They may not thrust, propel, and hit marks with the velocity and modern shapeliness of their colleagues in New York City Ballet. Why would they? They are differently trained. Speed was hindered by lugubriousness. Idiosyncratic details went undervalued. Still, it was beautiful to observe the purity of classical technique that Mariinsky Theatre dancers brought to Balanchine’s “Jewels” (1967).
Thousands of Angelenos experienced this over the weekend at the grand old lady of Bunker Hill, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, as part of the ‘Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center’ series. The audience’s rapt reaction indicated that almost Balanchine is better than no Mr. B at all.
A special shout-out to the regal Kimin Kim, whom we reviewed in the Mariinsky’s last visit to southern California.
I saw Mariinsky in NYC at the Fall for Dance festival.