dancing performed by Snow (Nagisa Shirai) & the Prince (Sergio Diaz.)  Their courtship & mournful reunion were phenomenal to behold.  French choreography Angelin Prelijocaj created exquisite partnering for the magnificient couple.  Their artistry was other worldly; their bodily movements spell binding.  I enjoyed the Queen's clever mirror dancing.  Unfortunately, her electric performances elsewhere transformed into tawdry camp.  The inventive but repetitious ensemble choreography became cumbersome.  And, the lugubrious opening of Snow's mother giving birth was laborious.  The same can be said for the huntsmen.  Their hunt lacked alacrity in capturing Snow.  The deer they stalked was so convincing it was a shame she had to die.  The 2 hour ballet is performed without an intermission which was  hard to swallow.  But, Snow & Prince were to die for.  

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