By Montague Gammon III
Sensual and athletic, classically trained and purposefully innovative, Philadelphia’s much praised contemporary ballet company, BalletX, joins the long list of exceptional dance troupes brought to Hampton Roads by the Virginia Arts Festival. Their March 5 concert at Chrysler Hall will mark the Connie and Marc Jacobson Opening Night Celebration of the Festival’s 29th Season.
BalletX Artistic and Executive Director Christine Cox co-founded the company with choreographer Matthew Neenan 20 years ago, following her own double decade dancing career that included featured prime roles with choreographic luminaries such as Paul Taylor, Agnes DeMille and Jerome Robbins, and numerous first rate companies. Cox took time for a phone chat about the company and the three works they are bringing to Chrysler Hall for just one performance, a conversation that was peppered with her infectious chuckles and laughs.
(To the comment that online videos of BalletX performances suggested that it was “a very sensual company,” Cox replied with a hearty “Thank you!”)
Those same videos display an athleticism and acrobatic skills that go beyond even the conventional, considerable requirements of classical ballet and modern dance.
Cox commented, about what will be on the Chrysler Hall stage, “On a triple bill it’s nice to have some works that get you questioning [and] thinking…Each piece is so different and the music is so different, it really should appeal to a wide range of audiences.”
“It’s fun to take an audience on a journey that inspires people to feel like they’re diving into a delicious 5 star meal that is just takes their senses, their taste buds on a wonderful journey, like a tasting menu.”
“Heroes,” choreographed by Takehiro Ueyama for an even dozen dancers, was the first piece she discussed. Set to John Adams’ 1985 ”The Chairman Dances,” it runs 22 minutes. Cox said, “It was inspired by the aftermath of WW2 and the rebuilding of Japan,” calling it “a love letter to his family,,,walking in the footsteps of his parents and generations of his ancestors…gorgeous and really unique. “
Philadelphia’s “Broad Street Review” called this interpretation of how Japan rose from war’s desolation, “Profoundly moving.”
The 16-minute-long “To Become a Mountain,” was made by triple Tony winning choreographer Justin Peck. Taken literally it simulates climbing, euphoric summiting, and finally the thrill of sliding down a mountain. In Cox’s description it took on a deeper meaning.
“This piece speaks to me of today. It’s a driving, energetic piece…we are humans, pushing through life to climb a mountain, to get up each and every day and discover our best self, to push away from what’s comfortable, and if you listen to the lyrics you’ll see how inspiring this music from Dan Deacon is.”
“Big Wig,” by Marguerite Donlon, at 26 minutes, is the longest dance on the program. Cox promises that its “clever sense of humor just has you giggling.”
“She grew up in Ireland, she learned a very specific type of dance, Irish step dancing. She takes a humorous look at what does it mean to be an Irish step dancer that evolved into a contemporary ballet choreographer.”
Donlon’s comments are online: “ ‘Big Wig’ is a slice of life; colorful, whimsical, and bold. It’s a celebration of tradition, transformation, and the joy of imaginative play, where wigs become symbols of dance’s evolving spirit.”
All 150-plus original works that BalletX has premiered in its 20 years have in common one core element: the rigid discipline of classical ballet technique applied to very original, very post-classical creations.
This integration of ballet and modern dance techniques, Cox said, “is a definitely a hallmark of the company. All the dancers, [all] 16 of them, take ballet class every morning, Monday through Friday and they are always striving to improve, mastering the technique of ballet.”
Anyone who has attended even a few dance concerts knows that their audiences are heavily populated with teen, tween and pre-teen girls who want to become beautiful ballet dancers like they see on stage and in videos. What would Cox say to them about BalletX and this program?
“My hope is that they would be inspired by a performance of BalletX because it represents a fresh approach to how we can experience ballet. This program has so much to offer [to] so many generations of people and this company wants to ignite audience members into love, and ignite them into a sense of adventure.”
“I think a young dancer coming to watch this show would be surprised and delighted…these are extraordinary dancers and this is a great American company that represents our [American] values of adventure, creativity and community. I want to lean into the great parts of what makes America special.”
She expanded her answer: “Now more than ever we need experiences that bring us together and bring love and light into our hearts, and these different works do that.”
“A performing arts experience gives people the chance to calm their minds and reflect on what’s happening right in from of them [on stage]…Live performances are about not only what’s happening on stage but what’s happening in the audience; a shared, combined experience.”
Her favorite part of her job, Cox said, “is bringing artists together, creatives, to produce something that has never been made before, and that anticipation before the world premiere happens, and that moment when the audience and work merge, and you sit in the seat and you kind of discover the work together….My favorite part of my job is being able to be a part of building something from nothing, creating experiences that inspire human connection.”
BalletX
Presented by Virginia Arts Festival
7:30 p.m., Thurs., March 5
Chrysler Hall, Norfolk
Box office: 757-282-2822