[NEohioPAL] Berko review: POINTE OF DEPARTURE @ Cain Park

[Roy Berko]

*Classic and modern ballet highlight POINTE OF DEPARTURE at Cain Park*



Roy Berko

(Member, Dance Critics Association)





When the Cleveland Browns snuck out of town in 1995, it left a void, but
three years later the team was resurrected.  When the Cleveland San Jose
Ballet waltzed to San Jose in 2000, another void was left in the city’s
psyche.

Unfortunately, there has been no resurrection, so the city is left with no
professional ballet company.



The void is sometimes filled when Dance Cleveland brings in a touring
company whose specialty is classic dance, but that doesn’t provide a
consistent diet for ballet aficionados.



Locals had hoped that, due to their strong local ties, former Cleveland
Ballet wunderkinds, Karen Gabay and Raymond Rodriguez, would make Cleveland
the permanent home for Pointe of Departure, their small nonprofit ballet
company, and grow it into a local treasure.



Point of Departure originated here in 1998 as a collaboration between
violinist Lev Polyakin, Assistant Concert Master for the Cleveland
Orchestra, and Gabay.    After sold-out performances at the Cleveland
Museum of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Art, the collaboration got a
name and a mission.  It’s purpose is to “erase the stereotypical antiquated
image of classical ballet and launch it into the 22nd century as an art
form in demand!”



Though still “based” in Cleveland, the company appears in other venues,
performing locally once a year.  Next week, for example, they will be
bringing their repertoire to the Mountain View Center for the Performing
Arts in the California south bay area.  That performance will feature 16
Ballet San Jose dancers in contrast to the eight who recently performed at
Cain Park.



The Cain Park concert consisted of seven pieces, four of which were Gabay’s
choreography.  The rest were “after Petipa.”



Marius Petipa was a French ballet teacher and choreographer who is
considered the most influential ballet master of all time.  Many of his
creations are used as the basis for other choreographers to stage works
“anew.”  These are traditionally listed in dance programs as “after Petipa.”



Gabay’s own pieces were the highlights of the program.  The evening started
with a delightful Z BLUES, in which Rodriguez spent most of the number
dancing with his feet in the air as he stood on his head, in white face,
while Gabay attempted to be the classic female tutu-costumed ballerina.  The
short piece delighted the audience as the duo proved that even though they
are past their prime as featured dancers, they can still grab, hold, and
delight an audience.



The rest of the first act were classical after Petipa selections.  There
was generally a lack of variety in the prescribed movements, making for
little visual variance.



The young dancers sometime seemed overwhelmed by the complexity and
required precision of the choreography.  A late entrance, shallow pointe
work, difficulty in freezing moves, uncertain lifts, and lack of confidence
were sometimes evident.   The most accomplished selection, LE CORSIRE,
featured dynamic and talented Jing Zhang and proficient, high flying Damir
Emric.  The lovely Amy Marie Briones handled her role in Black Swan Pas De
Deux with proficiency and appeal.



The second act, dedicated to modern balletic and contemporary dance pieces,
was highlighted by RUSSIAN BLUE, in which the entire company displayed free
form movement, well fitted to their skill levels, resulting in a dynamic
connection to the audience.



Gabay and handsome gym toned Maykel Solas, combined to present a sensual
selection which was both titillating and satisfying.



The wonderful live violin interpretations by Lev Polyakin and pianist
Elizabeth DiMio were a highlight of the evening.



*Capsule judgement:  Cleveland needs a resident ballet company.  Though not
world class, Pointe of Departure would be a wonderful permanent addition to
the local scene.  It can only be wished that Gabay and her company will
find the desire and financing to make their home here, permanent.  For
information about the company go to:  www.pointofdeparture.com*



Side note: Dennis Nahat, who served as the long time artistic director of
the Cleveland Ballet and later the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, was dismissed
as the Ballet San Jose’s artistic director earlier this year.
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