Tribute to Jerome Robbins - Paris Opera Ballet
Photo: Jerome Robbins, DRAfter having welcomethe New York City Ballet for the season opening, - which is seldom enough to be mentionned, the NYCB had not been seen in Paris in the last 14 years, the Paris Opera Ballet went on with a American oriented season launch, by programming a tribut night to Jerome Robbins.
Ok, let's give some explanation there... In the middle of the 20th century, the NYCB has been directed by George Balanchine, who is one of the greatest choreographer of all times, and who has greatly influenced ballet in a more contemporary way, creating at the time like a mini revolution in dance. He basically introduced a new technique, using more "décalés", and the new 7th feet position. Let's leave too technical stuffs aside.. Jerome Robbins was his follower when Balanchine left the NYCB, and he was noneless famous, he two being very close, personnaly and artistically.. If I tell you you all know Jerome Robbins' work.. West Side story.. Rings a bell? That's him.. He thus created choreographies for musicals, but, as a great choreographer, he also created very lyrical, sensitive and beautiful ballets for the NYCB. Jerome RObbins passed away 10 years ago, which is why the Paris Opera decided to make a tribute to him. 3 choreographies by him, amongn which the last one was a funny piece, meant to make fun of ballet, and a 4th piece by Benjamin Millepied, a French who managed to become a principal at the NYCB, and who is also absolutely gifted for choreography.
In the end, a very well balanced night, where you can see pure and academic ballet technique - this was, I found a bit boring, since French dancers, contrary to American dancers, focuse more on technique than on interepretation and show off. But it was very clean work though. Then, the modern creation by Millepied, Triade, as a tribute to Robbins, was superb. Very inventive, technically extreme, with a great focus on lighting and staging too. All that on the beautiful music creation by Nico Muhly, who did a very sensitive work. MArie Agnes Gillot and Laetitia Pujol were shinig in the piece, and their two partner, none of them principals, did great work too.
Then, back to RObbins, a very lyrical piece, made of three couples dancing pas de deux. beautiful to see, but not my favorite piece by Robbins.
Finally, the night ended with The Concert, an exhlirating ballet piece, that makes fun of itself, where ballerinas are just a waste, and costumes ridiculous.. On purpose of course!
Well in the end quite a good night, in the Palais Garnier, which is sufficient for me to enjoy my time there!
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