The Arts in New York City

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14 responses so far ↓

• 1 eleung // Oct 25, 2007 at 12:13 am

  Nope…people delved into the wonders of frappaccinos, moccas, and pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. Anyhow, I enjoyed this, if you willl, collection of ballet tonight. When I think back, many colors come to mind, not just one. The evening was not too long. Intermissions helped a bunch.

  It’s tough to eliminate any piece. Not a fair question. If I must, I would pick the first one. I think the first was more about acrobatics than anything (I guess I’m leaning toward the need for a better story line), but I’m not saying I dreaded it. They exhibited great power. I would hate to see. It was great to see how each man was trying to take over the stage. In fact, I would actually like to see the first one over again. Because of the acrobatics, I would appreciate seeing it one more time just to appreciate the movement. Contradiction, yes, but the arts leave one feeling not so normal all the time.

  The third one, or Ballet’s Broadway, was such a radical balllet performance, but it would be the kind of performance that I would get tired of watching. I thoroughly enjoyed the comedy, but one can’t laugh at the same thing forever. The second one was a little too long for me, but I did love the grace and elegance of the dancers in that number. It brought me back to Romeo and Juliet. I remember there was one move that showcased pure beauty when the man lifted the woman and, upon the dismount, the woman fell back in a relaxed “aah” position. It was just too long to handle.

  About the Broadway-Ballet performance “Fancy-Free”, it was just so clever to see the twist on something we all generalized. I think we can all agree that the second number was what we imagined ballet to be. That’s the one thing you can’t be too sure about. We often turn our heads away from the arts because we have generalized notions about them. You have to see it to believe it! It’s not all black and white. Many colors exist.

• 2 Stephen // Oct 25, 2007 at 7:42 am

  I admit, from my prior experience with dance, i was not extremely thrilled with seeing another dance. But after reviewing it a bit more in class, I went in knowing what to expect.
  I thought that the three performances were like a transition from a classical sort of ballet, which was much more organized and symmetrical to a less organized more acting sort of dance. In the first scene or act, the symmetry is evident in every aspect. The dancers’ moves complimented each other– when one person went left, the other followed and when one got up, the other went down and what not. Even lighting was symmetrical, one side dark, one side light.
  The second one was a bit less organized. Much more people, sometimes doing different things and all of them moving around. It was a lot harder to focus on two people, which was a lot easier to see in those videos we saw in class. There were times that i thought they missed their cues, moving too fast or not with the music. Maybe it was just me. But none the less, it still contained elements of classical ballet, the gracefulness, the male supporting the female, the symmetry among others. But so much was happening, and often there were different people doing different things.
  The third was still dance, but it placed much more emphasis on acting. I found it funny how much oohs and ahhs this one got. Even the scenery was elaborate. As for the dancing, a lot of the motions were more like acting than dancing, although the two could be synonomous. Of all the pieces, this one definitely was my favorite. I think the main reason was because it took place in a more modern time, though the girls look like they were from the flappers generation. There were tons of humorous scenes and the solos were impressive. I could understand what was happening in this one better than the others. If i were to recommend any of the three, definitely the last one, then the first, and then the second.
  One last thing, I was more amazed at what the dancers were able to do with their body than the actual performance. They had surprising grace and flexibility but also a lot of strength. Looking at the performance live, i couldn’t stop thinking how painful it would be if we were in those ballerina shoes trying to tiptoe. Not FUN.
  A quick note about the space, I thought this was much easier on the eyes than Elektra, most likely because i could actually see what was going on and didn’t need to read supertitles. But i still wasn’t thrilled about the seating.

• 3 Mary // Oct 26, 2007 at 10:05 am

  I was excited to go see this ballet even though the same day I got this really bad fever. I was a bit unhappy with the seats but what can one do.

  I think I would have eliminated the first dance. I was a little confused at first because of the costumes they had and it took few minutes to get used too but overall I wasn’t too impressed with the choreography at certain points because a few times it almost looked as if they were a boy band dancing badly. I was also wondering why when the ballerina walked across the stage it almost sounded like she had tap shoes on. I understand the sounds made after jumping but it seemed to occur more than that. It was nice to see the various ways they moved in the first dance. What I got from it was that there were many repetitions of movement in various orders of time, forming a sequence in the dance. However, I think I may have wanted to see a little more interaction between the two. I guess to me, when they just kept repeating what one dancer did over and over it felt more like a competition than a cohesive piece. What I did like about the first dance were the solos, that exhibited their strengths.

