| Publication |
Barcelona City.com |
| Date |
June 11, 2010 |
| Author |
Alex Phillips |
One of the most critically acclaimed ballet companies in the world is performing in Barcelona for the first time, from the 8th to the 13th June at Teatre Coliseum.
Boston Ballet is a leading troupe in the US - a country with a highly competitive dance scene. The company perform both classical and contemporary dance and is led by acclaimed Finnish Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. Based at the Boston Opera House, it boasts the largest ballet school in North America.
Forty-five dancers from Boston Ballet make their first stop in Barcelona, before embarking on a five-week tour of Spain. Unique to the city, four diverse and original works have been selected from their two programmes: one piece by master choreographer George Balanchine and four pieces from their Made in Boston programme, most of which were created specifically for the company.
Russian-born George Balanchine (1904-1983) was a hugely influential figure in the development of 20th century ballet. Founder of the New York City Ballet, he also helped establish Boston Ballet in 1963. In Ballo della Regina he sets a series of virtuoso dances to the music of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Don Carlos.
From the Made in Boston programme: Boston Ballet's resident choreographer Jorma Elo presents Brake the Eyes, where ballet at breakneck speeds serves to parody the nature of dance itself.
Canadian choreographer Sabrina Matthews' ein von viel is set to the Goldberg Variations of Johann Sebastian Bach, and is a challenging piece for two athletic male dancers.
Helen Pickett and Viktor Plotnikov are both former principal dancers with the company. Pickett choreographs Tsukiyo (Moonlit Night), a lyrical piece that draws on the minimalism melodies of Arvo Pärt, and Plotnikov's Rhyme moves to Frederic Chopin's cello pieces.
