92ndY Dance Festival Celebrates the Robbins Centennial with NYTheatre Ballet

This year marks Jerome Robbins centennial and it is being heralded in numerous venues.  Spielberg and Kushner on working on a new movie of "West Side Story,"  NYC Ballet is featuring Robbins works and the 92ndY Harkness Dance Festival presented 3 (sold-out) performances of 3 of Robbins works:  "Septet" (1982), "Rondo" (1980) and "Concertino" (1982). "Septet" and "Concertino" are choreographed to music by Igor Stravinsky and "Rondo" to music by Mozart.  All 3 classical ballets have a romantic aesthetic and a streamlined modern approach.  Robbins' genius will remain timeless.  The technicality of the company was first rate.  "Rondo" a pas de deux for 2 women was lithe and vibrant.  Both the 92ndY and the NY Theatre Ballet are to be commended for bringing to their well staged work live instrumentation.  The expense for many dance companies to utilize live music is often cost prohibitive.  The Centennial Celebration of Jerome Robbins program included musicians playing for every piece.  "Septet" featured 2 pianists, "Rondo" a pianist and for "Concertino" two violinists, violist, cellist and clarinetist.  The final pieces on the program were by choreographer William Whitener "Wings" and "A Petroushka Collage" with music by Joan Tower.  It was interesting to see Whitener's compositions in addition to Robbins choreography.  It's worth noting that Mr. Whitener assisted Jerome Robbins with "Jerome Robbins Broadway".  Musicians also accompanied Whitener's including a solo clarinet for "Wings" and for "A Petroushka Collage" a clarinet, flute, violin, cello and piano.  The Harkness Dance Festival at the 92ndY makes possible high caliber dance performances to the public at very moderate prices.  The public should be made aware the dance program is made available in part by the NY State Council on the Arts and should take advantage of the incredible programing that takes place annually at the 92nd Y from February through March featuring a wide variety of professional dance companies.