EAST COUNTY OBSERVER
YourObserver.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014
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HOW THEY PREPARE Sarasota Ballet principal dancers Victoria Hulland and Danielle Brown don’t leave the stage for approximately 20 minutes in “Symphonic Variations.” The first time they per-
Favorite piece in the festival: “Birthday Offering” 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 30; and 8 p.m. Friday, May 2 Why? I think it’s so great how it shows off every female soloist’s strengths because all of the solos are so different. It would have been amazing to see it at the time it was choreographed because it featured all of the best ballerinas of the Royal Ballet. Describe it: It’s beautiful and regal with big long tutus in all different colors. It was for the queen on her birthday. It features seven couples, and all of the girls do the entre, or entrance. They do this step around the stage into an adagio and each girl does a solo. Then all the boys do a dance together, and there’s a pas de deux at the end.
Favorite piece in the festival: “Illuminations,” 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 Why? I love acting on stage. I love the drama. I love blood. I love doing that! Describe it: It’s a ballet that Ashton created based on the poet Rimbaud. It was the only ballet he created outside of England, and he choreographed it for New York City Ballet. It isn’t necessarily the story of the poet, but it’s about the events of his life combined with some of his poems. It’s like they are all on drugs. What’s it like to dance it? It’s very un-Ashton. He was in America and not London, and it was his opportunity to try something new with dancers he had never worked with. But the body movements and musicality are all still there.
formed it, they spent five weeks learning the steps. This is the preparation that goes into just one ballet. Typically, Sarasota Ballet presents three ballets in one performance a month. For the Sir Frederick Ashton Festival, they’ll present
at least three ballets a night for four days in a row — practically a whole season of repertoire in one week. The company has never rehearsed 11 ballets at one time. The dancers say rehearsing just one Ashton ballet
Ricky Rhodes Favorite piece in the festival: “Sinfonietta,” 8 p.m. Friday, May 2 Why? It’s just so hard. To get through it is an accomplishment. It’s like, “OK, I did that!” I have stamina, but after performing “Sinfonietta,” I can’t breathe — it’s hard. Describe it: There are three different sections with a huge overture in the beginning ... There are two couples (in the first movement) and it’s fast and upbeat. The second movement has five guys and one girl, and she gets passed around like a rag doll … The third movement is when it all goes crazy … It’s just mayhem and nonstop dancing faster than you think you can. wears them out, but they are rehearsing three in one day. Some pieces they haven’t performed in more than three years, and they feel new. Others they’ve performed more recently, and they can rely on muscle memory.
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Favorite piece in the festival: “Symphonic Variations,” 8 p.m. Thursday, May 1 Why? It’s meaningful that the company had the opportunity to perform the ballet last year. And to do it again, I’m really excited. It’s one of those pieces that until you have done his other work, you don’t get (permission) to do it. It’s an accomplishment to say we get to perform it. Describe it: There’s no storyline, and it’s just a stunning piece. It’s more abstract. There are three girls and three boys, and no one leaves the stage for the entire piece. Everyone is in white and it’s very pure. It’s classical with a twist.
Ricardo Graziano
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Danielle Brown
Victoria Hulland
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Photos courtesy of Barbara Banks