Julliard New Dances: Edition 2015

The dance program at Julliard provides the all students the opportunity to work directly with professional choreographers.  The premier pieces were created specifically for (and with) the Julliard students.  The four choreographers are assigned to work with one class year/level.  The only stipulation is that the work include every student.  The 4 new works presented began with the class 2019 and proceeded to the class of 2016.  The int'l and highly acclaimed choreographers (in order of the performances) were:  Helen Simoneau, Aszure Barton, Zvi Gortheiner and Kyle Abraham.  Simoneau used an original score for "Strange Garden" performed live.  Barton's piece was accompanied by a pianist playing music by Caroline Shaw and Chopin in "Return to Patience." The dancers wore  identical, loose white costumes.  The piece had a soft, dreamlike aesthetic.  The final 2 choreographed works by Gotheiner and Abraham were both charged with dymanic energy and highlighted the atheleticism of the dancers.  Gotheiner's work was my favorite piece. It had whimsy, humor and interesting arcs to the dancing.  The dancers entire bodies were infused with movement.  Abraham's "Non Sequitur Paramour" was the only somber piece.  The lighting design made it appear as if the dancers mystically appeared.  This was a very exciting evening dance.  The student's benefited from professional collaborations and the audience had the delight to watch talented emerging dancers.