Review of Ballet BC Program 3

Program 3 marks the end of Ballet BC’s 30th year celebration with a trifecta of pieces choreographed by some of the world’s most innovative artists: Finnish-born Jorma Elo, Tel-Aviv-based Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, and BC Ballet’s Artistic Director, Emily Molnar. But what struck me with all three pieces was how the choreography of each piece was incredibly attuned to the music selected. These observations may be a result of my particular mood and/or sensitivities while watching the performance last night, or it may be true; I felt as though I never saw such an intimate relationship between music and movement as I did watching BC Ballet’s season’s closer.

Photo credit: Michael Slobodian

Set to Bach and Schumann and moments of complete silence (where all you could hear were the sounds of pointe shoes hitting the floor), I And I Am You had the dancers thrust into the air as if the music were being personified through the bodies of the dancers. In Molnar’s 16 + a room, the dancers’ pointed, yet hectic movements and pacing worked seamlessly with Dirk P. Haubrich’s industrial soundscape of bangs, crashes, and hums. Sometimes the dancers moved together in unison, but more often were each doing different, frenzied movements, which together, creating this hectic, beautiful chaos. I loved the last moment of the piece, where the dancers stood facing the audience shaking, as though they were under strobe light.

Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar often collaborate with percussionist and DJ Ori Lichtik, and Bill is another example of this intimate connection between music and movement. Stripped down to nude body suits, there is nothing that separates the bodies to the music and the audience, creating a raw, almost tribal feel to the performance as the dancers move in groups and burst into multiple solo performances. As a result of this incredibly visceral program, is an audience leaving having all senses stimulated and feeling the performance in their bodies, as well.

Program 3 has remaining performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre May 13th and 14th at 8:00pm. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 1-855-985-2787 (855-985-ARTS) or online.

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