BLISS by Ballet BC (dance review)
Having had the pleasure of admiring Emily Molnar (Artistic Director of Ballet BC) and her work for a few years now (and as a former trained competitive dancer myself), every time I attend one of the performances that she puts forth with Ballet BC makes me wonder how does she do it, again and again. Consistently, Molnar’s company delivers energetic, fast-paced, choreographically complex and artistically brilliant displays of what high-level contemporary dance looks like.
In Bliss, the first full-length work for Ballet BC since its renewal in July 2009, resident choreographer José Navas expands on the initial concept of The bliss that from their limbs all movement takes with two new sections: the first set to the music of Mozart and the second set to Henryk Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Song. The third section of this full company work is a reprisal of The bliss that from their limbs all movement takes, set to a musical collaboration by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar.
The first movement, Announciations (set to the Allegro from Trio in G, K. 564; Adagio from Trio in B flat, K. 254 Allegretto from Trio in B flat, K. 502), is a delightful and red-hue ocean-side stroll to the tune of a lovely poem (this work is inspired on the poem The Annunciation by Edwin Muir). The movement in this first segment relies heavily in pairs and multiple (triplet, quartet) combinations of fast-paced transitions and spins. Not as extremely acrobatic as the third segment, Announciations speaks to themes of exploration, wilderness and a realization of a world filled with mystery. The dance ensemble makes us want to know more, explore more and await some sort of annunciation. While the movement created in this first segment is complex, it is light enough that allows the viewer to capture the intimacy of interaction between dancers.
I was not completely taken by the second segment, A Thousand Ways To Meet You Tenderly as the movements seemed (an 8 piecer in 4 pairs including Alexis Fletcher & Gilbert Small, Makaila Wallace & Peter Smida, Alyson Fretz & Connor Gnam and Maggie Forgeron & Dario Dinuzzi) to be somewhat depressing at points. The way I interpreted the second segment, A Thousand Ways To Meet You Tenderly was at times desperate and elusive, at times hopeful. With this segment, Ballet BC deconstructs love’s complexities. I recognize that there is desperation sometimes and frustration others, but I would have wanted to see movements that spoke to hope instead of (as I overheard some attendees) marriage. And well, what is marriage if not a combination of highs and lows? In A Thousand Ways To Meet You Tenderly, Ballet BC offers really a smorgasbord of different interactions between lovers/partners. I think the fact that it was set to Gorecki’s Symphony No. 3: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs contributed to the company painting this somewhat saddening picture of 4 personal relationships (I also would have appreciated a same-sex relationship explored in the piece, maybe that is something that Ballet BC could do in the future). This piece’s launch last night was also a world debut.
My favorite, by and large, was the third segment: The Bliss That From Their Limbs All Movement Takes. I was really impressed in how Molnar, Navas and their team engage in a bold move that pays handsomely, by mesmerizing us with fast paced, acrobatic, multi-spin synchronicities to end BLISS with a bang. The Bliss That From Their Limbs All Movement takes is a bold, ravishing, acrobatic, full-company display of Ballet BC dancing superpower, really. With extraordinary demonstrations of synchronic ability (not only in duets or quartets but even at full company, which is in my view, a testament to the dexterity and athletic prowess of Ballet BC’s dancers). The complexity of movement and frequency of cross-body interactions, plus exquisitely developed multiple spins, lifts and tourettes executed by all company members made me realize that in fact, bliss can come from limb movement. At points throughout the execution of The Bliss That From Their Limbs All Movement Takes, I wished I had stayed in dance school and were athletic enough to display that level of ability and dexterity. I wished I could be back executing movement in the dance world with a company.
While I find unfair to single out any specific dancer, I have taken a strong liking to Connor Gnam, Alexander Burton, Maggie Forgeron and Alyson Fretz. Livona Ellis and Daniel Marshalsay have a body of work that is impressive and exhuberant. And Peter Smida and Makaila Wallace own my dancing heart. But this is just my particular preference of dance execution. Let me be fully clear: EVERYONE at Ballet BC is extraordinarily talented and gifted.
You should give yourself a treat and bring a loved one to Bliss. You will not regret it.
José Navas, Founder and Artistic Director of José Navas/Compagnie Flak since 1991, quickly became internationally recognized as a talented and charismatic soloist. His first group creations were characterized by their assertive sensuality, bold statements and unexpected universes. These pieces included an element of theatricality that is reflected today in his solo work.
Fascinated by the resonance of the body in space and by the calligraphy of formal movement, Navas is an architect of group dynamics, constructing abstract pieces geometrically and having them delivered by virtuoso performers. His choreography, created in a similar way to a musical composition, fascinate with their hypnotic beauty and their meditative character.
Tickets for Bliss can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 1-855-985-2787 (855-985-ARTS) or online at ticketmaster.ca and range in price from $70.00 to $22.50 (excluding service charges).
More on Ballet BC:
Ballet BC, a company of 16 talented dancers from around the world, is committed to the ballet of today. Solidly grounded in the classical ballet lexicon but with more immediacy and connection to the 21st century, the company presents a diverse repertoire of Canadian and international contemporary ballet. Now in its 25th anniversary year, Ballet BC continues its commitment to perform on multiple regional, national and international tours in addition to its regular performance season at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. For more information, visit Ballet BC on their website or follow on Twitter @balletbc
Disclosure: I attended Ballet BC on media tickets. As always, neither a positive review nor a review at all was expected. I retain full editorial control on anything I post on my site.
