[NEohioPAL] Berko review: EIFMAN BALLET @PhSq and INLET DANCE @ CPT..now performing

[Roy Berko]

EIFMAN BALLET and INLET DANCE THEATRE entertain dance aficionados

Roy Berko

(Member, Dance Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times

--coocleveland.com—

EIFMAN BALLET OF ST. PETERSBURG, proficiency personified

Standing in the lobby of the State Theatre on opening night of the world famous EIFMAN BALLET OF ST. PETERSBURG’s was like being in a Russian performance hall.  The echo of the sounds of the Russian language pervaded the space.  

Many of the audience members were former residents of the Soviet Union.  Hugs, kisses and zdravstvuj (the Russian word for greeting someone with whom you’re on an informal/friend-basis) and dobryj vyechyer! (good evening) filled the space.  At the curtain call, as is the custom in Russia, many audience members flowed toward the stage, shouting to the performers.  The large, local, fairly-recent Russian immigrant population had come to see each other and welcome their cultural arts heritage.  It was quite an experience.

Also quite an experience was watching the Eifman Ballet in action.  Appearing in Cleveland for the first time in nine years, the extraordinary company  is noted for revolutionizing dance and for its creative blend of traditional balletic moves within a contemporary dance modality, to create dance dramas.  There is an adventurous and innovative feel to the movements.

DON QUIXOTE has been transformed from the normal setting to being placed in an insane asylum, and renamed FANTASIES OF A MADMAN.   Choreographer Boris Eifman has created an interesting twist on the famous Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes’ tale of an idealist who takes on all opponents as he dreams the impossible dream of curing the world of its ills.

We watch as the company uses pails, a hula hoop, balls, and a balloon to tell the tale with pathos and whimsy.  Eifman combines the traditional with the modern as dancers on-pointe dance besides those using gymnastic and modern dance moves.  Traditional classic lifts and partnering combine with marching and bull-fighting movements.  There is a marvelous pas de deux as well as trust leaps. 

Capsule judgement:  Viewing the Eifman Ballet is a treat.  Not only is the company grande and fun, but it is an opportunity to see classic ballet in a city without a true ballet company.  Spasiba (thank you) to Gina Vernaci, Vice President of PlayhouseSquare Theatricals for bringing in this world class company.

The company performs again on Saturday, May 14 at 8 and Sunday, May 15 at 2.  For tickets  call 216-214-6000 or go to www.playhousesquare.org


INLET DANCE THEATRE continues to prosper

Inlet Ballet is in the midst of its tenth season!  The past has seen the company perform and educate, their two missions.   The recent recipient of financial grants, a new phenomenon for the company, has   put Bill Wade’s troupe on strong financial ground, and while other companies entrench due to the nation’s financial situation, Inlet looks to grow. 

Their present program, part of Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks ’11, explores various aspects of human relationships while sharing repertory from their history.  They also premiere WATER, the first movement of a four element series based on the personality types developed by Laurie Beth Jones, whose THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS has become a major thought force for Wade.

The evening includes WONDROUS BEASTS, a gymnastics-centered piece in which insect-like creatures, individually and collectively co-existence, serves as “metaphors for informing and inspiring choices for life journeys.”  This is one of my favorite company selections.

DREAM OF SLEEP is based on sleep studies by Dr. Kingman Strohl.  Bodies move in various sleep states from calm reflection through twitches and nightmarish uncontrolled body reactions to create a fascinating look at what humans do as they slumber.

WAR EFFORT EVES, which was created as a reaction to 911, showcases a USO performer, a Hollywood dancer/actress from the big musicals era and Rosie the Riveter.  The performance, the evening’s weakest, lacked unity, intensity and dynamics.

OFFAXIS, an exploration of character, showcased Joshua Brown, one of the area’s finest dancers, as he found himself leaning outside the box of cultural norm.  Flowing movements and powerful bodily control were highlights of this well-conceived offering.

MEMORITE highlighted the message, “Human life is valuable,” by focusing on the issues facing the elderly and their care-givers.  Ryan Lott’s score, composed of verbal sound bites from interviews and the sounds of life, was a sounding board for looking at Parkinson’s, little old ladies in tennis shoes, pain and loss.

The only new piece on the program, WATER, is a pretty but uninspiring composition.  Consisting of lifts, carries, and rolling (like waves), there was a lack of a focal center in the attempt to view the aqua personality type.  Hopefully WATER is a work in progress and not a final product as it needs more development.

Capsule judgement:  Inlet Dance’s Danceworks 11 program is an excellent introduction to their proficient skills.  It continues Saturday, May 14 (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, May 15 (3 p.m).  For tickets call Cleveland Public Theatre at 216-631-2727 or go to www.cptonline.org.

 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and www.NeOHIOpal
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