THE HANGOVER REPORT – At City Center, THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA shows off its stylish eclecticism via works by Dawson, MacMillan, and Pite

The National Ballet of Canada performs Crystal Pite’s “Angels’ Atlas” at New York City Center (photo by Karolina Kuras).

Last night, I attended The National Ballet of Canada’s first of four performances at New York City Center. For their return to City Center (where the troupe hasn’t performed in 16 years), the revered ballet company – accompanied with live playing from the pit by The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra – showed off its stylish eclecticism via a trio of works by David Dawson, Kenneth MacMillan, and Crystal Pite.

The program commenced with Dawson’s Anima Animus, which was originally commissioned by the San Francisco Ballet and first performed in 2018. Featuring a moody score by Ezio Bosso, it’s a technically challenging work that often has the dancers’ upper body movements at odds with the steps, resulting in a dance that’s in constant, restless motion – and often strikingly off-balance. Despite all the dynamism, however, the piece strikes a single note that ultimately becomes monotonous.

Then came MacMillan’s Concerto, which is set to Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto #2. Choreographed back on 1966, MacMillan’s choreography contrasts the vitality of Shostakovich’s music with great poise and ethereal calm. Incorporating sensitive pas de deux and the entire corps de ballet, the piece is a ravishing display of impeccable classical ballet technique and composition. The dancers – in many respects, calling to mind the Royal Ballet – showed off their impressive ability to maintain exquisite line throughout.

The program closed with the newest piece of the evening, Pite’s Angels’ Atlas. Choreographed just prior to the pandemic in February 2020 and set to original music by Owen Belton, the piece exhibits Pite’s singular ability to create large scale works on the most massive of canvases. Like her Polaris or Flight Pattern, the sought after Canadian choreographer turns the company into a microcosm of humanity – transforming the work’s 36 dancers into a single living, breathing organism, and gorgeously conveying the notion that the loss of a single being is a traumatic experience for the whole.

RECOMMENDED

THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA
Dance
New York City Center
2 hours, 10 minutes (with two intermissions)
Through April 2

Categories: Dance

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