Ballet Hispánico is flawless….
That is this reviewer’s main takeaway after seeing the dance troupe’s final 56th season performance at New York City Center.
It begins as soon as the large doors open from the outer foyer to the lobby. As if it tell us Hey, it’s time to get festive! we are met by a group of twirling polka-dot clad young dancers stomping their feet in rhythm to the clapping hands of their flamenco instructor. For those of us who know of Ballet Hispánico’s extensive work in the LatinX community, it seems more than appropriate that young dancers under Ballet Hispánico’s tutelage start off the pre-show and our introduction to the troupe.
Ballet Hispánico Showcases Women Choreographers
This season finale performance showcased the work of three women choreographers: Chicago-based choreographer Stephanie Martinez’ Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez; Latin American choreographer Marianela Boán’s Reactor Antígona, and Brazilian choreographer Cassi Abranches’ Trança.
In Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez (Again, Again, Again) — first up in the evening’s program—Martinez explores an imagined life of The Old Guitarist painted by Pablo Picasso. The music mélange often felt like the earth tone costumes—immersing us in a muted reverie. What strikes most is the repeated feeling that the flawless Ballet Hispánico dancers defy gravity.
There are three dancers in Marianela Boán’s Reactor Antígona, which the program notes explain is a mashup of Caribbean cosmology and the classic tragedy of Oedipus. Dry orange and red-hued leaves carpet the dance floor. Oversized black duffel bags become part of the dance ensemble at times, and sometimes a wall. We read in the program notes that these props speak to the pains of displacement and migration. This reviewer found it difficult to follow the narrative or symbolism, but in hindsight welcomed the work as a switch-it-up palate cleanser between the two bookend works.
Trança (Braid), in contrast, was a straightforward visual exploration of intertwining human relations. Abranches’ work puts our focus on the infinite possibilities of interlacing dancers.
The making, breaking and re-plaiting of the interweaving patterns by the dancers moves quickly. As in the opener, the muted colors and lighting cast the work in a feeling of reverie.
Considerable Physical Challenge to Ballet Hispánico Dancers
In a post-performance talk back with three of the Ballet Hispánico Dancers — Mia Bermudez, Francesca Levita, and Andrea Mish—Mish shared that the physical challenge of performing these dances during the New York City Center finale was considerable. For this reviewer, the inability to see any of the dancers grappling with a challenge at any point in the performance underlined and added an exclamation mark to just how flawless they are.
If you love beauty in dance performances, Ballet Hispánico delivers and then some.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Creative Team:
Eduardo Vilaro: Artistic Director & CEO, Cassi Abranches: Choreographer (Trança), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa: Choreographer (Línea Recta), Stephanie Martinez: Choreographer (Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez), Marianela Boán: Choreographer, Peter Crompton: Scenic Design, Marina Polakoff: Costume Design, Sergio Trujillo: Tony and Olivier Award-winning Choreographer
For more information and tickets to future performances visit the Ballet Hispanico website.
Find more Picture This Post dance reviews in the latest roundup — CHOREOGRAPHERS WE LOVE. Also, watch a short preview video here —
NB: Errata -- Proper spelling is BalletX (not Ballet X).
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About the Author: Amy Munice
Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.