  The second performance kind of seemed like the more typical ballet. The women were wearing the leotards and at least the costumes were simple. Thoguh I felt the piece moved a little too slow for me, I did appreciate how the ballerinos (spell check) and ballerinas worked together to complete lifts and shapes and other various movements. I could see that it took alot of control on their parts to do those moves. The only problem was that the classical music in the background and the dancing put together created such a relaxed feel that I fell asleep for a bit. However, from what I saw it was a very elegant piece.

  I think the third perormance was what me and most of the class enjoyed the most. It had a scene set and it was a livelier performance. The dancers were very amusing although they seemed a bit offensive when they kept taking away the woman’s purse. It was very interesting to see them dance with character instead of just dancing to the music. I guess it put an extra layer of expression and that showed throughout the performance. I was very pleased to see it and it was very fun to watch. I even saw a little bit of stepping in there, which is what I did in high school.

  I am plannng to go see another ballet, I just do not know when yet. And after the performance I went to Starbucks to get a Cafe Mocha!

• 4 Lindsey Freer // Oct 26, 2007 at 10:46 am

  Well, since it was my first ballet, I’ll offer up some thoughts too.

  As I said at the end of the evening, I liked the fact that each piece was so different. I got something different out of each one. In the first piece, I was listening very carefully, and comparing and contrasting the music and the dance — how is the violin solo being interpreted? How is the oboe line being interpreted? My roots are in classical music — I was trained as a cellist as a child — so I got a lot out of comparing aural and visual experiences. (Though I felt the orchestral accompaniment of the soloists was sometimes the slightest bit sloppy? I’m a Baroque -era purist, and I appreciate constraint.)

  The second piece bored me to tears. It was pretty to look at, and the lighting was done to great effect, but I started thinking about my grocery shopping, when I was going to do my laundry this week, my commitments in the coming days… anything other than what I was watching. The one thing I found interesting about it was the sound of so many pairs of feet en pointe! I’d never thought of ballet making noise before.

  The third piece was fun. It was musically accessible, which I personally appreciated. Also, where the second piece was meant to be romantic, this was meant to be sexy, and I enjoyed seeing that ballet could do both. It was less impressionistic and more programmatic, and the physical comedy was well done.

  Kudos to the orchestra musicians for pulling off such a distinct variety of musical styles in the same program, and to Prof. Drabik for picking such an intriguing program.

  I’d go to the ballet again, I think, if I had reason to do so. But my first choices are generally the symphony or the opera, and I doubt that’ll change. Dance is a language I don’t know, so I can’t really appreciate the subtleties of it. I can’t tell if something was particularly well-executed, or if a particular move is tremendously difficult. Without the background knowledge it remains a visual spectacle for me, interesting to watch but not particularly engaging on a deeper level.

• 5 dengelman // Oct 26, 2007 at 12:42 pm

  I think the only thing that we went to that I thought was too long was the opera. Three relatively short pieces with two 20 minute intermissions is a fairly painless experience. The first piece, was um, interesting! I paid attention to it, probably since this was the first piece and my attention span didn’t run out yet. During the second piece, I was for the most part in another world, far away from City Center. And the third piece…that was definitely the best one. I thought it seemed a little more akin to a Broadway show than a ballet. The jazz as opposed to classical music was also very refreshing.
  The first two pieces, though, seemed for the most part to be “stereotypical” ballet. In other words, it’s how I’ve always pictured ballet, and that’s what I got. One important thing that I need to say is that the workshop in class really made me appreciate what the dancers do. I was pretty terrible at trying to do the most basic of basic moves, so to see these dancers perform so incredibly and artfully really struck me.
  Would I go to a dance again? Well, classical ballet didn’t seem like it’d be for me. The last piece however seemed more interesting (interesting in a good way…), so

• 6 dengelman // Oct 26, 2007 at 12:44 pm

  dang it! somehow I posted before I finished my rambling….as I was saying, the last piece made me realize that I’d definitely be willing to try some other form of dance, I guess what’s called “modern dance”.
  Lastly, aside from the last piece, was there any story to the other pieces, because if there was, then I completely missed it.

