NYC Ballet-Lil Buck Brings a Seismic Shift to Ballet

NYC Ballet held the World Premier of Les Bosquets last week. It is choreographed & performed by Lil Buck (Amer. b. 1988) and ushers in a new genre of dance, jootin, that marks a major turning pointe in ballet.  Lil Buck is familiar to 2.5 million viewers on YouTube for his collaboration with Yo Yo Ma on  "The Dying Swan."  Les Bosquets has elements that reflect the classic elegance of Swan Lake & the  athletic conventions of Ailey Dancers.  But, this is a magnficient & spellbinding work of art unlike anything else.  Buck partnered beautifully with Lauren Lovette.  Her alluring metamorphosis from cocoon to butterfly to swan was astonishing.  The demographics in the audience were noticeably younger, up to the minute.  The stylish crowd may already be attuned to Buck's works & accolades.  He received the Performer of the Year Award in '13 and Dance Spirit Mag. named him "One of the Most Influential People," '11.  Jookin is an exciting style of street dance blending illusions with dazzling footwork; sliding, locking, popping, & tutting seamlessly meshed together.  The astounding choreography is elaborate, artistic & stupefying.  The black/white visual projections add a strong emotional impact .  The reverberating dancer's shadows were eerily magical and the black/white costumes lent a clandestine intensity.  Lil Buck stopped here - bringing a new pinnacle of excellence to modern ballet.