Mr. B

Company:
The Australian Ballet

Venue:
Melbourne: State Theater, VAC
Sydney: Sydney Opera House

Dates: 2004
Melbourne: 12 - 23 Mar
Sydney: 1 - 21 Apr

Bookings:
Ticketek

Putting the 'B' in ballet

The Australian Ballet’s 2004 season opened this week with a tribute to the great choreographer, George Balanchine. Titled Mr B, the program consists of three short Balanchine works, Serenade, Agon and Symphony in C. None of the pieces have a storyline, but each reveals something different about Balanchine’s creative talents and the ability of the dancers.

Serenade is set to music by Tchaikovsky and is a simple celebration of the developmental process of dance choreography. Legend has it that the piece began as a teaching experiment, in which Balanchine used actual events such as dancers falling over, late arrivals and personal dynamics to inspire the choreography. Choreographic traits include high kicks, flexed wrists, curved backs and unusual travelling movements. It is a beautiful and historically important ballet, but some aspects were notably outdated. For example, one section featured four dancers holding hands, doing the splits and making patterns. This was a little reminiscent of a ballet school concert rather than a piece from a renowned choreographer. Another section saw dancers take out their hair and dance with it flowing freely. This was probably quite contemporary when the production was first staged, but it seemed a little tame and meaningless in a modern context. Serenade - Photo by Justin Smith

No mistakes or flaws can be hidden in Agon, as the dancers simply wear leotards and tights. Set to music by Stravinsky, Agon celebrates the extremes to which a dancers body can be pushed and stretched. It features a great blend of dynamic movements, daring balances and displays of amazing flexibility. The partner work performed by Kirsty Martin and Matthew Trent was the most outstanding section of the ballet, as Martin performed high leg extensions and arabesques.

A royal blue backdrop and four chandeliers set the stage for Symphony in C. Danced to music by George Bizet, the piece was a grand finish to the night. The ballet is divided into four movements, ranging from slow adage to fast quick movements. The choreography compliments the music, covering a broad spectrum of ballet movements from allegro to adage. A different main couple appears in each of the four parts, with Rachel Rawlins and Lucinda Dunn standing out from the rest.

Yes, Balanchine revolutionised ballet, and the Australian Ballet have staged a great celebration of his contribution to the dance canon. He embraced the beauty of the human form and the ability of dancers to be athletic, strong and flexible. However, while the program was a brilliant showcase, it was almost too much of a good thing. It would have been good to include a ballet with a clearer point of difference, such as a story or set, in order to enhance the sense of difference that Balanchine’s pieces offer.

Melinda Oliver

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