• 7 Jacky Ng // Oct 27, 2007 at 1:36 am

  Alright, everyone knows this but I’ll repeat once again that the third piece was the best.

  I never really got into dance. Being a simpleminded guy that likes things explained straight-up, I’m not too good with interpretative stuff. I couldn’t understand what people were trying to express by using their body as their tool, and it always came down to me either falling asleep or staying awake long enough to appreciate the strength and technique that these people have developed. Lifting a girl with one arm is out of the question for your average guy. I know I can’t, which is why I have a good amount of respect for what these guys do on the stage, even though I think their costumes make them look absolutely ridiculous.

  Furthermore, the stage is abysmally bare, with only a fancy pattern on the ground and bright lights filling in for things that cannot be replaced by such spartan methods. If there’s nothing to look at besides silent, moving people to the soothing smooth tunes of the orchestra, I’ll be worn down into nothingness, falling asleep even with my eyes open.

  Both the first and second pieces seemed nearly the same in my eyes, mainly because I only see moving people either way. The only thing that was different was the costumes and the dance “vocabulary,” but it’s too slight to make any difference for me. Not saying ballet is bad… It’s just not what I’m into. If I were to attend any form of dance, it should be like the third piece.

  This was something with a coherent stage and costumes that were more than just leotards and tutus. Combined with the way the dancers interacted with each other, there was a solid tale that could instantly be seen. The upbeat 50’s jazz style music was always there to keep me awake, and the lively scenery had a striking style that always caught my eye.

  To your average fools (like me), stuff like dance needs to be understandable, upbeat, eye catching and varied. If you keep the stage bare, the music relaxing and the costumes limited to two choices, we’d all be asleep within the first few minutes… Or wondering what’s for dinner…

• 8 jettikkalayil // Oct 27, 2007 at 2:42 pm

  Wow. I believe this performance out of all the other common events was my favorite (well maybe other than Figaro). Unlike Electra where I had a good nap in between Electra’s psychotic ranting and prancing around, I was truly focused on this particular performance. It was also much more interesting than the New Ballet at the Miller Theatre, though both contained three sections the quality of the American Ballet Theatre at the New York City Center was much more superb. I was expecting something on the lines of traditional ballet with a slight addition of modern elements. The first two sections of the performance were pretty traditional, but the third section was incredible because it fused plot, modern dance, and traditional elements to make a very enjoyable show.

  The first section was mainly focusing on the male form of dance while the second section was incorporated with more female performers. It was a very friendly competition between them. My favorite part of the whole performance was the section three with the three sailors and their night in town. It had a humor element that many performances don’t have or have very little. Humor is always a plus for me. Placing this part at the end was a very good idea by the directors of this performance, because the whole performance was two and half-hours long. The humor element raised the spirit of the audience and their attention.

  I would definitely recommend this particular show to everyone, and I would love to see section three again. Anyone who didn’t raise their hand for dance with plot should rethink their choice. Fancy Free (Section 3 title) was an amazing ballet performance with plot. This section also incorporated modern elements of jazz, salsa, and other music forms.

• 9 fahmad // Oct 27, 2007 at 10:34 pm

  I’m so glad I finally got to see a ballet! I never thought I would actually go to one, but wow, here I can finally say I saw one

  Ok so the first piece was really interesting.. i thought that THIS one would have the “leaves” title because at one point, the dancers looked like trees, as if giving life and then withering away.. by the way, that scene was really well done, and I think that was the only part of the first dance that I could get any meaning out of. Also, the lighting effects were transitioned really well in the first piece. One half of the stage was light and the other half dark, and then it reversed. However, I noticed that the dancers kept switching back and forth between each half, and their stage movements didn’t seem to regard those blocks of lighting, so I’m not sure I understood it.. I also liked the symmetry of the dancers; it was really interesting to see multiple dancers coming out, and that was a really powerful move.

  The second one really was boring.. my attention stayed for the first ten minutes, but then, as Lindsey stated, my mind also began to wander to other things.. I kept zoning in and out, and it just seemed to be pretty boring seeing one man and one woman for most of it. It’s ironic because even though each move is supposed to be unique, I felt like I was watching the same thing. there should have been more variance in that dance. Also, I thought the costumes appeared funny from where we sat.. the white and red made them look like they were bleeding/had murdered someone. My attention was caught in the second one whenever the music became louder.. there were certain parts when the music grew interesting (louder, more dramatic) and I would have to say the music was the highlight for the second piece, for me.

