David H. Koch Theater, New York, NY.
July 30, 2024.
For the fourth summer time in a row, 5 of NYC’s most iconic dance firms joined forces for 5 days of spectacular dancing with the BAAND Collectively Dance Competition. Began in 2021, as a strategy to bolster the dance group after the pandemic, the pageant options works from Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), New York Metropolis Ballet (NYCB) and Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH). This yr, the present moved from the outside venue of years previous inside to the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Heart, a change that allowed for gentle design to be extra related and worries of rain or excessive warmth eliminated, however the pleasant summer-y vibe of ingesting seltzer or rosé at nightfall whereas watching dance was actually misplaced.
NYCB opened with George Balanchine’s Duo Concertant, danced by Megan Fairchild and Anthony Huxley, and accompanied by Sean Lee on violin and Elaine Chelton on piano. The neoclassical piece has moments when the dancers are nonetheless and easily take within the music, giving a way of honor to the musicians with their stillness. Watching such veterans of the the corporate dance so nicely was an inspiring strategy to begin the night given the excessive degree of ability and artistry they each proceed to deliver the stage after many years with the corporate.
The Ailey firm introduced veterans to the stage as nicely, performing Solo, a piece for 3 males. The highly effective dance confirmed the ability and virtuosity of the artists with out overcomplicating concepts – each the energy and beauty of those males had been in a position to shine on this work by Hans van Manen. Following this trio, Ballet Hispánico carried out Sombrerísimo, initially choreographed for all males as nicely – though over time has been reimagined with each all-female and mixed-gendered casts. This night, we noticed one lady and 5 males. That malleability is a robust choice based mostly on the casting I noticed, one which took the viewers down an entertaining, surrealist journey based mostly on the work of painter René Magritte.
Shifting tone completely, ABT carried out Night time Falls by Brady Farrar (a 19-year-old member of ABT Studio Firm), which is a brand new work initially set on ABT Studio Firm this previous Could. This intimate pas de deux was danced by longtime ABT Principal Thomas Forster and model new Principal Chloe Misseldine. The calm serenity of the piece was really divine to observe and superb to contemplate the deep breadth of expertise shared by each the dancers and choreographer.
Lastly, DTH closes the night with Blake Works IV (The Barre Mission), a William Forsythe work which was a fee for the corporate as a part of the bigger Barre Mission collection, initially a filmed work created in the course of the peak of the pandemic and streamed to audiences worldwide. The newer variations are supposed for the stage however nonetheless make the most of a barre and a way of feeling boxed in, each by way of set items and lighting design. The dancers appeared fully in tune with the vibe and the choreography, and danced all of it brilliantly. It was a sturdy and powerful strategy to finish the night.
BAAND Collectively Dance Competition is a deal with for dance audiences in NYC, with its assorted program and inexpensive (pay-what-you-can) construction. Whether or not indoors or out, it’s well worth the effort to absorb if you happen to take pleasure in world-class dance.
By Emily Sarkissian of Dance Informa.
