DANCE PIANO EXTRAORDINAIRE run dates: 2/16/2008 - 2/17/2008 Ballet Quad Cities at The Capitol Theatre, Davenport (contributed photo courtesy of Joe Primus) ____________________________________________________________________________
Ballet Quad Cities debuts new work this weekend, and the collection of four pieces under the umbrella title of DANCE PIANO EXTRAORDINAIRE are a varied and interesting set of pieces intended for you and your valentine.
Set to live performances by three great pianists, this material makes for a lovely and romantic evening – with music from Frederik Chopin, George Gershwin, Ludwig van Beethoven and a handful of other composers. With a mix of dance styles, too, this EXTRAORDINAIRE keeps things interesting.
The first piece, "Sentiment," is by artistic director Steve Beirens, and it explores a range of emotional stages often found in relationships. Three couples dance their way through Chopin’s "Fantaisie-Impromptu in C Sharp Minor" with plenty of grace: Margaret Huling, Heidi Dunn and Hannah Dorfmueller Williams pair up with Jake Lyon, Jason Gomez and Christopher McCauley to showcase Beirens’ pretty work, which has excellent transitions and a smooth, even cheerful air that serves the music well. I especially like the sweet way the piece ends, with couples in a comforting embrace.
Pianist Tek Winesberry does an excellent job with the Chopin, and the costumes also enrich the dancing. The women wear sheer, colorful patterned skirts, and all the dancers wear vests that use the same fabric.
Julie Schulman’s "Interplay" is set to Enrique Granados’ "Danzas Espanolas, Opus 5," and this sometimes-sexy work displays a complex, modern sensibility. Danced in low light that gives the black-clad dancers a smoky look, "Interplay" shows couples whose encounters range from momentary to long-lasting, and the effect is both shadowy and thoughtful. The men’s short costumes (which resemble tees paired with underpants) seem to be intended as underwear, but have the unfortunate effect of enhancing the "Where the Wild Things Are" look of a few of the steps here and there. Joan Trapp is fabulous on the piano, imbuing Granados’ music with passion and flair.
Ballet mistress Courtney Walrath Lyon choreographed "Blush," a fun and flirty set that features five dancers – Natalie Harris, Brianna Hunter, Karen Kolbinger, Iona Newell and Jennifer Weber – and these six women all turn in first-rate work. Pianist Ron May plays a couple of Gershwin pieces ("Swanee" and "Novelette in Fourths") as well as familiar old songs ("Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" and "Babyface"), and his handling of these lively tunes keeps pace with the fresh, uptempo choreography.
Resident choreographer Deanna Carter closes the EXTRAORDINAIRE collection with "Touche Par La Lune," which is set to Beethoven’s Piano Sonata #14 in C Sharp Minor "Quasi una fantasia." Better known as the "Moonlight Sonata," this familiar piece takes on new and gorgeous energy when played by Winesberry, whose interpretation is so wonderfully done it, almost distracts from the dancing. Carter’s work, though, is inspired and absolutely lovely, which is on par with the music and its presentation.
Clad in satiny costumes that seem to glow in the pale light washing the stage, the nine dancers in this final work move very well together. "Touche" is a beautifully romantic ballet that showcases strong lifts and collective grace, reinforcing the references to romance found earlier in the program. This piece is simply terrific dancing, and – even at the dress rehearsal I attended Friday evening – it earned extended applause from a half-dozen people who were in the theater to see it.
An almost perfect program that is totally perfect for a romantic outing, this DANCE PIANO EXTRAORDINAIRE is a must-see. Make sure you do.
DANCE PIANO EXTRAORDINAIRE 