  The third one was the best for me; it was so easy to understand, the humor was presented in such a clear manner, and it was genuinely funny! No cornyness, it was just performed so well, that even one who has trouble deciphering the dance can understand it. It kept my attention throughout every minute. I loved how there was a plot, and how a modern dance and ballet dance were both incorporated into it.

  I would love to go see another ballet, one with a plot, like the third one. It’s very interesting, and the gracefulness and skill is definitely appreciated.

  I also noticed how the men were used as support for the women, just like the ballet we watched in class.

  Oh yeah, me and Evan noticed that in the first piece, one dancer messed up, but as Evan pointed out later, instead of falling flat onto his foot after a little bad timing, he hopped on his foot instead. That really impressed me because it didn’t even look like a mistake just because of that!

• 10 etabolt // Oct 28, 2007 at 3:47 pm

  When I was a little girl I used to take ballet and all of this watching people dance and dancing in class has made me want to pick it up again. I really love watching ballet although for me personally 2 1/2 is too long to do anything, whether its watching a play, reading a book, doing homework =), or seeing a ballet and so I was a little tired by the middle of the second dance, although I am not sure I would eliminate any, I just would have liked to see them all on different nights.
  What I enjoyed about the first dance was that it displayed the capabilities of the male body. In ballet it is typical for the woman to be the focus but I enjoyed seeing such power and strength which differs greatly from the grace and beauty that it ussually equated with ballet. I am not sure what was happening plot-wise if there even was one, but I prefer watching people dance rather than to decifer the meaning behind the movement. What I did trully enjoy was how they played with light throughout the piece. When it was only men the lights were harsh and as soon as a woman stepped on stage they dimmed to a glow. After I began noticing how the light changed I focused part of my attention on seeing how the light worked with the dance and also with the music. I think that the clever use of light made the piece three-dimentional and really tied it together for me.
  The second dance was much more poetic and graceful. I kept wondering what was going on plot wise and it distracted me from how beautifully choreographed it was. I didn’t really enjoy it as it was “interesting” but nothing thought provoking. During the first one I was able to question why things were being done a certain way [for example with the lighting] but the second one just seemed to follow what a conventional ballet should be, the woman is beyond elegant and the man picks her up and supports her. The two sexes each had their distinct roles and rarely did they cross those lines.
  The last one seemes to be a favorite for a lot of people, and it certainly was entertaining. It reminded me of silent movies, the way they needed to be very physical to get their point across. It was rather comical, which I felt to be a nice touch after the first two, and it was refreshing to see such a play-like setting. What I was considering during the third dance was that the production was put forth by ABT American Ballet Theater, and in my mind the last dance embodied the theater and the first two embodied the ballet. I noticed that the women were not wearing pointe shoes or even ballet flats but rather they were clad in what looked like mary-janes. Still, they mangaged to move with the grace of a ballerina but with a lot of modern flair. I particularily enjoyed when the couples were dancing together becasue it seemed real, like they were actually at a bar and they were actually dancing together, as opposed to having been told to do so by a choreographer.
  All in all I enjoyed the night and I hope that I will get an opportunity to see another ballet soon. (I may even start dancing again =])

• 11 Samema // Oct 28, 2007 at 4:34 pm

  I actually forgot that we had to post this. The paper about the nature of the arts reminded me of this. Who knew that homework reminds you of more homework? No I’m joking. I choose to give in my two cents. Not that I have to blog.

  Well my experience at the ballet was rewarding. I like most of the comments tat i have read so far, have never been to a ballet. We have had our first experience to be a good one. The expectations that I had for the ballet were very hight. And I was scared that it would have not been fulfilled. But I was once again wrong. And I am glad that I was wrong. It was GREAT!

  The dancers were amazing. Their bodies were unnatural. And what we watched on the tape is nothing compared to what you can experience in real life. Mistakes that the dancers make are not that pronounced. If a mistake was to happen the audience would probably not notice and if they did they would not remember by the next turn of the dancer. It is good that you cannot rewind or fast forward. Sometimes one should experience something based on one showing.

