Breathing Life into Balanchine
Balanchine’s “Rubies”
THE GHOST OF THE BELOVED ballet master, George Balanchine, comes to Charleston this weekend as CBT presents Masterpieces of Dance at the Sottile Theatre on Saturday, Feb 13 at 7:30 PM. They will be breathing life into one of Balanchine’s first big successes, Serenade, as well as Rubies. Rubies is new to the CBT repertoire and choreographer Jill Eathorn Bahr describes it as, “crisp and witty, epitomizing the collaboration of Stravinsky and Balanchine.” One of his favored duets, its costumes are inspired by Claude Arpel’s jewelry design.
Charleston Ballet Theatre is one of the few companies that has been given the nod to present Balanchine’s work, as the oeuvres are under heavy scrutiny and protection by the quality-police in the dance world. About this phenomenon, Jill comments: “Many people are concerned these days about the authenticity of different companies’ versions of the Balanchine ballets. That’s good. Let them worry. But the way to be true to Balanchine is not so much to be authentic as to be artistic. A company must like the ballet for a personal reason (not just because it’s by the famous Balanchine), and work on it according to that idea.”
George Balanchine
In 1933, the Russian dancer-turned-choreographer was wooed by ballet ambassador Lincoln Kirstein to come to the brave new world and be the voice of American ballet (albeit with a Russian accent). After a series of diversions with musical theatre and touring companies that spread the word, the revelation of the School of American Ballet made it the esteemed breeding ground for students to be well trained in the art form and then to move on (in 1948) to New York City Ballet—an icon of the crème de la crème for balletomanes. Balanchine’s style is considered neo-classical because it takes the tradition of Marius Petipa’s ballet formula and turns it upside down and inside out. To see Balanchine work is to be completely seduced by the completely unpredictable nature of the movement and design of his dances.
When he arrived in the states, he was inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and he put this into his ballets which presented an entertaining glamour that had not been part of ballet before. Incorporating the speed and sophistication of New York City, he infused his ballets with razor-sharp lines and ballerinas.
Many know that Balanchine married four of his leading ladies and that countless young ballet dancers served as his muses to create such gems as Agon, Apollo, and The Four Temperaments. He once said in an interview that he preferred his dancers like parmesan cheese: “young and moist, not old and hard” — delicious fodder for feminists who have often commented on his pedestal relationships.
So, step out this weekend to support the home team culture—especially if you had to endure the super bowl—and experience the good stuff! Enjoy.
