A security guard working the Saturday, April 18 performance of Dancers’ Viewpointe 9: Rite of Passage at the New College Theatre was awestruck by the physicality, grace, and beauty of Harvard’s dancers. Having a four-year-old daughter at home, he asked me, “Where can I enroll her in ballet classes?” and “When will she begin to dance as beautifully as these dancers onstage?”
How wonderful is the moment when one falls in love with dance.
I too had a magical experience Saturday night, awestruck by the energy and performance quality of the dancers with whom I take class. Their precision, elegance, and expressiveness was unparalleled! The mix of classical and contemporary choreography, live gamelan music, and the historic Rite of Spring brought together one of the most magical performances I have seen in years. To me, the dancers of the Dance Program (Office for the Arts at Harvard) looked just like a professional dance company, with dancers and choreographers who inspire and challenge you to grow as a person and an artist.
Claudia Schreier ‘08’s contemporary ballet Anomie was truly a work of beauty. Schreier was lucky to have such technically proficient dancers, who were also able to express themselves so deeply in their partnering. When the piece was over, I felt as if I had just left the museum after watching a painter’s canvas come alive, studying its beauty, line, and poise.
Elizabeth Bergmann's "Opalescent"
The flowing white costumes for Dance Director Elizabeth Bergmann’s new piece, Opalescent, were stunning, and the beautiful live music created an atmosphere that transported the audience into another world. The dancers’ expressiveness and the choreography’s use of weight took simple steps and made them rich with meaning. One of the moments I enjoyed most in this piece was dancer Lauren Chin ’08-‘09’s beaming smile and seductive nature in simple walks around the stage.
The last act, guest choreographer Jamie Blanc’s version of Rite of Spring, left me in awe of the dancers’ stamina. Onstage for almost half an hour, the cast vigorously ran and thrust themselves into sharp contractions, chased the chosen one, and maintained their aggressive personae throughout the work.
Jaime Blanc's "Rite of Spring"
For me, the key aspect of this performance was expression. Having expression when one is dancing leads the audience to believe that what is coming from the stage is really part of a dancers soul, “exposing themselves” as my ballet teacher would say. For those who leave the theater inspired, as did many that Saturday night, the collective energy of the dancers, choreography, music, costumes, and lighting create a magical space that may even be the entry point for future dancers.
I feel honored to say that I dance at Harvard.
Jaime Blanc's "Rite of Spring"
Written by Allyson Ross, Arts in Education Ed.M. ‘09. “Opalescent” photo by Courtney Bryant, “Rite of Spring” photos by Lauren Kaye ‘10.