  The first section was based on a classical movement but modern dance moves. They incorporated both so that the dancers were still doing classical ballet without standing on their tip toes. And the first performance was dominated by guys and there were like one girl (even though the playbill shows more). The second one was based on an entirely classical approach. The costumes were classical and elegant unlike the first one. And the dance was also classical. The third one was hands down my favorite. I did not think that ballet can be funny. But I was once again wrong. It reminded me of a cartoon. It was like watching Popeye trying to get Olive Oil. It was amusing and artistic. It was a fantastic way to end off the evening.

  I would cut off the second ballet because it was a little too traditional for me. And I would just elongate the third one. It modern clashes with ballet. Amazing.

  And as much as I enjoyed the ballet, I am extremely thankful for the 20 minute breaks. We were able to discuss things that were not remotely related to the ballet so it helped in distracting us.

  And no we did not go out for cheesecake again. Although I would have liked too. But no one wants to come to Brooklyn so late at night :(.

• 12 nperez-hernandez // Oct 28, 2007 at 5:00 pm

  I almost forgot about this blog, but as Samema said, homework does remind you about more homework.

  The whole event wasn’t as bad as the opera in terms of time. However, like the opera (and every other event), I was concered with whether I’d be able to stay awake through it all. I might have said to eliminate the second one because it was so boring I fell asleep through almost all of it; however, it was a good recoup period in between the first and third performances. I also liked listening to the beautiful music as I slept.

  I would love to see the last dance. More specifically, I would love to see more shorts in that style. That dance was like a tribute to the Broadway musicals of the 1950s and 60s, especially with the music and costuming and creative additions to the classic ballet elements I recognized. I also liked the theatrical quality of the performance — the best way to describe it is to hear the audience’s reaction to the set when the curtains came up.

  I’d never say never, but I doubt that I’ll pursue another dance performance, unless it was maybe a ballet like The Nutcracker. Dance is just not my cup of tea.

  One thing I found particularly beautiful was the dancing in the first performance. It was cool to see a ballet that primarily focused on the male dancers’ agility, strength, and beauty.

  No cheesecake this time, but there was a Starbucks stop. Mocha frappucinos are delicious.

• 13 bbeacom // Nov 7, 2007 at 12:11 am

  Ok this is late - but my feelings about the performance are still vivid.
  The first and last scene had the greatest effect on me. The first scene I interpreted as the relationship between humans. The many dancers on stage in the beginning complimented each other’s movements by coping or contrasting each other’s movements. As the first act continued, the group dynamic faded into a couple’s dance. The couples danced with more personal intimacy until the point when then were one as the spot light narrowed (by the way - I thought that was an awesome way to end a set with the light closing).
  The second scene could have been cut (if you had to pick one) because the women who started and ended the performance disturbed me a little (I know - I’m weird). I didn’t really understand the point of switching so many couples.
  The third performance was the most entertaining. I thought that a ballet was a more classical, sophisticated dance, but the third set totally blew that thought away. It was funny and still kept with ballet standards (pointed toes, etc.)

  An after-thought - we should have had cheesecake!

• 14 Ruby // Nov 7, 2007 at 5:27 pm

  I think the reasons most of us find the first and second performances to be less impressive is that they were a bit prosaic and cling to the traditional aspect more. However, I do think that their moves would be very graceful—if we could just move up to the front and watch them. The third performance immediately drew my attention. The set, with elements of modern design, and the red color theme hint the audience that it would not be another traditional ballet performance. The story plot is hilarious and romantic( at some point) I think the choreography was very enticing. There were a lot of moves you would not see in a traditional ballet. In a sense, less conventional, aiming for the reactions of the audiences and not aesthetic aspect. Besides the story plot, another thing that was different was the use of props—chairs, doors, tables, handbag. Also, there was more individuality in it than the last two traditional ballet performances. Almost everyone dressed and looked differently( height and body shapes) Each person’s dance is peculiar. They all have different moves. Each sailor takes turn to dance. I remember some of the moves were very goofy, which contrasted very strongly with the stereotypical classiness of ballet. Yet, this breakthrough, I think is something very new and desirable by the general audiences. I personally enjoyed the last performance very much and find a new thing that I like—modern ballet.

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