In the promotional image for “Solo for Two,” the first independent concert tour from dance superstars Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova, the formidable Russian dancers appeared side by side in dramatic grand-allegro jumps that would have certainly resulted in a mid-air crash were it not a collaged image. Culled, it seems, from promo shots for … [Read more...]
The Balance of Tension in Ratmansky’s new ABT “Firebird”
Igor Stravinsky’s sensational “Firebird” ballet demands a vivid design, and Simon Pastukh’s scorched, metallic forest (ignited by Wendell Harrington’s projections) along with Galina Solovyeva’s haute-goth costumes delivered a strong pop vision to Alexei Ratmansky’s new ballet for American Ballet Theatre. But on opening weekend at the Segerstrom … [Read more...]
Ratmansky’s “Firebird” for ABT Debuts Tonight in Costa Mesa
I can't wait to see what Alexei Ratmansky does with Stravinsky's "Firebird," premiering tonight during ABT's national tour. I keep thinking of the way Dumbledore's blood-red phoenix bursts into flames -- how fantastic is the mixture of avian hauteur with exploding flame. I'm also thinking of an amazing recreation of "Firebird"'s intensity at the … [Read more...]