Julliard Dances Rep 2016 Taylor, Robbins and Klylian Choreography

The Julliard dance students are all commendable, exceptional & exuberant.  I love seeing the dancers - I don't always love the dance.  "Roses" by Paul Taylor (1985) was the 1st of 3 works in the repertoire. I'm not a fan of Taylor's choreography.  "Roses" - you need work at staying awake.  "Roses" is a tired, listless dance.  The lovely dancers were clad in shades of gray, black & white but the entire piece was awash in shades of gray.  There was no spark, no arch and too much lolling on the floor.  The piece was a bore.  Nonetheless, the Julliard Orch performed Wagner's music with flourish and deserve recognition for their playing.  The last piece on the program, "Symphony of Psalms" was the antithesis to Taylor's tedious work.   Choreographer Jiri Kylian's (b. Czech 1947) ambitious dance was set to Stravinsky's powerful Symph of Psalms.  The Julliard Orch played majestically and the Venture (NY) chorus added a layered emotional fabric to the dancing.  Religious outlooks aside, "Praise Ye the Lord, Praise Him with the sound of trumpets…AND THE DANCE."  The students did a remarkable job with demanding chroreography.  I was swept up in the rousing work.  My favorite piece, was by the legendary choreographer, Jerome Robbins entitled" MOVES," (1959.)  The dance is done without music.  The piece remains contemporary.  It combines precise steps & elegiac ballet moves.  The women were on pointe.  The pleasing pastiche of modern & ballet without accompaniment was staggering.  (How did they keep count?)  The dancers evoked a sensual & viseral response in their partnering.  Robbins may have appropriated some moves into his "Glass Pieces" (1983.)  The students gave a penetrating performance. The Julliard Dance programs are always worth attending.  The program is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're going to get but it's always a treat.