Mariinsky Ballet “The Little Humpbacked Horse”

What I saw last night. Mariinsky Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. Before the show I saw dancers Eiko and Koma rehearsing in the reflecting pool on the plaza. Took them  awhile to convince a security guard it was allowed.

The ballet is a pretty dark work. The evil king gets boiled to death at the end. Before getting there it is like the Marx Brothers go to the ballet with the humpbacked horse more resembling “Bottom the Donkey” in “midsummer night’s dream” as performed by Harpo Marx. Still mostly enjoyed the humor, costumes and geometric solid color shapes for a set that moved about and recalled the covers of 1950’s jazz albums.Elements: firebirds, horses, feather, moons
Title: “The Little Humpbacked Horse” by Alexi Ratmansky
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Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company “Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray”

What I saw last night. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company at the Rose Theater. It seems ridiculous to have to go through a mall and wait on an elevator to attend a show. Such is the Time Warner Center. Also ridiculous is that I am seeing this show for the second time in a year. It has not gained much since my last viewing. Still ostensibly about Abe Lincoln but he was better used in the original Star Trek when he helped Kirk fight the Klingons. I could see better since it was indoors and they got rid of the sad video screens but they kept the giant shower curtain around the stage. I would have preferred to see Fela again. Poor Lincoln.

Elements: spoken word, live music, acting, singing, columns, a large curtain, silhouettes, wigs, stovepipe hats
Title: “Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray”
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Saburo Teshigawara

What I saw last night. Saburo Teshigawara at the Rose Theater. This theater has the best view from a lobby of any I go to. It also seems to have a penchant for having solo male dance shows. I confess not my favorite genre. This guy was not bad for what he did. Lots of washed out blue lighting and industrial music reminiscent of a planetarium show. He affected a palsy like movement and made some scary shadows and faces with a light bulb. A little like a stripped down version Momix or Pilobolus.

Elements: lighting, light bulb
Title: “Miroku”
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